One of these singular hills, of which Mr. Seymour has preserved a sketch, was called the Castle Rock, on account of its striking resemblance to a work of art. It has columns, and porticoes and arches, and {205} when seen from a distance has an astonishingly regular and artificial appearance.
July 12th. [10th and 11th cont'd.]. On approaching it, the base is found enveloped in an extensive accumulation of soil, intermixed with fragments of rapidly disintegrating sandstone. The lower portions of the perpendicular sides of the rock are of loosely cemented pudding-stone, but the summit is capped by a compact and somewhat durable sand-rock. This is surmounted by a scanty soil, in which are a few stinted oaks and junipers.
We had seen no bisons for several days, but in the afternoon a few were discovered at a distance from our course, and three men despatched in pursuit of them. They were grazing on the side of a hill near a mile distant. As provisions were growing scarce with us, we watched the progress of the hunters with some anxiety. At length the firing commenced, and we enjoyed a distant, though distinct view of the animating spectacle of a bison hunt. In a short time the hunters joined us with their horses loaded with meat.
We halted to dine on the tributary of the Arkansa before mentioned, nearly opposite the Castle Rock. Intermixed with the grass upon which we sat down to our dinner, we observed a small campanula, with a solitary terminal flower, about as large as that of the common hare-bell (C. decipiens). This species we believe to be identical with the C. uniflora of Europe, which has not been heretofore noticed in the United States.
In the afternoon we moved on, descending the little stream on which we had halted for dinner. Like the small branches of the Platte, it is inhabited by great numbers of beavers; but it has more timber, and a more fertile soil than any stream of similar magnitude we had lately passed. Some light showers occurred in the middle of the day, and at evening a thunder-storm was observed, in the same manner {206} as on the preceding day, to collect in the east, and after we had listened to its thunders for some time, it moved off in the direction of the Arkansa, but no rain fell where we were. In the course of the day several elk were seen, and at evening we killed an antelope. Robins are here frequent, and a jerboa was seen resembling the gerbillus canadensis; many fine plants were collected, several of which are hitherto undescribed.151
Towards evening, our guide discovered we had already passed considerably beyond the base of the peak, near which it had been our intention to halt. He also perceived at the same moment, he had arrived at the very spot where some years ago he had been made prisoner by a party of Spaniards, who took him to Santa Fé.152 As we were particularly desirous of visiting the mountains at the point designated in many maps as the highest "peak," we resolved to return upon our course, but as it was now near sunset, we thought it advisable to encamp for the night.
Our journey in the afternoon had been pursued in a bison path, and although not in the direction of our proper course, and serving only to prolong our march without advancing us towards the end of our pilgrimage, yet it brought us near to that romantic scenery which for many days we had chiefly contemplated with a distant eye. We entered the secondary range along the margin of a deep ravine, which wound with a serpentine course towards the base of the mountain. Our progress was sometimes impeded by huge rocky masses which had been precipitated from some neighbouring height; and sometimes by a dense forest of very limited extent, or an immense impending wall or oblique buttress of rock, which, by its proximity to the eye, vied with the grandeur of the ascending piles beyond.
July 12th. On the morning of the 12th we retraced our path of the preceding day, until a small {207} stream running towards the north-east offered us a change of scenery, and a course more in the direction we wished to pursue.153 The inequalities of the surface were greater than in the route of the preceding evening. The precipitous character of several of the passes thoroughly tested the confidence we felt in our sure-footed, but now wearied and exhausted Indian horses and mules. Our rude pathway skirted along the base of an elevated ridge, on whose side, far above our heads, projected a narrow ledge of rocks, frowning defiance to all attempts to scale the steep. This ledge declined gradually as we proceeded, until it terminated abruptly on the edge of a profound gulph. Here appeared to be the only spot at which the ridge could be ascended. On the brow of the cliff, a fragment of rock and a small portion of earth were suspended by the binding roots of a solitary pine, offering a frail and precarious foothold. This we chose to ascend, startling and hazardous as the attempt appeared, rather than retrace our steps for several miles, and search for a passage in some other direction. The projecting ledge by which we had ascended, had barely sufficient width to admit the passage of a single individual at a time. When we had gained the summit, we allowed our exhausted animals a moment's rest in the partial shade of some straggling oaks, and contemplated, not without a feeling of terror, the yawning gulph at our feet. This emotion was much enhanced by reflecting, that a single misstep of a horse, or the sliding of a fragment of stone in our narrow path, would have been sufficient to have precipitated us into the abyss. We thus pursued our route, marked out to us by the bisons, who always trace the most direct and best course, until turning the side of a mountain154 of moderate elevation, the ocean of prairie again spread before us. This monotonous plain, of which we had been hitherto so weary, now burst upon the sight, and for a moment {208} exhibited a cheerful and pleasant contrast to the rude mountain ruins, that we had with such toil and hazard been clambering over. This charm was, however, soon to be dispelled. On descending to the plain, it became as usual desirable to find a good situation for an encampment, abounding with grass for the horses, and convenient to a water course. For this purpose, one of the party rode to a small line of timber about a mile on our left, which ran in a parallel direction to our line of march. He overtook us again at the distance of two or three miles, having discovered a copious stream of water. It was about three miles below the point at which the water had been discovered that we gained the line of timber, only to experience the mortification of disappointment in finding a naked bed of sand, the stream having, no doubt, sunk into the earth some distance above. We had, therefore, to undergo the pains of abstinence still longer, until we again sought the timber further below, where the water had reappeared on the surface.
Near this encampment, we first observed the great shrubby cactus155 which forms so conspicuous a feature in the vegetable physiognomy of the plains of the Arkansa. Its trunk is six or eight feet in height, and at the root five or six inches in diameter. It is much branched, the ultimate divisions consisting of long cylindric articulations. The flowers are as large as those of the C. ferox, of a purple colour, and are placed on the ends of the articulations. These last are arranged somewhat in whorls about the ends of the smaller branches. The surface of every part of the plant, aside from its terrific armature of thorns, is marked by little prominences of near an inch in length, and about one-fourth of an inch in breadth, rising considerably, and bearing a cluster of radiating spines. These are of various lengths, one pointing {209} obliquely upward, being commonly much the largest. At their insertion, these thorns are surrounded by pungent setæ in the manner of C. ferox. The whole plant is so thickly beset with strong spines pointing in every direction, that no large animal can approach it unharmed. It does not form thickets, but each plant is a cluster by itself; and when first seen at a distance, they were mistaken for bisons. We were informed by one of our engagees, who had penetrated the Spanish provinces as far as Monterey, that this plant is common there, and its fruit much esteemed. The nopals are considered characteristic of warm and dry climates, like those of Egypt and California.156 Perhaps there is no part of the world where plants of this family constitute so large a proportion of the vegetable products of the soil, as in the arid plains of the Arkansa. These plains are sufficiently dry; but like those of the Platte and Upper Missouri, where cacti are almost equally abundant, they are visited by very severe cold in winter.
Another highly interesting plant, which occurs in the most barren and desolate parts of the plain, is a cucurbitaceous vine resembling some of our common squashes, bearing a small pepo, which is round and smooth, and as large as an orange. It is perennial, having a somewhat lignous root four or five inches in diameter, and descending often more than four feet into the earth. We were so fortunate as to meet with it in flower, and also with ripened fruit. It has the acutely margined seed of the genus cucumis, but in other respects is closely allied to cucurbita.157 In addition to these, we collected the zigadenus elegans, Ph., asclepias tuberosa, and some others.
From an elevated ridge which we passed in the morning, some bisons had been seen, at the distance {210} of five miles; and as we were in want of game, Mr. Peale, with two hunters, rode forward in the pursuit of them. They overtook the herd near a small creek, and attacked one of the largest, which was at length killed. In examining the body, it was found twenty balls had entered in different parts before the animal fell. They arrived at camp, bringing the meat, at a little after noon.
The small stream on which we encamped had some timber along its valley. In this, four deer had been killed; so that we now had provisions in great plenty.158
From this camp we had a distinct view of the part of the mountains called by Captain Pike the highest peak. It appeared about twenty miles distant, towards the north-west.159 Our view was cut off from the base by an intervening spur of less elevation; but all the upper part of the peak was visible, with patches of snow extending down to the commencement of the woody region.
At about one o'clock P. M. a dense black cloud was seen to collect in the south-west; and advancing towards the peak, it remained nearly stationary over that part of the mountains, pouring down torrents of rain. The thunder was loud and frequent; and though little rain fell near our camp, the creek soon began to swell; and before sunset it had risen about six feet, and again subsided nearly to its former level. When the stream began to rise, it was soon covered with such a quantity of bison's dung, suddenly washed in from the declivities of the mountains and the plains at its base, that the water could scarcely be seen. About this time our cook filled his kettle, and put into it the meat intended for supper; but when the soup was brought to our tent, the flavour of the cow-yard was found so prevalent, and the meat so filled with sand, that very little could be eaten.
{211} As one of the objects of our excursion was to ascertain the elevation of the peak, it was determined to remain in our present camp for three days, which would afford an opportunity for some of the party to ascend the mountain.
A Catalogue of the Names of Animals, which we observed at Engineer Cantonment, or at other indicated places, on our journey to that post.
Vespertilio novaboracensis, L.—New-York bat.
———— Carolinus, Geoff.—Carolina bat.
Scalops aquaticus—Mole.
Ursus Americanus, (gularis, Geoff.)—Black bear.
Procyon lotor—Racoon.
Mustela minx—Mink.
—— vison.
Mephitis putorius (chinche, Buff. Cuv.)—Skunk.
Lutra (mustela lutra Braziliensis, Gm. Cuv.)—Otter.
Canis—Indian dog.
—— lycaon—Black wolf.
—— virginianus—Red fox.
—— cinereo-argenteus—Gray fox.
Felis concolor—Cougar.
—— rufa—Bay lynx.
Didelphius virginiana—Opossum.
Castor fiber—Beaver.
Ondatra Zibethicus—Musk-rat.
Gerbillus Canadensis—Leaping-mouse.
Arctomys monax—Maryland marmot.
Mus agrarius?—Rustic mouse.
Arvicola Zanthognatha, Leach—Meadow mouse (on the Ohio).
{262} Mus musculus—introduced by our expedition.
Pseudostoma bursaria—Pouched rat.
Sciurus cinereus—Gray squirrel.
—— capistratus—White-nosed do.
—— striatus—Ground do.
—— nigra—Black do.
Lepus Americanus—Rabbit.
Cervus major—Elk.
—— Virginianus—Virginian deer.
Antilocapra Americana, Ord.—Prong-horned antelope.
Bos bison, Gmel.—Bison.
Vultur (Cathartes Illig.) aura—Turkey buzzard.
Falco (Haliœtus, Sav.) leucocephalus—Bald eagle.
—— (Pandion, Sav.) haliætus?—Fish-hawk.
—— (Accipitur, V.) ruficaudus, Vieil. (F. Borealis, L. Wilson)—American buzzard, Lath.
—— (Circus, Bech.) uliginosus—Marsh-hawk.
—— Buteo (galinivorus, Vieil.)—Great hen, H.
—— (Milvus, Bech.) furcatus—Swallow-tailed falcon, Lath.
—— (Tinnunculus, Vieil.) sparverius—American sparrow-hawk.
—— (Aquila, Briss.) fulvus—Ring-tailed eagle, Wilson; war-eagle of the Omawhaws.
—— lineatus, Gm. Wils.—Red-shouldered hawk. Mississippi.
—— Mississippiensis, Wilson—Mississippi kite.
—— velox, Wilson—Sharp-shinned hawk.
—— Pennsylvanicus, Wilson—Slate-coloured hawk.
Strix (Otus, Cuv.) otus—Long-eared owl.
—— ( do. do. ) Virginiana—Virginian-eared owl, Lath.
—— ( do. do. ) asio—Red-eared owl, Lath.—Screech-owl.
{263} Strix (Ulula, Cuv.) nebulosa—Barred-owl, Lath.
—— (Noctna, Savig.) phalænoides, Dand. Vieil.
—— (do. do.) passerina, Wilson.
—— (do. do.) Hudsonia—Hawk-owl, Wilson.
—— (Bubo, Cuv.) bubo—Great owl.
Lanius borealis, Vieil.—Great American shrike, Wilson.
Tanagra Ludoviciani, Wils.—Louisiana tanager.
—— rubra—Scarlet tanager.
Musicapa (Tyrannus, Cuv.) pipiri, Vieil.—Tyrant fly-catcher, Wilson.
—— (Tyrannus, Cuv.) Ludovicianus—Louisiana fly-catcher, Lath.
—— Canadensis, Gm. Wilson.—Canada fly-catcher.
—— (Icteria, Vieil. pipra. Wilson,) viridis, L.—Yellow-breasted chat, Wils.
—— cantatrix Bartram, Wils.—White-eyed fly-catcher.
—— (Mucipeta, Cuv.) ruticilla—American red-start, Wilson.
—— olivacea—Red-eyed fly-catcher, Wils.
—— novaboracensis, Gm.—Green black-capt fly-catcher, Wilson.
—— fusca—Pewee fly-catcher, Wilson.
Ampelis (Bombycivora, Temm.) Carolinensis, Briss.—Cedar-bird, Wilson.
Turdus rufus—Ferruginous thrush.
—— felivox, Vieil.—Catbird.
—— fuscus—Brown thrush.
—— pollyglottus—Mocking bird.
—— aurocapillus—Golden crowned thrush.
—— migratorius—Red-breasted thrush.
—— aquaticus, Wils.—Water thrush.
Sylvia solitaria, Wils.—Blue-winged yellow warbler.
—— sialis—Blue bird.
—— striata, Wilson—Black poll warbler.
{264} Sylvia Ludoviciana, L.—Blue yellow-backed warbler, Wilson.
—— (Troglodites, Cuv.) troglodites? Wilson—Winter wren.
—— azurea, Steph. cœrulea, Wils.-Cœrulean warbler.
—— æstiva, Lath.
Certhia Caroliniana, Lath. Wils.—Great Carolina wren.
—— palustris, Wils.—Marsh wren.
Hirundo Americanus—Barn swallow, Wilson.
—— riparia—Bank do.
—— pelasgia—Chimney do..
—— purpurea—Purple martin.
Caprimulgus Virginianus, L.—Whip-poor-will.
—— porpetue, Vieil.—Night hawk.
Alauda alpestris, L. Wils.—Shore lark.
—— rubra—Red lark.
Parus atricapillus—Black capped titmouse.
Emberzia Americana, L. Wils.—Black throated bunting.
Fringilla (Ploceus, Cuv.) erythrocephala—Towhee bunting.
—— socialis, Wilson.—Chipping sparrow.
—— oryzivora—Rice bird.
—— pecora, Wils. (Emberiza)—Cow bird.
—— (Cardualis, Cuv.) tristis—Yellow bird.
—— melodia, Wilson.—Song sparrow.
—— purpurea—Purple finch.
—— Hudsonia—Snow bird.
—— (Linaria, Bech.) linaria—Lesser red-poll.
Loxia (Vidua, Cuv.) cardinalis—Cardinal gross beak.
—— ( do. do.) Ludoviciana—Rose-breasted gross beak.
—— (Corythus, Cuv.) enucleator—Pine gross beak.
—— Curvirostra Americana, Wilson.—American gross beak.
{265} Gracula (Icterus, Cuv.) quiscala—Purple grackle.
Oriolus (Zanthornus, Cuv.) phœniceus—Red-winged starling, Wilson.
—— (Zanthornus, Cuv.) Baltimoreus—Baltimore bird.
—— ( do. do. ) spurius—Orchard oriole.
—— ( do. do. ) icterocephalus—Yellow-headed oriole.
Sturnus Ludovicianus—Meadow-lark, Wils. The S. torquatus of Stephens seems to be the male of this species.
Sitta Carolinensis—White-breasted nuthatch, Wilson.
—— varira—Red-bellied [nuthatch, Wilson].
Corvus corax—Raven.
—— corone—Crow.
—— (Pica, Cuv.) pica—Magpie.
—— (Garrulus, Cuv.) cristatus—Blue jay.
Trochilus colubris—Ruby-throated humming-bird.
Alcedo alcyon—Belted kingfisher.
Picus pileatus—Pileated woodpecker, Lath.
—— erythrocephala—Red-headed woodpecker.
—— auratus—Gold-winged do.
—— pubescens—Downy do.
—— villosus—Hairy do.
—— Carolinus—Red-bellieddo.
Psittacus Carolinensis—Caroline perroquet.
Meleagris gallipavo—Turkey.
Tetrao cupido—Pinnated grouse.
—— umbellus—Ruffed do.
—— phasianellus—Long-tailed grouse.
—— (Perdix) Virginianus—Virginian partridge, Wilson.
Columba migratoria—Passenger pigeon. (C. Canadensis is the female, Temm.)
—— Carolinensis—Caroline pigeon or dove.
Charardrius vociferus—Kildeer.
{266} Charardrius pluvialis—Golden plover.
Ardea (Grus, Cuv.) Americanus—Hooping crane.
—— ( do. do. ) Canadensis—Sandhill do.
—— herodias—Great heron.
—— virescens—Green heron.
—— nycticorax—Night-heron.
Numenius longirostra—Long-billed curlew.
Scolopax minor—Little woodcock.
—— (Totanus) semipalmata—Willet.
—— (Totanus) melanoleucus, Vieil.—Stone curlew.
—— (do. ) vociferus—Telltale godwit.
Tringa solitaria, Wilson.—Solitary sandpiper.
—— Bartramia, Wilson.—Bartram's sandpiper.
—— semipalmata, Ord.—Semipalmated sandpiper.
Scolopax flavipes, Gm. Wils.—Yellow-shanks snipe.
—— fedoa, L. Wilson.—Great marbled godwit.
Recurvirostra Americana—American avocet.
Colymbus glacialis—Great northern diver.
—— (Podiceps, Lath.) cornutus—Horned grebe.
Fulica Americana—Common coot.
Larus ridibundus?—Laughing gull.
Sterna aranea, Wilson.—Marsh tern.
—— minuta—Lesser tern.
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos—Rough-billed pelican.
—— fuscus—Brown pelican.
—— (Phalacrocorax, Briss.) carbo—Corvorant.
Anas (Cygnus, Meyer) cygnus—Swan.
—— (do. ) Canadensis—Canada goose.
—— (Anser, Briss.) hyperborea—Snow goose.
—— (do. ) bernicla?—Barnacle goose.
—— (do. ) albifrons—White-fronted goose.
{267} Anas discors—Blue-winged teal.
—— albeola—Buffle-headed duck.
—— boschus—Wild duck.
—— sponsa—Summer duck.
—— marila—Scaup duck.
—— acuta—Pin-tailed duck.
—— glacialis—Long-tailed duck.
—— clangula—Golden-eye.
—— Americana—American widgeon.
Mergus serrator—Red-breasted merganser.
—— cucullatus—Hooded do.
Testudo clausa.—This is our common land tortoise. It rarely, if ever, enters the water voluntarily, and is therefore decidedly terrestrial.
Testudo (Emys, Brogni.) geographica, Lesueur.
—— ( do. do. ) serpentaria—Serpent tortoise.
Trionix, Geoff.) ferox—Fierce tortoise.
Lacerta (Agama) undulata, Daud.
—— (Scincus) 5-lineatus.
Coluber constrictor—Racer.
—— ordinatus—Garter snake.
—— heterodon—Hog-nose snake.
Crotalus horridus, L.—Banded rattlesnake.
—— durissus, L.—Diamond rattlesnake.
Rana pipiens, Daud. (R. Catesbeana, Shaw.)—Bull-frog—Ohio.
Rana helecina, Kalm. Daud. (R. pipiens, Schreb. Shaw.)—Shad-frog—Ohio.
Rana clamata, Daud.
—— (Hyla) occulars, Daud.—On the Ohio, near Shippingsport. This species is subject to vary considerably. In addition to the lateral vitta, it has sometimes three dorsal vittæ: other specimens have a remarkable cruciform mark on the back.
Rana Hyla) femoralis, Daud.—Ohio.
—— (Bufo) musicus—Common toad.
{268} Salamandra subviolacea, Barton—near Shippingsport.
—— longicauda, Green—near Pittsburgh.
—— rubra, Daud.—Ohio.
—— cinerea, Green—near Shippingsport.
—— (Triton, Laur.) Alleganiensis (Salam. gigantea, Barton)—Pittsburgh.
The following observations were made, relative to the arrival and departure of birds at Engineer Cantonment. A few notes are added, which were made at Pittsburgh and other places.
Vultur aura—Arrived April 2. 1820. On the Ohio, observed May 9. 1819.
Falco haliœtus—Flying north May 17. 1820.
—— furcatus—Was seen20.
The Falco and Strix families generally winter here.
Tanagra rubra—Arrived May 1. 1820. At Pittsburgh, arrived April 29. 1819.
Muscicapa olivacea arrived April 30. 1820.
—— cantatrix— 30.
—— ruticilla— 28. 1820. On the Ohio, observed May 8. 1819.
Muscicapa fusca arrived March 22. 1820.
—— pipiri— May 7. 1820. On the Ohio, observed May 8. 1819.
Turdus fuscus arrived April 28. At Pittsburgh the 14th.
Turdus aurocapillus arrived April 26. 1820.
—— aquaticus— 26.
—— migratorius—11.
—— felivox observed on the Ohio, May 8. 1819.
—— rufus do. do. 2. 1820.
Certhia palustris arrived April 15. 1820.
Sylvia striata — 26.
—— azurea — 28.
—— sialis—a few remain all winter.
Hirundo pelasgia arrived May 1. 1820. At Pittsburgh, arrived April 27. 1819.
{269} Hirundo purpurea arrived March 30. 1820. At Pittsburgh, April 14. 1819.
Hirundo Americana—At Pittsburgh, arrived April 21. 1819.
Caprimulgus Virginianus arrived April 19. 1820. At Pittsburgh, heard May 5. 1819.
Caprimulgus porpetue arrived May 16. 1820. On the Ohio, observed May 6. 1819.
Caprimulgus rufus, Vieil.—heard on the Ohio, June 2. 1819.
Parus articapillus—all winter.
Fringilla erythrocephala arrived March 22. 1819.
—— purpurea seen Feb. 28.
—— Hudsonica departing April 11.
—— oryzivora arrived May 14.
—— linaria — Feb. 1.
—— tristis remains during the winter.
Loxia Ludoviciana, observed May 1. and 6. 1819.
—— Americana — Feb. 21. 1819.
—— cardinalis—on the Ohio, May 8. 1819.
—— enuncleator—occasionally seen during the winter.
Oriolus icterocephalus, observed May 14. 1820.
—— phœniceus — March 1.
—— Baltimoreus, observed near Pittsburgh, April 29. 1819.
Sturnus Ludovicianus arrived April 5. 1820.
Sitta Carolinensis remains all winter.
Corvus pica retired northward, March 23. 1820.
—— corax—the young nearly able to fly, May 12. 1820.
Trochilus colubris arrived May 18. 1820. On the Ohio, May 6. 1819.
Alcedo alcyon arrived March 20. 1820.
Picus erythrocephalus arrived March 20. 1820.
—— auratus and some others remain all winter; but the erythrocephalus is entirely migratory.
Picus pileatus—seen Feb. 28. 1820.
{270} Psittacus Carolinensis—seen several times during the winter: near Louisville, May 25. 1819.
Columba migratoria arrived May 2. 1820.
—— Carolinensis arrived April 30. 1820.
Ardea Americanus arrived March 19. 1820.
—— virescens seen on the Ohio May 6. 1819.
—— Canadensis arrived May 24. 1820.
Numenius longirostra arrived April 1. 1820. Was seen on the top of the Alleghany mountain March 24. 1819.
Curvirostra Americana—seen Feb. 20. 1820.
Scolopax vociferus arrived March 19. 1820. At Pittsburgh, observed May 5. 1819.
Scolopax semipalmata arrived May 6. 1820.
—— minor — April 8.
Tringa solitaria — 30. 1820. At Pittsburgh, observed May 15. 1819.
Colymbus cornutus arrived May 5. 1820.
Larus ridibundus—in large flocks, flying northward, May 4. 1820. They were seen at Pittsburgh April 3. 1819.
Sterna minuta arrived April 2. 1820.
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos arrived April 8. 1820.
—— carbo arrived April 10. 1820. At Pittsburgh, arrived May 5. 1819.
Anas cygnus—flying to the north Feb. 22. 1820.
—— canadensis do. do. 21.
—— acuta shot 28.
—— Americana shot March 3.
—— sponsa, with their young, May 30. 1819.
The great emigration of geese, swans, ducks, and cranes, commenced on the 22d of February, and terminated the latter end of March, 1820.
1. Sun—The fore-finger and thumb are brought together at tip, so as to form a circle, and held up towards the sun's track. To indicate any particular time of the day, the hand with the sign of the sun, is stretched out towards the east horizon, and then gradually elevated, to show the ascent of that luminary, until the hand arrives in the proper direction, to indicate the part of the heavens in which the sun will be at the given time.
2. Night, or sleeping—The head, with the eyes closed, is laterally inclined for a moment upon the hand. As many times as this is repeated, so many nights are indicated; very frequently the sign of the sun is traced over the heavens, from east to west, to indicate the lapse of a day, and precedes the motion; it also precedes the following following—
3. Darkness—The hands extended horizontally forwards, and back upwards, pass one over the other, two or three times touching it.
4. Combat—The clenched hands are held about as high as the neck, and five or six inches asunder, then waved two or three times laterally, to show the advances and retreats of the combatants; after which the fingers of each hand are suffered to spring from the thumb towards each other, as in the act of sprinkling water, to represent the flight of missiles.
5. Prisoner—The fore finger and thumb of the left hand are held in the form of a semicircle, opening towards and near the breast, and the fore finger {272} of the right representing the prisoner, is placed upright within the curve, and passed from one side to another, in order to show that it will not be permitted to pass out.
6. Man—A finger held vertically.
7. Seeing—The fore-finger, in the attitude of pointing, is passed from the eye towards the real or imaginary object.
8. Seen, or discovered—The sign of a man, or other animal, is made; after which the finger is pointed towards, and approached to your own eye; it is the preceding sign reversed.
9. Entering a house or lodge—The left hand is held with the back upward, and the right hand also with the back up, is passed in a curvilinear direction down under the other, so as to rub against its palm, then up on the other side of it. The left hand here represents the low door of the skin lodge, and the right, the man stooping down to pass in.
10. Theft—The left fore-arm is held horizontally, a little forward or across the body, and the right hand passing under it with a quick motion, seems to grasp something, and is suddenly withdrawn.
11. Hunting—The fore-finger is brought near the eye, and placed in the attitude of pointing; it is then wagged from side to side, the eye following its devious motion, and seeming to look in the direction indicated. Sometimes the hand is extended far before the eye, and the same motion is given to the finger.
12. Pretty—The fingers and thumb, so opposed as to form a curve, are passed over the face nearly touching it, from the forehead to the chin, then add the sign of Good, No. 42.
13. Eating—The fingers and thumb are brought together in opposition to each other, into something of a wedge shape, and passed to and from the mouth four or five times within the distance of three or four {273} inches of it, to imitate the action of food passing to the mouth.
14. Drinking, or water—The hand is partially clenched, so as to have something of a cup shape; and the opening between the thumb and finger is raised to the mouth, as in the act of drinking. If the idea of water only is to be conveyed, the hand does not stop at the mouth, but is continued above it.
15. Enough, or a bellyful—The sign for eating is first made; then the fore finger and thumb are opposed to each other so as to form a semicircular curve, which is elevated along the body from the belly to the neck, in order to indicate that the interior is filled with food up to that part.
16. Squaw—The hands are passed from the top down each side of the head, indicating the parting of the hair on the top, and its flowing down each side.
17. The discharging of a gun—Is indicated by slapping the back of the right hand, partially closed, into the palm of the left.
18. Death—By throwing the fore finger from the perpendicular into a horizontal position towards the earth, with the back downwards.
19. Killing—The hands are held with the edge upwards, and the right hand strikes the other transversely, as in the act of chopping. This sign seems to be more particularly applicable to convey the idea of death, produced by a blow of the tomahawk or war-club.
20. Bison—The two fore fingers are placed near the ears, projecting, so as to represent the horns of the animal.
21. Surrounding the bison—The sign No. 20 is first made; the hands, with the fore fingers and thumbs in a semicircle, are then brought two or three times together.
22. Discharging the arrow—The hands are placed {274} as in the attitude of drawing the arrow in the bow, (this is also the sign for the bow) and its departure is indicated by springing the fingers from the thumbs, as in the act of sprinkling water.
23. To speak—The motion is like sprinkling water from the mouth by springing the fore finger from the thumb, the hand following a short distance from the mouth at each resilience, to show the direction of the word, or to whom it is addressed; this motion is repeated three or four times.
24. Haranguing—The above motion repeated rapidly, the hand at each motion pursuing a different direction, to show that the talk is addressed to various persons.
25. Quantity, or great number—The hands and arms are passed in a curvilinear direction outwards and downwards, as if we were showing the form of a large globe; then the hands are closed and elevated, as if something was grasped in each hand, and held up about as high as the face.
26. Exchange—The two fore fingers are extended perpendicularly, and the hands are then passed by each other transversely in front of the breast, so as nearly to exchange positions.
27. Inquiry—The hand held up with the thumb near the face, and the palm directed towards the person of whom the inquiry is making; it is then rotated upon the wrist two or three times edgewise, to denote uncertainty.
28. Truth—The fore finger passed, in the attitude of pointing, from the mouth forward in a line curving a little upward, the other fingers being carefully closed.
29. Lie—The fore and middle fingers extended, passed two or three times from the mouth forward; they are joined at the mouth, but separate as they depart from it, indicating that the words go in different directions.
{275} 30. It is so—The motion is somewhat like 28., but the finger is held rather more upright, and is passed nearly straight forward from opposite the breast; and when at the end of its course, it seems gently to strike something, though with a rather slow and not suddenly accelerated motion.
31. Sit down—The fist is clenched, and the motion of it is then the same as if it held a staff, and gently stamped it upon the earth two or three times.
32. Travelling with great rapidity—The hands are held edge up, extended forward and a little sideways, one in advance of the other, though parallel; they then are agitated a little in the manner of a fan, though with a much more rapid and not so wide a motion, the arms being at rest.
33. Running—The arm nearly doubled upon itself, and then the elbow thrown forward and backward, as in the act of running.
34. Riding on horseback—The index and middle finger of the right hand are straddled over the left index finger, representing the rider and the horse; these are then jolted forward, to represent the trotting motion of the horse.
35. Knife—Hold the left hand clenched near the mouth, as if it held one end of a strip of meat, the other end of which was between the teeth; then pass the edge of the right hand, as in the act of cutting, obliquing a little upwards from right to left between the other hand and mouth, so as to appear to divide the supposed meat.
36. Awl—The left fore finger is extended, and the right, also extended, is placed across it, and is then turned on its axis, so as to imitate the action of the awl in making a hole.
37. My offspring—If an Indian wishes to tell you that an individual present is his offspring, he points to the person; and then, with the finger still extended, {276} passes it forward from his loins in a line curving downwards; then slightly upwards; sometimes saying, "That is my child, illum minxi." Dashinga-shinga-we-weet-tah-ohn-na-je.
38. Strength—The hands are clenched; the left fore arm is held almost perpendicularly near the breast, so that the fist is nearly opposite to the throat; the right arm is then carried up between the left and the breast, and continued on over the left fist to the outside of the latter; the right arm is then brought down so as to have the same direction with the other, and the fists rest opposite to each other, in a line with the breast. This motion resembles the act of wringing a thick towel. If he would say, "I am strong," he strikes himself upon the breast two or three times with his fist, previously to the motion above described. If he would say, "You are strong," he previously points to you, &c.
39. Fire—The act of striking fire with the flint and steel is represented; after which the ascent of the smoke is indicated, by closing the fingers and thumb of the right hand, holding them in a vertical position, with the hand as low as convenient; the hand is then gradually elevated, and the fingers and thumb a little expanded, to show the ascent and expansion of the volume of smoke.
40. Rabbit—The fore and little fingers of the right hand are extended, representing the ears of the animal; the hand is then bobbed forward to show the leaping motion of the animal.
41. Deer—The fore finger of the right hand is extended vertically, with the back towards the breast; it is then turned from side to side, to imitate the motion of the tail of the animal when he walks at his leisure.
42. Good—The hand held horizontally, back upwards, describes with the arm a horizontal curve outwards.
{277} 43. Be quiet, or be not alarmed, or have patience—The palm of the hand is held towards the person.
45. I will kill you—Direct the right hand towards the offender, and spring the fingers from the thumb, as in the act of sprinkling water.
46. Fish—Hold the upper edge of the hand horizontally, and agitate it in the manner of a fan, but more rapidly, in imitation of the motion of the tail of the fish.
47. Poor—The two fore fingers extended, with the right, as if it was a knife, imitate the motion of cutting the flesh off of the left finger, beginning towards the tip, and cutting with a quick motion directed towards the base; at the same time turn the left finger a little round, so as to expose the different parts to the action of cutting; intimating that the flesh has diminished from starvation.
48. House or lodge—The two hands are reared together in the form of the roof of a house, the ends of the fingers upward.
49. Husband, companion, or in company—The two fore fingers are extended and placed together, with their backs upward.
50. Snow—The hand is held up about as high as the head, with the fingers suffered to dangle downwards; it is then bobbed a little up and down, as if to throw off drops from the ends of the fingers.
51. Rain—The sign for water (No. 14.) precedes that for snow.
52. Robe—The hands are placed near the shoulders, as if holding the ends of the robe, and then crossed, as if drawing the robe tight around the shoulders.
53. The coming of a person from a distance—Place the fore finger in a vertical position, with the arm extended towards the point from which the person came, or is to come; then bring it gradually near the {278} body, but not in contact with it; or if he continued on, carry it in the direction he passed.
54. Snake—The fore finger is extended horizontally, and passed along forward in a serpentine line. This is also used to indicate the Snake nation of Indians.
55. Crow nation of Indians—The hands held out each side, and striking the air in the manner of flying.
56. Light—Make the sign of the sun in the eastern horizon, and then extend the hands together, with the palm upwards, and carry them from each other outwards.
57. Flat-head nation—One hand placed on the top of the head, and the other on the back of the head.
58. Pierced-nose nation—The finger extended, pass it horizontally by the nostrils.
59. Trade—First make the sign of exchange, (No. 26.) then pat the left arm with the right finger, with a rapid motion from the hand passing it towards the shoulder.
60. Sioux nation—The edge of the hand passed across the throat, as in the act of cutting that part.
61. Black-foot nation—The finger and thumb encircle the ancle.
62. Arrapaho nation—The fingers of one hand touch the breast in different parts, to indicate the tattooing of that part in points.
63. Carrying a pack—The hands are placed each side of the head, as if they held the strap of the hoppas, which passes round the forehead, in order to relieve that part, by supporting a portion of the weight of the burden; with this motion, two or three slight inclinations of the head and corresponding movements of the hands are also made.
64. Pretty—Another sign, beside that marked {279} No. 43., is the following: curve the fore finger of the right hand, and place the tip on the ridge of the nose between the eyes, so as to represent a high Roman nose; then bring down the hand in a curvilinear manner, until the wrist touches the breast; after which add the sign, No. 42.
65. No, not, or none—The hand waved outwards, with the thumb upward. For yes, see No. 30.
66. Destroyed, or all gone, no more—The hands held horizontally, and the palms rubbed together, two or three times round; the right hand is then carried off from the other, in a short horizontal curve.
67. Anger—The fingers and thumb of the right hand, with the ends together, and near the breast; then turn the hand round two or three times, so as to describe verticle circles; indicating that the heart is disturbed.
68. Dissatisfaction, or discontent—The extended finger placed transversely before the situation of the heart, rotate the wrist two or three times gently, forming a quarter of a circle each time.
69. Indecision—The index and middle fingers extended and diverged, place them transversely before the situation of the heart, and rotate the wrist two or three times gently, forming each time a quarter of a circle.
70. Fool—The finger is pointed to the forehead, and the hand is then held vertically above the head, and rotated on the wrist two or three times.
71. Swiftness—The two index fingers are held parallel together, and pointing forward; the right one is then passed rapidly forward.
72. Shienne nation—With the index finger of the right hand proceed as if cutting the left arm in different places, with a sawing motion from the wrist upwards, to represent the cuts or burns on the arms of that nation.
73. Left-handed—The left hand clenched is held {280} up before the neck; the elbow is then brought in to the side, at the same time giving to the fore-arm a twist, so as to bring the closed palm opposite the breast.
74. I do not understand—The fingers and thumb of the right hand brought together near their tips, and then approached and receded to and from the ear two or three times, with a quick motion, made within the distance of two or three inches; finish with the sign, No. 65.
75. I understand—The same sign with the preceding, excepting the No. 65., which is omitted. The motion of the fingers is designed to represent the sound entering the ear.
76. Love or affection—The clenched hand pressed hard upon the breast.
77. Me (I)—The clenched hand struck gently, and with a quick motion, two or three times upon the breast. Or, the fingers brought together, are placed perpendicularly upon the breast.
78. You—Is expressed by simply pointing at the persons, and the same for other objects within view.
79. Multitude—First indicate a man, No. 6., or whatever object it may be, and then the sign of a great many, No. 25.
80. Opposite—A clenched hand held up on each side of the head, at the distance of a foot or more from it.
81. Hill—A clenched hand held up on the side of the head, at the distance of a foot or more from it.
82. River—The hand, in the form of a scoop or ladle, is carried to the mouth, as if conveying water, and then drawn along in a horizontal line, with the edge downward, about the height of the breast.
83. Counting, or enumeration—The fingers or thumbs expanded, count ten. In order to proceed with the enumeration by tens, the hands must be {281} clenched; and if again expanded, it counts twenty, and so on, the hands being clenched between every ten. In order to indicate the digits, clench the hands, and extend the little finger of the left hand for one; extend also the ring finger for two, and so on; the thumb for five. These must remain extended, whilst the thumb of the right is extended for six, &c. Any number within five, above any number of tens, is indicated by clenching the left hand and crossing the right over it, with the requisite number of fingers extended. For the number of sixteen, exhibit the sign of ten, and then extend four fingers, and the two thumbs in the order of enumeration; for seventeen, proceed by extending the fore finger of the right hand, and so on to twenty. In this manner any sum can be denoted, always holding the backs of the hands upward. When enumerating a small number, where a considerable exertion of the memory is requisite, the Indians extend the left hand with the palm upward; whilst, with the index of the right, the fingers are successively bent into the palm, beginning as before with the little finger; and the greater difficulty in recalling to mind the numbers or events, the more apparent resistance is offered to the inflection of the finger.
84. A Chief—The fore finger of the right hand extended, pass it perpendicularly downward; then turn it upward, and raise it in a right line as high as the head.
85. Bad—Make the sign of good (No. 42.), and then that of not (No. 65.)
86. Gun—Hold out the left hand, as in the act of supporting the gun when directed horizontally, and with the right appear to cock it.
87. Gunpowder—Appear to take up a pinch of the powder, and to rub it between the finger and thumb; then turning the hand, spring the fingers from the thumb upward, so as to represent the exploding of the powder.
{282} 88. Ball, or bullet—Make the sign of the exploding of the powder; then grasp the fore finger of the hand with the remaining fingers and thumb, so that the tip of it will so extend beyond them as to represent the ball.
89. Scissors—With the fore and middle fingers, imitate the opening and shutting of the blades of the scissors.
90. Looking-glass—The palm of the hand held before the face, the fingers pointing upward.
91. Writing—The act of writing is imitated by the finger, in the palm of the opposite hand.
92. Brother—The sign for a man (No. 6.), succeeded by placing the ends of the fore and middle fingers of one hand together in the mouth.
93. Sister—The sign for a squaw (No. 16.); after which place the fingers in the mouth, as in No. 92.
94. Cold—The arms, with clenched hands, held up before the breast, thrown into a tremulous motion as if shivering with cold.
95. Cowardice—The head stooped down, and the arm thrown up to protect it; a quick motion.
96. Marching, or travelling moderately—The hand held vertically as high as the neck, with slightly divided fingers, and rocked edgewise forward and backward upon the wrist, extending the arm a little forwards. This sign resembles that for inquiry (No. 27.), but differs in the direction of the motion of the hand.
97. The return of a party through fear—Begin with the preceding motion; then draw the tips of the fingers and thumb together, and retreat the hand to the body.
98. Hunting shirt—The fore finger and thumb, so opposed as to form a curve, are passed near the surface of the body, from the forehead to the abdomen.
99. Surprise or astonishment—Is indicated by placing the hand upon the mouth, to show that {283} language is inadequate to communicate their sensations.
100. Calumet dance—The hand extended with the edge upward, and with the arm waved sideways, with a motion like that of a swing.
101. Beaver trap—The two fore fingers brought suddenly together, in a parallel manner, so as to represent the snapping of the steel trap.
102. Stone—Close the right hand, and strike the palm of the left hand two or three times with it.
103. Give it to me—The hand extended in a pointing position towards the object in request; then brought towards the body with the finger raised vertically, and laid against the breast.
104. Mountains—When speaking of the Rocky Mountains, Tarrarecawaho held up the fingers of his left hand, a little diverging from each other; and to convey the idea of the streams flowing from them, he placed the index finger of his right hand alternately between each two of them, and drew it away in a serpentine manner.
The following signs are extracted from an essay by William Dunbar, Esq., published in the sixth volume of the Transactions of the American Philosophical Society. It will be observed that some of them differ essentially from those which we obtained, and that we have omitted ten of them which correspond with those we have given.
White—With the under side of the fingers of the right hand rub gently upon that part of the left hand which corresponds with the knitting of the bones of the fore finger and thumb.
Egg—The right hand held up with the fingers and thumb extended, and approaching each other as if holding an egg within.
The same, or similar to what went before—Place the two fore fingers parallel to each other, and push them forward a little.
{284} Snow—Begin with the sign of rain, then the sign of air or cold, and conclude with the sign of white.
Ice—Begin with the sign of water, then of cold, then the earth; and, lastly, a stone, with the sign of sameness or similarity.
Hail—Begin with the sign of water, then the sign of cold, next the sign of a stone, then the same, then the sign of white; and, lastly, conclude, with the sign of an egg; all which, combined, give the idea of hail.
Frost—Begin with the sign of water, then the sign of night or darkness, then the sign of cold, then the sign of white; and, lastly, the earth.
Cloud—Begin with the sign of water; then raise the two hands as high as the forehead, and placing them with an inclination of 15°, let them gently cross one another.
Fire—The two hands brought near the breast, touching or approaching each other, and half shut; then moved outwards moderately quick, the fingers being extended, and the hands a little separated at the same time, as if to imitate the appearance of flame.
Bring, fetch, or give me—The hand half shut, with the thumbs pressing against the fore finger, being first moderately extended either to the right or left, is brought with a moderate jerk to the opposite side, as if something was pulled along by the hand. Consequently, the sign of water preceding this, would convey the expression, "Give me water."
Earth—The two hands open and extended, brought horizontally near each other opposite to either knee, then carried to the opposite side, and raised in a curve movement, until brought round and opposite to the face.
Cold, or Air—The right hand held perpendicularly upwards, and brought forwards with a tremulous or vibratory motion, until it passes beyond the face.
Big, great, or large—The two hands open, placed {285} wide apart on each side of the body, and moved forwards.
Fear, to be afraid, to cause fear—The two hands, with the fingers turned inwards, opposite to the lower ribs; then brought upwards with a tremulous movement, as if to represent the common idea of the heart rising up to the throat: the three last signs, placed in the order given, would convey the idea of a violent hurricane.
Moon—The thumb and finger open are elevated towards the right ear; this last sign is generally preceded by the sign of the night, or darkness.
Heat—The two hands raised as high as the head, and bending forwards horizontally, with the points of the fingers curving a little downwards.
Clear—The hands are uplifted, and spread both ways from the head.
Thunder—The sign of rain, accompanied by the voice imitating the rumbling sound of thunder.
Lightning—First, the sign of thunder; then open or separate the hands; and, lastly, bring the right hand down towards the earth, in the centre of the opening just made.
Male and female—Note: to distinguish between the male and female, in all cases add for the male a fillip with the fore finger of the right hand on the cheek; and, for the female, bring the two hands open towards the breast, the fingers approaching, and then move them outwards.
Dunghill fowl—Bring the thumb and fingers of the right hand together; and holding the hand moderately elevated, move it across, imitating the motion of the head of a cock in walking.
Turkey—The open hands brought up opposite to the shoulders, and imitating slowly the motion of the wings of a bird; to which add the last sign.
{286} Duck—The last sign; then the sign of water; and, lastly, the sign of swimming; which last is performed by the fore finger of the right hand extended outwards, and moved to and fro.
Horse—The right hand, with the edge downwards, the fingers joined, the thumb recumbent, extended forwards.
Deer—The right hand extended upwards by the right ear, with a quick puff from the mouth.
Man—With the fore finger of the right hand extended, and the hand shut, describe a line, beginning at the pit of the stomach, and passing down the middle of the body as far as the hand conveniently reaches, holding the hand a moment between the lower extremities.
Woman—The finger and thumb of the right hand partly open, and placed as if laying hold of the breast.
Child—Bring the fingers and thumb of the right hand, and place them against the lips; then draw them away, and bring the right hand against the fore of the left, as if holding an infant. Should the child be male, prefix the sign of a man before the last sign; and, if a female, do so by the sign of the woman.