202 



FICTOGRAPHS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 



of this character would be pictorially represented. The following is an 

 instance where the use in action of a charm or fetich was certainly por- 

 1 rayed in a pictograph. 



Figure 119, drawn by the Dakota Indians near Fort Snelling, Minne- 

 sota, exhibits the use for a fetichistic purpose of an instrument which is 



Fig. 119.— Hdewatantawan Fcticb. 



usually included among war clubs, though this particular object is more 

 adapted to defense than to offense. 



The head of the fetich is a grooved stone hammer of moderate size, 

 measuring from an inch and a half to as much as 5 inches in length. 

 A withe is tied about the middle of the hammer in the groove provided 

 for the purpose, having a handle of from 2 to 4 feet in length. The 

 latter is frequently wrapped with buckskin or raw hide to strengthen 

 it, as well as for ornamental purposes. Feathers attached bear mne- 

 monic marks or designs, indicating marks of distinction, perhaps fetich- 

 istic devices not understood. 



These objects are believed to possess the peculiar charm of warding 

 off an enemy's missiles when held upright before the body. In the pic- 

 tograph made by the Dakota Indian, the manner of holding it, as well 

 as the act of shooting an arrow by an enemy, is shown with consider- 

 able clearness. The interpretation was explained by the draftsman 

 himself. 



Properties are attributed to this instrument similar to those of the 

 small bags prepared by the Shaman, which are carried suspended from 

 the neck by means of string or buckskin cords. 



Subject-matter connected with this heading appears in several parts 

 of this paper, e. #., Figure 46, on page 141, and the characters for 1824- 

 '25 on plate XLII. 



