324 



Peace, coupled ^vitli invitation. 



Motion of sjireadiug a i-eal or imaginary rolje or slvin on tlie ground 

 Noticed by Lewis and Clark on their first meeting with the Shoshoni in 

 1805. (Lewis and Claris Travels, &c., Londoii, 1817, vol. ii, p. 74.) 



Question. 



The ordinary manner of oi)ening' communication with parties known 

 or supposed to be hostile is to ride toward them in zigzag manner, or to 

 ride in a circle. {My Life on the I^Iains, &c., by Gen. G. A. Custer, U. 

 S. A., p. 58. New York, 1871.) 



This author mentions (p. 202) a systematic manner of waving a blanket, 

 by which the son of Satana, the Kaiowa chief, conveyed information to 

 him, and a similar performance by Yellow Bear, a chief of the Arapahos 

 (p. 210), neither of which he explains in detail. 



Safety. All quiet. See notes on Cheyenne and Arapaho signals. 



SIGNALS MADP] WHEN THE I'ERSON OF THE 

 SIGNALIST IS NOT VISIBLK. 



Those noted consist of Ninoke, Fire, or Dii<iit signals. 



SMOKE SIGNALS GENERALLY. 



"Their systems of telegraphs are very peculiar, and though they 

 might seem impracticable at first, yet so thoroughly are they understood 

 by the savages that it is availed of frequently to immense advantage. 

 The most remarkable is bj^ raising smokes, by which many important 

 facts are communicated to a considerable distance and made intelligi- 

 ble by the manner, size, number, or repetition of the smokes, which are 

 commonly raised by firing spots of dry grass. When traveling, they 

 will also pile heaps of stones upon mounds or coTispicuous points, so ar- 

 ranged as to be understood by their passing comrades ; and sometimes 

 they set up the bleached buffalo heads, which are everywhere scattered 

 over those plains, to indicate the direction of their march, and many 

 other facts which may be communicated by those simple signs." {(Com- 

 merce of the Pndries, by Josiah Gregg, vol. ii, p. 280. New York, 1841.) 



The highest elevations of laud are selected as stations from which 

 signals with smoke are made. These can be seen at a distance of from 

 twenty to fifty miles. By varying the number of columns of smoke dif- 

 ferent meanings are conveyed. The most simple as well as the most 

 varied mode, and resembling the telegraphic alphabet, is arranged by 

 building a small fire, which is not allowed to blaze ; then by placing an 

 armful of partially green grass or weeds over the fire, as if to smother 

 it, a dense white smoke is created, which ordinarily will ascend in a con- 

 tinuous vertical column for hundreds of feet. Ilaving established a cur- 



