Cradle Of Indian Babies

When you go through an Indian camp you can see red and green sacks standing against the sides of the tepes, carried on the backs of little girls by means of a blanket which is fastenec at the waist with a broad leather belt or being rocked to and fro by the wint in the boughs of cottonwood trees. Sometimes, if the camp is going on a long journey in search of game or for water, or to escape a war party, two of these sack3 are fastened together by stout strajis and swung over the back of a pony, one dangling on each side like the baskets on a pack mule. Bul as a rule the horses are left for the men and boys to ride, and the pappooses are either carried by the girls or packed away on a "travoise," which is the only wagon the Indians have, and you will thtnk it a very poor kind of a wagon when you h?ar how it is made. The larg.r "travoises" are made of two cottonwood branches, and the smaller ones of stout willow sticks. The two poles are crossed about a quarter of the distance from the small tnds, and held in place with strong cords of buffalo sinew; a foot or so below the joining a mat is fastened, reaching from one pole to the other and firm enough to carry heavy burdens. The frame of the mat is one long willow twig, which has to be soaked and twisted in ahape while wet, and the mat is just a mesh of simply woven leathern straps. It is a strunge sight to see a camp packed and ready to take up the line of march. Gne by one, in single file, they start a vay- the men, and boys over 15, on h:irseback leading the way; then the en and dogs dragging the' "travoises," ; nd last of all, girls with pappooses 01. their backs, and little half-naked bc rs running along in a jog trot, breaking line every now and then to throw theii balls or rob a bird's nest half hidden in the thick prairie grass.