The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-31
INDIAN SIGNAL CODE
HOW HE MAKES STICKS AND STONES
BEARERS OF HIS MESSAGES.
Devices by which Indians Communal
cnte-Trees and TwiEs That some
times Give Information.

language ana MAKE themselves easily
by signs. The writer had oc-
casion once to hire an Indian guide
from the Los Pinos agency in south
western Colorado to take him to the
Salt mountains in northern Arizona.
The trip was over one hundred miles
through a wilderness. Although the
Indian had never been over the trail
before, he set out with perfect conf
dence in his ability to lead the way.
He had received some general informa-
ton regarding the mountains and
streams, and depended entirely upon
the signs left by other Indians for the
trail. He made no mistake, but reached
his destination without for a moment
wavering as to the true direction. His
feat was the more remarkable from the
fact that the trail was crossed by many
others. and several times forked SO as
to mislead any one who had no means
Of knowing the proper direction.
While hunting on the Republican
river the writer once came upon a clus-
ter of buffalo skulls peculiarly arranged.
Sixteen skulls were set in semi-circle.
with their noses pointing down the
river. In the center of the circle was a
single skull upon which were painted
thirty-six red lines. Near the skulls
were two small sticks upright in the
ground, at the upper end OF each of
which were tied two small punches of
hair. A Pawnee Indian explained that
thirty-six Pawnees had camped there.
They had made raid against CO.
manche village of sixteen lodges and
had taken four scalps. They were now
returning home down the river. The
ordinary observer of this arrangement
would have supposed that some one had
been amusing himself by placing the
skulls in that manner.
Indians use signs of this kind for sew
eral purposes. The most common is
guidance, but they are also used to in
cicate departure, intention, condition,
warning and claim or demand. Once In
hunt with party of Utes in south
ern Colorado a rendezvous for meeting
was made before separating. On reach
ing the appointed place it was found
that one of the party was not there,
but the Indians gave the matter no con-
Germ and started back without waiting
for their companion. They said he had
gone on ahead, and showed a long stick
with bunch of grass on the end. The
stick had been stuck in the ground
leaning toward the camp. A similar
pole had been placed in position on top
Of every elevation between the rendez-
vous and the hill from which the camp
could be seen. This same sign is used
by the Indians of southern Alaska and
also by the Winnebagoes in Manitoba.
The Sioux use an erect pole with
stick in split at the top pointing in
the direction taken. Similar poles with
out the bunch of grass are used by the
Crows as we'll as the Cheyennes. The
BannockS use forked stick upright in
the ground, with the longer prong point
ing in the direction taken. Mandans
usually cross two sticks lying on the
ground, with the longer stick pointing
in the direction taken.
1t sometimes occurs that where a
party of Sioux are in temporary camp
for hunting some members of the party
may be away when the others are at
tracted by the sight of game and wish
to follow it. A pole is erected, leaning
in the direction taken, and at it's foot
is placed a fiat bone, such as a shoulder
blade of deer, on which is roughly
painted a sketch of whatever attracted
them from the camp. This is rudely
drawn with charcoal or red lead
Among the Crows and Cheyennes this
fat hone is hung on the fork of a tree
or a broken branch. In the case of the
CheyenneS the picture of the animal is
not drawn, but there is simply notifi-
cation that the party has gone after
game.
HOW THE CROWS DO 1T.
1t is sometimes the case that a band
of Crows appoint rendezvous from
which all are to return to the village.
One of the band returns before the
others and wishes to take a short trip
after game. He plants a pole three or
four feet in length in the ground, and
in the upper end makes a notch or split.
in, l, MI mic Of ot.Ir or
twig a foot or so in length. This is in
serted near the end and points in the
direction he has taken. Should he know
that he would make a turn in the trail
he bends the bark at an angle indicat-
ing the direction of the turn in his
route. Sioux on the war path expecting
reinforcements to follow place at the
camp d stick set in the ground leaning
in the direction taken, and for each
night spent at the place "a notch is cut
in the stick. A Shoshone who wishes
to inform his companions of his move
ments will place a leaning stick in the
ground pointing in the direction taken.
If his trip is short he crosses the pointer
with a short stick stuck upright in the
ground, meaning mot far il 1t is close
to the ground end and gone far if at
the other end Should he intend to go
for several days he will cross the point
ing stick with a short stick for each
stones or buffalo skulls are used to in
dictate the direction of the party. 1t is
not uncommon to see pile of stones
with a long, thin stone on top pointing.
Instead of being the result of idle la
Dor the pile means that some Indian
has given information to other Indians.
In the canyon De Chiefly, in New Mex
leo, there is a certain short cut across
the mountains. The opening of this
side canyon is wide. and the trail would
indicate that it is easy of access, but it
soon contracts and becomes almost i'm
passable. At the mouth of this place
some Indian in the past has taken upon
himself the duty of enlightening those
who might come after him. and he has
left on the rocks of the canyon an un-
mistakable indication of the condition
of the pass. A goat is there to show
that a goat can climb through, but near
by are a horse and his rider falling
over backward, indicating that if the
horse attempts TO follow the goat he
will fall on his rider To the right arc
a man and n bear track. indicating that
a man or a bear can also climb over the
rough places There are other pictures
on the rock. but they have evidently
been placed there for some different pur-
pose, as they have no meaning that can
be allied to those of the warning to
horsemen.
In many parts of the country the