.mallf.ky] NOTICE OF CONDITION AND SUFFERING. 153 



2. The recorder, indicating the direction, with the left hand pointing 

 to the ground, one hill, and the right hand indicating the number two, 

 the number still to be crossed. 



3. A circular piece of wood or leather, with the representation of a 

 face, placed upon a pole and facing the direction to be taken from the 

 settlement. In this instance the drawing of the character denotes a 

 hostile attack upon the town, for which misfortune such devices are 

 sometimes erected. 



4. 5. Winter and summer habitations. 



6. Store house, erected upon upright poles. 



This device is used by Alaska coast natives generally. 



In connection with these figures reference may be made to a paper by 

 the present writer in the First Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnol- 

 ogy, p. 3G9, showing the devices of the Abnaki. 



Dr. George Gibbs (Contributions to K A. Ethnology, Vol. I, p. 222) 

 says of "symbolic writing" of the northwest tribes: 



I am not aware how far this may be carried among the Sound tribes. Probably 

 there is no great essential difference between them and their neighbors of the plains 

 in this art. It may perhaps be best explained by an example, given me by a veteran 

 mountaineer, Dr. Robert Newell, of Cbampoeg. A party of Snakes are going to hunt 

 strayed horses. A figure of a man, with a long queue, or scalp lock, reaching to his 

 heels, denoted Shoshonee; that tribe being in the habit of braiding horse- or other 

 hair into their own in that manner. A number of marks follow, signifying the strength 

 of the party. A foot-print, pointed in the direction they take, shows their course, 

 and a hoof-mark turned backward, that they expect to return with animals. If well 

 armed, and expecting a possible attack, a little powder mixed with sand tells that 

 they are ready, or a square dotted about the figures indicates that they have fortified. 



The design shown in Figure 55 is in imitation of etchings made by 

 natives of Southern Alaska to convey to the observer the information 

 that the recorder had gone away to another settlement the inhabitants 

 of which were in distress. The drawings were put on a strip of wood 

 and placed at the door of the house where it might be seen by visitors 

 or inquirers. 



12 34 5678 



Fig. 55. — Notice of departure to relieve distress. Alaska. 



Nanmoff gave the following explanation : 



1. A native making the gesture of indicating self with the right hand, 

 and with the left indicating direction and going. 



2. The native's habitation. 



3. Scaffold used for drying fish. Upon the top of the pole is placed 

 a piece of wood tied so that the longest end points in the direction to be 

 taken by the recorder. 



4. The baidarka conveying the recorder. 



5. A native of the settlement to be visited. 



6. Summer habitation. 



