164 CURIOUS HIEROGLYPHIC. 



a master at one of the Company's Posts, and 

 proposed accompanying our party to the Fac- 

 tory. He had two sons, he said, who were 

 gone in the pursuit of a deer ; and, on quitting 

 the encampment to travel with us, he would 

 leave some signs for them to follow us on their 

 return. They were the following, and drawn 

 upon a broad piece of wood, which he prepared 

 with an axe. 



1. To intimate that the family was gone forward. 



2. That there was a Chief of the party. 



3. That he was accompanied by a European servant* 



4. And also by an Indian. 



5. That there were two Indians in company. 



6. That they should follow. 



It is a common custom with the Indians to 

 paint hieroglyphic characters on dressed buf- 

 faloe skins or robes ; and a variety of figures 

 are drawn on many of those which they barter 

 at the Company's Posts. In the representation 

 of a victory achieved over an enemy, the 



