The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1901-10-04

frimittN" Aruatss
The study Of the sign language OF
tho red man Is a fascinating one. Per-
haps the simplest form OF their picture
writing Is that on the grave-head
memorials OF their chiefs These are
boards or posts. set up and inscribed
with certain symbols The depicting
OF figures upside down denotes death
and return TO earth. and figures thus
inscribed are often seen In Indian cpl
taphs. In other cases the idea OF
death Is Indicated by a cross with two
spaces filled in. making q figure some
what OF the hourglass shape. on a
post set up about 100 years ago
unique inscription is TO be read. .
reindeer az the top Is the totem mark I
OF the deceased and his family. and is I
depicted upside down for the reason /
explained. To the left OF this figure |
are seven transverse marks. meaning /
that the dead chief had led seven war /
parties. Three vertical marks below |
mean three wounds received In battle, /
A moose's head tells OF a desperate |
struggle with an Infatuated animal OF
that sort. and a Ratchet and pipe indi- |
cate great influence in peace and war
Another post. simply inscribed with
the figure OF bear with three horizon
tai lines below Il. shows that the de-
parted hunter was OF the Bear clan
or family. and that he had attended
three war parties. An interesting ex-
ample Of Indian picture writing was
found some time ago in the Comanche
country In Texas. The inscription,
which dates back to the time when
Spain was still engaged in American
conquest. is upon the shoulder blade OF
buffalo. mounted Indian IL de-
picted killing with a spear a spaniard
armed with n gun, the tragedy being
enacted in the presence Of the disputed
buffalo Itself. who. In a piebald or
semi-sltnned condition. Is contc nplat-
Ing the contest from a lower part OF
the picture An elegant scroll line by
the side Of the evidently doomed Span
lard expresses the clrcultous route by
which the Indian followed his enemy.
The length OF body and shortness OF
legs OF the horse would seem to denote
that II belonged 70 a dachshund variety
OF equines. while. 10 the unlnltiated
/ observer the buffalo somewhat resem-
bles a coclroach. Several examples Of
| what appear 10 be the artistic efforts
| OF very juvenile scholar In the alb
sonce Of his teachers observation have
been interpreted by an expert. One
/ ,,t.t,,-. .a,t,tus t,,.o nuuraa raunnfaIv
in the likeness OF humanity. One
holds, or Is supposed TO hold-for the
members OF that body capable OF that
operation are represented by two
straight llnes-somethlng not ae-
curately defined. The purpose Of the
remaining actor In the scene repre-
scented Is rather clearer. He Is depict
ed in the act OF letting on an an
tique frelock aimed direct at the other.
BY the side OF the individual with the
frelock are n bundle and a tree. The
whole is a trespass notice, and n very
strong hint 10 the passerby OF what he
may expect from the property owner
should he attempt TO nlch any Of the
lattor's goods.
The composition may be divided. for
the purpose OF description, into two
chief rows OF figures and objects,
while at the lower corners are depleted
bird and turtle. The figures all
resemble those Juvenile efforts TO rop-
resent the human form before the ar
tlstlo asplrant has attained n knowl-
edge OF anatomy or perspective. A fg-
uro at the end OF the second row rep
resents the subaltern officer In charge
OF the guard OF United States troops.
This military parsonage Is distinguish
cd by a curly line intended to repre-
sent his sword. Next 10 him Ia the
secretary OF the expedition. as shown
by the thing In his hand, which 10 said
10 be a book. Next ia the geologist
and the weapon with which he ap-
pears TO be attacking the secretary's
head Ia his geological. hammer. Two
assitsantB and the interpreter are also
graphically depicted. Just above is a
row OF infantry soldiers. their guns be-
ing represented In separate row. By
the side OF each OF the principal rows
IL something intended 10 represent a
IRE. TO show that the soldiers had a
separate FIRE and mess. The bird and
turtle denote the results OF the preced-
ing days chase, cooked las indicated
by another fire) and eaten. The
guides, who are Indians and represent
cd In the second row. have their race
designated by the absence OF hats,
which are to be seen on all the other
figures denotlng that they are white