The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1898-01-04

tlOn or their history, customs ana
religion from relics and legends.
Soon after the tribes were
united, they made war on a Poop
lie occupying the country being
on the southern side of the noun
tains of northern Nevada, and
this war lasted for generations.
1t was from this people that they
first learned the use of, and OBJ
tanned dogs, and later horses.
They probably having gotten
them from the more southern
tribes. I have reason to believe
that the Aztecs came up as far
north as the southern bank of
Snake river, for | found several
pieces of pottery that look very
much like their work, and must
have been for no other tribe in
habiting this northern country
made any such article. They
were merely fragments, yet they
were once used by people, so
they are as good evidence as they
would be if in perfect condition.
The Aztec race were pretty
far advanced up the ladder of
civilization when the Armorees
first came into the land, and no
doubt they explored the country,
and, bringing their cooking uten-
sils along, and they being made
of clay, were easily broken, and
when broken could not be mend
ed, the fragments were left at
their old camp grounds to be
found by, and set the student
wandering.
l do not think it was anything
more than an exploring expedi-
ton, for the land of the Aztecs
was far more desirable then this
northern country, and was too
much land there for their numb
er as it was and they had no need
to conquer more. Though it is
possible it was az invasion.
Our friends carried their war
along for many years and devel-
oped quite system of defences.
Nearly every butte in the
country has wall of stone on it's
summit, that was used for SEN
tinel and signal station. They
used fire at night, and smoke in
the day to make their signals,
of which they had a more or less
perfect code. Another way they
had for signaling in daytime was
by circling around in a line, and
each warrior kicked up as much
dust as it was convenient for one
individual to raise, which arose
high in the air and could be seen
for miles, by changing their pos
ition. They made different signs
which were understood by their
members on some distant hill.
Fires were lighted at night and
by letting some shine, while 9TH
ers were shaded, they conveyed
the intelligence to their chiefs
of the movements of their own
and their enemies army. Smoke
was used in this wise Brush
and grass were piled together
and dampened with water; then
fire was applied, when a dense
smoke arose, and by the use of a
robe of skins, held by two or
more warriors, over the smudge,
the smoke was compelled to rise
in alternate puffs and columns,
as desired, by the removal or re-
turn of the robe.
This mode of signaling was
the best for long distances, but
more easily understood by the
enemy than dust signals would
be, for the latter was apt to be
taken for a bunch of antelope or
deer. Whereas the other was
smoke and could not be mistaken
for anything else.
1t was along about this period
that the art of dressing skins
was discovered, or learned (most
likely learned from other people)
and then the warriors blossomed
out in gorgeous raiment. What
with feathers, shells and tanned
skins, and the various colored
stains they possessed, could they
not make ?
One way of trapping game that
they used, was quantity of
stones mixed with logs and brush
were laid up in the form of o
correll with high wings extend
ing V fashion from each side of
the gate, or opening in the side.
These wings were sometimes
two hundred yards in length and
one hundred and fifty yards apart
az the wider ends, but were con-
nected with the correl at the mar
row ends. The trap being made,
the hunters mounted on their
fastest horses, went in search of
prey, scattering out in long