The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1908-03-04
INDIANS ON The TRAIL
The Methods Used by the Red
Men to Communicate.

me Meln00S OSeU py llle hep
Men to Communicate.
SIGNS THAT SPEAK VOLUMES
Sticks and Stones Have Language Of
Their Own and Serve to Indicate Di-
rection, Departure, Intention, Warn
inc, Claim or Demand.
AS time has passed and civilization
has changed Indian conditions, was
under the impression that our red
brothers had forgotten the use OF
signs in their travels, but as l was
lettering about the hills in Siskiyou
county some time ago l came across
q genuine Indian sign such as l had
not seen for dozen years before. 1t
was a simple little sign in appearance,
but it was full Of meaning to those
who could read it-a long stick with
one end stuck n the ground, the other
leaning and pointing up the road. The
stick was elevated at all 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.
I marveled at it, but on lnvestiGa-
ton found that the Indians Of Califor-
MIA still use signs to convey intelll-
eence to each each. l found that
among the Cocopahs, Cohuillas, Pimas
and Yunss the sign is as much in use
as ever.
While travelling in San Bernardiro
county later on came across pecu-
liar grouping Of stones, and at once
saw that some Indian haG left q sign
so that all other Indians might know
that water was to be found III a GER
tain direction. The stones We're lying
in complete circle, and in the cente:
was a long triangular stone with the
sharp point indicating a specific direc-
ton The sign was plain to one versed
in such things. and in order to sec if
the same sign was universal, for had
seen it elsewhere, followed the direc-
ton pointed out by the long stone and
found q little spring.
This arrangement Of stones had
often seen in a dozen different places
in the middle west and as a variant
which was also found N 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 Cali
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 big
board set up with Water painted on
it, but to the initiated it was equally
plain. There is not a trail in all the
southwest that runs near q spring that
does not have the sign openly display
ed. I have even seen instances where
the water vas 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
it is necessary to understand the intri-
cacies of the Indian mind to understand
just what he is driving at. remem-
Der once when I was hunting on the
Republican river came across circle
Of buffalo skulls, which attracted my
attention because of their peculiar ar
rangeulent Sixteen skulls were set in
a semicircle with their noses pointing
down the river. In the center Of the
circle was a 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 were tied two bundles Of hair.
A Pawnee Indian was with me and
told me that thirty-siX Pawnees had
canped there. They had made raid
against camp Of Comanches contain
ing sixteen tents or lodges and had
taken four scalps. They were low re-
turning home down the river. To the
ordinary observer this arrangement of
skulls and sticks would have given no
more impression than the idea that
some one had been amusing himself by
playing with these buffalo skulls. To
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 for
direction, departure, intention, condi-
ton, warning and claim or demand.
was hunting with party of Utes in
southwestern Colorado, and we had
separated with the understanding that
we We're to meet again at 4 specified
place and all go back to the village to-
gether. 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 if they were not going to wait
until he came back, but they said be
had been there and had gone on to the
village without waiting for US to come
up. When l expressed surprise was
shown long stick standing in the
trail with bunch of grass fastened to
It's top. The stick was leaning toward
the village, and this told the story Of
the missing man as plainly as if he
had written a letter about it. found
that a similar stick had been erected
at the top of every hill between there
and where the village could be seen.
He took 10 chances of the sticks fall
car