NOTICE OF CONDITION.
According to Masta, chief of the Abnaki, members of that tribe remove the bark of trees in prominent places to denote that the inhabitants of the nearest lodge are in a starving condition.
The Ottawa and the Potawatomi Indians indicate hunger and starvation by drawing a black line across the breast or stomach of the figure of a man. (See Fig. 145, page [221].) This drawing is placed upon a piece of wood, either incised or with a mixture of powdered charcoal and glue water, or red ocher. This is then attached to a tree or fastened to a piece of wood, and erected near the lodge on a trail, where it will be observed by passers by, who are expected to alleviate the sufferings of the native who erected the notice.
Figure 53 illustrates information with regard to distress in another village, which occasioned the departure of the party giving the notification. The drawing was made for Dr. W. J. Hoffman, in 1882, by Naumoff, in imitation of drawings prepared by Alaska natives. The designs are traced upon a strip of wood, which is then stuck upon the roof of the house belonging to the recorder.
Fig. 53.—Alaskan notice of distress.
1. The summer habitation, showing a stick leaning in the direction to be taken.
2. The baidarka, containing the residents of the house. The first person is observed pointing forward, indicating that they “go by boat to the other settlement.”
3. A grave stick, indicating a death in the settlement.
4, 5. Summer and winter habitations, denoting a village.
The drawing, Figure 54, made for Dr. Hoffman in 1882, by a native, in imitation of originals in Alaska, is intended to be placed in a conspicuous portion of a settlement which has been attacked by a hostile force and finally deserted. The last one to leave prepares the drawing upon a strip of wood to inform friends of the resort of the survivors.
Fig. 54.—Alaskan notice of departure and refuge.
1. Represents three hills or ranges, signifying that the course taken would carry them beyond that number of hills or mountains.
2. The recorder, indicating the direction, with the left hand pointing to the ground, one hill, and the right hand indicating the number two, the number still to be crossed.
3. A circular piece of wood or leather, with the representation of a face, placed upon a pole and facing the direction to be taken from the settlement. In this instance the drawing of the character denotes a hostile attack upon the town, for which misfortune such devices are sometimes erected.
4, 5. Winter and summer habitations.
6. Store-house, erected upon upright poles.
This device is used by Alaska coast natives generally.
In connection with these figures reference may be made to a paper by the present writer in the First Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, p. 369, showing the devices of the Abnaki.
Dr. George Gibbs (Contributions to N. A. Ethnology, Vol. I, p. 222) says of “symbolic writing” of the northwest tribes:
I am not aware how far this may be carried among the Sound tribes. Probably there is no great essential difference between them and their neighbors of the plains in this art. It may perhaps be best explained by an example given me by a veteran mountaineer, Dr. Robert Newell, of Champoeg. A party of Snakes are going to hunt strayed horses. A figure of a man, with a long queue, or scalp lock, reaching to his heels, denoted Shoshonee; that tribe being in the habit of braiding horse- or other hair into their own in that manner. A number of marks follow, signifying the strength of the party. A foot-print, pointed in the direction they take, shows their course, and a hoof-mark turned backward, that they expect to return with animals. If well armed, and expecting a possible attack, a little powder mixed with sand tells that they are ready, or a square dotted about the figures indicates that they have fortified.
The design shown in Figure 55 is in imitation of etchings made by natives of Southern Alaska to convey to the observer the information that the recorder had gone away to another settlement the inhabitants of which were in distress. The drawings were put on a strip of wood and placed at the door of the house where it might be seen by visitors or inquirers.
Fig. 55.—Notice of departure to relieve distress. Alaska.
Naumoff gave the following explanation:
1. A native making the gesture of indicating self with the right hand, and with the left indicating direction and going.
2. The native’s habitation.
3. Scaffold used for drying fish. Upon the top of the pole is placed a piece of wood tied so that the longest end points in the direction to be taken by the recorder.
4. The baidarka conveying the recorder.
5. A native of the settlement to be visited.
6. Summer habitation.
7. “Shaman stick” or grave stick, erected to the memory of a recently deceased person, the cause of which has necessitated the journey of the recorder.
8. Winter habitation. This, together with No. 6, indicates a settlement.
Fig. 56, also drawn by Naumoff, means “ammunition wanted.”
Fig. 56.—Ammunition wanted. Alaska.
When a hunter is tracking game, and exhausts his ammunition, he returns to the nearest and most conspicuous part of the trail and sticks his ihúnŭk in the ground, the top leaning in the direction taken. The ihúnŭk is the pair of sticks arranged like the letter A, used as a gun-rest. This method of transmitting the request to the first passer is resorted to by the greater number of coast natives of Southern Alaska.
Fig. 57, also drawn by Naumoff, means “discovery of bear; assistance wanted.”
Fig. 57.—Assistance wanted in hunt. Alaska.
When a hunter discovers a bear, and requires assistance, he ties together a bunch of grass, or other fibrous matter, in the form of an animal with legs, and places it upon a long stick or pole which is erected at a conspicuous point to attract attention. The head of the effigy is directed toward the locality where the animal was last seen.
This device is also used at times by most of the Southern Alaskan Indians.
Figure 58 was also drawn by Naumoff, and signifies “starving hunters.”
Fig. 58.—Starving hunters. Alaska.
Hunters who have been unfortunate, and are suffering from hunger, scratch or draw upon a piece of wood characters similar to those figured, and place the lower end of the stick in the ground on the trail where the greatest chance of its discovery occurs. The stick is inclined toward the locality of the habitation. The accompanying explanation will serve to illustrate more fully the information contained in the drawing.
1. A horizontal line denoting a canoe, showing the persons to be fishermen.
2. An individual with both arms extended signifying nothing, corresponding with the gesture for negation.
3. A person with the right hand to the mouth, signifying to eat, the left hand pointing to the house occupied by the hunters.
4. The habitation.
The whole signifies that there is nothing to eat in the house. This is used by natives of Southern Alaska.
Fig. 59.—Starving hunters. Alaska.
Figure 59, with the same signification, and from the same hand, is similar to the preceding in general design. This is placed in the ground near the landing place of the canoemen, so that the top points toward the lodge.
The following is the explanation of the characters:
1. Baidarka, showing double projections at bow, as well as the two individuals, owners, in the boat.
2. A man making the gesture for nothing. (See in this connection Figure 155, page [235].)
3. Gesture drawn, denoting to eat, with the right hand, while the left points to the lodge.
4. A winter habitation.
This is used by the Alaskan coast natives.