The daily sentinel., 1912-10-01

seems to point to antiquity.
Finally, what do these inscriptions
mean? What is the purpose of such
an inscription as is found on our
rock in No-Thoroughfare Canon?
sdere again is question that up to
date has not certainly been answered
by scientists. Partly for this reason:
If we knew who drew the petro-
slyph, to what tribe he belonged
what its traditions, history, habits.
customs, costumes, tribal designa-
tions, etc, we might interpret the
drawing, since all of these things
have a bearing ON tho incised char
acter and are necessary to its inter
probation, since tribal and personal
characteristics affect the drawing
But enough is known about them to
determine in a general way the pur-
pose and meaning of some of them
An especially convenient place for
halting and resting on Journey,
either by land or water, will gener-
ally exhibit petroglyphs If rocks of
t e proper character are favorably
situated here. A lone Indian viii
make halt and a rest; and very
much in the same spirit that induces
the white man to inflict his name on
ire long-sunerinG public on objects
N places of general interest, our In
aiau VIII carve his totem sign. But
most OF the petroglyphs are far from
being these mere gratiiiti, or the pro-
duct OF leisure moments Fortunately
We are not Obliged to record of the
metre glypfs what we must often say
modern autographiC inscriptions:
FOOLS names are found in pubuc
Niaces! Often the totem marks are
'or the purpose OF recording the visit
Of an individual to some spring,
i7rd, or along some trail. etc. The
real utility of such an inscription as
this is somewhat the same as when n
white man puts his name on hotel
register or in visitors book at some
public building, to establish his ideu-
tity and to- give, news to his friends of
MS presence and passage At Oakley
Springs, in Arizona, totemic marks
nave been found. evidently made by
ne same individual at successive Wis
ITS. showing that on the number Of
occasions Indicated he had passed by
those springs. probably camping
here IN the famous ripestnne quar-
"'"s of Minnesota. totemic names are
fo"nd in great numbers. aud also al
some old fords in West Virginia.
1t may be that our rock in No
4horoughfare Canon marks an old
trail, much used by the Indians. and
that the petroglyphs found thereon
are either records of passing In
dians in the old days or directions of
the trail, perhaps records of eN-
ploits OF hunting expeditions or eXpe-
aitions OF war. The elk and the hu-
mau figures plainly seen ON the rock
would lead TO this inference. Many
OF the other marks are perhaps TO-
temlc. In the lake regions of the
horth' rock carvings are frequently
noticed at waterfalls and other points
on rivers and lake shores favorable
Tor nshing, and the petroglyphs there
mark their stay and occasionally is
found records of conflict with rival
tribes which sought to use tho same
waters. Sometimes the characters
on the ruck-pictures ara pointers or
slsu-posts' TO show teh direction of
springs, the lines of an established
tran or short cuts, Probably that Is
the meaning of some of the marks ON
our rock Sometimes the petro-
slyphs are supposed to be secret in
dications of directions 10 burial
mounds, other places of peculiar
sanelly or interest, and sometimes TO
mines and buried treasure. II should
be said, finally, that a large proper
ton of the petroglyphs In America
are connected with the myths and re-
ligious practices of their authors
HoW We know this conclusiyely is