MALLEBr.l QUIFU — NOTCHED STICKS. 81 



meuts to dispose of native blankets, skius, and robes. The man dele- 

 gated by tbe tribe to carry away and sell these articles was provided 

 with a number of strings, made of some flexible vegetable fiber, one 

 string for each class of goods, which were attached to his belt. Every 

 one contributing articles mentioned the prices to be asked therefor, and 

 when the salesman disposed of a blanket the proper cord was taken, 

 and a single knot was tied for each real received, or a double knot for 

 each peso. Thus any particular string indicated the kind of goods dis- 

 posed of, as well as the whole sum realized, which was finally distributed 

 among the original contributors. 



NOTCHED STICKS. 



The use of these muemouically was very frequent. A few iustances 

 only of this obvious expedient need be given. 



The Dakotas formerly residing at Grand River Agency, the Hidatsa, 

 and the Shoshoni from Idaho were observed to note the number of days 

 during which they journeyed irom one place to another, by cutting lines 

 or notches upon a stick of wood. 



The coup sticks carried by Dakota warriors are often found bearing a 

 number of small notches, which refer to the number of individuals the 

 owners may have hit after they had been shot or wounded. 



The young men and boys of the several tribes at Fort Berthold, Da- 

 kota, frequently carry a stick, upon which they cut a notch for every 

 bird killed during a single expedition. 



Dr. Hoffman states that he found in the collection of the Hon. A. F. 

 Coronel, of Los Angeles, California, a number of notched sticks, which 

 had been invented and used by the Indians at the Mission of San Gabriel. 

 The history of them is as follows: Immediately after the establishment 

 of the mission the Franciscan father appointed major domos, who had 

 under their charge corporals or overseers of the several classes of labor- 

 ers, herders, etc. The chief herder was supplied with a stick of hard 

 wood, measuring about one inch in thickness each way, and from twenty 

 to twenty-four inches long. The corners were beveled at the handle. 

 Upon each of these facets were marks to indicate the kinds of cattle 

 herded, thus: one cut or notch, a bull; two cuts, a cow; one cross, 

 a heifer; and a >-shaped character, an ox. Similar characters were 

 also used for horses, respectively, for stallion, mare, colt, and gelding. 

 Where only cattle were owned no difference was made in the upper end 

 of the stick; but when both kinds of animals were owned near the same 

 localities, or by the same settler, the stick referring to cattle was notched 

 V-shaped at the head end, and reversed or pointed to denote horses. 

 Sticks were also marked to denote the several kinds of stock, and to 

 record those which had been branded. In all of these sticks numbers 

 4 eth 6 



