ALL POMO VILLAGES CONSTRUCTED AN EARTH COVERED SWEAT LODGE WHERE BOTH WOMEN AND MEN WERE ABLE TO SWEAT DAILY. IT WAS A SMALL CIRCULAR STRUCTURE PARTIALLY UNDERGROUND AND MDE WITH WILLOW POLES AND BRANCHES. THESE WERE COVERED WITH TULE AND THEN SOIL WAS PACKED DOWN ON IT. THE SWEAT DOOR FACED SOUTH. SWEATING GAVE P[EOPLE A FEELING OF WELL BEING AND PURIFIED THEM FOR RELIGIOUS PURPOSES. THEY BUILT A FIRE IN THE CENTER OF THE SWEAT HOUSE AND PRODUCED STEAM BY POURING WATER OVER HOT STONES.
AT TIMES AFTER SWEATING THEY JUMPED INTO NEARBY STREAMS TO COOL DOWN AND WENT BACK INTO THE SWEAT HOUSE AGAIN. THIS RESULTED IN AWAY TO CLEANSE THEIR BODIES AND FEEL GOOD.
EVEN TRIBES IN THE SOUTHWEST HAD SWEAT HOUSES NEARBY THEIR DRAINAGES OR RIVERS.
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