The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-18
INDIAN PICTURE WRITING.
TRANSACTIONS of Curious Inscrip-
tons Carved by the Red Men.
Students Awaiting n Publication ON
the Subject by Colonel Scott-Re-
suits of His Research, 1t Is
Thought, VIII he of Great Value.

the Subject by Colonel Scott-Re-
suits of His Research, 1t Ii
Thought, VIII he of Great Value.
The subject of the picture writing of
the Indians of this country is becom-
ing one of engrossing interest to Gov
eminent scientists whose work lies
along the lines of anthropology and
of deplofable concern that Colonel
Scott, who is, according to Prof. w ]
MCGEE, of the Bureau of Ethnology,
the greatest living expert on the sub
ject OF the Indian sign language is, at
present. serving with his regiment in
Cuba and is not enabled to conduct the
special researches to which he would
otherwise be assigned by the bureau
of which he is member. 1t is fur
Their to be lamented that Colonel Scott,
Notwithstanding his vast store of
unique information concerning the sign
language, has, thus far, written moth
ing upon that subject, although it is
believed he Is contemplating an ex-
haustive treatise. Before Colonel Scott
went to Cuba he offered a prize to any
one who could pose" him on any sign
in the Indian vocabulary. and it is said
that the reward has yet to be claimed.
although many efforts were made to
puzzle the colonel by Indians and
others.
The study of the sign language of the
red man is a fascinating one Perhaps
the simplest form Of their picture writ
ing is that on the grave-head memoir
ials Of their chiefs. These are boards,
or posts, set up and inscribed with
certain symbols. The depicting of fig
ures upside down denotes death and
scribed are often seen in Indian cpl
taphs. In other cases the idea of death
is indicated by cross with two spaces
filled in. making a figure somewhat of
the hourglass shape. On a post set
UP about hundred years ago a unique
inscription is 20 be read. A reindeer
at the top is the totem mark of the de-
ceased and his family, and is 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 indicate great in
fiuence in peace and war. Another
post, simply inscribed with the figure
of bear with three horizontal lines
below it, shows that the departed
hunter was of the Bear clan or family,
and that he had attended three war
parties.
An interesting example Of Indian
picture writing was found some time
ago in the Comanche country in Texas.
The inscription, which dates back to
the times when Spain was still engaged
in American conquest, is upon the
shoulder blade of buffalo. 1t tells of
the competition between the white and
red races for the hunting of the buffalo.
A mounted Indian is depicted killing
with a spear Spaniard armed with a
gun, the tragedy being enacted in the
presence of the disputed buffalo itself,
who, in piebald or semi skinned con-
dition, is contemplating the contest
from lower part of the picture. An
elegant scroll line by the side Of the
evidently doomed Spaniard expresses
the circuitous route by which the In
dian followed his enemy. The length
Of body and shortness of legs of the
horse would seem to denote that it be-
longed to dachshund variety of
equines. while, to the uninitiated OBJ
server, the buffalo somewhat resembles
a cockroach.
Several examples OF what appear to
scholar in the absence of his teachers
observation have been interpreted by
an expert. One picture contains two
figures remotely in the likeness of hui
mainly. One. holds, or is supposed to
hold-for the members of that body
capable of that operation are repre-
;ented by two straight lines-something
not accurately defined. The purpose
Of the remaining actor in the scene
picted in the act of letting off, an
antique firelock aimed direct at the
other. BY the side of the individual
with the firelock are bundle and tree
The whole is a trespass notice, and a
very strong hint to the passerby of
what he may expect from the property
owner should he attempt 10 fitch any
Of the latter's goods.
Concerning another curious produc
ton an interesting story is told.
the historiographer of the
indians, accompanied by a party and
guided by two Indians, made a journey
in 1920. The party lost its way in a
forest, and after camping for the night
were about to start again when it was
perceived that the Indian guides had
made d sketch on a piece of birch bark
and had fixed it at the top of a pole,
which they had stuck in the ground
with an inclination toward the direc
ton the explorers were taking 1t was
l message for anybody who might pass
that way, telling of the encampment
and the nature of the party.
The composition may be divided, for |
the purpose of description. into two |
thief rows of figures and objects. while |
At the lower corner are depicted bird |
and turtle. The figures all resemble |
hose juvenile efforts to represent the |
human form before the artistic aspi- |
ant has attained knowledge of anat- |
omy or perspective. a figure at the |
md of the second row represents the |
;ubaltern officer in charge of the guard |
If United States troops.
This military parsonage is distin- |
,uished by a curly line intended to rep |
resent his sword. Next to him is the |
secretary of the expedition, as shown |
BY the thing IN his hand which is said |