288 PICTURE-WRITING OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS. 
The copy made by Battiste Good from his original record, of which 
it is said to be a facsimile, is painted in five colors besides black, in 
which the outlines are generally drawn, but with the exception of red 
blood-marks these colors do not often appear to be significant. This 
copy, Which was kindly contributed by Dr. Corbusier, is made in an 
ordinary paper drawing-book, the last page of which contains the 
first record. This is represented in Fig. 256, and pictures what is 
supposed to be an introduction in the nature of a revelation. The 
next page, reading backwards and corresponding with Pl. XxI, is 
a pretended record of a cycle comprising the years (presumed to be in 
the Christian chronology) from 901 to 930. Eleven similar pages and 
cycles bring the record down to 1700. These pages are only interesting 
from the mythology and tradition referred to and suggested by them, 
and which must be garnered from the chaff of uncomprehended mis- 
sionary teaching. From 1700 to 1880, when the record closes, each 
year, or rather winter, is represented by a special character according 
to the Dakota system above explained. 
Battiste Good, by his own statement in the present record, was born 
in the year 182122. Any careful examination of the figures as worked 
over by his own hand shows that he has received about enough educa- 
tion in English and in writing to induce bim to make unnecessary 
additions and presumptuous emendations on the pictographs as he 
found them and as perhaps he originally kept and drew the more recent 
of them. He has written English words and Arabic numerals over and 
connected with the Dakota devices, and has left some figures in a state 
of mixture including the methods of modern civilization and the 
aboriginal system. To prevent the confusion to the reader which might 
result from Battiste’s meddlesome vanity, these interpolated marks are 
in general omitted from the plates and figures as now presented, but, 
as specimens of the kind and amount of interference referred to, the 
designs on the copy for the years 170001, 170102, and 170708 are 
given below as furnished. 
The facts stated to have oceurred so long ago as the beginning of 
the last century can not often be verified, but those of later date given 
by Battiste are corroborated by other records in the strongest manner— 
that is, by independent devices which are not mere copies. Therefore, 
notwithstanding Battiste’s mythic cycles and English writing, the body 
of his record, which constitutes the true Winter Counts, must be regarded 
as genuine. He is simply the bad editor of a good work. But whether 
or not the events occurred as represented, the pictography is of unique 
interest. It may be remarked that Battiste’s record is better known 
among the Oglala and Brulé, and Lone-Dog’s Winter Count among 
the Minneconjou. 
It should be noted that when allusions are made to coloration in 
Fig. 256, and in any one of the other figures in the text which illustrate 
this Winter Count, they must be understood as applicable to the orig- 
