Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-09-11
WHAT INDIAN SIGNS MEAN.
How Redmen on the Trail Communi'
cate With One Another.

As time has passed and civilization has
changed Indian conditions. says q writer
red brothers had forgotten the use OF
signs in their travels. but as 1 was lott
ering about the hills In Siskiyou county
few weeks ago came across genuine
Indian 'sign,' such as had not seen for
dozen years Or more. 1t was a simple
little sign In appearance, but II was 1uii
Of meaning to those who could read 1t.
a Ions stick with one end stuck In the
ground, the other leaning and Pointing
up the road The stick was elevated at
an angle OF only about 10 degrees from
1t told some Indian that his friend had
been along there and had gone ahead in
the direction pointed out by the stick:
l marveled at 1t, but on investigation
us signs to convey intelligence to each
other. l found that among the CocOpans,
COhuillas. Pimas and Yumas the sign Is
as much In use as ever
While travelling In San Bernardino
county some months ago 1 came across
a peculiar grouping of stones. and at
once saw that some Indian hal left a
sign. SO that all other Indians might
certain direction. The stones were lying
in complete circle; and in the center
was long. triangular stone. with the
sharp point indicating a specific direction.
The sign was plain to one versed In such
things. and In order to see II the same
sign was universal, for had seen 1t else
where. followed the direction pointed
out Nv tie long stone and found a little
spring.
This arrangement Of stones I had often
seen in dozen different places in the
Middle West and as variant which
was also found in California. I have
seen mound of stones, similar to a
miners mOn,:mcnt, with a pointed ston,
resting on top. pointing toward water.
In many parts "f the country. especially
IN the desert parts OF California and Ari
zona. the question Of water supply for
to, hot t.aNrx.
consideration. and l have known men to
pass within few hundred yards of wa
ter without knowing IT. because they
could not read Indian signs The sign
was In plain view. and was placed there
because the Indians recognized the neces-
sty Of telling all who came along that
they could find water. True. there wa.
not big board set up with 'Yater'
painted on it. hut to the initiated II was
equally plain. There Is not a trail iE all
the Southwest that runs near a spring
that does not have the sign openly dis
played. / have even seen instances where
the water was far from the regular
trail that special signs have been mad.
to t, ), show show where i Is J remember one
there was a large monument OF stones
with an extra long fiat stone on top point
ing toward the spring. After going In
this direction for some distance / came
upon another similar monument. and be-
fore got to the spring I found five dis
tin"t monuments showing the way.
SSOIuetlf1eS, however, THESE circles NAV
not mean water at all and then 1t Is
necessary to understand the intricacies
of the Indian mind to understand Just
what he Is driving at. I remember once
when ] was hunting on the Republican
river. came across a circle of buffalo
skulls. which attracted my attention be-
canse Of their peculiar arrangement. Siv-
teen SKULLS were set In a semicircie, with
heir noses pI;nting down the river In
the center Of the circle was skull on
which were painted IS rod lines. Nea.
the skulls were two small sticks placed
upright in the ground. and at the top
OF each stick were tied two bundles of
hair. Pawnee Indian was with me
and told me that Sc Pawnees had Camped
there They had made raid AGAINST 4
or lodges. and had taken four scalrs.
| They were now returnins, home down the
river. TO the ordinary observer this ar
rangement of skulls and sticks would
have given the idea that some one had
heen amusing himself by PLAYING with
these buffalo skulls. To the Indian the
arrangement was complete story