The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-01-07

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Primitive Artists.
The study of the sign language of
the red man is a fascinating one. Per-
lhaps 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 filed in, making a figure some
what of the hourglass shape. On a
post set up about 100 years & a
unique inscription is to be read. A
reindeer at the top is the totem mark
of the deceased 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 indi-
cate great influence in peace and war.
Another post, simply inscribed with
the figure Of a bear with three horizon
tai lines below it, 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 bach to the time when
Spain was still engaged in American
conquest, is upon the shoulder blade Of
a buffalo. A mounted Indian is de-
picted killing with a spear a Spaniard
armed with a gum, the tragedy being
enacted in the presence of the disputed
buffalo itself, who, in a piebald or
semi-skinned condition, is contenplat-
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 circuitous route by
which the Indian followed his enemy.
The length of body and shortness of
legs of the horse would seem to denote
hat 1t belongedto a "dachshund variety
of equines, while, to the uninitiated
observer the buffalo somewhat resem-
bles a cockroach. Several examples of
what appear to be the artistic efforts
of a very Juvenile scholar in the alb
sence of his teachers observation nave
been interpreted by an expert. One
picture contains two figures remotely
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 lines-something not ac-
c~urately defined. The purpose of the
remaining actor in the scene repre-
scented is rather clearer. He is depict
ed in the act of letting off" an a
tique firelock aimed direct at the other.
BY the side of the individual with the
.~irelock are a bundle and a 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 to fitch any of the
latter'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 depicted
a bird and a turtle. The figures all
resemble those juvenile efforts to rep
resent the human form before the ar
tistic aspirant has attained a knowl-
edge of anatomy or perspective. A fig
ure 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
ed by q curly line intended to repre-
sent his sword. Next to him is the
secretary OF the expedition, as shown
by the thing in his hand, which Is said
TO be a book. Next is the g~eologist
and the weapon with which he APP
pears to be attacking the secretary's
head Is his geological hammer. Two
assistants and the interpreter are also
graphically depicted. Just above is a
row of infantry soldiers, their guns be-
Eng represented in a separate row. BY
the side of each of the principal rows
Is something intended to represent q
fire, to show that the soldiers had a
separate fire and mess. The bird and
turtle denote the results of the proceed
ing days chase, cooked (as indicated
by another fre) and eaten. The
guides, who are Indians and represent
ed in the second row, have their race
designated by the absence of hats,
which are to be seen on all the Other
figures ~denoting that they are white
men. 1t is to be noted that the India1
artist has drawn the figures Of him.
self and. his companion at least twice
as large as any of the ''palefaces." -
Washington Times.