The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-20
THE RED NAN IN WINTER
HOW INDIANS EAT AND LIVE DUR
ING The COLD MONTHS.

ING The COLD MON rs.
Construction OF a Tepee-Furnishings Of
the Tent-How Their Bread Is Made.
Process Of Hunting and Caring the
Leather for Eeggins and EIoccasins.
1t is not strange that Indians are short
lived nor that there should be so high a
rate Of mortality among their children.
The tribes north Of an east and west line
coinciding with the northern limit OF
New Mexico use for dwellings what Is
known as the tepee. An Indian OF
wealth in the Ute country sometimes
has an opportunity TO purchase an A
tent, and even wall tent. at some sake
Of condemned euartermaster's suppIeS,
but the very best and newest canvas at-
fords Door protection against the snow
storms and freezing winds OF the plains.
The tent is usually staked down, with
q shallow gutter dug round 1t TO carry
off the rain water, which would other
wise food its interior, and, beginning in
the early autumn, fire is built IN the
oenter of the earth floor. which is sell
dom allowed to go out. Overhead and
hanging in lines suspended from the
canvas are the rifles and other weap-
ons Of the family, and the floor is COW
cred with about six inches OF dead grass
or hay, which in time is trodlen down
and pressed into fair and tolerably
soft mattress. Wrapped up in his blanket,
with his head resting on his saddle for
a pillow, the Indian sleeps through the
night, depending somewhat on the nre
30 keep him from freezing in extremely
cold weather.
LIFE IN A TEPEE.
In dry weather the yentilator at the
apex of the tent may be kept open, but
during storms, when IL is closed, the at
inosphere Of the tent is sitting and reek-
ing with the odor of the unweshed fam
fly and of the many damp and badly
cured furs which every buck accumu-
lates. Far from the agencies the In
dams lay in a small stock of -four, coffee
and sugar sufficient TO be used sparingly
through the winter, which, with his
frozen beef or antelope meat, constitutes
his bill Of fare.
In tent ten feet in diameter, buck,
two GCuaws and FIVE or SIX small children
pass the winter months, and considering
their uncleanly habits, 1t is not difficult
to imagine the condition Of the habita-
lion in the spring. They themselves
probably appreciate this, because rather
than clean up they simply move their
tent to some clean spot.
With a little -four, water and salt the
squaws make a thick paste, which is
first cooked on hot stones until it be-
comes stiff, and then each cake is further
cooked by standing it on its edge with
its fat surface exposed to the flames
until it is thoroughly baked into quite
palatable bread. Their meat is fried in
it's own fat or roasted on a spit stuck In
the ground, while small child keeps it
turning to equalize the roasting. The
bread cakes serves as plates, while their
fingers are both knives and forks, so the
Indian has no dish washing process TO
go through with, for when the meal IS
finished he eats his plate and licks off his
knives and forks with lns tongue.
MAKING LBGGINS.
The hunting Of deer in the Rocky
mountains has driven them north into
British America, and in a few more
wears our Indians will have no more
5uclEkins for leggins and moccasins
Only the slEin of the heavy hided deer
can be used, that of the antelope and
white tailed varieties being too tender
for long service. The Apaches make
their nloccasins and leggins in one piece,
In the style of hunting boots, while most
of the Indians to the north wear slippers
and leggins. Whenever q deer is killed
and cut up the bladder is carefully cut
away, cleaned, and filed with the brain
OF the animal, and the hetle bag is most
carefully guarded until a stream is
reached, where the hide may be cured.
The entire skin Is then put into run
ming water, and weighted down with
stones. In four or FIVE hours the soak
ing has swelled it and loosened the hair
at the roots, when it is taken out and
stretched on frame, while the owner,
with the aid Of cleaned NIB Of the ami
NAL, scraDes it down until all the hair is
rubbed off, very much IN the same man
ner as overheated horses are scrHpcd To
remove the foam and sweat The skin
is then pulled and stretched for three or
four hours, and, at the same time. oiled
with the brain until it is perfectly dry,
soft and pliable, when it is ready foI
use. When tan color is desired it is
soaked in an infusion Of red bark. The
soleof the moccGSn is always made ofthI
raw hide of beet cattle and sewed to the
upper with the sinews of the deer'StendoI
2chilles.-Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The Attorneys DOG.
a Boston lawyer who resides in thu
q, hg,riNc Il tina OKg-r,pr Of fNu that GER