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.