MALLERY. ] SYMBOLS FOR FAMINE. 655 
i. e., large quantity, buffalo having been very plentiful that year. The 
buffalo head denotes the kind of meat stored. This is an abbre- 
viated form of the device before presented, and affords a suggestive 
comparison with some Egyptian hieroglyphics and Chinese letters, both 
in their full pictographic origin and in their abbreviation. 
Fig. 1035.—The Dakotas had unusual quantities 
of buffalo. — The-Swan’s Winter Count, 1816-17. \ 
This representation of a buffalo hide or 
side is another sign for abundance of meat, 
and is the most abbreviated and conven- a= 
tional of all, with the same significance, -—————— 2a 
Fra. 1035, IM the collections now accessible. FIG. 1036. 
Fig. 1056.—The Dakotas had unusual abundance of buffalo. The- 
Swan’s Winter Count, 186162, This is another mode 
‘ ; = Uff 
of expressing the same abundance. The buffalo tracks, \ Wf 
shown by the cloven hoofs, are coming up close to the 
tipi. 
Fig. 1037.—They had an abundance of corn, 
which they got at the Ree villages. American- 9 
Horse’s Winter Count, 182324. 
The symbol shows the maize growing, and 
also is the tribal sign for Arikara or Ree. 
Fic. 1037. 
Via. 10388. 
FAMINE. 
Fig. 1038.—The Dakotas had very little buffalo meat, but plenty of 
ducks in the fall. Cloud-Shield’s Winter Count, 
1811-12. The bare, drying pole is easily interpreted, A 
but the reversed or dead duck would 
* hot be understood without explana- 
tion. 
Fig. 1059.—Food was very scarce 
and they had to live on acorns. 
Cloud-Shield’s Winter Count, 1813— 
‘14, The tree is intended for anoak QwsSe 
and the dots beneath it for acorns. ——— 
mH . A m SSS 
FiG. 1039. Fig. 1040.—A year of famine. maa 
Cloud-Shield’s Winter Count, 178788. They, i. e., the Dakotas, lived 
on roots, which are represented in front of the tipi. 
Fig. 1041.—They could not hunt on account of the deep 
snow, and were compelled to subsist on anything they could 
get, as herbs (pézi) and roots. American-Horse’s Winter 
Fie.104, Count, 1790-91. 
