150 



PICTOGKAPHS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 



Fig. 51. — Alaskan notice of direction. 



similar attachment is erected, again leaning in the direction to be taken. 

 These sticks are placed at proper intervals until the village is sighted. 

 This device is employed by Southern Alaskan Indians. 

 He also explained Figure 51 as follows : 



Seal hunters adopt the following 

 method of informing their comrades 

 that they have returned to the settle- 

 ment. The first to return to the regu- 

 lar landing place sometimes sticks a 

 piece of wood into the ground, leaning 

 toward the village, upon which is drawn 

 or scratched the outline of a baidarka, 

 or skin canoe, heading toward one or 

 more outlines of lodges, signifying that 

 the occupants of the boat have gone 

 toward their homes. This is resorted 

 to when the voyage has been a danger- 

 ous one, and is intended to inform their 

 companions of the safe arrival of some of the party. 

 This device is used by coast natives of Southern Alaska and Kadiak. 

 He also explained Figure 52 as follows : 



When hunters become separated, the one first re- 

 turning to the forks of the trail puts a piece of wood 

 in the ground, on the top of which he makes an in- 

 cision, into which a short piece of wood is secured 

 horizontally, so as to point in the direction taken by 

 the individual. 



The following instance is taken from the Narrative 

 of an Expedition to the Source of St. Peter's River, 

 * * under the command of Stephen H. Long, major 

 U. S. Top. Eng. [commonly known as Keating's Long's 

 Expedition]. Philadelphia, 1824. Vol. I, p. 217. 



When we stopped, says Major Long, to dine, White Thunder, 

 (the Winnubago chief that accompanied me,) suspecting that 

 the rest of his party were in the neighborhood, requested a piece of paper, pen and ink, 

 to communicate to them the intelligence of his having come up with me. He then 

 seated himself and drew three rude figures, which at my request he explained to me. 

 Tbe first represented my boat with a mast and flag, with three benches of oars and a 

 helmsman; to show that we were Americans, our heads were represented by a rude 

 cross, indicating that wo wore hats. 



The representation of himself was a rude figure of a hear over a kind of cypher 

 representing a hunting ground. The second figure was designed to show that his 

 wife was with him; the device was a boat with a squaw seated in it; over her head 

 lines were drawn in a zigzag direction, indicating that she was the wife of White 

 Thunder. The third was a boat with a bear sitting at the helm, showing that an 

 Indian of that name had been seen on his way up the river, and had given intelli- 

 gence where the party were. This paper he set up at the mouth of Kickapoo Creek, 

 up which the party had gone on a huuting trip. 



:~4fem&. 



FIG. 52.— Alaskan notico 

 of direction. 



