upper ends of which crossed each other and were joined together: a against the rude assaults of rude enemies , these castles were Inside of their walls they not unfrequently had twenty or thirty houses, so that a clan or tribe could be provided safe retreat.

for in winter.

Besides their strongholds, they had villages and

towns which were enclosed or stockaded. The latter usually Near had woodland on one side and corn land on the other. the water sides and at fishing places they not unfrequently had huts for temporary occupancy ; but in the winter they were found in their castles which were rarely, if ever, left altogether.

*

Their weapons of war were the spear, the bow and arrows, the war club and the stone hatchet, and in combat they pro tected themselves with a square shield made of tough leather.

A snake's skin tied around the head, from the centre of which projected the tail

of a bear or a wolf, and a face not recognizable

from the variety of colors in which it was painted, was their

THE INDIAN TRIBES

Their domestic implements were of very rude construc Fire answered them many purposes and gained for them

uniform. tion.

the name of Fireworkers.

By it they not only cleared lands, but Some

shaped their log canoes and made their wooden bowls.

of their arrows were of elegant construction and tipped with copper, and when shot with power would pass through the body

The more rifle. common arrows were tipped with flint, as well as their spears,