370 



ACCOUNT OF THE INDIANS. 



March, Me-ke-su o Pes-im, Eagle Moon. 



April, Nis-ka o Pes-im, Goose Moon, as at this 

 season, these animals return from the south. 



The Indians compute the distance from one 

 place to another, by the number of nights which 

 they have passed, in performing a journey from 

 one to the other. 



All the Natives employ hieroglyphicks, for 

 the purpose of conveying information to those 

 who are distant from them ; and this mode of com- 

 munication, is often of great service to them, as 

 the following circumstances will evince. Portions 

 of each tribe, generally assemble at certain pla- 

 ces, every year. When they separate, they pro- 

 ceed in different directions ; and at every place 

 where they severally encamp, they fix a number 

 of sticks in the ground, leaning towards the 

 plaj;e where they next intend to pitch their tents. 

 If they have been successful in the chace, they ' 

 paint or draw on a piece of bark, the number 

 and kinds of animals which they may have killed, 

 and hang the bark upon a stake. When Indians 

 who have been unsuccessful in regard to killing 

 animals, fall upon these notices, they derive im- 

 portant advantages from them, as they are thus 

 guided to the place, where they may probably 

 obtain a supply of food. Indeed, without some 

 such regulation, the Natives would often be in 



