A DANCE HOUSE IN CALIFORNIA IS BUILT BY THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND ID UP TO 60 FEET IN DIAMETER. THEY ARE EITHER PARTIALLY UNDERGROUND OR ENTIRELY UNDERGROUND. THEY HAD A SMOKE HOLE THROUGH THE ROOF WHERE A GLIMMER OF LIGHT COMES THROUGH. OTHER THAN THAT IT WAS A DARK LODGE WITH A FIRE IN THE CENTER AT NIGHT. THIS IS WHERE THE COMMUNITY GATHERED FOR SOCIAL OCCASIONS AND SACRED DANCES.
WHEN THEY DECIDE TO BUILD A LODGE OR DANCE HUOSE THE MEN DECIDE WHERE THEY CAN GET THE TREES. THEY LOOK CAREFULLY TO SELECT THE LARGE TREE FOR THE CENTER POST, AND THEY NAME THE OTHER POSTS. THEIR IS A CHEIF AND THE MANY PEOPLE WHO BUILD THE DANCE HOUSE MUST BE FED. THE MEN GET THE AAPROVAL OF THEIR WIVES AS WELL.
THEY PREPARE THE LOGS BY CUTTING THEM DOWN, TRIMMING, PEELING THE BARK OFF, AND DECIDING WHICH LOGS GO WHERE. THIS PROCESS MAY TAKE A MONTH. THE Y HAVE TO HAND DIG A HOLE, AND THEN THE HOUSE IS BUILT IN ONE DAY. THEY HAVE TO LASH THE POLES TOGETHER AND FIT THE JOINTS BY CARVING THEM.THEY CAN STUFF MOSS INTO THE CREVICES AND THEN CARRY EARTH WITH BURDEN BASKRTS TO COVER THE HOUSE. THEY PACK IT DOWN LEAVING A HOLE FOR THEIR FIRES. PEOPLE COME FROM SEVERAL VILLAGES TO HELP. AT NIGHT THERE IS A FEAST AND A SWEAT. THE HOSTING VILLAGE FEEDS THEIR GUESTS.
MALCOMB MARGOLIN
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