The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-09-17
WHAT INDIAN SIGNS MEAN.
HOW Red Hen on the TfaB Com
mlnlrate Win cns Az

AS lime las IA ssed
mss change "a Indian cundi tons W. 81
untier the inpE essions says writer
In The san Fran eico Chronicle that
our red brothers had forgotten the use
Of signs in their travels. but as 4 was
lettering about the hills In siskiyopt
county a few weeks ago j came across
a genuine Indian Sign, snch as J
had not seen for 4 dozen years orI
more. 1t was simple little sign in
appearance, but It was full ofmeaning
to those who could read It. A long
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 abouts10 degrees from
the ground and was supported on a
stone. 1t told some Indian that his
friend had been along there and had
gone ahead in the direction pointed
out by the stick.
/.
/ maryeiled at it, but on investiga-
ton found that the Indians of Cali.
fornia still use signs to convey intelli.
gence to each other. found that
among the Cocopahs, sohuillas, Pimas
and Yumas the sign is as much in
use as ever.
While travelling in San Bernardino
county some months ago came across
a peculiar grouping Of stones, and at
once saw that some Indian had left
a sign; SO that all other Indians might
know that water was to be found in a
certain direction. The stones were
lying in h complete circle, and in the
center was a long triangular stone,
with the sharp point indicating a spe.
ciflc direction. The sign was plain to
one versed in such things and in or.
der to see II the same sign was UNI
versal. for had seen it elewhere, J
followed the direction pointed out BY
the long stone and found a llttle
spring.
This arrangement OF stones had
often seen in dozen different places
in the Middle West, and as a variant
which was also found in California,
have seen a mound of stones, similar
to a miners monument, with a point
ed stone resting on top, pointing to-
ward water. In many parts of the
country, especially in the desert parts
of California and Arizona, the qles.
ton of water supply for travellers is
one That requires serious considera.
ton, and have known men to pass
within few hundred yards of water
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
necessity Of telling all who came along
that hey could Ind water TRUE, there
was not big board set up with wat
er" painted on II. but to the initiated
it was equally plain. There is not a
trsil IL all the Southwest that runs
near spring that does not have the
sign openly displayed. have even
seen instances where the water was
sosfar from the regular trail that spe.
cial signs have been made to show
wherelit is I ~emembef one instance
among tie shoskones where there was
large monument of stones with IN
extra long hat s'ohc On top p,.unng
coward the s!:;uE. 81 er going =. 10, $
dire :'tn. for some distance cam; lp.
on a!"ther similar r,o' ument, ara be"
fore | got to :he s, ting foI!l n;e
distinct 'loaanenSs Slowing the waV.
Sometimes, 40 tver, these >ir.:es
may not mean Sttnr at all, and :nrn
Il - accessory to taG.rstand lr IL.
tri:ac!cs IT the I:;dian mind to r.AGe.:
stand J,.S' what lie is driving at. r;
n,Ell "r aEce when was hunting IN
ii" Republican River. | came a .uss
a circ:e Of suirs'a SKULLS, VIII th at.
tractrd ~ attention because IT rn,'r
peculiar arrangement. Sixteen skullS
1Wyrn chi IN a .r,t n,volo ,,y; =, q; &,