![]() The sweat-house or sudatory is a diminutive form of the ordinary hogan or hut as described in par. ![]() When these large lodges are constructed at low altitudes, where only stunted trees grow, they are built on a rude frame with walls and roof separate, somewhat on the same plan as the lodges formerly used by the Arickarees, Mandans, and other tribes on the Missouri, and seeming a connecting link between the Navajo hogan and the Mandan earth-lodge. The medicine-lodges, when erected in re-gions where long poles may be cut, are usually built in the form of the ordinary hogans (huts), though of much greater size. A loom is shown set up for work in one of these rude structures, the aboriginal appearance of which is somewhat marred by having a piece of old canvas lying on top. One side of the house is completely open. The ends may be similarly inclosed, or may be merely covered in with evergreen branches. A structure of this kind is built in a few hours.Ī couple of forked sticks are set upright in the ground slanting poles are laid against this in the direction of the prevailing winds, so as to form a wind-break, half wall and half roof, and this is covered with grass, weeds, and earth. represents a couple of summer houses in the Zuni Mountains. In summer they often occupy structures more simple than even the hut described above. Here, too, tne women erect their looms and weave or set out their metates and grind corn, and some even choose to sleep here. Here, in fair weather, the family often cook and spend most of the day. Contiguous to the hut, the Navaho usually con-structs a rude shelter of branches. ![]() In cold weather a small storm-door or portico is often erected in front of the door, and an outer and an inner curtain may be hung to more effectually keep out the wind. Again they are occasionally built partly of stone. Some lodges are made of logs in a polygonal form, as shown in fig. In this picture the doorway is shown as extended up and continuous with the smoke-hole. But the opening of the door is not a simple hiatus, as many descriptions would lead one to suppose.Ī cross-piece, forming a lintel, connects the jambs at a convenient height, and the triangular space between the lintel and the smoke-hole is filled.Ī picture in Schoolcraft's extensive work is intended to represent a Navajo lodge but it appears to have been drawn by Captain Eastman from an imperfect description. In the door-way an old blanket hangs, like a curtain, in place of a door. The frame is covered with weeds, bark, or grass, and earth, except at the apex, where the smoke from the fire in the center of the floor is allowed to escape. The most common form consists of a conical frame, made by setting up a number of sticks at an angle of about forty-five degrees.Īn opening is left on one side of the cone to answer as a doorway. The habitations of the Diné are usually of a very simple character. The older form of hogan is round and cone-shaped. Today, many Diné families still live in hogans, although trailers or more modern houses are tending to replace them. The doorway of each hogan opened to the east so they could get the morning sun as well as good blessings. The Navajos used to make their houses, called hogans, of wooden poles, tree bark and mud.
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