Plains Indian Studies - Smithsonian Institution Libraries

122 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ANTHROPOLOGY
together at the top in the shape of a pavilion."
The poles were the thickness of an arm, Juan de
Leon testified (Hammond and Rey, 1953, 2:857).
He perplexes modern readers by mentioning a
central pole toward which the others converged.
Is he describing an unfinished structure from
which the center ladder pole had not yet been
removed? To the horizontal fiber lacing of the
framework, bunches of grass were attached "that
came down to the ground like a wall" (Smith,
1857:161). Mats woven of withes and grass covered
the doorways (Hammond and Rey, 1953,
2:845), which were so low the Spaniards had to
enter on their knees. Once inside, they saw around
the edge canicos (canizos?), probably meaning
framed platforms (Bolton, 1916:260), otherwise
described as "barbacoa beds" (Hammond and
Rey, 1953, 2:857), that were "about the size of
the rope beds in Castile." These frames had poles
laid across them (Hammond and Rey, 1953,
2:844-845) and occupied one-half to one-third of
the interior space.
Other structures were near the houses. The
Spaniards' need to describe features for which
they had no ready term, together with mistranslation
by historians unfamiliar with likely constructions,
has clouded and confused interpretations
of their form and purpose. Of particular
interest were platform structures on which small
rooms were perched, covered with dried grass as
were the dwellings. They were reported by Onate
(Bolton, 1916:260) and Leon (Hammond and
Rey, 1953, 2:857) to serve for storage of corn.
Movable wooden ladders led to their small grassmat
doors. Upon observing Indians sitting and
lying in the doorways, Martinez (Hammond and
Rey, 1953, 2:844) and Onate suggested the granaries
also provided a cool refuge from the summer
heat. Jaramillo (Smith, 1857:161) may have described
a similar structure, but if so, less clearly,
for he does not specifically note its elevation on
poles or the presence of ladders. Seeing no corn
stored in it, he likened the feature to a capilla
(chapel?) or sentry box. Again, however, Indians
were seen lounging in the doorway. An acceptable
translation of this passage does not necessarily
indicate that the feature was attached to a house.
as George P. Hammond (Hammond and Rey,
1940:305) implied in his translation, but instead
states that it was adjacent.
In the settlement visited by Onate, Martinez
(Hammond and Rey, 1953, 2:846) saw fields of
maize in the spaces between houses and wrote
that "some extend beyond them, but not far
enough to be out of sight." There were also a few
gardens planted to beans and small "calabashes,"
a term that could indicate squash, pumpkin, or
gourds. Onate (Bolton, 1916:759) commented on
plum thickets between planted fields. Was this a
natural growth or a "fence" of Indian contrivance?
Although the Spaniards were favorably impressed
by the horticultural activities of the Wichita
and were eager to benefit from the harvest,
they give the impression that the Indian economy
rested chiefly on products of the hunt, particularly
of bison. Onate wrote that these Indians
utilized bison in large numbers, and Martinez
described bison meat as "their principal and best
sustenance." They were said to use small bows
and short black arrows (Hammond and Rey,
1953, 2:874). In documents relating to both 1541
and 1601, it was pointed out that Wichita clothing
was made from tanned buckskin and bison
hides, and it was considered worthy of mention
by both Diego de Ayarde and Miguel Montero
de Castro (Hammond and Rey 1953, 2:884, 881)
that some Wichita wore hide shoes.
Coronado, as he approached Quivira in late
June, came upon a small group of these people
hunting along the Arkansas River upstream from
their settlement. Women were present who presumably
prepared the meat and other animal
products to carry back home. There is no mention
of dog transport and in 1601 no indication of
horse possession. Onate (Bolton, 1916:261) commented:
"It is incredible how many [bison] there
are in that land."
The main cultigen was maize, two crops of
which were raised annually, according to Juan
Rodriguez (Hammond and Rey, 1953, 2:867)
and Onate who observed further (Bolton,
1916:261) that the stalks of the first crop that had
recently been harvested were as tall "as that of