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Show SIOUX MOVING. 47 pack away among these their puppies and papooses, ( of both which they seem to have a goodly number;) the women, when tired of walking, get upon them to rest and take care of their babies. The elasticity of the poles makes the motion easy and pleasant. I afterward saw an old Indian, that had been crippled in one of the skirmishes which so often occur among these tribes, whose only mode of locomotion was a contrivance of this kind, from which he could not move without assistance. The dogs also are made to perform an important part in this shifting of quarters. Two short, light lodge- poles are fastened together at the small end, and made to rest at the angle upon the animal's neck, the other end of course, trailing upon the ground. Over his shoulders is placed a sort of pad, or small saddle, the girth of which fastens the poles to his sides, and connects with a little collar or breast- strap. Behind the dog, a small platform or frame is fastened to the poles, similar to that used for the horses, upon which are placed lighter articles, generally puppies, which are considered quite valuable, being raised for beasts of burden as well as for food and ( he chase. I was informed by Mr. Bissonette, that many tribes, having no horses or mules, use dogs altogether in moving their villages. We saw a large number of these animals, with their sharp noses and wolflike ears, thus harnessed, and trotting along as if it were an occupation to which they were perfectly accustomed. The whole duty of taking down and putting up the lodges, packing up, loading the horses, arranging the lodge-poles, and leading or driving the animals, devolves upon the squaws, while tlie men stalk along at their leisure; even the boys of larger growth deeming it beneath their dignity to lighten the toils of their own mothers* The whole band halted about ten o'clock on the bank of the river, but several of the old men and the chief of the village continued with us until our noon halt. I invited the latter to lunch with us, which he did to his entire satisfaction, devouring as much meat as the whole mess beside, and I afterward espied him seated at one of the messes of the men, as earnestly engaged in laying in an additional supply as if he had not eaten for a week. The Indian, in fact, from his wandering habits and uncertain mode of existence, acquires the faculty of laying in, when opportunity offers itself, a store of food against the fast that may follow, thus approximating the instincts of other wild denizens of the forest. After crossing a few running streams, we encamped near a num- |