182 



PICTOGRAPHS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 



PROPERTY MARKS. 



Fie. 80.— Boat paddle. Ankara. 



The Serrano Indians in the vicinity of Los Angeles, California, formerly 

 practiced a method of marking trees to indicate the corner boundaries of 

 patches of land. According to Hon. A. F. Corouel, of the above-named 

 city, the Indians owning areas of territory of whatever size would cut 

 lines upon the bark of the tree corresponding to certain cheek lines drawn 

 on their own faces, i. e., lines running outward and downward over the 

 cheeks or perhaps over the chin only, tattooed in color. These lines 

 were made on the trees on the side facing the property, and were under- 

 standingly recognized by all. The marks were personal and distinctive, 

 and when adopted by land owners could not be used by any other per- 

 son. This custom still prevailed when Mr. Coronel first located in 

 Southern California, about the year 1843. So is the account, but it may 

 be remarked that the land was probably owned or claimed by a gens 

 rather than by individuals, the individual ownership of land not belong- 

 ing to the stage of culture of any North American Indians. Perhaps 

 some of the leading members of the gens were noted in connection with 



the occupancy of the land, and their 

 tattoo marks were the same as those on 

 the trees. The correspondence of these 

 marks is of special importance. It is 

 also noteworthy that the designations 

 common to the men and the trees were understood and 

 respected. /-fyzs 



Among the Ankara Indians a custom prevails of draw- MJ^ 



ing upon the blade of a canoe or bull-boat paddle such 

 designs as are worn by the chief and owner to suggest 

 his personal exploits. This has to great extent been 

 adopted by the Hidatsa and the Mandaus. The marks 

 are chiefly horseshoes and crosses (see Figure 80), referring 

 to the capture of the enemy's ponies and to coups in war- 

 fare or defense against enemies. 



The squaws being the persons who generally use the 

 boats during the course of their labors in collecting wood 

 along the river banks, or in ferrying their warriors across 

 the water, have need of this illustration of their husbands' 

 prowess as a matter of social status, it being also a mat- 

 ter of pride. The entire tribe being intimately aequaiuted 

 with the courage and bravery of any individual, imposi- 

 tion and fraud in the delineation of any character are not 

 attempted, as such would surely be detected and the im- 

 postor would be ridiculed if not ostracised. See in con- 

 nection with the design last figured, others under the head 

 ing of Signs of Particular Achievements, page 18G. 



The brands upon cattle in Texas and other regions of the United 



Fig. 81. — African 

 property mark 



