How to Read Signs and Signals

The Indians are very expert at using signs to give messages to one another. These signs are made in many ways and vary with the different tribes. Some of those best known are: Shaking a blanket, which means "I want to talk to you." Holding up a knife or other weapon means "war" or "I am ready to fight." Holding up a tree branch, "I want to make peace." Holding up a pole horizontally with both hands on it, "I have found something." Blazes or marks on trees are widely used to communicate messages. A simple blaze or small section of bark cut from a tree is often used to indicate a path through the forest, and if you are going through dense woods and must come back the same way or others are to follow you it is well to use this method of marking the way. Other well-known Indian signs are the water signs. A circle cut in the bark with an arrow-head pointing directly down and three waved lines within the circle means "Good water here." A similar circle with the arrow-head pointing to one side but below the center means "Good water not far in this direction." If the arrow-head is above the center it means "Good water a long way off in this direction." An arrow alone indicates "Go in this direction." An arrow with a rectangular mark on the end means "A letter is concealed three steps in this direction." A cross means "Do not use this path." A circle with a small circle inside, "I have gone home." In addition to the permanent signs the Indians are very expert at "making smoke talk." A fire is built from damp wood which will give off a thick smoke. By holding a blanket over the fire the smoke is caused to rise in short and long puffs which can be made to spell out a message. At night the light of the fire can be made to serve the same purpose. As it is not always convenient to build a fire and the "smoke talk" is not easy to handle it is much better to use a flag and the wig-wag system. First of all it is necessary to memorize the signal code which is given below. The numbers are made by the signal man standing in one position with three motions. Let the signal man stand facing the signal station with which it is desired to communicate with the flag-staff carrying a small square flag held vertically in his hands. A white flag about two and a half feet square with a red square in the center is a good design, but the size depends somewhat on the distance between stations. At night a lantern on a pole or a torch can be used on the same system. To make the first motion ("one" or "1") move the flag as you stand facing the other station to the right and down to the level of your waist, returning it immediately to the vertical position. The second motion ("two" or "2") is the same to the left of the sender. The third motion ("three" or "3") is downward directly in front of the sender and immediately back to the vertical position. Remember that numbers which occur in a message must be spelled to avoid confusion. In sending a message make a slight pause between each letter and if a mistake is made signal 3 followed by 12, 12, 3, and then begin the incorrect word again.

THE WIG-WAG CODE

ALPHABET

A	22	J	1122	S	212
B	2112	K	2121	T	2
C	121	L	221	U	112
D	222	M	1221	V	1222
E	12	N	11	W	1121
F	2221	O	21	X	2122
G	2211	P	1212	Y	111
H	122	Q	1211	Z	2222
I	1	R	211	tion	1112

NUMERALS

1	1111	6	2211
2	2222	7	1222
3	1112	8	2111
4	2221	9	1221
5	1122	0	2112

CONVENTIONAL SIGNALS

End of word	3	Repeat after (word),
End of sentence	33		121, 121, 3,
End of message	333		22, 3 (word)
XX3	beginning or end of	Repeat last word,
	numerals.		121, 121, 33
I understand	22, 22, 3	Repeat last message,
Cease signalling,			121, 121, 121, 333
	22, 22, 22, 333	Move to right	211, 211, 3
Signal faster	2212, 3	Move to left	221, 221, 3

ABBREVIATIONS

a	after	n	not	ur	your
b	before	r	are	w	word
c	can	t	the	wi	with
h	have	u	you	y	yes