130 PICTOGRAPHS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 



Cow-Killer at the Pine Ridge Agency. I did not obtain a copy of it, 

 but learned most of the names given to the winters. 



On comparing the winter counts, it is found that they often corre- 

 spond, but more frequently differ. In a few instances the differences are 

 in the succession of the events, but in most instances they are due to 

 an omission or to the selection of another event. When a year has the 

 same name in all of them, the bands were probably encamped together 

 or else the event fixed upon was of general interest; and, when the 

 name is different, the bauds were scattered or nothing of general interest 

 occurred. Differences iu the succession may be due to the loss of a 

 record and the depiction of another from memory,- or to errors in copy- 

 ing an old one. 



The explanations of the counts are far from complete, as the recorders 

 who furnished them could in mauy instances recall nothing except the 

 name of the year, and in others were loth to speak of the events or else 

 their explanations were vague and unsatisfactory, and, again, the in- 

 terpreters were sometimes at fault. Many of the recent events are fresh 

 in the memory of the people, as the warriors who strive to make their 

 exploits a part of the tribal traditions proclaim them on all occasions 

 of ceremony — count their coups, as it is called. Declarations of this kiud 

 partake of the nature of affirmations made in the presence of God. 

 War-shirts on which scores of the enemies killed are kept, and which 

 are carefully transmitted from one generation to another, help to refresh 

 their memories in regard to some of the events. By testing many In- 

 dians I learned that but few could interpret the significance of the 

 figures; some of them could point out the year of their birth and that 

 of some members of their families; others could not do so, or pretended 

 that they could not, but named the year and asked me to point it out 

 and tell their age. 



In the following explanation of the winter counts, [figured on Plates 

 XXXIV-LI,] No. I refers to that of American-Horse and No. II to that 

 of Cloud-Shield. 



1775-'7G. — No. I. Standing-Bull, the great-grandfather of the present 

 Standing-Bull, discovered the Black Hills. He carried home with him 

 a pine tree of a species he had never seen before. (In this count the 

 Dakotas are usually distinguished by the braided scalp-lock and the 

 feather they wear at the crown of the head, or by the manner in which 

 they brush back and tie the hair. It will be noticed that the profile of 

 most of the faces is given, whereas Battiste Good gives the full face. 

 The Dakotas have of late years claimed the Black Hills, probably by 

 right of discovery in 1775-'7C ; but the Crows were the former posses- 

 sors.) 



This is also the first winter of White Cow-Killer's count and is called 

 " Two-warriors-killed winter." 



1776-'77. — No. I. Many of their horses were killed by some of their 

 own people, who were jealous because they were fatter than their own. 



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