File:Ridpath's Universal history - an account of the origin, primitive condition and ethnic development of the great races of mankind, and of the principal events in the evolution and progress of the (14747346206).jpg

Identifier: ridpathsuniversa08ridp (find matches)
Title: Ridpath's Universal history : an account of the origin, primitive condition and ethnic development of the great races of mankind, and of the principal events in the evolution and progress of the civilized life among men and nations, from recent and authentic sources with a preliminary inquiry on the time, place and manner of the beginning
Year: 1897 (1890s)
Authors: Ridpath, John Clark, 1840-1900
Subjects: World history
Publisher: Cincinnati : Jones
Contributing Library: University of Pittsburgh Library System
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

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akind, as we shall presently see morefully, to fix our attention and excite oursurprise. It were not far from correctto regard the Mexican, Central Ameri-can, and some of the Andean races asamong the great builders of mankind. NOR THERN A BORIGINES. —A R TS. 485 To the present day the remains whichthey left behind them attest the skill,strength, and persistency of the archi-tects and peoples who produced them. As a rule, however, the Indians were poor in structural ability, and in most of them the building instinct Grading offofar- , ° chitecturai skill was almost wanting. The architectural skill of the race graded off rapidly through pre- more or less durable according to theexigency. Sometimes it was built to bepermanently occupied, but frequentlyonly as a forest lodge, to be used for ashort hunting season and then aban-doned as useless. The Indian wigwam was framed ofpoles, set at an angle in the earth in acircle and coming together and crossingat the apex. There thev were bound
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INDIAN VILLAGE OF WIGWAM; cipitous stages till it sank to the levelof the earth. So far as the races ofCentral North America are concerned,they scarcely built at all. The averagetribesman of our country knew how tomake for himself in a short time thatfamous conical tent which we call awigwam. This was larger or smalleraccording to the needs of the family andthe ambition of the builder. It was together in some rude manner, butfirmly enough to withstand the storm.The solitarv character of constmction ofthe Indian was marked in £^23Sthe site which he chose for therein.his abode. The gloom of the woods wasthe place preferred for the wigwam.Where silence and solitude prevailedthere the hunter drew his circle and setup his poles. 486 GREAT RACES OF MANKIND. The covering of the wigwam was ofbark or the skins of animals. Some-times both were used. Sometimes theearth and sod were packed against thelower part of the wigwam round about.The door was the triangular openingbetween two of the poles

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