The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-19

Strange and Pathetic Grave Gus
There are not MANY places now wher,
the American Indian may be found Twins
his primitive life. The nearest approach
to this. however is seen among those 3
Leech Lake. MINI. A party. which re-
Gently visited there found the Indians a
the old ageltcy at Leech surrounding tn,
mission buildings. school houses, church
and lace school. living in we'll built los
houses. Here and there was found be
side the log house a bark wigwam useC
on occasion. a writer who spent lous
time among the Chippewa makes III,
statement that the wigwams were former
Iy used as the winter quarters, bein:
warmer than the huts. The huts of hi.
acquaintance. however. were also bari
affairs, such as are found in other part:
of the Chippewa reservation now. Among
the Dakotas the tepee. which corresponds
TO the Chippewa wigwam. is used as a
kind of summer quarters and apparently
way at the agency. Both bark wigwams
and huts are picturesque and well enough
built to be warm TIE hut would seem,
as now constructed. to be the more sub
stantial and warmer OF the two.
The wigwam is built by embedding flex-
ible but substantial poles in the ground
in rectangular shapes. binding them and
joining them at the centre. For covering,
birchbark is used chiefly, although the
bark of other trees ami reed mats are also
used to some extent. The bark is taken
from the largest trees and is stitched to-
gether in long rolls, whose edges are
strengthened by a binding of slender
withes. All of the Joining is done with
cOrdage and this is usually OF home manu-
facture, the fibre OF bark and roots fur
nishing an article superior to that fur
nished by machinery. The rolls are drawn
tightly around the skeleton of poles, the
upper overlapping the lower like shingles,
10 make them perfectly watertight.
The rolls are stitched together and also
held in place somewhat after the fashion of
Swiss chalet roofs by weights attached to
each end OF a cord which is thrown over
the curved top and hangs part way on the
sides. The rolls do not completely cover
the top Of the wigwam, an opening being
left in the centre as a smoke escape, and
as the draft is good there is less smoke
from a good fire in the centre Of the wig
wan than one would suppose. There is
but one opening. a door, and over this
hangs a mat, which covers it completely.
The greatest diameter of the ordinary
wigwam is about twenty fee, and the
number OF persons and things that are
gathered in them is astonishing.
The interior OF the wigwam illustrated
would have made a fascinating study for
no in and nuay OLD ITO rfF1Y ,pf
old Sol to smile on the project prevented
Mr.. Williams from getting photograph,
for, contrary to the usual experience, the
inmates were not averse 10 being photo
graphed. The mistress OF this domicile
was indus tTiously engaged in plying her
shuttle in the manufacture of a fish net
Of large size, and she was both deXtrous
and nimble. About her were grouped
children of all sizes from the babe in
arms 10 well-formed, attractive young
women. An old woman occupied a COM
Portable low seat doing nothing but watch
the small and dirty children, who We're
sprawling around with the confident assur-
ance that grandma would be indulgent il
they did not get into mischief
AT the agency the wOmcu learn the arts
of housekeeping by contact with the few
white residents, and in one kitchen into
which we stepped the comely looking
the hearth of her stove that might have
justiiably made any housekeeper's heart
glow with honest pride for they were
light, white, and well nodded.
The more common form of bread, we
were told, is made with baking powder and
baked in a skillet, somewhat like South
ern hoecakes. This, of course, has the
advantage of being quickly prepared, and
not requiring an oven.
The bark hints in which nearly al of he
Bear Island and other pagan Indians live
are supplied now with chimneys. They
also have windows, which, perhaps, do not
add TO their warmth, as one cause of the
comfort of the wigwams is that the wind
does not get into them. Beside many Of
the houses were found miniature frames
of poles, which are covered with blankets.
Hot stones underneath have water poured
on them, providing crude, but satisfactory,
bath cabinets.
The houses and wigwams stand beside
their gardens. which were not seen at
their best. for this year farming has been
much neglected by the pagan Indians on
account OF disturbances over the Messiah
craze. The amount of land under cultiva-
ton. however, was sufficient TO change the
unfavorable opinion held of Indian indus
try. The gardens are cared for chiefly by
the women and children, who do a good
deal of the fishing and all Of the manual
labor of building and taking care Of the
wigwams.
The wigwams and bark houses scarcely
differ from the descriptions given of them
by those who first came in contact with
the wild Indians about Lake Superior and
westward. The houses have pent roofs
with gentle slope, and these are usually
made Of overlapping boards The only
changes have come from the differences in
tie materials used for making them. The
huts are generally made OF pine bark now
although formerly birch bark was used.
The wigwams are used exclusively in maxi
ing journeys, as they are more easily
transported and put up. The skeleton
OF poles is cut and put up on every site
upon which a wigwam is erected. as poles
are plentiful and easily cut and planted.
The carefully sewn and bound rolls Of
bark and mats, however are the camping
outfit which must be carried. The numer-
Gus canoes which we met bound for Squaw
Point, each carried the necessary rolls OF
bark for making a wigwam, mats for fur
nishing it, nets, cooking utensils, and food
besides several passengers.
The canoe, which is almost inseparable
from Indian life, has undergone less
change than any OF the Indians belongings,
and even less than himself, through con-
tact with the white mans civilization. II
has it's serious disadvantages, as adven-
turous people find who try canoeing un-
tutored. but its universal adoption by
woodsmen as a means OF transportation is
sufficient testimonial TO its adaptation
to its purpose. Even the largest canoe
weighs but a few hundred pounds while
small ones can. easily be carried by one
person a moderate distance. In the early
days a portage OF mile or two was a
trifle, and many long ones were made to
gave time