Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-01-22
MISCELLANEOUS.
Indian Ability and Indian Skill

The name of each tribe of Indians has
signitcation, which is represented by a sign
that is we'll understood by them all.
The Camanche, or ''Snake," is indicated
by making with the hand waving motion.
IN imitation of the crawling of the reptile.
The Cayenne, "Cut ARM" by drawing the
hand across the arm to.imitate the cutting it
with knife.
Arapahoes, or "Smellers," by sc:zing the
nose with thumb and forefinger.
The Sioux or "Cut-throats, =" bv drawipr
the hand across the throat.
Tho Pawnees or "Wolves," ;" by placing the
hand on cact side of the forehead, with two
hngers pointing to the front, to represent the
narrow, sharp ears of the wolf.
Inc Crows, by initiating the tapping of
the birds wings with the palms of the hands.
On approaching strangers the prairie In
dians put their horses at tull speed and per-
sons not familiar with their peculiarities and
habits might interpret this as an act of hos
tility; but it is their custom with friends as
we'll as enemies, and should not occasion
grOundlcss alarm.
When a party is discovered approaching
: thus, aud are near enough to distinguish sig
mails, all that is necessary III order to asccr-
tain their disposition is to raise the right
hand, with the palm in front, and gradually
push it forward and back several times. They
all understand this to be a command to halt.
and it they are not hostile it will at once be
obeYed,
The astonishing aptness Of the Indians in
tracking is shown by this interesting pass
age from writer on Indian character:
Almost all the:Indians whom [ have met
with are proficient in this species of knowl>
edge, the faculty of acquiring which appears
to be innate with them. Exigencies of wood
land and prairie life stimulate the savage
from childhood to develop faculties import
ant in the acts of war and of the chase
have seen very few white men who were
good trailers, and practice did not seem very
materially to improve the faculties in this re-
gard. They have not the same acute perccp
tions of these things as the Indian or tie
Mexican. 1t is not apprehended that this
dlthcult branch OF wOodcratt be taught
from books, as it pertains almost exclusively
to the school OF practice; yet [ will give
some facts relating to the habits of the Indi-
ans that will facilitate tue acquiremeut
A party Of Indians, for example, starting
on . war excursion, leave their families be-
hind, aud never transport their lodges; but,
when they move their families, they carry
their lodges and other effects,
If, therefore, an Indian trail is discovered
with the lodge poles upon it, it has certainly
wv OCou hiEeuc Wy d war party DuG II the
track do not show the trace of the lodge poles,
it will be equally certain that war or hunt.
ing party has passed that way, and if it is
not desired to come in conflict with them.
their direction may be avoided
An INDIAN on coming to a trail, will gen.
orally tell at a glance its age, by what partic-
utar tribe it was made, the number of the
party, and many other things connected with
it astounding to tho uninitiatcd.
| remember upon one occasion, as was ri
ding with a Delaware upon the prarics, we
crossed the trail of large party of Indians
travelling with lodges. The tracks appeared
to me to be quite fresh, and l remarked to
the Indian that we must be quite near the
party. ooh, no." said he, ''the trail was
made two days before, in the morning." at
the same time pointing to where the sun
would be at about 8 o'clock.
Then seeing my curiosity was excited to
know by what means he arrived at this con-
clusion, he called my attention to the fact that
there had been no dew for the last two nights,
but on the previous morning it had been
heavy He then pointed out to me some
spears a grass that had been pressed down
into the earth by horses hoois, upon which
the sand still adhered, having dried on, thus
clearly showing that the grass was wet when
the tracks were made.