The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1901-12-03
HERALDRY OF INDIANS.
MARKS ON FACE NOT THE RESULT
OF SAVAGE VANITY.

This Method of Adornment Represents
Family and Race Distinction Study OF
the Facial Bearings OF Celebrated Chiefs
is Fascinating.
People in general have been content
to look upon the Indians adornment of
his head with eagle feathers and his face
with paint as marks OF personal dccora-
ton inspired by vanity and a savage
taste, different only in degree from
what is sometimes witnessed among
highly civilized people But the fact is
that IN preference TO the latter custom,
Tor instance, every paint mark on an
indians face has a sort OF heraldic
meaning, implying not only the honors
won by the brave in person, but rep.c-
Scniing also the claims of his family
and race to distinction. In other words,
what are shown among more cultured
communities by coats of arms. orders
and decorations is depicted by the In
dian on his face by means OF pigments.
Scientists arc now engaged. among
other novel Investigations concerning
the North American Indians. in compil-
ing a record OF the armorial. or rather
facial. bearings Of certain celebrated
chiefs, and II is said 10 DC fascinating
work One renowned warrior, for in
stance. Will have his lip painted a cop
per color. This is found to indicate
that his tribe was once in possession of
huge mine, of copper. Another indi-
yidual will have his forehead adorned
with a painting OF certain fish, thus
implying that he or his people are re-
nowncd for prowcsS in catching fish.
The same distinguished person some
times wears disk OF pearl in addition
TO his paint mask This by its .him-
mering radiance and its forms, implies
that he is descended from the moon, in
the sense that the goddess o( night is
one OF his ancestors.
The fact that the Indian has no con
cepuon OF perspective seriously handi-
caps the success of his efforts at pictor-
ial art Indeed, the Indian Inner mere
ly aims TO show the most characteristic
portions of the object he attempts to
depict, unless he be man of great at
tainmentS, in which case he divides or
dis Gets the subject of his picture and
represents the whole by its parts, the
latter being arranged entirely rrcsptc-
tive OF the natural sequence.
The features of the Indian are SOME
times incorporated into the representa-
ton OF the animal which forms his her
aldic bearing. Should the beaver, for
example. be the object to be depicted it
is not attempted to design the whole
form OF the animal, but only it, distinct
i've and typical parts, as. for instance,
It's peculiar tail which is painted in
criss-cross lines extending from the
chin to the nose as though standing up
right. The chin itself does service as
the beavers body
The arbitrary methods Of the Indian
aru render it difficult, if not impossi-
bic, for any but an expert to interpret
the meanings Of the pictorial reprcsen-
tationS. Thus. an animals ears are in
variaby depicted above tie eyes on the
human subject, the ears Of the beaver
being just above the eyebrows. On the
checks are painted the paws in a posi-
ton as though they were raised to the
mouth in the manner conventional in
Indian carvings.
The doghsh painted in red upon the
face dcsignates the members of an en-
tire tribe On the forcheads OF the
members of this tribe is painted the
long. thin suout; the gills are represent
ed by two curved lines below the eyes.
while the tail is shown as cut in two
and hanging from each nostril. Only
one or two parts OF an animal painted
on an Indians face indicate that he is
OF an inferior position; the entire sym
Dol. no matter in what form pre- .ented,
is significant of lofty station and high
honors
The facial hcraldry Of the Indian may
he said to be unique not alone in the
method OF representation employed. but
in the subjects selected. These latter
include FISH. flesh and fowl of III le-
scrip,ions-dog salmon, devilfsh star
fish. woodpcckcrs, ravcn.. eagles. bears.
wolves and frogs arc comprised in the
aTmorial gallery.
Every object represented has its own
particular significance, and one Of the
most peculiar phases of face painting
relates 90 tie employment of forms
other than animal tools. implements
OF the chase or of war. dcnoung the oc-
cupa,ion of the individual or his tribe.
" dShWgioH Times.