Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Sketches Of The Manners And Customs Of The North-American Indians.
" In order to search a net thus set , the two end holes only are opened ; the line is veered away by one person , and the net hauled from under the ice by another ; after all the fish are taken out , the net is easily hauled back to its former station , and there secured as before . " METHOD OF PITCHING TENTS AMONG THE SOUTHERN INDIANS .
H < To pitch an Indian ' s tent in winter , it is first necessary to search for a level piece of diy ground ; which cannojt be ascertained but by thrusting a stick through the snow down to the ground , all over the proposed part . When a convenient spot is found , the snow is then cleared away in a circular form to the very moss ; and when it is proposed to remain more than a nig ht or two in one place , the mossliable when to take fire
is also cut up and removed , as it is veiy dry , and occasion much trouble to the inhabitants . A quantity of poles are then procured , which are generally proportioned both in number and length to the size of the tent cloth , and the number of persons it is intended to contain . If one of the poles should not happen tobe forked , two of them are tied together near the top * then raised extended wide the proposed
erect , and their buts or lower ends as as diameter of the tent ; the other poles are then set round at equal distances from each other , and in such order , that their lower ends form a complete circle , which g ives boundaries to the tent on all sides : the tent cloth is then fastened to a light pole , which is always raised and put round the" poles from the weather sideso that
up , the two edges that lap over and form the door are always to leeward . It must be . understood that this method is only in use when the Indians are moving from place to place every day ; for when they intend to continue any time in one place , they always make the door
of their tent to face the south . " The tent cloth is usually of thin Moose leather , dressed and made by the Indians , and in shape it nearly resembles a fan-mount inverted ; so that when the largest curve incloses the bottom of the poles the smaller one is always sufficient to cover the top ; except a hole / which is designedly left open to serve the double purpose of and window '
chimney . " The fire is always made on the ground in the center ,. ana , tne remainder of the floor , or bottom of the tent , is covered all oyer with small branches of the pine tree , which serve both for seats ai ? q beds . A quantity of pine tops ancl branches are laid round the bottom ot the poles on the outside , over-which the eyes of the tent is staked of is then packed over all which exexudes
down ; a quantity snow , c-reat part of the external air , and contributes greatly to the warmth within The tent here described is such as is made use of by the Southern Indians , and the same with which I was furnished at the fiictory : for that made use of by the Northern Indians is made ot different materials , and is of a quite different shape , as shall be described hereafter . "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Sketches Of The Manners And Customs Of The North-American Indians.
" In order to search a net thus set , the two end holes only are opened ; the line is veered away by one person , and the net hauled from under the ice by another ; after all the fish are taken out , the net is easily hauled back to its former station , and there secured as before . " METHOD OF PITCHING TENTS AMONG THE SOUTHERN INDIANS .
H < To pitch an Indian ' s tent in winter , it is first necessary to search for a level piece of diy ground ; which cannojt be ascertained but by thrusting a stick through the snow down to the ground , all over the proposed part . When a convenient spot is found , the snow is then cleared away in a circular form to the very moss ; and when it is proposed to remain more than a nig ht or two in one place , the mossliable when to take fire
is also cut up and removed , as it is veiy dry , and occasion much trouble to the inhabitants . A quantity of poles are then procured , which are generally proportioned both in number and length to the size of the tent cloth , and the number of persons it is intended to contain . If one of the poles should not happen tobe forked , two of them are tied together near the top * then raised extended wide the proposed
erect , and their buts or lower ends as as diameter of the tent ; the other poles are then set round at equal distances from each other , and in such order , that their lower ends form a complete circle , which g ives boundaries to the tent on all sides : the tent cloth is then fastened to a light pole , which is always raised and put round the" poles from the weather sideso that
up , the two edges that lap over and form the door are always to leeward . It must be . understood that this method is only in use when the Indians are moving from place to place every day ; for when they intend to continue any time in one place , they always make the door
of their tent to face the south . " The tent cloth is usually of thin Moose leather , dressed and made by the Indians , and in shape it nearly resembles a fan-mount inverted ; so that when the largest curve incloses the bottom of the poles the smaller one is always sufficient to cover the top ; except a hole / which is designedly left open to serve the double purpose of and window '
chimney . " The fire is always made on the ground in the center ,. ana , tne remainder of the floor , or bottom of the tent , is covered all oyer with small branches of the pine tree , which serve both for seats ai ? q beds . A quantity of pine tops ancl branches are laid round the bottom ot the poles on the outside , over-which the eyes of the tent is staked of is then packed over all which exexudes
down ; a quantity snow , c-reat part of the external air , and contributes greatly to the warmth within The tent here described is such as is made use of by the Southern Indians , and the same with which I was furnished at the fiictory : for that made use of by the Northern Indians is made ot different materials , and is of a quite different shape , as shall be described hereafter . "