The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1866-12-29
Conccrnrne Indians.

J The name Of each tribe of Indians has
Specification, which is represented BY sigi
that is well understood by them all.
The Camnnche, or 'Snake,. is indicated
by making with the hand waving motion
in imitation Ct the crawling of the reptile.
The Cheyenne, "Cut Arm" by drawing
the hand across the arm, to initiate cutting
with knife.
The Arapahoes, or "Smcllers," by seizns
the nose with the thumb and foreinger
Tho Sioux, or '.Cut:hroxts," by drawing
the hand across the throat.
The Pawnees, or Evolves" by placing q
hand on each side of the forehead, with two
fingers pointing to the front, to represent the
narrow, sharp ears OF the wolf. --F
The Crows, by initiating the tapping Of
the birds wing. With the palm of the hand.
On approaching strangers, the prar,s In
dians put their horses at full speed, and per.
sons not familiar with their peculiarities and
habits might interpret this as an act Of hos
tilty but it is their custom with friends MS
well as enemies, and should not occasion
groundless alarm.
| When party is discovered approaching
! thus. and are near enough to distinguish sig.
nails, all tha, is Necessary in order to ascertain
H. -ir disposition is to raise the right hand.
with ,i.a palm in front, and gradually push it
forward ant, hackw several times. They
all understand tn:s 10 be q command to halt,
and if they are no. hos,.ie, it will a. orce be
obeyed.
The astonishing aptness of the i.:dians in
tracking" is shown by this interesting pccs-
sagefrom writer on Indian character:
Almost all the Indians whom have met
are proficient in this species of knowledge,
the faculty of acquiring which appears to be
innate with them. Exigeneies OF woodland
and prairie life stimulate the savage from
childhood to develop faculties important in
the ar,s Of war AMI OF the chase.
Il have seen very few white mon who were
good trailers. and practice did not seen very
materially to improve the faculties in this re,
gard. They have not the same acute percep-
tiol Of ifese things as tLa Indian or the
Mexican. 1t is not app-ehented that ;his
sdif1ic ult branch of woodcraft can be taught
from books, as it p.rtains almost exclusively
TO the school of practice yet will give some
facts relating to the habits Of the Indians that
will facilitate the requirement
a party of Indians, for example, starting
on a war excursion, leave their families be>
hinl and never transport their lodges; where
"a, when they move their ia antilles, they carry
their lodges and other effects. ii. therefore,
All Indian trail is discovered with the lodge
poles upon T. it certainly has not been made
by q war party; but if the track do not show
the trace of the lodge poles, it will be equally
certain that n war Or hunting party has pass
ed that way, ard if it is no, desired 10 come
in conflict with them, their direction may be
avoided.
" An Indian, on coming to a trail. will ge
nc:allv tell a, a gla:ce it's age, by what parts
cular tribe i, was made, the number of the
party, and many other things connected with
il astounding TO the uunisiated
8 remember, upon one occasion, As WAS
riding with Delaware upon the prairiss, We
crossed the trail Of Z large party Of Indians
travelling with lodges. The tracks appeared
to me- to be quite fresh, and / remarked 10
the Indinn tha; We must be near the party.
'Oh, 10, SAID he, the trail was made two
DAYS before in tb. morning, at the same time
pointing with his finger 10 whore the sua
would be about O'clock. Then, seeing my
curiosity was excited TO know BY what meana
he arrived al thi, conclusion he called nv at
.ention to tn. tact that there had been no
dew icr the last two nights, but on the pres
vious morning i, Lad been keavy. lie then
pointed out TO me some spears OF gras. that
had been pressed down into the earth by the
horses boots, upon which the sand still ad-
herei, having dried on, thus clearly showing
that the gFass mas ne: When the tracks were
made.