Page 191 - Confronting Race Women and Indians on the Frontier, 1815 - 1915

F R O N T I E R P L AC E : G E N D E R MATTERS

long roll of it. When they wish to pitch a tent, they f o rm a circular f r ame
work of f o rks & hickory with[e]s around which they wrap this roll of
skins beginning at the ground and winding round until they reach the
top leaving a small hole f o r the escape of the smoke." According to him,
the finished structure resembled a "hornet's nest, and having inwardly
very much also of the hornet temperament & severity." 51
Other f r ontiersmen took similar pains in reporting huts, teepees,
houses, and even ruined native villages. 5 2 Men only occasionally included
descriptions of interiors of Indian homes, presumably because they had
little interest in such matters. Even when they were curious, it was
difficult f o r them to gain access to a dwelling's interior.When Isaac Wistar
insisted upon visiting an Indian town that intimidated his fr iends, he,
unlike most men, wanted to observe the Sioux's "domestic arrangements
at home."When he approached a lodge, so many young men jostled him
and tried to examine his weapon that he remained mounted. He shook
hands all around, working his way through the male population, who,
according to him, "were loudly discussing me or some other interesting
object."The conclusions that he drew f r om his visit were superficial: the
Sioux were curious and fr iendly, and their well laid-out lodges were
"characterized by lances and shields in f r ont of each one."53
Wistar's emphasis on Indian weapons was common among fron­
tiersmen. Charged with defending themselves, their f a milies, and stock,
they were almost obsessed with the weaponry and martial skills of
American Indians. Although men sometimes mentioned baskets, bead­
work, or other crafts, they mostly discussed such items as bows and
arrows, lances, and other weapons. 54 White men's descriptions of Indian
men virtually always included weaponry: "The braves were armed with
small tomahawks or iron hatchets which they carried with the powder
horn, in the belt . . over their shoulders were leather targets, bows and
.
arrows, and some f e w had rifles."55 Other men noted, "their bows &
arrows are f o rmidable weapons," "the arrows about 3 f e et long with a
steel point sharp as a knife," and " chief had his bow & arrows-one had
a spear-no fire arms." 5 6
Men also concentrated on quantity and quality of techniques,
motives, and strength of Indian groups, comparing them to their own
tactics, rationales, and military organization. 57 "The Comanchas,"