The Springfield herald. (Springfield, Baca County, Colo.) 1887-1919, 1900-09-07
LIKE OLD CUSTOMS.
LIFE OF cHiPPEWAS IN MIN
NESOTA.
Tive In wigwams and Houses of BARK
and Have Many strange Customs
Take Great Pride In Tribal Tradi-
lions.

The nearest approach to the print
tive life of the American Indian, who
is fast losing his identity in the rapid
advance of civilization, is to be found
among the Chippewas of the Leech
Lake agency in Minnesota. There will
be seen among the schoolhouse,
church and other mission buildings,
cabins and wigwams OF bark which
the dark-skinned aborigines prefer to
the structures of wood found in civil
liked communities The wigwam is
built by unfolding flexible but sub
stantial poles in the ground in rect
angular shapes, binding them and join
ing them at the center. For covering,
fine bark is mostly used. The bark is
taken from the largest trees and is
stitched together in long rolls, whose
edges are strengthened by n binding
of slender withes. The rolls are drawn
tightly around the skeleton of poles,
the upper overlapping the lower to
make them perfectly watertight The
rolls do not completely cover the top
of the wigwam, an opening being left
in the center as a smoke escape. There
.
over this hangs 4 mat which covers
1t completely. The greatest diameter
of the ordinary wigwlm is about 20
feet
The wigwam and bark houses scarce
ly differ from the descriptions given of
them by those who first came in con-
tact with the wild Indians about Lake
Superior and westward. The houses
: have pent roofs with a gentle slope,
and these are usually made of over
tapping boards The only changes
have come from the differences in ma
terials used for making them. The
huts are generally made of pine bark
now. although formerly birch bark was
used. The wigwams are used exclu-
sively in making journeys. as they are
more easily transported and put up.
J The skeleton of poles is cut and put up
on every site upon which the 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 canoe. which is almost INSOFAR
able from Indian life. has undergone
less change than any of the Indians
belongings. and even less than him
self, through contact with the white
mans civilization. 1t has its serious
disadvantages, as adventurous people
find who try canoeing untutored, but
its universal adoption by woodsmen
as a means of TRANSFORMATION is .aufii-
lcient 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 portage of mile
or two was a mere trife. and many
long ones We're made to save time.
The framework of the canoe is care
fully made of thin but tough strips of
wood bent and bound to the gunwales
which are pointed at bow and stern,
The great sheet of birch bark. which
is as free of knothules as possible. is
stretched over the frame. Where the
bark is drawn over the gunwales and
sewed securely. the accuracy and
strength of the joint would arouse the
admiration of any good craftsman.
The edge is re-enforeed with another
hin strip of wood and thwarts give
more solidity to it, The ends are Sc
eured, stitched and brought up some
what higher than in the middle. The
inishing touches are the pitching of
Ill the seams and knots to make it
perfectly watertight.
The boat may be padded by one or
wo, but usually two work together.