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Show 20 INTBODUCTION TO THE STUDY OP INDIAN LANGUAGES. § 4.- DWELLINGS. The priscan, i. e., primitive dwellings of the Indians were of two classes, permanent and temporary, which for convenience we will call wigwams and lodges respectively. Prior to the introduction of the horse upon this continent the Indians were far less nomadic than they have subsequently been known. Their sedentary life led most of the tribes to the construction of somewhat permanent dwellings; yet to a slight extent many of the tribes had habits of roaming; especially they made journeys to favorite hunting grounds or fishing waters. When on these journeys they exhibited considerable skill in the erection of temporary dwellings; and they even provided for their wants in advance by preparing lodges made of the skins of animals. Their wigwams were constructed of various materials- poles interlaced with bark, reeds, tules, grass, & c; slabs rived from young saplings, and these sometimes covered as the poles; poles and slabs covered with earth; and, finally, some tribes exhibited considerable skill in the erection of stone dwellings. It may be that wigwams or permanent dwellings were sometimes made of the skins of animals, but it seems more probable that in their priscan condition skin lodges were used chiefly as temporary dwellings. Their wigwams were of multiform construction- conical, square, and oblong; they were made to accommodate two or more households- often an entire gens. The lodges or temporary dwellings were usually made of the dressed skins of animals supported by lodge- poles, or of brush, bark, grass, & c, supported in like manner. A description of both classes of dwellings should be given. The method of dividing the wigwams into compartments should be noted, and the names of the compartments given; also the names of the other parts of the house, as doorways, smoke escapes, & c. In their dwellings the Indians are punctilious in assigning places to the regular occupants and visitors. Their rules for such occupancy are important. In the slab houses of the northwest coast, Indian architecture with materials of wood was most highly developed. Here the houses are orna- |
