328 



the ground. Various meanings are attaclieil to these fire-arrow signals. 

 Tlius, one arrow meant, among tlie Santees, 'Tlie enemy are about'; 

 two arrows from the same point, 'Danger'; three, 'Great danger'; 

 many, ' Tiiey are too strong, or we are falling back ' ; two arrows sent 

 up at the same moment, ' We will attack ' ; three, ' Soon ' ; four, ' Now '; 

 if shot diagOTially, ' In that direction.' These signals are constantly 

 changed, and are always agreed upon when the party goes out or before 

 it separates. The Indians send their signals very intelligently, and 

 seldom make mistakes in telegraphing eacih other by these silent monitors. 

 The amount of information they can communicate by fires and burning 

 arrows is perfectly wonderful. Every war party carries with it bundles 

 of signal arrows." {Belden, The White Chief; or Twelve Years amoiuj the 

 Wild Indians of the Plains, \>[). 100, 107. Cincinnati and New York, 1S71.) 

 With regai'd to the above, it is possible that white influence has been 

 felt in the mode of signaling as well as iu the use of gunpowder, but 

 it would be interesting to learn if any Indians adopted a similar expedi- 

 ent before guu])0wder was known to them. 



DUST SIGN'ALS. 



When any game or an enemy is discovered, and should the sentinel 

 be without a blanket, he throws a handful of dust up into the'air. When 

 the BruMs attacked the Ponkas, in lS'i'2, they stood on the bluff and 

 threw up dust. {Omaha I; Ponka I.) 



There ai)pears to be among the Bushmen a custom of throwing up 

 saud or earth into the air when at a distance from home and in need of 

 help of some kind from those who were there. (Miss L. C. Lloyd, MS. 

 Letter, dated July 10, 1880, from Charlton House, Mowbray, near Cape 

 Town, Africa.) 



NOTES ON CHEYENNE AND ARAPAHO SIGNALS. 



The following information was obtained from Wa-tj" (Bohtail), Mo- 

 hi-nuk-ma-hI-it {Bif/ Horse), Cheyennes, and O-cho-his-a ( The Mare, 

 better known as "Little Eaven"), and NI-uatsh {Left Hand), Arapahos, 

 chiefs and members of a delegation who visited Washington, D. C, in 

 Se])tember, 1880, in the interestof their tribes located iu Indian Territory : 



A party of Indians going on the war-path leave camp, announcing 

 their project to the remaining individuals and informing neighboring 

 friends by sending runners. A party is only systematically organized 

 when several days away from their headquarters, unless circumstances 

 should require immediate action. The pipe-bearers are appointed, who 

 precede the i)arty while on the march, carrying the pipes, and no one is 

 allowed to cross ahead of these individuals, or to join the party by riding 

 up before the head of the column, as it would endanger the success of 

 the expedition. All new arrivals fall in from either side or the rear. 

 Upon coming in sight of any elevations of land likely to afford a good 

 view of the surrounding country the part.\ come to a halt and secrete 



