128 PICTOGKAPHS OF THK NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 



system, are distinguished by his name. It is necessary to explain that 

 all references in the test to colors, other than black, must be understood 

 as applicable to the originals. Other colors could not be reproduced in 

 the plates without an expense disproportionate to the importance of the 

 rule us for significance and comprehension. 



A more important explanation is due on account of the necessity to omit 

 from Dr. Oorbusier's contribution the figures of Battiste Good's count 

 and tbeir interpretation. This count is in some respects the most im- 

 portant of all those yet made known. As set down by Battiste Good, it 

 begins in a peculiar cyclic computation with the year A. D. 900, and in 

 thirteen figures includes the time to A. D. 1700, all these figures being 

 connected with legends and myths, some of which indicate European in- 

 fluence. From lVOO-'Ol to 1879-'80 a separate character for each year 

 is given, with its interpretation, in a manner generally similar to those 

 in the other charts. Unfortunately all of these figures are colored, 

 either in whole or in large part, five colors being used besides black, 

 and the drawing is so rude that without the colors it is in many cases 

 unintelligible. The presentation at this time of so large a number of 

 colored figures — in all one hundred and ninety-three — in addition to the 

 other illustrations of the present paper, involved too great expense. 

 It is hoped that this count can be so far revised, with the elimination of 

 unessential coloration and with more precision in the outlines, as to 

 allow of its publication. Several of its characters, with references also 

 to its interpretation when compared with that of other counts, are given 

 in various parts of the present paper. Where it was important to 

 specify their coloration the heraldic scheme has been used. 



The pages immediately following contain the contribution of Dr. 

 Gorbusier, diminished by the extraction of the parts comprising Battiste 

 Good's count. Its necessary omission, as above explained, is much 

 regretted, not only on account of its intrinsic value, but because with- 

 out it the work of Dr. Corbusier does not appear to all the advantage 

 merited by his zeal and industry. 



The Dakotas reckon time by winters, and apply names to them in- 

 stead of numbering them from an era. Each name refers to some no- 

 table occurrence of the winter or year to which it belongs, and has 

 been agreed upon in council on the expiration of the winter. Separate 

 bands have often fixed upon different events, and it thus happens that 

 the names are not uniform throughout the nation. Ideographic records 

 of these occurrences have been kept in several bands for many years, 

 and they constitute the Dakota Winter-Counts (waniyetu wowapi) or 

 Counts Back (h6kta yawapi). They are used in computing time, and 

 to aid the memory in recalling the names and events of the different 

 years, their places in the count, and their order of succession. The enu- 

 meration of the winters is begun at the one last recorded and carried 

 backward. Notches on sticks, war-shirts, pipes, arrows, and other de- 



