The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1866-12-28
Indian AFFINITY and indian SKIM.

nav y b"lBnlhCaJloni which IL IepISbeh-
ted by a sign that is we'll understood
by them all.
The C~amanche, or "Snake," is indi-
Gated by making with the hand a wa
wing motion, in indication of the crawl
ing of the reptile.
The Cayenne or "Cut ARM" by
drawing the hand across the arm, to
initiate cutting it with a knife.
The Arnpshoes, or ''Smellers," by
soizing the nose with the thumb and
forefnger.
The Sioux, or "Cut-throats, by draw.
ing the hand across the throat.
The Pswnees, or Wolves" by plA-
cling a hand on each side of the fore
head, with two fingers pointing to the
front, to represent the narrow, sharp
ears of the wolf
The Crows, by initiating theHapping
of the birds wings with the palms of
the hands.
On approaching strangers the prai-
RE Indians put their horses at full
speed, and persons not familiar with
their peculiarities and habits might in
torpret this as an act of hostility; but
it is their custom with friends rs we'll
as enemies, and should not occasion
groundless alarm.
Whena party is seen approaching
thus, and arc near enough to distin-
guish signals, all that is necessary in
order to ascertain their disposition is
to raise the right hand, with the palm
in front, and gradually push itforward
end back several times. They all un-
derstsnd this to bo q command to halt,
and if they are not hostile, it will at
once be obeyed.
The astonishing aptneSs Of tho In
dams in tracking" is shown by this
interesting passage from a writer on
Indian character:
Almost all the Indians whom l have
met with are proficient in this species
acknowledge, the faculty Of acquiring
which appears to be mate with them.
E~xigencies Of woodland end prarie lifo
stimulate the savage from childhood
to develop faculties important in the
arts ofwar and Of tine chase.
l have seen very few white men who
were good trailers, and practice did
not seem materially TO improve the
faculties in this regard, They have not
the same acute perceptions Of those
things as the Indian or the Mexican.
1t Is not a%pprehended that this difficult
branch Of wood-craft Gao be taught
from books, as it pertains almost cxclu.
sively to the school Of practice; yet
will give some facts relating to the
habits ofthe indians that will taoili.
tate the requirements.
A party of Indians, for example
starting on awar excursion, leave their
families behind, and never transport
their lodges; whereas, when they move
> their families they carry their lodge;
and other effects. If therefore, an In.
dian trail is discovered with the lodge
poles upon it, it has certainly not beer
made by a war party; but il the tracks
do not show the trace Of the lodg'
poles, it will be equally certain that I
war or hunting party has passed tina
way, and if it is not desired to come il
conflict with them, their direction may
, be avoided.
:, An Indian, on coming to a trail, viii
generally tell at a glance it's age, by
= WI at particular tribe il was made, the
number of the party, and many othe.
> things connected with 1t astonishing t
the uninitiated.
y. Iremember upon one occasion, as
was riding with a Delaware upon tn.
prairies, we crossed the trail Of a larg
party of indiana travelling with lodges
The tracks appeared to me to be quit
fresh, and l remarked to tho Indial
that we must be nRar the party, "Ot
no." saidAe, "the trail was made tw
days before in the morning" at tn
same time pointing with his finger t
wherothe sun would be at about oigh
: o'clock, Then, seeing my curiosit.
excited to know by what mean he AT
) rived at this conclusion, he called m.
u attention to the fact that there ha
been no dew for the last two nights
" but on tho previous morning it ha
hooo baoyu He than nointad nut I