The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-31

main trail where the water trail leads
on there is always to be seen a large
heap OF stones. on top of which is
nat stone used as pointer, and along
the trail are smaller heaps of stone
leading to the spring. These stone heaps
are to be seen on all mountain trails
In the Shoshone country. The writer
knows of several instances where travel
ers suffered for want of water simply
because they We're unable TO read the
Indian signs
While hunting near the Ottawa In
dams the writer once saw a piece of
bark hanging from a tree near the trail
On the bark was rudely drawn figure
OF man with black line across his
abdomen. Surprising that it was the
work of an Indian and positive that
there was a meaning attached to 1T,
the writer took 1t down and carried il
to an Ottawa village that evening.
The chief Immediately insisted that the
bark should be taken back and hung
where it was found. and straightway
sent some of his men to see that it was
done and to carry provisions. After
reaching the spot the men followed an
other trail until they came to a lodge
where an Ottawa family was found in
distress and almost starving. The bark
sign told all Ottawas that a family
needed help. This same sign is used
by the Pottawatomies.
CROW AND SIOUX METHODS.
The Crows and Sioux strip the bark
from trees near the trail to indicate a
starving condition, and they hang
piece of smoked bark to tree to tell
passers that the inhabitants of the near
The hunters of these tribes sometimes
leave marks to tell those who pass along
their trail the luck they have had A
stick stuck in the ground with the bark
cut from one side says that the hunter
has had pook luck, cut from two sides
poorer luck, from three sides poorest
luck and from four sides the hunter
found no game and is starving. Should
the hunter exhaust his ammunition and
need more he goes to the nearest open
trail and erects two sticks leaning
toward each other, and places a cross
piece something after the shape of
rude "A" which indicates to all the
members of the tribe who may pass that
way that he has found plenty of game
and used all his ammunition and is will
ing to trade the proceeds of the hunt
for more. Should he discover a bear
and be fearful of attacking the animal
single-handed he goes to a place where
he expects other Indians to pass and
erects a pole, on top of which he places
a rude imitation of a bear made from
grass or ffbrOus roots. with the head
was last seen. The fibrous matter
forms the legs of the bear, and the size
is indicated by the size of the dummy.
Probably the most unique use of
signs among Indians is the way one In
dian duns another for a debt. In such
matters an Indian has delicacy that
puts to shame the way some civilized
people have of bounding a Door debtor.
When an Indian thinks the debt has
been owed long enough he does not
IA
but quietly slips to his debtors tepee
by night and leaves at the door bum
die of sticks. The sticks have rings
painted around one end, and are in
number equal to the number of articles
owed Sometimes the debtor ignores
this gentle hint, and then the creditor
waits with patience until some more
propitious time, when he again tries
the sticks When the dun is ignored it
is taken for granted that the debtor is
not in condition to pay up or he would
do so.
The very nature of an Indians sur
roundings compels him to be constantly
on the lookout for information regard
ing the country through which he is
travelling, and to this end he studies
every rock, blu III and tree for signs that
may enlighten him. If other Indians
have gone that way it is always posi-
BILE that he may find something which
they have left that will give him infor-
nation that may be of value to him.
Should he discover something that
would interest or instruct his friends
he is sure to leave bent twig, dis
placed stone or tangled bunch of grass
to he his silent messenger to those who
come after him. Army officers have
often received information from their
Indian scouts which has seemed mar
velous, but had they known that this
information had been entirely received
by their scouts from other Indians who
had passed along ahead of them it
would not have seemed so strange.
During General Crooks campaign
against the Chiracahua ADaches the
writer was with lieutenant and an In
dian scout crossing a ridge on a short
trail away from the main body of
troops. The scout bent forward in his
saddle and examined a little hillock On
it seemed nothing except a few bits of
twigs, some tangled grass and heap
of stone. He said that nine Apaches
had gone across the trail and were
leading three ponies which they had
stolen. They had raided Mexican
sheep herder's camp and had killed
two Mexicans. They stole the ponies
from another place and were hurrying
to get out of the country before the
soldiers came. All this information was
conveyed by the arrangement of sticks
grass and stones which had been placed
in positions by the fleeing Indians for
the information of their companions who
might come over the trail. The scout
was thoroughly versed in their signs
and told at a glance where the Indians
had got their plumber and where they
were going with it. The information
thus gained led to the capture of these
marauders and the recovery of the
stolen stock
when Worth Was Generous.
Westminster Gazette