The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-05-08
TALKING By THE Sun.
Signs and Flashes Used by In
dams.
THE CODE or The EsoUMAux.
Simple bas EE~esive Methods used BY
AAerigis<s 60 CoDnansesse freo
q Disfsn<e~


standing upon the top OF rocky hIis.
about two iars' journey inland from the
north shore Of Hudson's bay We had
been locking for reindeer. bat hsd seen
mere Already ne had waikei . long dis
f4zsee and crossed many hills en- route tor
il Is the Custom with the Esqulmanx. -
With the Indians. to go over the top o.
q hill rather than around IL ms
Is ncs only 20 hare 1ne lookout frora an
eEevarson, bat because Is Is Impossible 10
convince a savage that Is IS 10. the shorter
route. IL Was about noo7. and sc we're
tired so we STOPPED to rest few minutes
and 10 smoke u5pe. We had not ossn IN
the el}oymert OF these lururleS long Before
1 beard the faint sound sf 3 human vosce
borne npon the stiff wind that Was blowing
from the no-taward
/ cal ed the attention OF my companions
70 this sound. and. brushing their long
black locks from over their ears. they threw
themselves down IN the lee OF great rock
and listened They. too. heard the voice.
ani said the person calling Was 80 far on
that they could not. understand what be
said In the mean lime / swept the crest Of
q range of hills in the direction OF the voice
With my field glass, and finally male oat
the figure OF seine one who was waving
what looked ike huge piece OF cloth
passed the glass TO Seoeencktaiee. one CT
mr. guides, and he at once recognized
hunter named AiukiaT. ard said he sig
mailed as 10 come over where he was; that
there were reindeer there
The hills did not appear far Of. but il
was full hour before we reached the nan
who had sigraied Us 70 come He then
told rs tha, there were pssaty OF reindeer
beyond that line of hill, and that his tent
and that Of two other hunters were pitched
within easy reach OF the hunting grounds
he gave nay swo friends some raw venison.
and to me. as an especial favor. nice raw
tongue, from which he first, very politely.
b,t OF the hard outside skin
II vas the first raw meal l had eaten,
bat. having tasted since the previous noon.
1 had too keen an appetite to be particular
about trifies. During this little luncheon
Allktay told OF the quantity OF reindeer
near his camp and invited rs to 90 over
there with him. IL was nearly dark when .
We reached the camp and during the walk
/ had ample time to wonder how be had
succeeded in informing my companions
that there were reindeer around when too
fsr away to be heard.
could understand that be might beckon
thought about it the more was puzzled
over the method of communicating the
fact of there being good hunting grounds
where he was.
The following dav my guides, Sebeeuck-
talee and koomana. went back to bring
their tent and the old folks up TO the new
camp. and / went out to hunt with AUX
tay. During that day he explained to me
Tbs al s<,s2o I ropr,Ss ss yaxxY
interesting at the time, aud later on its use
fitness was d~naonstrassd almost daiiy
during my residence with these people
Aluktay described TO me that when an
Esquimau wished to talk with those
az q distance he would take a posi-
ton on an eminence where his body
could be plainly seen against the
sky or snow-covered hillside. With his
body placed so as TO directly face those with
whom he wishes TO communicate, be ex-
tends bis night arm and moves ii Up and
down like pamp handle. This signal
means Come here" When so far away
that the motion OF the arm can not be dis
tinctIy seen, he would take OF his coat and
using that Is flag, make the same motion
which would thus tie more conspicuous.
II was wlth his coat that he made the
signal when communicating with US the
previous day. LII after this he moved his left
arm or the coat in similar manner, but
on the lett side, he meant Bring dogs"
Then by pointing both arms nearly
straight up from the shoulder, as a rude
symbol OF the antaers OF a reindeer. be
would indicate that he had killed rsinoeer
and the number of times the arms
were raised would denote the number
killed. 50 that his friends would know how
many dogs TO bring. The reply to the
message is made by the receiver turning
his right side toward the sender and bend
ing his body forward. making right angie
at the waist. which would mean yes" in
the opposite direction would mean no
or that there vas no one 10 send. or that
there were no dogs around
Once, when on a slesige journey from
Marble island. Hudson's bay. 10 DEPOT
island. about 10 miles 20 the north ! was
three or tour DAYS behind Lieut.. Schwaska,
who was in charge OF another party OF our
Hatiye allies 0ne day We came upon foar
blocks OF snow placed upon each other
30 as 70 NIKE wide pillar.
and upon this were Sc, The
head ard 2atIeTs Of a reindeer.
This vas interpreted 20 me by my gasdes
as showing shat Iooioo2h, schEa.kA's
hunter. had killed soar reindeer there
three days before The number OF blocks
indicated the number Killed, and the nun
Der Ct days vas apparent TO nay people hy
the condition OF the snOw They knew
i was Toolooah By the way the blocks we're
cuS. could have learned very easily how
TO read The sym Dol that foar rslndeer had
been killed by somebody. bat il woald take
vass amo1nt CT experience 20 know oy
whom and the time that had elapsed
These ssvages can tell aBnisiakabsy aud
50. too. do they know from the condition
a. 10 the frost the iength OF the tine the
snow has been cuL By touching the tracks
OF the people or Wild animals they can tel
when thar passed that way almost TO an
hour ii the tracks have eeen made within
day OF two
The Indians OF the great western plasns
have now a svstsm hArGiy exceeded IN eli
cheney by the military code Of the civilized
world For many years their only means
OF eomm an.eating AZ = distance was pv
signsl fires UPON the hfiisops a. night and
bv columns Of smoke dEriag the day
They have = method. not sell known 20
those outside the native tribes. q covering
q IRE unstl 3 sufEcient ssAatItv OF
smoke has been accumulated. ben tt wai