Travois

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A device used for transportation by the Plains Indigenous people. The travois consisted of two long poles, each lashed to the sides of the dog (and later horse) to pull the travois. The poles dragged behind and a frame carried household baggage, including the tipi cover. The webbed willow frame attached to the Assiniboine travois was circular, and the Blackfoot constructed both round and rectangular frames. The dog travois of pre-European times was small, capable of pulling not more than 20 to 30 kg. When dogs were replaced by horses, the greater pulling power allowed tipis to increase in size and household goods to multiply.