198 EELIQTJL& AQUITANIC^l. 



not only for individuals, but also for whole tribes, are marks or figures made as 

 distinctive signs, either on their weapons or persons and this not merely after 

 the fashion of the " Totem " of the North-American, or the " Plaid " of the High- 

 lander, but by a more definite sign-manual*, such as is described in the following 

 extract from " The Red Men of To-day " (especially in Colorado), ' Chambers's 

 Journal,' Series 4, No. 463, November 9, 1872, pages 725 and 726 : 



" Each tribe, as has often heen told, has its distinctive signs, but I had no idea that these were carried 

 into minute details. No Ute arrow can ever be mistaken for an Apache arrow, or vice versa. One always 

 has a rounded point, or rather end, the other always a sharp one ; and on the wooden shaft of the weapon 

 are signs, telh'ng to the initiated what tribe it was discharged by. This last sign consists of a sort of zigzag 

 line in each case, but being large and small in different places according to the tribe. The Ute always 

 makes his zigzag large in the same spot, dwindling almost to a straight line in others ; while the Apache 

 has his traditional curving; and from these rules they never deviate. As for exchanging marks ! why, an 

 Apache will not allow the Ute sign to be drawn in his presence as I once discovered by the actions of a 

 strapping young warrior, a son of the great Apache chief Jose Largo. This young man, by-the-by, said 

 his name was Juan ; so I asked him what it was in Indiano, and he told me ' George.' I had my doubts. 

 He drew the Apache sign readily enough, but would not touch the Ute ; and when I tried to show him, he 

 put his hand heavily on the paper, and said ' No ! No Ute ! ' and as I persevered, he grew more vociferous, 

 till I judged it best to give in. The tribes have, of course, their characteristic paints ; and hideous enough 

 they look in them. The Utes paint three white bars on each cheek ; the Apaches, three black ones : that 

 is, they do so when they are very careful ; sometimes it appears merely a few daubs of white or black paint. 

 The Ute colours are much more awful and ghastly than the Apaches', as on their brown skins black does 

 not make so frightful a contrast as does white." 



11. Other and different instances of what may have been the private mark of 

 the primitive Hunter occur on at least two of the large sub cylindrical Dart-heads 

 with wedge-like butts f, such as are figured in B. Plate IX. figs. 2 and 7. These 

 curious inscriptive markings (if not imperfect attempts at definite patterns) con- 

 sist of sixteen or seventeen shallow transverse cuts at various angles, rarely per- 

 pendicular to the edge, but sloping parallel with, or, more often, towards each 

 other (but without crossing), like a row of imperfect V, A, M, and Ns, irregularly 

 arranged, see figs. 10 and 11, B. Plate XXVI. 



12. Some of these, as well as the more elaborate carvings, may have been idle 

 whittlings ; some, very probably, were signs of Ownership ; and it may be that 

 some at least of the marks and signs above described or alluded to had the 

 value of a Charm in the eyes of the Aborigines an idea well expressed by 



* "Hast thou a mark to thyself ?"'(/ac& Cade in 'Henry VI.' Part 2, Act iv. Sc. 2). 



t We may mention that, of course, we do not allude to the scoring on the bevelled faces of the butt-ends, 

 which have been cut down and scraped with flint tools, and afterwards scored over for firmer fixing in 

 the haft, 



