1892-93.] 



NOTES ON THE WESTEBN DENES. 



211 



short distance off. You need not be in a hurry". C has the opposite 

 meaning : "we are going to camp a long distance from here ; hurry up!" 

 By disposing the stick as shown in d, the natives are understood to say : 

 ^'we have turned back awhile, but finally gone on." E is intended to 

 represent a piece of burnt rag hanging from a bent down rod ; it is the 

 signal of famine and an appeal for help, the direction of the stick always 



/ 



Fig. 198. 



pointing to the trail of the distressed party. If, instead of parched rags, 

 an abundance of cariboo or moose hair is to be seen on the stick, the 

 reading must be just the reverse. It is then a notification that the party 

 has killed plenty of cariboo or of mocse, and, at the same time, an in- 

 vitation to go and help dispose of them. i^ is a small bunch of dry 

 grass wherein a small rod has been driven as an indication that a member 

 of the band has been shot. Lastly, when a short stick is found hanging 

 across the trail, as shown in g, everybody will understand that a person 

 in the preceding party has come to his death from natural causes. 



