New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-06-21
NEW PUBLICATIONS



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1sIISo Win INCIDENTS N TnE tigs or 2liF NINI
ffaris Iage.es,' &c, sc. l2Ho.. 81 ho-pef
BtoiherL
The greater part Of COL Marcys active life has been
,pent the frontiers and prares, and among the far
Western mountains. lie has associated with hunters,
rappes and pioneers, and has met friendly hostile
terms nearly all the aboriginal tribes Of the great plains.
He describes these Indians with strict regard for truth
rather than eye TO the picturesque his aR being, to
quote his words, 10 preserve from threatened oblivion
tie records Of fast vanishing people and the characters
tics of men whose memory bids fair to be left to the
mercy of the novelist lie has photographed with unre
ienng fidelity the savages and all that relates to their
habits and modes wafare the halfcyzed hunters and
mixed breeds Of the prairies and the famous Western
pioneers and guides such Brdger Goodae and Baker,
whose familiar TO all travellers who have jour
neyed the great overland route. His narrative is
simple and unaffected in STYLE but full of interest aud vi
vacity and it win not only prove pleasant Summer COM
panon but will retain permanent place in Libraries
A. o valuable contribution TO history.
Colonel Marcy gives the following account the apness
of the Indians in tracking:
Almost all the Indians whom have met with proficient
in this species Of knowledge the faculty for acquiring which
TO be innate with them Exgeneies Of woodland aud
prairie life savage from childhood to develop
faculties important in the arts of and of the chase
practice did very materially improve their aeu
ties in this regard they have not the same aeqe perceptions
these things the Iqdian the Mexican Is appre
hended that this difficult branch Of woodcait can DO taught
from books pertains almost exclusively TO the school OF
practice yet will give some facts relating to the habits Of
the indians that will facilitate its requirement.
porty OF Indians for example starting out war ex
cursio6 leave families behind and ansportther
lodges whereas when they move with their families they
trail discovered with the marks of the lodgepoes upn T.
has certainly not been made by warpart but 1.-THE rack
do not show the trace of odcepoeS viii DO equally certain
that war or hunting party has passed that way and u
nos desired to come IN conflict WIN them the direction may
be avoided Mustangs or wild herses when moving iFom
place place leave trail which sometimes difficult TO dis
tngush from that made by mounted party of Indians ospe
ciay the mustangs DO not stop TO Craze IhS may 90
determined by following npon the rail Until some dung
found and If this should lie in single pile it is sureind
cation that herd Of mustangs has passed. they always stop
TO relieve themselves while party Of Indians would keep
tie road trail pass through woodland the mustang will
occasionally 60 under the limbs of low to admit the
AN Indian on coming to trail viii generally tells at
Der OF the party and many other things connected with as
REMEMBER upon one occasion riding with Deia.
upon tue crossed the trail Of large ry Of
Indians travelling with lodges The trucks appeafedaO me
be near the party "Oh no." said he, the trail was
made days before. in the morning" at the same me
pointing with bis fryer to where the sun woud be al about
eight o'clock Then. seeing that my curiosity was excited
to know by WHIST means he arrived at this conclusion be
called attention to the fact that there had been no oew o
the last two nights but that the previous morning had
been heavy He then pointed out to mo some spears OF grass
which the sand still adhered having dried.on thus
At another time as travelling with the same Indian
discovered upon the ground what took TO be bearrack,
with distinC marked IMPRESSION OF the heel and all the
toes Immediately called the Indians attention to IT. at the
discovery which had escaped his observation The fellow
remarked with smile. "Oh no. captain maybe he not
bearack' He then pointed with his gunrod spears
of grass that near the impression but did not compre'
mystery until be dismounted explained that
blowing spears of grass would be bent
toward the ground and the oeitag motion thereby
described The this explanation apparent yet
occurred that its solution would have 6aed the wits OF
Fresh tracks generally show moisture where the earth has
been turned but after short exposure TO the sun they BE-
come dry the tracks be the sand may
times where loose and dry be running back
cross water earth viii De wet for distance after they
leave it. The droppugs of the dung from animals are Sso
whether there have been rains within few days as TIE
are Of trail may sometimes be corjecured in this way 1t is
very easy whether tracks have been made before after
rain. as the water washes of All The sharp edges
difficult matter to distinguish the tracks OF Amer
from those Of Indian horses the latter never
shOd; moreover they are much smaller
In trailing horses there VIII be no trouble while the ground
so the impressions they leave will then be deep aud dis
nc but when they pass over hard or rocky ground 1t IS
sometime slow or troublesome process to follow them
there grass the trace be for considerable
time as tee grass WIN ne Suen aau O9Ht "a v 70
tlon tbs party has moyeu s1oua tAe grass nave
its upright position the tra can often BE- di;tagaled BY
direction has been puung ne grass tsat has been Turned
and this often marks q trail for long time.
Should Of the track be oberated in certain local.
ties II IL customary with the Indians 10 follow tie drec
tion 1t has been pursuing tine, and It quite probable
that in some place where the ground is favorable II viii
show Itself again should the trail not be recovered in this
~aV thew search for place where tie earth is SOFT and make
careful examination. embracing TIE eAe area |heie IL Is
Indians who find themselves pursued and wish TO escape
scatter much possible with understanding that they
are to meet agen at some point IN advance so that the pu
suing party follows one OF the tracks N w invariably
lead tie place Of rendezvous. IT, for example the trail
points the direction OF mountain pass toward any other
place which affords the only passage through particular sec
country it would not be worth while spend much
time in hunting It, would probably be Tegained at tie
pass.
no prominent landmarks and with view OF returning 10 the
point of departure pocket COMPASS sbodd always be carried
aud attached by string TO buttOlhoe OF the coat 10
vent its being lost mislaid and on starting out as well
frequently during the TRIP tose TIE bearing and examine
The appearance Of the country when ace toward the starring
point landscape presents yery different aspect when
viewed from opposite directions There are lew wne men
who their steps FOR great distance unless they
the above precautions IN passing over an unknown
country for the first time; but with the Indians sdii
feren the Of locality to be innate with them
and they do not require the aid OF The magnetic needle to guide
Unon a certain occasion when had made long march
over an unexpOred section and returning
trey route without either road trail Delaware
by the name Black Beaver who in party on
irving at particular point suddenly halted and turning 70
asked recognized the country before u.s. Seeing no
ouestion 10 OF the party all Of whom gave
the answers whereupOn he smiled and IN h quaint YER
nacuar said Irjun be don't know nothing IJnn og TOOL
pointed about 200 yards from where we were Then
standing and informed Us that our outward trail ran directly
by The side Of it which proved 10 be true.
Another time returning from the Comanche conn
try route miles distant from the one had trav
eed in going out my Delaware hunters who had
visited the section before arriving upon the crest OF an
ennence the prairie pointed out 10 ne cump OF trees m
fopDd there however disposed 10 credit his state
rpept until reached the locality and found the road passing
the identical spot he had indicated.
h. same Indian would start from any place TO which he
had gone sinuous route through unknown country
and keep direct bearing BACK 10 tne pace Of ono
foggy weather OF In the darkest nights 3st the points OF