28 PICTURE-WRITING OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS. 
in the appropriate chapters following. Some portions of these pic- 
tures can be interpreted. With regard to others, which are not yet 
interpreted and perhaps never can be, it is nevertheless useful to 
gather together for synoptic study and comparison a large number of 
their forms from many parts of the world. The present collection shows 
the interesting psychologic fact that primitive or at least very ancient 
man made the same figures in widely separated regions, though it is 
not established that the same figures had a common significance. In- 
dications of priscan habitat and migrations may sometimes be gained 
from the general style or type of the drawings and sculptures, which 
may be divided into groups, although the influence of the environing 
materials must always be considered. 
The more modern specimens of picture-writing displayed on skins, 
bark, and pottery are far more readily interpreted than those on rocks, 
and have already afforded information and verification as to points of 
tribal history, religion, customs, and other ethnologie details. 
A criticism has been made on the whole subject of picture-writing 
by the eminent anthropologist, Dr. Andree, who, in Ethnographische 
Parallelen und Vergleiche (a), has described and figured a large num- 
ber of examples of petroglyphs, a name given by him to rock-drawings 
and now generally adopted. His views are translated as follows: 
But if we take a connected view of the petroglyphs to which the rock pictures, 
generally made with red paint, are equivalent, and make a comparison of both, it 
becomes evident that they are usually made for mere pastime and are the first 
artistic efforts of rude nations. Nevertheless, we find in them the beginnings of 
writing, and in some instances their transition to pictography as developed among 
North American Indians becomes evident. 
It appears, therefore, that Dr. Andree carefully exeludes the picture- 
writings of the North American Indians from his general censure, his 
conclusion being that those found in other parts of the world usually 
occupy a lower stage. It is possible that significance may yet be ascer- 
tained in many of the characters found in other regions, and perhaps 
this may be aided by the study of those in America; but no doubt 
should exist that the latter have purpose and meaning. The relegation 
to a trivial origin of such pictographs as are described and illustrated 
in the present work will be abandoned after a thorough knowledge of 
the labor and thought which frequently were necessary for their pro- 
duction. American pictographs are not to be regarded as mere curi- 
osities. In some localities they represent the only intellectual remains 
of the ancient inhabitants. Wherever found, they bear significantly 
upon the evolution of the human mind. 
Distrust concerning the actual significance of the ancient American 
petroglyphs may be dispelled by considering the practical use of similar 
devices by historic and living Indians for purposes as important to 
them as those of alphabetic writing, these serving toa surprising extent 
the same ends. This paper presents a large number of conclusive 
