Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-09-24
INDIANS ON The Trail.
The Methods Used by the Red
Men to Communicate.

/. = 5s sss isiSh w commandments $%ss
SIGNS THAT SPEAK VOLUMES
Sticks and Stones Have a Language Of
Their Own and Serve TO Indicate Di-
rection, Departure, Intention, Warn
ing, Claim or Demand.
As time has passed aud civilization
has changed Indian conditions, was
under the impression that our red
brothers had forgotten the use of
signs in their travels, but as / was
lettering about the hills in Siskiyou
county some time ago came across
a genuine Indian sign such as | had
not seen for a dozen years before 1t
was a simple little sign in appearance,
but it was full of meaning to those.
who could read tia long stick with
one end stuck in the ground, the other
leaning and pointing DIP the road The
stick was elevated at an angle of only
about ten 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.
marveled at 1t, but on inyestiga-
ton found that the Indians of Califor-
mia still use signs to convey intelli-
genee to each EACH found that
among the Cocopahs, Cohuillas, Pimas
and Yumas the sign is as much in. use
as ever.
While travelling in San Bernardino
county later on came across a sDecu-
liar grouping of stones, and at once
saw that some Indian had left d sign
so that all other Indians might know
that water was to be found in a GER
tain direction. The stones were lying
in a complete circle, and in the center
was long triangular stone with the
sharp point indicating a specific direc-:
ton. The sign was plain to one yersed
In such things. and in order to see If
the same sign was universal, for had
seen 1t elsewhere, ! followed the direc-
ton pointed out by the long stone and
IOulu d5l1LllGE SpTluS
This arrangement Of stones / had
often seen in dozen different places
In the middle west and as variant
which was also found In California.
have seen mound of stones similar
to miners monument. with pointed
stone resting on top, pointing toward
water. In many parts of the country,
especially in the desert parts Of Call
fornia and Arizona, the question of
water supply for travellers is one that
requires serious consideration, and
have known men to pass within few
hundred yards of water without know
Ing it, because they could not read In
dian signs. The sign was in plain
view and was placed there because the
Indians recognized the necessity Of tell
ing all who came along that they could
find water. True, there was not a big
board set up with Water painted on
1t, but to the initiated it was equally
plain. There is not trail in all the.
southwest that runs near a spring that
does not have the sign openly display
ed. have even seen instances where
the water was SO far from the regular
trail that special signs have been made
to show where it is.
Sometimes, however, these circles
may not mean water at all, and then
1T is necessary to understand the mtri-
cacies of the Indian mind to understand
just what he is driving at | remem-
Der once when was hunting on the
Republican river came across d circle
of buffalo skulls, which attracted nv
attention because Of their peculiar ar
rangement, Sixteen skulls were set in
a semicircle with their noses pointing
down the river. In the center of the
circle was q skull on which were paint
ed thirty-six red lines. Near the skulls
were two small sticks placed upright In
the ground, and at the top of each
stick We're tied two bundles OF hair.
A PaWnee Indian was with me and
told me that thirty six Pawnees had
camped there They had made raid
against a camp of Comanches contain
ing sixteen tents or lodges and had
sfaken four scalps. They were now re,
turning home down the river TO the
ordinary observer this arrangement OF
skulls and sticks would have given nc
more impression than the idea that
some one had been amusing himself by
! playing with these buffalo skulls Tc
the Indian the arrangement was q
complete story. &
Indians use signs for several specific
purposes, the most prevalent being that
OF guidance, but they are also used FOL
direction, departure, intention, condi
ton, warning and claim or demand. j
| was hunting with a party of Utes ID
| south western Colorado, and We had
separated with the understanding thai
1 we We're to meet again at d specified
place and all 90 back 10 the village to.
getier. On reaching the appointed
place one Of the party was not there
but the rest started to the village, pay.
Ing no attention TO his nonappearance
asked IL they were not going to wait
Until he came back, but they said bic
had been there and had gone on to tile
i village without waiting for lla II, co,y,,e