TOTEMIC. 



This is one of the most striking of the special uses to which picto- 

 graphy has been applied by the North American Indians. For con- 

 venience, the characters may be divided iuto: First, tribal; Second, 

 gentile; and Third, personal designations. 



TRIBAL DESIGNATIONS. 



A large number of these graphic distinctions are to be found in the 

 Dakota Winter Counts. 



Kev. J. Owen Dorsey reports that the Tsiou side of the Osage tribe, 

 when on a war party, have the face painted red, with mud upon the 

 cheek, below the left eye, as wide as two or more fingers. 



The Haiika side of the tribe paint the face red, with a spot of 

 mud upon the right cheek, below the eye, as wide as two or more 

 fingers. 



For an ingenious method of indicating by variation of incisions on 

 trees, the tribal use of paint by the Absaroka and Dakota respectively, 

 see page 62. 



Figure 68 shows the tribal designation of the Kaiowa by the Dakota, 

 taken from the winter count of Battiste Good, 1814-'lo. 

 He calls the winter " Smashed-a-Kaiowa's-head-iu winter." 

 The tomahawk with which it was done is in contact with 

 the Kaiowa's head. 



The sign for Kaiowa is made by passing the hands — 

 naturally extended — in short horizontal circles on either 

 side of the head, and the picture is probably drawn to 

 represent the man in the attitude of making this gesture, 

 and not the involuntary raising of the hands upon re- 

 ceiving the blow, such attitudes not appearing in Bat- 

 tiste Good's system. 



Fig. 68.— Kaiowa. 



165 



