186 P1CT0GRAPHS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 



Figure 91 denotes the wearer has been wounded in many places by 

 Lis enemy. 



The following variations in the scheme were noticed in 1883 among the 

 Mdewakantanwan Dakotas near Fort Snelling, Minnesota. 



In personal ornamentation, and for marks of disti action in war, featbers 

 of tbe eagle are used as among the other bands of Dakotas. 



A plain feather is used to signify that the wearer has killed an enemy, 

 without regard to the manner in which he was slain. 



When the end is clipped transversely, and the edge colored red, it 

 signifies that the throat of the enemy was cut. 



A black feather denotes that an Ojibwa woman was killed. Enemies 

 are considered as Ojibwas, the latter being the tribe with whom the 

 Mdewakantawan Dakotas have had most to do. 



When a warrior has been wounded a red spot is painted upon the 

 broad side of a feather. If the wearer has been shot in the body, arms, 

 or legs, a similar spot, in red, is painted upon his clothing or blanket, 

 immediately over the locality. These red spots are sometimes worked 

 in porcupine quills, or in cotton fiber as obtained from the traders. 



Marks denoting similar exploits are used by the Hidatsa, Mandan, 

 and Arikara Indians. The Hidatsa claim to have been the originators of 

 the devices, which were subsequently adopted by the Arikara with slight 

 variation. All of the information with reference to the following fig- 

 ures, 95 to 103, was obtained by Dr. W. J. Hoffman, from chiefs of the 

 several tribes at Fort Berthold, Dakota, during the summer of 1881. 



The following characters are marked upon robes and blankets, usually 

 in red or blue colors, and often upon the boat paddles. Frequently an 

 Indian may be seen who lias them even painted upon his thighs, though 

 this is generally resorted to only on festal occasions, or for dancing : 



Figure 95 denotes that the wearer success- 



t fully defended himself against the enemy by 

 throwing up a ridge of earth or sand to pro- 

 tect the body. 

 Figure 96 signifies that the wearer has upon 

 two different occasions defended himself by 

 Hldli d etc nse - 8 £ces 9 sfn7 T r hiding his body within low earthworks. The 

 tenses. Hida- character is merely a compound of two of the 



til, CtC* 



preceding marks placed together. 

 Figure 97 signifies that the one who carries this mark upon his blanket, 

 leggings, boat paddle, or any other property, or his person, 



nhas distinguished himself by capturing a horse belonging to 

 a hostile tribe. 

 Pig.97.— Cap. Figure. 98 signifies among the Hidatsa and Mandans that 



tared a horse. ° " 



Hidatsa, etc. the wearer was the first person to strike a fallen enemy with 

 a coup stick. It signifies among the Arikara simply that 

 the wearer killed an enemy. 



