[1] Long, S. H.; Exp. Rocky Mts., vol. 1, p. 291, Phila., 1822
Traveling Gear.
Snow-shoes (sé-hinbe) were worn by the Omaha and Ponka when they traversed a region, north of their modern, habitat.
For traveling on foot a staff (hí-mañgȼe) was used when it was necessary to pass over mountains; also when, heavy loads had to be carried. This staff differed from the crutch (í-mañgȼe).
The women had mácaʞa^n, or straps, for aiding them in carrying loads of wood, etc.
Boats.
When they wished to cross streams they made hide boats, or mandéha. These were manufactured from dried buffalo hides, which were sewed together with sinew, and so tightly that no water could penetrate the seams. Ten branches of red willow were placed within, the ends being bent upward and fastened by withes to two other saplings, which extended the whole length of the boat at the inside of the gunwale. The ten pieces were the ʇíci-íki[p]ádan. The rudder or steering oar (íȼisan′ȼĕ) was fashioned like the oars (mandúȼugáhi), with the blade flat and of the breadth of two hands. The rowers (uȼúgahi aká) sat near the bow, and the steersman (ȼisan′ȼa aká) took his seat at the stern.
Musical Instruments.
Battles were of five kinds, [P]exe were generally gourds; watan′ [p]exe, gourd rattles, were always round, and were partially filled with seed, fine shot, or gravel, [T]ahánuʞa [p]éxe, green-hide rattles, were of two sorts, one of which is "ȼigúje," bent a little. Specimens of this form are in the National Museum.