Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www. archive.org/details/cu31924003521287 THE Book or WOODCRAFT Awp Lyon Lore With Over 500Dramings By fhe Author ERNEST IHOMPSON SETOV Autuor oF Wild Animals [Have Known, Lo Little Savages: Biography of a Grif, . Soe ddistorics of Northern Animals.” ~ ,, olf in the Woods, The Foresters’ Manual Head Chief of the Woodcraft Indians. Garden City New Vork Doubleday, Page (2 Company 1913 Copyright, 1912, by Ernest THOMPSON SETON All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign languages, including the Scandinavian. PREFACE For over twenty-five years I have been giving the talks and demonstrations that are gathered together in this book. Many of them have appeared in magazines or in the “Birch-Bark Roll” that has come out annually for ten years. But this is the first time in which a comprehensive collection has -been made of the activities, customs, laws, and amusements that have been developed in my camps. Some of the related subjects I have treated at too great length for enclosure in one book. Of this class are the “Life Histories of Northern Animals,” “ Animal Stories,” “Sign Language” and “Forestry,” which appear as separate works. All are merely parts of a scheme that I have always considered my life work, namely, the development or revival of Woodcraft as a school for Manhood. By Woodcraft I mean outdoor life in its broadest sense and the plan has ever been with me since boyhood. Woodcraft is the first of all the sciences. It was Woodcraft that made man out of brutish material, and Woodcraft in its highest form may save him from decay. As the model for outdoor life in this country I took the Indian, and have thus been obliged to defend him against the calumnies of those who coveted his possessions. In giving these few historical extracts to show the Indian character, it must be remembered that I could give hundreds, and that prac- tically all'the travelers who saw with their own eyes are of one mind in the matter. “Commissioner Robert G. Valentine, of the Indian Bureau, the first Indian Commissioner we have ever had who knew and sympathized with the Indians, writes after reading my manu- script: ‘i Vv Preface “On the question of the character of the Indians I am in absolute accord with you on everything that I believe any one would consider a basic point. In speech after speech I have fought the idea that Indians were cruel or lazy or vicious, and dwelt on their positive virtues — among these their sense of humor, and their deep reverence.”* The portions of the manuscript called “Spartans of the West,” and “Campfire Stories of Indian Character,” have been sub- mitted to George Bird Grinnell, of New York, whose life has been largely spent among the Indians, and have received from him a complete endorsement. In a similar vein I have heard from Dr. Charles A. Eastman, and from nearly all of the many who have seen the manuscript. Some of my friends at the Smithsonian Institution take excep- tion to certain details, but no one denies the main contentions in regard to the character of the Indian, or the historical ac- curacy of the ‘Campfire Stories.” Gen. Nelson A. Miles, for example, writes me: ‘History can show no parallel to the heroism and fortitude of the American Indians in the two hundred years’ fight during which they contested inch by inch the possession of their country against a foe infinitely better equipped with inexhaustible resources, and in overwhelming numbers. Had they even been equal in numbers, history might have had a very different story to tell.” I was taught to glorify the names of Xenophon, Leonidas, Spartacus, the Founders of the Dutch Republic or the Noble Six Hundred at Balaclava, as the ideals of human courage and self-sacrifice, and yet I know of nothing in all history that will compare with the story of Dull Knife as a narrative of magnificent heroism and human fortitude. While I set out only to justify the Indian as a model for our *The great racial defects of the Indians were revengefulness and disunion, and, latterly, proneness to strong drink. They taught the duty of revenge; so that it was easy to begin a feud, but hard to end one. Instead of a nation, they were a multitude of factions, each ready to join an outsider for revenge on its rival neighbor. This incapacity for team play pre; vented the development of their civilization and proved their ruin. vi Preface boys in camp, I am not without hope that this may lead to a measure of long-delayed justice being accorded him. He asks only the same rights as are allowed without question to all other men in America — the protection of the courts, the right to select his own religion, dress, amusements, and the equal right to the pursuit of happiness so long as his methods do not conflict with the greater law of the land. This book is really the eleventh edition of the “Birch-Bark Roll,” which I have published yearly and expanded yearly since 1902. On the first day of July that year I founded the first band of Woodcraft Indians. Since then the growth of the movement has called for constant revision and expansion. In the present volume, for the first time, I have fully set forth a justification of my Indian Ideal. I am deeply indebted to my friend, Edgar Beecher Bronson, for permission to include the History of Chief Dull Knife’s March, which appeared in his “Reminiscences of a Ranch- man.” It is a story that should be known to all the world. I have also to express my obligations to Messrs. Charles Scribner’s Sons for permission to quote from Capt. J. O. Bourke’s writings, to J. W. Schultz for the use of his charming story of ““No-Heart,” to Messrs. The Fleming H. Revell Co., for permis- sion to quote F. W. Calkins’ story of the “Two Wilderness Voyagers,” to Miss Alice C. Fletcher for the use of two Indian songs from her book “Indian Story and Song,” as noted, to Edward S. Curtis for the use of Sitting Bull’s ‘War Song,” to Miller Jordan and Geo. L. White for help in revising the parts on organization and honors, to Dr. Clinton L. Bagg for help in the “First Aid,”’ to Dr. C. C. Curtis for the identi- fication of toadstools, to Dr. Charles A. Eastman (Ohiyesa) for general criticism and for special assistance in the chapters on “The Indian’s Creed,”’ “ Teepee Etiquette, ” and the “Teachings of Wabasha I.” Also to Robert G. Valentine (Indian Commissioner) and George Bird Grinnell of New York for critical reading of the historical parts of the book. vil Preface When I was a boy I hungered beyond expression for just such information as I have tried herein to impart. It would be a great joy to me if I could reach and help a considerable number of such ‘heart-hungry boys tormented with.an insatiate instinct for the woods, and if I fail ‘of this, I shall at least have the lasting pleasures of having lived through these things myself and of having written about them. fe CONTENTS PAGE Preface: 3.0.4 4% @h@ a> GOR Se SO oO ew Table of the Seventeen Sections: I. Principtes oF Scoutinc Nine Important Principles. . . . . 3 Recreation . : 4 Camp-life ‘ 4 Self-government, with Adult Guidance 4 The Magic of the Campfire 4 Woodcraft Pursuits ‘ 5 Honors by Standards : 6 Personal Decoration for Personal Achieve- ‘ments : 6 A Heroic Ideal “6 Picturesqueness in Everything : 7 The Ideal. . .. “ 7 TI. THE SPARTANS OF THE WEST The Indian Way . . . ..... 9 The Indian’s Creed . . . . . . . 0 6 The Dark Side . . . . .... 3 The Bright Side . . . 2. . «© . 618 Reverence . . . . . . . . . 20 Cleanliness . . . . . 2...) O24 Chastity 2. 3) cee Fe) !e) ua Gel! Ua) ne), Gay Bravery . eww ae 288 Thrift and Providence. . - 2 29 Cheerfulness or the ae: Indian. 31 Obedience . . ates 82 Kindness . . . . . 2. 1 « += 34 Hospitality .. Se =, ee 36 Treatment of Their Women. . . . 37 Courtesy and Polite Behavior . . . 41 Honesty. . . . «© -© © © 6 es) 4 x Contents THe SPARTANS OF THE WeEST—Continued Truthfulness and Honor . Temperance and Sobriety . Physique . Ee In General Summary. ‘ Standard Indian Books III. Tse Purpose AND LAWS OF THE Woopcrarft INDIANS The Redman’s Way . Watchword . Totem . War-cry. Sign : The ak , 5 The Rulers of the Nation : The Great Council . . The High Council of Guidance The Medicine Lodge or ae of the ¢ Old Guides. , ‘i The Initiation of a Brave ; The Little Lodge The Big Lodge The Laws for the Ruling 0 of the Tribe . 1. Name 2. Purpose . . 3. Who May Enter . 4. Councils. 5. The Rulers of ‘the Tribe. The Vow of the Head Chief The Vow of Each Brave 6. Changes of the Law 7. Dues f . Secret Laws and Punishments i The Band or Clan . Costumes. . . . Titles of Nobles . Badges of Rank . The Standard Totems Contents Fuapoae AND LAWS OF THE WoopcraFt INDIANS—C ontinued Order of Doings in Council How to Begin. The Tally Book and How to Keep It For Example ‘ The Indian Laws in Brief . The War-cry of the Band . IV. Honors AND DEGREES AND INDIAN NAMES: Honors Decorations for Individual Honors Decorations for Group Honors or Degrees . Standards of Honors Red Honors: Heroism . Riding. Caneel Athletics Athletic Specialties . : Water Sports and Travel . Mountain Climbing Target Shooting Eyesight . F Big-game Hunting . White Honors: Campercraft and ee Archery . Long Range, Clout, or Flight Shooting Fishing ee Bait Casting Blue Honors: Nature Study — Vertebrates . Nature Study — Lower Forms of Life . Geology, etc. Photography Tue DEGREES IN WOODCRAFT Athlete (Song-adis) . Camper (Gabeshiked) accel Camp Cook (Chabakwed) . Camp Craftsman (Enokid) Camp Doctor (Mashkiki) . xi, G0 00 00 Cosy ST Contents DeEcREEs In Woopcrart—Continued Canoeman (Chemaunigan) Fisherman (Gagoiked) Forester (Mitigwakid) Frontier Scout (Gimab) Gleeman or Camp Conjurer (Nagamed) | Herald or Crier (Bibaged) . Horseman (Bebamomigod) . Hunter (Gaossed) ; Mountaineer (Wadjiwed) ws Pathfinder or Scout (Mikan) . Scout Runner (Kee-mo-sah’-bee) . Sharpshooter (Godaakwed) Star Wiseman (Gijiged) Swimmer (Shingebis) Traveler (Bebamadisid) . Village Scout or Big Village Scout (Odena- winini) F Whiteman’s Woodcraft (Dibaakid) Wise Woodman (Nibwaka-winini) Winning a Name. Indian Names that Have Been Won by Scouts English Names that Have Been Given . Indian Names Given in Ridicule . English Names Given in Ridicule Names Given to Women V. Wooptanp Sones, DANCES, AND CEREMONIES Omaha Tribal Prayer Sitting Bull’s War Song The Ghost Dance Song . The Peace Pipe Ceremony Sea Mowe. Bh <8 The Scalp Dance . . me Glade Be cel: Oe SE cen OO Drum. 2 ee a ew 469 Peace Pipe... eee ee 6469 The Indian or Willow Bed. WA we Sl 8 ve. Baan Indian Paints . . . . 1. . 1... 6478 Indian Dyes . . A477 Naming the Camp or Keeping the Winter Count 478 Archery .. ‘ 478 How to Makea Bow. . . . . 479 Holding and Drawing . . oe ee a A BT The Warbow of the Penobscots . . . . 481 Scalps .. : 2 Gy Ge oe 483 Indian Work ode 8: Ae ce Ske Ly, gg XVII. Camprrre Stories or GimvpsEs oF INDIAN CHARACTER The Teachings of Winnemucca . . . . 485 The Teachings of Wabasha. . . . . 485 XX Contents CAMPFIRE STORIES OR GLIMPSES OF INDIAN CHARACTER —Continued The Lessons of Lone Chief . . . . . 486 The Teachings of Tshut-che-nau. . . . 487 Courage or the Trained Scout. . . . . 488 An Indian Prayer. . . . . 1 1 «6488 Genesis (Omaha) . . . . «488 The Quiché’s Story of Creation . . 489 Clean Fatherhood . . se 8 6 490 Omaha Proverbs. s « « 400 The Medicine Man and His Ways er (0) The Indian Silence .. . +. 491 The Indian Babes in the Woods - 2» 492 The Story of No-Heart . . . . . . 493 Tecumseh : - +. 500 Kanakuk, the Kickapoo Prophet — - 2) . 6502 Chief Joseph of the Sahaptin pe vee Sel oa White Calf, Chief of the Blackfeet . . . 507 Wovoka, the Prophet . . . . . « 510 The Apache Indian’s Case. . s % « 513 The Wiping-out of Nanni-Chaddi ue ar BES The Ending of Dull Knife’s Band . . . 524 The Message of the Indian . . . . . 548 Index. . . € a a de @ 3558 THE BOOK OF WOODCRAFT I, Principles of Scouting Nine Important Principles of Scouting HIS is a time when the whole nation is turning toward the Outdoor Life, seeking in it the physical regeneration so needful for continued national existence — is waking to the fact long known to thoughtful men, that those live longest who live nearest to the ground — that is, who live the simple life of primitive times, dives- ted, however, of the evils that ignorance in those times begot. Consumption, the white man’s plague since he has be- come a house race, is vanquished by the sun and air, and many ills of the mind also are forgotten when the sufferer boldly takes to the life in tents. Half our diseases are in our minds and half in our houses. We can safely leave the rest to the physicians for treatment. Sport is the great incentive to Outdoor Life; Nature Study is the intellectual side of sport. I should like to lead this whole nation into the way of living outdoors for at least a month each year, reviving and expanding a custom that as far back as Moses was deemed essential to the national well-being. Not long ago a benevolent rich man, impressed with this idea, chartered a steamer and took some hundreds of slum boys up to the Catskills for a day in the woods. They were duly landed and told to “go in now and have a glorious time.”’ It was like gathering up a netful of catfish and 4 4 The Book of Woodcraft throwing them into the woods, saying, ‘‘Go and have a glorious time.” The boys sulked around and sullenly disappeared. An hour later, on being looked up, they were found in groups under the bushes, smoking cigarettes, shooting ‘“‘craps,” and playing cards — the only things they knew. Thus the well-meaning rich man learned that it is not enough to take men out of doors. We much also teach them to enjoy it. The purpose of this book is to show how Outdoor Life may be followed to advantage. Nine leading principles are kept in view: , (1) This movement is essentially for recreation. ! (2) Camp-life. Camping is the simple life reduced to actual practice, as well as the culmination of the outdoor life. Camping has no great popularity to-day, because men have the idea that it is possible only after an expensive journey to the wilderness; and women that it is inconven- ient, dirty, and dangerous. These are errors. They have arisen because camping as an art is not understood. When intelligently followed, camp-life must take its place as a cheap and delightful way of living, as well as a mental and physical savior of those strained or broken by the grind of the over-busy world. The wilderness affords the ideal camping, but many of the benefits can be got by living in a tent on a town lot, a piazza, or even a housetop. (3) Self-government with Adult Guidance. Control from without is a poor thing when you can get control from within. As far as possible, then, we make these camps self- governing. Each full member has a vote in affairs. (4) The Magic of the Campfire. What is a camp with- out a campfire? — no camp at all, but a chilly place in a Principles of Scouting ‘ landscape, where some people happen to have some things. When first the brutal anthropoid stood up and walked erect — was man, the great event was symbolized and marked by the lighting of the first campfire. For millions of years our race has seen in this blessed fire, the means and emblem of light, warmth, protection, friendly gathering, council. All the hallow of the ancient thoughts, hearth, fireside, home is centred in its glow, and the home- tie itself is weakened with the waning of the home-fire. Not in the steam radiator can we find the spell; not in the water coil; not even in the gas log; they do not reach the heart. Only the ancient sacred fire of wood has power to touch and thrill the chords of primitive remembrance. When men sit together at the campfire they seem to shed all modern form and poise, and hark back to the primitive —to meet as man and man— to show the naked soul. Your campfire partner wins your love, or hate, mostly your love; and having camped in peace together, is a lasting bond of union — however wide your worlds may be apart. The campfire, then, is the focal centre of all primitive| brotherhood. We shall not fail to use its magic powers. — (5) Woodcraft Pursuits. Realizing that manhood, not scholarship, is the first aim of education, we have sought out those pursuits which develop the finest character, the finest physique, and which may be followed out of doors, which, in a word, make for manhood. By nearly every process of logic we are led primarily to Woodcraft — that is, Woodcraft in a large sense — meaning every accomplishment of an all-round Woodman — cad ing, Hunting, Camper-craft, Scouting, Mountaineering, Indian-craft, First aid, Star-craft, Signaling, and Boating. To this we add all good Outdoor Athletics and Sports, including Sailing and Motoring, and Nature Study, of | 6 The Book of Woodcraft ( which Wild Animal Photography is an important branch; but above all, Heroism. Over three hundred deeds or exploits are recognized in these various departments, and the members are given decorations that show what they achieved (6) Honors by Standards. The competitive principle is responsible for much that is evil. We see it rampant in our colleges to-day, where every effort is made to discover and develop a champion, while the great body of students is neglected. That is, the ones who are in need of physical development do not get it, and those who do not need it are over-developed. The result is much unsoundness of many kinds. A great deal of this would be avoided if we strove to bring all the individuals up to a certain standard. In our non-competitive tests the enemies are not “‘the other fellows,”’ but time and space, the forces of Nature. We try not to down the others, but to raise ourselves. A thorough appli- cation of this principle would end many of the evils now demoralizing college athletics. Therefore, all our honors are bestowed according to world-wide standards. (Prizes are not honors.) (7) Personal Decoration for Personal Achievements. The love of glory is the strongest motive in a savage. Civil- ized man is supposed to find in high principle his master impulse. But those who believe that the men of our race, not to mention boys, are civilized in this highest sense, would be greatly surprised if confronted with figures. Nevertheless, a human weakness may be good material to work with. I face the facts as they are. All have a chance for glory through the standards, and we blazon it forth in personal decorations that all can see, have, and desire. (8) A Heroic Ideal. The boy from ten to fifteen, like the savage, is purely physical in his ideals. I do not know that I ever met a boy that would not rather be John L. Sullivan Principles of Scouting 7 than Darwin or Tolstoi. Therefore, I accept the fact, and seek to keep in view an ideal that is physical, but also clean, manly, heroic, already familiar, and leading with certainty to higher things. (9) Picturesqueness in Everything. Very great impor- tance should be attached to this. The effect of the pictur- esque is magical, and all the more subtle and irresistible because it is not on the face of it reasonable. The charm of titles and gay costumes, of the beautiful in ceremony, phrase, dance, and song, are utilized in all ways. THE IDEAL When two or three young people camp out, they can live as a sort of family, especially if a grown-up be with them; but when a dozen or more are of the party, it is necessary to organize. What manner of organization will be practical, and also give full recognition to the nine principles of scouting? What form of government lends itself best to — Recreation; Outdoor Life; Self-rule; The Campfire; Woodcraft traditions; Honors by standards; Personal decoration for personal achievement; A heroic ideal; Picturesqueness in all things? In my opinion, the Tribal or Indian form of organization. Fundamentally, this is a republic or limited monarchy, and many experiments have proved it best for our purpose. It makes its members self-governing; it offers appropriate things to do outdoors; it is so plastic that it can be adopted 8 The Book of Woodcraft in whole or in part, at once or gradually; its picturesqueness takes immediate hold of all; and it lends itself so well to our object that, soon or late, other forms of organization are forced into its essentials. No large band of boys ever yet camped out for a month without finding it necessary to recognize a leader, a senior form (or ruling set whose position rests on merit), some wise grown person to guide them in difficulties, and a place to display the emblems of the camp; that is, they have adopted the system of the Chief, Council, Medicine Man and Totem-pole. Moreover, the Ideal Indian stands for the highest type of primitive life. He was a master of woodcraft, and unsordid, clean, manly, heroic, self-controlled, reverent, truthful, and picturesque always. America owes much to the Redman. When the struggle for freedom came on, it was between men of the same blood and bone, equal in brains and in strength. The British had the better equipment perhaps. The great advantage of the American was that he was a trained scout, and this training which gave him the victory he got from the Redman. But the Redman can do a greater service now and in the future. He can teach us the ways of outdoor life, the nobility of courage, the joy of beauty, the blessedness of enough, the glory of service, the power of kindness, the super-excellence of peace of mind and the scorn of death. For these were the things that the Redman stood for; these were the sum of his faith. II, The Spartans of the West O WORLD-MOVEMENT ever yet grew as a mere N doctrine. It must have some noble example; a living, appealing personality; some man to whom we can point and say, “This is what we mean.” All the great faiths of the world have had such a man, and for lack of one, many great and flawless truths have passed into the lumber-room. To exemplify my outdoor movement, I must have a man who was of this country and climate; who was physically beautiful, clean, unsordid, high-minded, heroic, picturesque, and a master of Woodcraft, besides which, he must be al- ready well-known. I would gladly have taken a man of our own race, but I could find none. Rollo the Sea-King, King Arthur, Leif Ericsson, Robin Hood, Leatherstocking, all suggested themselves, but none seemed to meet the requirements, and most were mere shadows, utterly un- known. Surely, all this pointed the same way. There was but one figure that seemed to answer all these needs: that was the Ideal Indian of Fenimore Cooper and Long- fellow. For this reason, I took the Native American, and called my organization “Woodcraft Indians.”* And yet, I am told that the prejudice against the word “Indian” has hurt the movement immensely. If so, it is because we do not know what the Indian was, ard this I shall make it my *Also called Seton Indians and Indian Scouts. 9 10 The Book of Woodcraft sad and hopeful task, at this late day, to have our people realize. We know more about the Redman to-day than ever we did. Indeed, we knew almost nothing of him twenty years ago. We had two pictures offered us; one, the ideal savage of Longfellow, the primitive man, so noble in nature that he was incapable of anything small or mean or wicked; the other was presented by those who coveted his possessions, and, to justify their robberies, they sketched the Indian as a dirty, filthy, squalid wretch, a demon of cruelty and cowardice, incapable of a human emotion, and never good till dead. Which of these is the true picture? Let us calmly ex- amine the pages of history, taking the words and records of Redmen and white, friends and foes of the Indian, and be prepared to render a verdict, in absolute accordance with that evidence, no matter where it leads us. Let us begin by admitting that it is fair to take the best examples of the red race, to represent Indian philosophy and goodness; even as we ourselves would prefer being represented by Emerson, Tolstoi,.Lincoln, Spencer, Pea- body, General Booth, or Whitman, rather than by the border ruffians and cut-throat outlaws who were the prin- cipal exemplars of our ways among the Indians. It is freely admitted that in all tribes, at all times, there were reprobates and scoundrels, a reproach to the people; just as amongst ourselves we have outcasts, tramps, drunk- ards, and criminals. But these were despised by their own people, and barely tolerated. We must in fairness judge the Indian and his way of life and thought by the exemplifications of his best types: Hiawatha, Wabasha I, Tshut-che-nau, Ma-to-to-pa, Te- cumseh, Kanakuk, Chief Joseph, Dull Knife, Washakie, The Spartans of the West II and many that loved their own people and were in no wise touched by the doctrines of the whites. If from these men we gather their beliefs, their teachings, and the common thoughts that guided their lives, we may fairly assume that we have outlined the creed of the best Indians. THE INDIAN’S CREED These are the main thoughts in the Redman’s creed: (x) While he believed in many gods, he accepted the idea of one Supreme Spirit, who was everywhere all the time; whose help was needed continually, and might be secured by prayer and sacrifice. (2) He believed in the immortality of the soul, and that its future condition was to be determined by its behavior i in this life. (3) He reverenced his body as the sacred temple of his spirit; and believed it his duty in all ways to perfect his body, that his earthly record might be the better. We cannot, short of ancient Greece, find his equal in physical perfection. (4) He believed in the subjection of the body by fasting, whenever it seemed necessary for the absolute domination of the spirit; as when, in some great crisis, that spirit felt the need for better insight. (5) He believed in reverence for his parents, and in old age supported them, even as he expected his children to support -him. (6) He believed in the sacredness of property. Theft among Indians was unknown. (7) He believed that the murderer must expiate his crime with his life; that the nearest kin was the proper avenger, but that for accidental manslaughter compen- sation might be made in goods. 12 The Book of Woodcraft (8) He believed in cleanliness of body. (9) He believed in purity of morals. (10) He believed in speaking the truth, and nothing but the truth. His promise was absolutely binding. He hated and despised a liar, and held all falsehood to be an abomi- nation. (11) He believed in beautifying all things in his life. He had a song for every occasion — a beautiful prayer for every stress. His garments were made beautiful with painted patterns, feathers, and quill-work. He had dances for every fireside. He has led the world in the making of beautiful baskets, blankets, and canoes; while the deco- rations he put on lodges, weapons, clothes, dishes, and dwellings, beds, cradles, or grave-boards, were among the countless evidences of his pleasure in the beautiful, as he understood it. (12) He believed in the simple life. He held, first, that land belonged to the tribe, not to the individual; next, that the accumulation of property was the beginning of greed that grew into monstrous crime. (13)’ He believed in peace and the sacred obligations af hospitality. (14) He believed that the noblest of virtues was cour- age, and that, above all other qualities, he worshipped and prayed for. So also he believed that the most shameful of crimes was being afraid. (15) He believed that he should so live his life that the fear of death could never enter into his heart; that when the last call came he should put on the paint and honors of a hero going home, then sing his death song and meet the end in triumph. If we measure this great pagan by our Ten Command- ments, we shall find that he accepted and obeyed them, all The Spartans of the West 13 but the first and third: that is, he had many lesser gods besides the one Great Spirit, and he knew not the Sabbath Day of rest. His religious faith, therefore, was much the same as that of the mighty Greeks, before whom all the world of learning bows; not unlike that of many Christians and several stages higher than that of the Huxley and other modern schools of materialism. THE DARK SIDE These are the chief charges against the Indian: First: He was cruel to his enemies, even torturing them at the stake in extreme cases. He knew nothing about for- giving and loving them. In the main, thisis true. But how much less cruel he was than the leaders of the Christian Church in the Middle Ages! What Indian massacre will compare in horror with that of St. Bartholomew’s Eve or the Massacre of Glencoe? Read the records of the Inquisition, or the Queen Mary persecutions in England, or the later James IT. abomina- tions for further light! There was no torture used by the Indians that was not also used by the Spainards. Every frontiersman of the Indian days knows that in every outbreak the whites were the aggressors; and that in every evil count — robbery, torture and massacre — they did exactly as the In- dians did. ‘‘The ferocity of the Redman,” says Bourke, “has been more than equaled by the ferocity of the Christian Caucasian.” (‘‘On the Border with Crook,” p. 114.) There are good grounds for stating that the Indians were cruel to their enemies, but it is surprising to see how little of this cruelty there was in primitive days. In most cases the enemy was killed in battle or adopted into the tribe; very, 14 The Book of Woodcraft very rarely was he tortured. Captain Clark says of the Cheyennes: “There is no good evidence that captives have been burned at the stake, flayed alive, or any other excruciating torture inflicted on persons captured by these fierce, war-loving and enterprising barbarians.” (‘‘ Sign Language,” p. 106.) But we know now that the whites did use diabolical tortures in their dealings with the Indian, and deliberately and persistently misrepresented him in order to justify their own atrocities. The whites, however, had print to state their case, while the Indians had none to tell their story or defend them. Furthermore, it is notorious that all massacres of Indians by the whites were accomplished by treachery in times of peace, while all Indian massacres of whites were in time of war, to resist invasion. At present, I know of no exception to this rule.* In almost every case, it must be said that the army officers and men were personally guiltless. They were impressed with the heroism of the Indians, admired them for their bravery, were horrified by the wickedness of the orders sent them, and did all they could to mitigate the atrocious policies of the shameless Indian Bureau. But there were instances in which the army officers showed themselves the willing tools of the politicians. Among the notorious cases was the cold-blooded massacre, in 1864, by Col. J..H. Chivington, of several hundred Cheyennes. Men, women, and children had surrendered and disarmed, and were, indeed, at the time, under military protection. The fiendish cruelty and cowardice of that one attack on these defenseless beings was enough to more than justify “Many supposed massacres by Indians are now known to have been the work ef whites disguised as Indians. The Spartans of the West 15 everything the Cheyennes have ever done to the race of the assassins. (See “Century of Dishonor,” pp. 341-358.) Still worse was the Baker massacre of Blackfeet, on January 23, 1870. A border ruffian, a white man named Clark, had assaulted a young Indian, beating him severely, and the Indian, in retaliation, had killed Clark and gone off into Canada. Without troubling to find the guilty party, or even the band he belonged to, Brevet Col. E. M. Baker, major Second Cavalry, stationed at Fort Shaw, marched out, under orders from Gen. Philip H. Sheridan, to the nearest Indian village, on Marias River; as it happened, they were peace- able, friendly Indians, under Bear’s Head. Without warning, the soldiers silently surrounded the sleeping village. But the story is better told by Schultz, who was on the spot later, and heard it all from those who saw: “Tn a low tone Colonel Baker spoke a few words to his men, telling them to keep cool, aim to kill, to spare none of the enemy; and then he gave the command to fire. A terrible scene ensued. On the day previous, many of the men of the camp had gone out toward the Sweetgrass Hills on a grand buffalo hunt; so, save for Chief Bear’s Head and a few old men, none were there to return the soldiers’ fire. Their first volley was aimed low down into the lodges, and many of the sleeping people were killed or wounded in their beds. The rest rushed out, men, children, women, many of the latter with babes in their arms, only to be shot down at the doorways of their lodges. Bear’s Head, frantically waving a paper which bore. testimony to his good character and friendliness to the white men, ran toward the command on the bluff, shouting to them to cease firing, entreating them to save the women and children; down he also went with several bullet holes in his body. Of the more than four hundred souls in camp at the time, very few escaped. And when it was all over, when the last wounded woman and child had been put out of misery, the soldiers piled the corpses 16 The Book of Woodcraft on overturned lodges, firewood and household property, and set fire to it all. “Several years afterward I was on the ground. Everywhere scattered about in the long grass and brush, just where the wolves and foxes had left them, gleamed the skulls and bones of those who had been so ruthlessly slaughtered. ‘How could they have done it?’ I asked myself, time and time again. ‘What manner of men were these soldiers who deliberately shot down defenseless women and innocent children?’ They had not even the excuse of being drunk; nor was their commanding officer intoxicated; nor were they excited or in any danger whatever. Deliberately, coolly, with steady and deadly aim they shot them down, killed the wounded, and then tried to burn the bodies of their victims. But I will say no more about it. Think it over, yourself, and try to find a fit name for men who did this.” (‘My Life as an Indian,” pp. 41-2.) According to G. B. Grinnell, one hundred and seventy-six innocent persons were butchered on this day of shame; ninety of them women, fifty-five babies, the rest chiefly very old or very young men, most of the able-bodied hunters being away on a hunt. No punishment of any kind was given the monster who did it. There is no Indian massacre of whites to compare with this shocking barbarity, for at least the Indian always had the excuse that war had been declared, and he was acting on the defensive. Of a similar character were the massacres at Cos Cob, 1641; Conestoga, 1763; Gnadenwhiitten, 1782; Coquille River, 1854; Wounded Knee, 1890; and a hundred more that could be mentioned. And no punishment was ever meted out to the murderers. Why? First, because appar- ently the Bureau at Washington approved; second, because “An Indian has no legal status; he is merely a live and particularly troublesome animal in the eye of the law.” (New York Times, February 21, 1880.) (See “Century of Dishonor,” p. 367.) Governor Horatio Seymour says: The Spartans of the West 17 “Every human being born upon our continent, or who comes here from any quarter of the world, whether savage or civilized, can go to our courts for protection — except those who belong to the tribes who once owned this country. The cannibal from the islands of the Pacific, the worst criminals from Europe, Asia or Africa, can appeal to the law and courts for their rights of person and property —all save our native Indians, who, above ‘all, should be protected from wrong.” (Century of Dishonor,” title-page.) And this is the land whose Constitution grants equal rights to all alike. This is the land that waxes virtuously indignant when Russia expels or massacres Nihilists, Poles or Jews. Have we not enough courage left to face the sim- ple truth that every crime of despotism in Russia has been more than doubled in atrocity by what has but recently been done in America? Nihilists, Jews and Poles were certainly breaking the law, usually plotting against the Government, when attacked. Russia never used burnings at the stake, as did the American unofficial Indian-killers. And never did Russia turn batteries of machine-guns on masses of men, women and children who were absolutely quiet, unarmed, helpless and submissive: who had indeed thrown themselves on the mercy of the Government, and were under its protection. ‘Americans were roused to a fury of indignation by doubt- ful newspaper accounts of Spanish misrule in Cuba. But the atrocities so credited to Spain pale into insignificance beside the unspeakable abominations proved against the United States by records of its own officials in its dealings with the native American race during the last hundred years. There are many exceptions to this charge that the Indian is cruel to his enemies, enough, almost, to justify a complete rebuttal, and among these was none more honor- 18 The Book of Woodcraft ably distinguished than Tecumseh, the war chief of the Shawnees; perhaps the greatest of all historic Indians. Like a new incarnation of Hiawatha, he planned a de- fensive federation of the whole red race, and led them in war, that he might secure for them lasting peace. All great Indians had taught the doctrine “Love your friend.”’ But Tecumseh was the first in authority to extend the heaven-taught precept, so they should be kind, at least, to their enemies; for he put an end in his nation to all tortur- ing of prisoners. Above all whose history is fully known, Tecumseh was the ideal noble Redman realized; nevertheless, he was not alone; Wabasha, Osceola, Kanakuk, and Wovoka must be numbered among those whose great hearts reached out in kindness even to those who hated them. Tecumseh taught, ‘Love your enemy after he is con- quered”; Kanakuk preached non-resistance to evil; Wovoka, ‘Be kind to all men.” Second: The Indian had no property instincts. He wasa Socialist in all matters of large property, such as land, its fruits, rivers, fish, and game. So were the early Christians. ‘‘And all that believed were together; had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.” (Acts, ii., 44-45.) They considered that every child had a right to a bring- ing up, and every old person to a free living from the tribe. We know that it worked well, for there was neither hunger nor poverty, except when the whole tribe was in want. And we know also that there were among them no men of shameful, monstrous wealth. Third: He was improvident. He is now, just like our own drunkards. He was no, until after the Great Degra- dation that we effected in him, All the old travelers, The Spartans of the West 19 testify that each Indian village had its fields of corn, beans, and pumpkins. The crops were harvested and safely carried them over long periods when there was no other supply. They did not believe in vast accumulations of wealth, because their wise men had said that greed would turn their hearts,to stone and make them forget the poor. Furthermore, since all when strong contributed to the tribe, the tribe supported them in childhood, sickness and age. They had no poor; they had no famine until the traders came with whiskey and committed the crimes for which we as a nation have yet to answer. Fourth: He was dirty. Many dirty habits are to be seen to-day among the Reservation Indians, but it was not so in the free days. A part of the old Indian’s religion was to take a bath every day the year round for the helping of his body. Some tribes bathed twice a day. Every village had a Turkish bath in continual use. It is only the de- graded Indian who has become dirty, and many of the whites who oftenest assail him as filthy never take a bath from birth to judgment day. Fifth: He was lazy. No one who saw the Indian in his ancient form has preferred this charge. He was not fond of commercial manufacturing, but the regular work of tilling his little patch of corn and beans he did not shirk, nor the labor of making weapons and boats, nor the frightful toil of portaging, hunting and making war. He undertook these at all times without a murmur. Many men will not allow their horses to bear such bur- dens as I saw the Chipewyans bear daily, without a thought of hardship, accepting all as a part of their daily lot. Sixth: He degraded woman to be a mere beast of burden. Some have said so, but the vast bulk of evidence to-day goes to show that while the women did the household drudgery and lighter tasks, the men did all the work be- 20 The Book of Woodcraft yond their partners’ strength. In making clothes, canoes, and weapons, as well as in tilling of the fields, men and women worked together. The woman had a voice in all the great affairs, and a far better legal position than in most of the civilized world to-day. Seventh: He was treacherous. Oh! how ill it becomes us to mention such a thing! Every authority tells us the same — that primitive Redman never broke a treaty; his word was as good as his bond; that the American Govern- ment broke every treaty as soon as there was something to gain by doing so. Captain J. G. Bourke thus scores the continual treachery of the whites: “‘The occasional treach- ery of the aborigines,”’ says he, “‘has found its best excuse in the unvarying Punic faith of the Caucasian invader.” (“On the Border with Crook,” p. 114.) But let us look for evidence of the Indian’s character among those who saw with their own eyes, and had no ob- ject to serve by blackening the fair fame of the bravely dying race. It would be easy to fill a large volume with startling and trustworthy testimony as to the goodness of the old Indian of the best type; I shall give a few pages bearing on the Indian life and especially relating to the various charac- teristics for which the Redman has been attacked, selecting the testimony preferably from the records of men who knew the Indian before his withering contact with the white race. REVERENCE In 1832 George Catlin, the painter, went West and spent eight years with the unchanged Indians of the Plains. He lived with them and became conversant with their lives. He has left one of the fullest and best records we have of the The Spartans of the West eat Redman. From his books I quote repeatedly. Con- cerning the Indian’s religion, he says: ' “The North American Indian is everywhere, in his native state, a highly moral and religious being, endowed by his Maker with an intuitive knowledge of some great Author of his being, and the Universe, in dread of whose displeasure he con- stantly lives, with the apprehension before him of a future state, where he expects to be rewarded or punished according to the merits he has gained or forfeited in this world. * * * * * * * “Morality and virtue I venture to say the civilized world need not undertake to teach them. * * * * * * *x “T never saw any other people of any color who spend so much of their lives in humbling themselves before and worship- ping the Great Spirit.” (Catlin’s ‘“N. A. Indian,” Vol. I., p. 243.) ““We have been told of late years that there is no evidence that any tribe of Indians ever believed in one overruling power; yet, in the early part of the seventeenth century, Jesuits and Puritans alike testified that tribes which they had met, believed in a god, and it is certain that, at the present time, many tribes worship a Supreme Being who is the Ruler of the Universe.” (Grinnell’s “Story of the Indian,” 1902, p. 214.) “Love and adore the Good Spirit who made us all; who sup- plies our hunting-grounds, and keeps us alive.” (Teachings of Tshut-che-nau, Chief of the Kansas. J. D. Hunter’s “Cap- tivity Among the American Indians,” 1798-1816, p. 21). And, again, Hunter says (p. 216): ““A day seldom passes with an elderly Indian, or others who are esteemed wise and good, in which a blessing is not asked, or thanks returned to the Giver of Life, sometimes audibly, but more generally in the devotional language of the heart. 22 The Book of Woodcraft “Every Indian of standing has his sacred place, such as a tree, rock, fountain, etc., to which he resorts for devotional ex- ercise, whenever his feelings prompt to the measure; some- times many resort to the same place.” (P. 221). A typical prayer is recorded for us by Grinnell. A Pawnee, in dire distress and despair, through a strong enemy, decided to sacrifice his horse to the unseen powers. that they might intercede for him with the Creator, and thus prayed beforehand: “My Father [who dwells] in all places, it is through you that Iam living. Perhaps it was through you that this man put me in this condition. You are the Ruler. Nothing is impossible with you. If you see fit, take this [trouble] away from me. Now you, all fish of the rivers, and you, all birds of the air, and all animals that move upon the earth, and you, O Sun! I present to you this animal. You, birds in the air, and you, animals upon the earth, we are related; we are alike in this respect, that one Ruler made us all. You see how unhappy Iam. If you have any power, intercede for me.” (Grinnell’s ‘“‘Story of the Indian,” p. 213.) Capt. W. P. Clark, one of our best authorities on the Plains Indians, says: “There are no people who pray more than Indians.” (“Indian Sign Language,” 1885, p. 309.) And, again, he says: “Tndians make vocal petitions to the God or Force which they wish to assist them, and also make prayer by pointing the long stem of the pipe. The Poncas call the sun God or Grandfather, and the earth Grandmother, and pray to both when making supplications. Running Antelope, a chief of the Uncapapa Band of Sioux, said in regard to pointing the pipestem, that the mere motion meant, ‘To the Great Spirit: give me plenty of ponies; plenty of meat; let me live in peace and comfort with my wife, and stay long with my children. To the Earth, my The Spartans of the West 23 Grandmother: let me live long; hold me good and strong. When I go to war, give me many ponies and let me count many “‘coups.”” In peace, let not anger enter my heart.’” (P. 309.) But the best account of the Indian’s belief and mode of worship is given to us by Dr. Charles A. Eastman, himself a Sioux Indian; he has written of the things that were his daily life in youth. He says: “When food is taken, the woman murmurs a ‘grace’ as she lowers the kettle, an act so softly and unobtrusively performed that one who does not know the custom usually fails to catch the whisper: ‘Spirit partake!’ As her husband receives the bowl or plate, he likewise murmurs his invocation to the spirit. When he becomes an old man, he loves to make a notable effort to prove his gratitude. He cuts off the choicest morsel of the meat and casts it into the fire —the purest and most ethereal element.” (“Soul of the Indian,” ror1, PP. 47-48.) “The first hambeday, or religious retreat, marked an epoch in the life of the youth, which may be compared to that of con- firmation or conversion in Christian experience. Having first prepared himself by means of the purifying vapor bath, and cast off, as far as possible, all human or fleshly influences, the young man sought out the noblest height, the most commanding sum- mit in all the surrounding region. Knowing that God sets no value upon material things, he took with him no offerings or sacrifices, other than symbolic objects, such as paints and tobacco. Wishing to appear before Him in all humility, he wore no clothing save his moccasins and breech-clout. At the solemn hour of sunrise or sunset, he took up his position, over- looking the glories of earth, and facing the ‘Great Mystery,’ and there he remained, naked, erect, silent, and motionless, exposed to the elements and forces of His arming, for a night and a day to two days and nights, but rarely longer. Sometimes he would chant a hymn without words, or offer the ceremonial ‘filled pipe.’ In this holy trance or ecstasy the Indian mystic found his highest happiness, and the motive power of his exis- tence.’ (“Soul of the Indian,” Eastman, pp. 7-8.) 24 The Book of Woodcraft “Tn the life of the Indian there was only one inevitable duty, the duty of prayer — the daily recognition of the Unseen and Eternal. His daily devotions were more necessary to him than daily food. He wakes at daybreak, puts on his moccasins and steps down to the water’s edge. Here he throws handfuls of clear cold water into his face, or plunges in bodily. After the bath, he stands erect before the advancing dawn, facing the sun as it dances upon the horizon, and offers his unspoken orison. His mate may precede or follow him in his devotions, but never accompanies him. Each soul must meet the morning sun, the new, sweet earth, and the Great Silence alone! “Whenever, in the course of the daily hunt, the red hunter comes upon a scene that is strikingly beautiful or sublime — a black thunder-cloud, with the rainbow’s glowing arch above the mountain; a white waterfall in the heart of a green gorge; a vast prairie tinged with the blood-red of sunset — he pauses for an instant in the attitude of worship. He sees no need for setting apart one day in seven as a holy day, since to him all days are God’s.” (“Soul of the Indian,” Eastman; pp. 45-6.) In the light of all this evidence, is it to be wondered that most of the early historians who lived with the primitive Indians of the Plains, were led to believe, from their worship of God, their strict moral code, their rigid laws as to foods clean and unclean, and their elaborate system of bathings and purifications, that in these red men of the New World, they had indeed found the long-lost tribes of Israel? CLEANLINESS Nothing will convince some persons but that “Yankees have tails,” because, in their nursery days, these persons always heard it was so. That is exactly the attitude of the world on the subject of dirty Indians. Alexander Henry II., a fur and whiskey trader, who did his share in degrading the early Indians, and did not love them, admits of the Mandans, in 1806: The Spartans of the West 25 “Both men and women make it a rule to go down to the river and cas every morning and evening.” (‘‘Journal,” Vol. 1., P. 325. “These people, like their neighbors, have the custom of wash- ing, morning and evening.” (‘‘Journal,” Vol. 1., p. 348.) Catlin, after eight years in their lodges (1832-40) says that notwithstanding many exceptions, among the wild Indians the “strictest regard to decency and cleanliness and elegance of dress is observed, and there are few people, perhaps, who take more pains to keep their persons neat and cleanly, than they do.” (Vol. 1., p. 96.) “Tn their bathing and ablutions at all seasons of the year, as a part of their religious observances — having separate places for men and women to perform these immersions — they resemble again [the Jews].” (Vol. II., p. 233.) J. W. Schultz, who spent his life among the Blackfeet, comments on their wonderful hardiness. During the intensest zero weather, he, himself, wore twice as much clothing as they did, and yet was suffering severely, while “They never froze, nor even shivered from the cold. They attributed their indifference to exposure, to the beneficial effect of their daily baths, which were always taken, even if a hole had to be cut in the ice for the purpose. And they forced their children to accompany them, little fellows from three years of age up, dragging the unwilling ones from ther beds, and carrying them under their arms to the icy plunge.” (“My Life as an Indian,” pub. 1907; p. 63.) This same experienced observer says: “T have seen hundreds of white homes — there are numbers of them in any city — so exceedingly dirty, their inmates so slovenly, that one turns from them in absolute disgust, but I have seen nothing like that among the Blackfeet.” (P. 413.) Friendly enthusiasts like Catlin may sometimes get only part of the facts, but the trained observers of the Smith- 26 The Book of Woodcraft sonian Institution usually have absolute and complete evidence to offer. Here is J. O. Dorsey’s paragraph on Omaha cleanliness: “The Omahas generally bathe (hica) every day in warm weather, early in the morning and at night. Some who wish to do so, bathe also at noon. Jackson, a member of the Elkgens, bathes every day, even in winter. He breaks a hole in the ice on the Missouri River, and bathes, or else he rubs snow over his body. In winter the Omahas heat water in a kettle and wash themselves (kigcija). . . . The Ponkas used to bathe in the yo every day.” (Dorsey, 3th Ann. Dep. Eth.; Pp. 269. Every Indian village in the old days had a Turkish bath, as we call it; a “Sweat Lodge,” as they say, used as a cure for inflammatory rheumatism, etc. Catlin de- scribes this in great detail, and says: “T allude to their vapor baths, or sudatories, of which each village has several, and which seem to be a kind of public property — accessible to all, and resorted to by all, male and female, old and young, sick and well.” (Vol. L., p. 97.) The “Sweat Lodge” is usually a low lodge covered with blankets or skins. The patient goes in undressed and sits by a bucket of water. Ina fire outside, a number of stones are heated by the attendants. These are rolled in, one or more ata time. The patient pours water on them. This raises a cloud of steam. The lodge becomes very hot. The individual drinks copious draughts of water. After a sufficient sweat, he raises the cover and rushes into the water, beside which, the lodge is always built. After this, he is rubbed down with buckskin, and wrapped in a robe to cool off. This was used as a bath, as well as a religious purification. The Spartans of the West 27 Thave seen scores of them. Clark says they were “common to all tribes,” (p. 365). Every old-timer knows that they were in daily use by the Indians and scoffed at by the white settlers who, indeed, were little given to bathing of any kind. CHASTITY About one hundred years ago the notorious whiskey- trader, Alexander Henry, already mentioned, went into the Missouri region. He was a man of strange character, of heroic frame and mind, but unscrupulous and sordid. His only interest and business among the Indians was beating them out of their furs with potations of cheap alcohol. This fearless ruffian penetrated the far North- west, was the first trader to meet certain Western tribes, and strange to tell he wrote a full, straightforward and shocking account of his wanderings and methods among the red folk he despised for not being white. In spite of arro- gance and assumed superiority, his narrative contains much like the following: “The Flatheads on the Buffalo Plains, generally encounter the Piegans and fight desperately when attacked. They never attempt war themselves, and have the character of a brave and virtuous people, not in the least addicted to those vices so common among savages who have had long intercourse with Europeans. Chastity is particularly esteemed, and no woman will barter her favors, even with the whites, upon any mer- cenary consideration. She may be easily prevailed upon to reside with a white man as his wife, according to the custom of the country, but prostitution is out of the question —she will listen to no proposals of that nature. Their morals have not yet been sufficiently debauched and corrupted by an intercourse with people who call themselves Christians, but whose licentious and lecherous manners are far worse than those of savages. A striking example is to be seen throughout the N. W. country, of the depravity and wretchedness of the natives; but as one 28 The Book of Woodcraft advances into the interior parts, vice and debauchery become less frequent. Happy those who have the least connection with us, for most of the present depravity is easily traced to its origin in their intercourse with the whites. That baneful source of all evils, spirituous liquor, has not yet been introduced among the natives of the Columbia. To the introduction of that subtle poison among the savage tribes may be mainly attributed their miserable and wretched condition.”” [So at once he set about introducing it. E.T.S.] (A. Henry’s Journal, 1811; pp. 710-11.) Jonathan Carver, who traveled among the Sioux from 1766-9, says: “Adultery is esteemed by them a heinous crime, and pun- ished with the greatest rigor.”” (Travels, 1796; p. 245.) George Catlin, after his eight years among the wild Man- dans of the Missouri (1832), says of them: . “Their women are beautiful and modest — and amongst the respectable families, virtue is as highly cherished and as inap- proachable, as in any society whatever.” (Vol. L, p. 121.) Colonel R. I. Dodge, an Indian fighter and hater, says: “The Cheyenne women are retiring and modest, and for chastity will compare favorably with women of any other nation or people . . . almost models of purity and chastity.” (“‘Hunting-grounds of the Great West,” p. 302.) I am well aware that the Crows, the Arapaho and some West coast tribes were shockingly immoral in primitive times, but these were the exceptions, and in consequence they were despised by the dominant tribes of the Plains. BRAVERY Old-time travelers and modern Indian fighters agree that there was no braver man on earth, alive or in history, than the Redman. Courage was the virtue he chiefly The Spartans of the West 29 pose of making him calm, fearless and efficient in every possible stress or situation. Father Lafitau said of the Eastern Indians, in 1724: “They are high-minded and proud; possess a courage equal to every trial; an intrepid valor; the most heroic constancy under torments, and an equanimity which neither misfortune nor reverses can shake.’”? (Moeurs des Sauv. Amer.) “An Indian meets death, when it approaches him in his hut, with the same resolution he has often faced him in the field. His indifference relative to this important article, which is the source of so many apprehensions to almost every other nation, is truly admirable. When his fate is pronounced by the phy- sician, and it remains no longer uncertain, he harangues those about him with the greatest composure.”’ (Carver’s ‘“‘ Travels Among the Sioux,” 1766-9; p. 261.) “The greatest insult that can be offered to an Indian, is, to doubt = courage.” (J. D. Hunter, “‘Captivity”; 1798-1816; p. 301. “These savages are possessed with many heroic qualities, and bear every species of misfortune with a degree of fortitude which has not been outdone by any of the ancient heroes either of Greece or of Rome.” (Carver’s “Travels Among the Sioux,” 1766-9; pp. 221-2.) None of us are likely to question the Redman’s prowess when we remember for example that Black Hawk with 40 warriors utterly routed 270 American riflemen in 1832, Chief Joseph in 1877 with inferior weapons beat the American soldiers over and over again with half their number, and in 1878 Dull Knife with 69 war- riors fought and defied 2000 American troops for over four months. THRIFT AND PROVIDENCE Every Indian village in the old days had its granaries of corn, its stores of dried beans, berries, and pumpkin-strips, as well as its dried buffalo tongues, pemmican and deer’s meat. To this day all the Fisher Indians of the north and west dry great quantities of fish, as well as berries, for the famine months that are surely coming. Many of the modern Indians, armed with rifles, have 30 The Book of Woodcraft learned to emulate the white man, and slaughter game for the love of slaughter, without reference to the future. Such waste was condemned by the old-time Indians, as an abuse of the gifts of God, and which would surely bring its punish- ment. When, in 1684, De la Barre, Governor of Canada, com- plained that the Iroquois were encroaching on the country of those Indians who were allies of the French, he got a stinging reply from Garangula, the Onondaga Chief, and a general statement showing that the aborigines had game- laws, not written, indeed, but well known, and enforced at the spear-point, if need be: ‘We knock the Twightwies [Miamis] and Chictaghicks [Illinois] on the head, because they had cut down the trees of peace, which were the limits of our country. They have hunted beaver on our lands. They have acted contrary to the customs of all Indians, for they left none of the beavers alive, they killed both male and female.” (Sam G. Drake’s “Indian Biog.” 1832, p. 111.) Hunter says of the Kansas Indians: “T have never known a solitary instance of their wantonly destroying any of those animals [buffalo, elk, and deer], except on the hunting-grounds of their enemies, or encouraged to it by the prospect of bartering their skins with the traders.” (Hun- ter’s “Captivity,” 1798-1816, p. 279.) “After all, the Wild Indians could not be justly termed im- provident, when the manner of life is taken into consideration. They let nothing go to waste, and labored incessantly during the summer and fall, to lay up provisions for the inclement season. Berries of all kinds were industriously gathered and dried in the sun. Even the wild cherries were pounded up, stones and all, made into small cakes, and dried, for use in soups, and for mixing with the pounded jerked meat and fat to form a much-prized Indian delicacy.” (‘Indian Boyhood,” East- man; pp. 237-8.) The Spartans of the West 31 Their wise men were not blind to the dangers of greed, as we know, from many sources, and, in particular, their attitude toward money-getting is full of interest: “The Indians, except those who live adjoining to the Euro- pean colonies, can form to themselves no idea of the value of money; they consider it, when they are made acquainted with the uses to which it is applied by other nations, as the source of innumerable evils. To it they attribute all the mischiefs that are prevalent among Europeans, such as treachery, plundering, devastations and murder.” (Carver’s “Travels,” p. 158.) Could we have a more exact paraphrase of “The love of money is the root of all evil?” Beware of greed which grows into crime and makes men for- get the poor. A man’s life should not be for himself, but for his people. For them he must be ready to die. This is the sum of Indian economic teaching. (See Eastman “Soul of Indian,” pp. 94 and 99-103.) CHEERFULNESS OR THE MERRY INDIAN Nothing seems to anger the educated Indian, to-day, more than the oft-repeated absurdity that his race was of a gloomy, silent nature. Any one that has ever been in an Indian village knows what a scene of joy and good cheer it normally was. In every such gathering there was always at least one recognized fun-maker, who led them all in joke and hilarious jest. Their songs, their speeches, their fairy- tales are full of fun and dry satire. The reports of the Ethnological Bureau sufficiently set forth these facts. Eastman, the Sioux, says on this subject: “There is scarcely anything so exasperating to me as the idea that the natives of this country have no sense of humor and no 32 The Book of Woodcraft faculty for mirth. This phase of their character is well under- stood by those whose fortune or misfortune it has been to live among them, day in and day out, at their homes. I don’t believe I ever heard a real hearty laugh away from the Indians’ fireside. I have often spent an entire evening in laughter with them, until I could laugh no more. There are evenings when the recognized wit or story-teller of the village gives a free entertainment which keeps the rest of the community in a convulsive state until he leaves them. However, Indian humor consists as much in the gestures and inflections of the voice, as in words, and is really untranslatable.” (‘Indian Boyhood,” p, 267.) And, again, Grinnell: “The common belief that the Indian is stoical, stolid, and sullen, is altogether erroneous. They are really a merry people, good-natured and jocular, usually ready to laugh at an amusing incident or a joke, with a simple mirth that reminds one of children.” (Ind. To-day,” p. 9.) There is, however, an explanation of our widespread mis- conception. Many a time in Indian camp or village, I have approached some noisy group of children or hilarious ring of those more grown. My purpose was wholly sympathetic, but my presence acted as a wet-blanket. The children were hushed or went away. I saw shy faces, furtive glances, or looks of dis- trust. They hate us; they do not want us near. Our presence is an evil influence in their joy. Can we wonder? OBEDIENCE —- REVERENCE FOR THEIR PARENTS AND FOR THE AGED We cannot, short of the Jews or the Chinese, perhaps, find more complete respect for their parents than among the Indians. Catlin says: “To each other I have found these people kind and honorable, and endowed with every feeling of parental, of filial, and con- The Spartans of the West 33 jugal affection, that is met in more enlightened communities. I have found them moral and religious; and I am bound to give them credit for their zeal, which is often exhibited in their modes of worship, however insufficient they may seem to us, or may be in the estimation of the Great Spirit.” | (Vol. IT., p. 242.) While Hunter, after living with the Kansas Indians for nineteen years, says: : “They are very assiduous and attentive to the wants and comforts, particularly, of the aged; and kind to all who require their assistance. And an Indian who failed in these respects, though he otherwise merited esteem, would be neglected and despised. To the credit of their morals, few such are to be found, except where debauched by the vices of the white people.” (Hunter’s “Captivity,” 1798-1816; p. 251.) Among the maxims laid down by the venerable Chief of the Kansas, was: “Obey and venerate the old people, particularly your par- ents.” (“Teachings of Tshut-che-nau, Chief of the Kansas;” Hunter; p. 21.) Father J. F. Lafitau, the Jesuit missionary, was far from being predisposed in favor of savage ways or views, yet says of the Eastern Indians: “Toward each other, they behave with a natural politeness and attention, entertaining a high respect for the aged.” (Moeurs des Sauv. Am., 1724.) “The Indians always took care of their aged and helpless. It was a rare exception when they did not.” (Francis La Flesche, Conversation, April 27, 1912.) There have been cases of Indians abandoning their very aged to die, but it was always done by request of the vic- 34 The Book of Woodcraft tims, under dire stress of hunger or travel, and was dis- approved and denounced by all their great teachers. During my Northern journey in 1907 I selected for one of my guides a fine young Indian named Freesay. At the end of our first journey I said to him: ‘Would you like to go with me still farther, to the Far North country, and see the things your people have not yet seen? I will give you good wages and a big present.” He replied: ‘Yes; I would like to go very much, but my uncle [his adoptive father] told me not to go beyond Pike’s Lobstick, and soI cannot go.”” And he did not, though his uncle was 350 miles away. This was one case out of several noted, and many heard of. The Fifth Command- ment is a very big, strong law in the wigwam. KINDNESS At every first meeting of red men and whites, the whites were inferior in numbers, and yet were received with the utmost kindness, until they treacherously betrayed the men who had helped and harbored them. Even Christopher Columbus, blind and burnt up with avarice as he was, and soul-poisoned with superstition, and contempt for an alien race, yet had the fairness to write home to his royal accomplices in crime, the King and Queen of Spain: “TI swear to your Majesties that there is not a better people in the world than these; more affectionate, affable or mild. They love their neighbors as themselves, and they always speak smilingly. (Catlin, “N. A. Indian,” II., p. 246.) Jonathan Carver, who lived among the Sioux from 1766-9, after speaking of their severity in dealing with enemies, says: The Spartans of the West 35 “But if they are thus barbarous to those with whom they are at war, they are friendly, hospitable, and humane in peace. It may with truth be said of them, that they are the worst enemies and the best friends of any people in the whole world.” (‘‘ Trav- els,” p. 157.) “We shall likewise see them sociable and humane to those whom they consider as their friends, and even to their adopted enemies: and ready to partake with them of the last morsel, or to risk their lives in their defence.” (P. 269.) And, again: “No people are more hospitable, kind and free than the Indians.” (P. 171.) “Nothing can exceed the tenderness shown by them to their offspring.” (P. 247.) Catlin, writing of the Plain Indians generally, says: “To their friends, there are no people on earth that are more kind; and cruelties and punishments (except for capital offences) are, amongst themselves, entirely dispensed with.” (Vol. IL., Pp. 241.) Schultz evidently went among the Blackfeet with the usual wrong ideas about the Indians, but he soon wrote: “T have read, or heard, that an Indian’s loss of to-day is for- gotten on the morrow. That is certainly not true of the Black- feet, nor the Mandans. Often and often I have heard many of the Blackfeet mourn for one dead long years since.” (‘‘My Life as an Indian,” p. 154.) And again: “T have often heard the Blackfeet speak of various white men as utterly heartless, because they had left their parents and their youthful home to wander and seek adventure in a strange land. They could not comprehend how one with right feeling might —_ 36 The Book of Woodcraft absent himself from father and mother, as we do, for months and years. ‘Hard hearts,’ ‘stone hearts,’ they call us, and with some reason.” (Schultz, p. 155.) “There are few people so generous as the Indians. * * %* * * * * In their religious and war ceremonies, at their feasts, festivals, and funerals, the widows and orphans, the poor and needy are always thought of; not only thought of, . . . but their pov- erty and necessity are relieved. * * * * * * * “T have seen white men reduced to the last ‘hard tack,’ with only tobacco enough for two smokes, and with no immediate prospect of anything better than horse-meat ‘straight.’ A portion of the hard bread was hidden away, and the smokes were taken in secret. An Indian, undemoralized by contact with the whites, under similar circumstances, would divide down to the last morsel.” (Clark’s “Sign Language,” p. 185 and 186.) HOSPITALITY This is a point that needs little discussing, even the sworn enemy was safe, once he was admitted to an Indian lodge ‘‘as a guest.” Carver says of the Sioux, in 1766 (“Travels,” p. 172): “No people are more hospitable . . . and free than the Indians.” And, again, I found them ready to share with their friends the last morsel of food they possessed. (P. 269.) The Jesuits testify of the Iroquois, 1656: “Hospitals for the poor would be useless among them, because there are no beggars; those who have are so liberal to those who are in want, that everything is enjoyed in common. The whole village must be in distress before any individual is left in necessity.” (“Century of Dishonor,” p. 379.) The Spartans of the West 37 Catlin, in 1832-40, enthusiastically writes of the Plains Indians and their hospitality: “T have been welcomed generally in their country, and treated to the best that they could give me [for eight years], without any charges made for my board.” (Vol. I., p. 9.) “No matter how great the scarcity of food might be, so long as there was any remaining in the lodge, the visitor received his share without grudging.”’ (Grinnell, “Ind. of To-day,” p. 9.) The same authority writes me: ““When Lone Chief had gone into the Lodge of the Chief of the enemy, and food and water had been given to him, the Chief stood up and spoke to his tribespeople saying, ‘What can I do? They have eaten of my food, I cannot make war on people who have been eating with me and have also drunk of my water.’” (“Pawnee Hero Stories,” pp. 59-60.) TREATMENT OF THEIR WOMEN “The social condition of the North Americans has been greatly misunderstood. The place of woman in the tribe was not that of a slave or of a beast of burden. The existence of the gentile organization, in most tribes, with descent in the fe- male line, forbade any such subjugation of woman. In many tribes, women took part in the councils of the chiefs; in some, women were even the tribal rulers; while in all, they received a fair measure of respect and affection from those related to them.” (Grinnell’s “Story of the Indian,” p. 244.) This is Grinnell’s summing up of what every student of Indians has known for long. Here in addition are the statements of other good authorities: “TJ have often heard and read that Indian women received no consideration from their husbands, and led a life of exceedingly hard and thankless work. That is very wide of the truth, so 38 The Book of Woodcraft far as the natives of the northern plains were concerned. It is true, that the women gathered fuel for the lodge — bundles of dry willows, or limbs from a fallen cottonwood. They also did the cooking, and, besides tanning robes, converted the skins of deer, elk, antelope, and mountain sheep, into soft buckskin for family use. But never a one of them suffered from overwork; when they felt like it, they rested; they realized that there were other days coming, and they took their time about anything they had to do. Their husbands, never interfered with them, any more than they did with him in his task of providing the hides and skins and meat, the staff of life. The majority — nearly all of them — were naturally industrious, and took pride in their work; they joyed in putting away parfleche after par- fleche of choice dried meats and pemmican; in tanning soft robes and buckskins for home use or sale, in embroidering wonderful patterns. of beads or colored porcupine quills upon moccasin tops, dresses, leggings and saddle trappings. When robes were to be traded, they got their share of the proceeds.” (Schultz, p- 64.) “Tt has often been asserted that the ‘Indian’ did no work, even leaving the cultivation of the corn and squashes to the women. That the women in some of the tribes tended the crops, is true, but in others, like the Pueblos, they seldom or never touched hoe or spade. The Eastern men were hunting or build- ing boats, or were on the war-path, hence it was necessary for the women to look after the fields.” (“The N. A. of Yesterday,” by F. S. Dellenbaugh, p. 333.) Schultz tells us that the men had to make their own clothing. (“My Life as an Indian,” p. 180.) Prof. J. O. Dorsey writes of Omaha manners: “Politeness is shown by men to women. Men used to help women and children to alight from horses. When they had to ford streams, the men used to assist them, and sometimes they carried them across on their backs.”” (Dorsey, 270-1; 3rd Ann. Rep. Ethn.) “One of the most erroneous beliefs relating to the status and condition of the American Indian woman is, that she was, both before and after marriage, the abject slave and drudge of the The Spartans of the West 39 men of her tribe, in general. This view, due largely to inac- curate observation and misconception, was correct, perhaps, at times, as to a small percentage of the tribes and peoples whose social organization was of the most elementary kind politically and ceremonially, and especially of such tribes as were non- agricultural.” (“Handbook of American Indians,” Bur. Am. Ethn., p. 968.) “ Among the Iroquoian tribes—the Susquehanna, the Hurons, and the Iroquois — the penalties for killing a woman of the tribe were double those exacted for the killing of a man, because in the death of a woman, the Iroquoian lawgivers recognized the probable loss of a long line of prospective offspring.” (“Handbook American Indian,” p. 971.) “Tn most, if not in all, the highly organized tribes, the woman was the sole master of her own body.” (‘Handbook North American Indian,” p. 972.) “The men are the warriors and hunters, though an old woman of rank usually steers the war-canoe.”» (“Coast Indian’; Niblack; 1889; p. 253.) ““A mother possessed the important authority to forbid her sons going on the war-path, and frequently the chiefs took advantage of this power of the woman, to avoid a rupture with oo tribe.” (“Handbook North American Indian,” . O7I. “Roger Williams, with reference to another subject, brings this same respect for woman to view; he wrote: ‘So did never the Lord Jesus bring any unto his most pure worship, for he abhors, as all men, yea, the very Indians, an unwilling spouse to enter into forced relations.’”’ (‘‘Handbook North America,” . 972.) “Ata later day, and in the face of circumstances adverse to the Indians, Gen. James Clinton, who commanded the New York Division in the Sullivan expedition in 1779, against the hostile Iroquois, paid his enemies the tribute of a soldier, by writing in April, 1779, to Colonel Van Schaick, then leading the troops against the Onondaga, the following terse compliment: ‘Bad as the savages are, they never violate the chastity of any woman, their prisoners.’” “ Among the Sioux and the Yuchi, men who made a practice of seduction were in grave bodily danger, from the aggrieved women and girls, and the resort by the latter to extreme meas- 40 The Book of Woodcraft ures was sanctioned by public opinion, as properly avenging a gross violation of woman’s inalienable right — the control of her own body. The dower or bride-price, when such was given, did not confer it, it seems, on the husband, absolute right over the life and liberty of the wife: it was rather compensation to her kindred and household for the loss of her services.” (“Handbook American Indian,” pp. 972,3.) “It is the universal testimony, as voiced by Portlock (1787), that they [the Coast Indians] treat their wives and children with much affection and tenderness.” (“‘Voyages,” p. 290.) “In the approach to political and industrial equality of the sexes, and in the respect shown for the opinions of their females, these Indians furnish another refutation of the old misconception concerning the systematic mal-treatment of the women by savages. Such a thing is incompatible with the laws of nature. Good treatment of the female is essential to the preserv- ation of the species, and it will be found that this ill-treatment is more apparent than real.” (Niblack, ‘‘Coast Indian,” 1889, p. 238-9.) That is, the sum of evidence, according to all reliable authority, plainly shows that the condition of the women among the primitive Indians was much as with white folks. They had the steady, dreary work of the household, while the men did the intermittent, yet much harder work of por- taging, hunting and fighting. But the Indian woman had several advantages over her white sister. She owned the house and the children. She had absolute control of her body. There could be no war without her consent; she could and often did become the Head Chief of the Nation. Awashonks, the Woman Chief of Seconset, R. I. (1671), and Wetamoo, the beautiful woman Sachem of the Massa- chusetts Wampanoags (1662) were among the many famous women whose lives and positions give the lie to the tiresome calumny that the “Indian women were mere beasts of burden; they had no rights, nor any voice in their public affairs.” The Spartans of the West 41 COURTESY AND POLITE BEHAVIOR There has never been any question of the Redman’s politeness. Every observer remarks it. I have seen countless cases of it, myself. The white who usurped his domain are immeasurably his inferiors in such matters. For fuller testimony, let us note these records by early travelers: “Toward each other, they behave with natural politeness and attention.” (Pere Lafitau, 1724.) Catlin says of the Mandans: “They are handsome, straight, and elegant in their forms — not tall, but quick and graceful; easy and polite in their manners, neat “1 their persons, and beautifully clad.” (Catlin; Vol. L., . 96. y eThe next and second Chief of the [Mandan] tribe is Ma-to- to-pa (The Four Bears). This extraordinary man, though sec- ond in office, is undoubtedly the first and most popular man in the nation. Free, generous, elegant and gentlemanly in his deportment — handsome, brave and valiant; wearing a robe on his back with the history of his battles emblazoned on it, which would fill a book of themselves, if properly translated. This, readers, is the most extraordinary man, perhaps, who lives at this day, in the atmosphere of Nature’s nobleman.” (Catlin; Vol. L., p. 92.) / Omaha politeness: ‘‘When persons attend feasts, they extend their hand and return thanks to the giver. So, also, when they receive presents. * * * * * * * “Tf a man receives a favor and does not manifest his gratitude, they exclaim, ‘He does not appreciate the gift; he has no man- ‘ners!’ * * * * * * “Mothers teacl: their children not to pass in front of people, if they can avoid it.” (Dorsey, 3d Ann. Rep. Bur. Eth., 1881-2, p. 270.) 42 The Book of Woodcraft TEEPEE ETIQUETTE —- THE UNWRITTEN LAW OF THE LODGE (Gathered chiefly from observations of actual practice, but in many cases from formal precept.) Be hospitable. Always assume that your guest is tired, cold, and hungry. Always give your guest the place of honor in the lodge, and at the feast, and serve him in reasonable ways. Never sit while your guest stands. Go hungry rather than stint your guest. If your guest refuses certain food, say nothing; he may be under vow. Protect your guest as one of the family; feed his horse, and beat your dogs if they harm his dog. Do not trouble your guest with many questions about himself; he will tell you what he wishes you to know. In another man’s lodge follow his customs, not your own. Never worry your host with your troubles. Always repay calls of courtesy; do not delay. Give your host a little present on leaving; little presents are little courtesies and never give offence. Say ‘‘Thank you” for every gift, however small. Compliment your host, even if you strain the facts to do so. Never walk between persons talking. Never interrupt persons talking. Let not the young speak among those much older, unless asked. Always give place to your seniors in entering or leaving the lodge; or anywhere. Never sit while your seniors stand. Never force your conversation on any one. Speak softly, especially before your elders, or in presence of strangers. The Spartans of the West 43 Never come between any one and the fire. Do not touch live coals with a steel knife or any sharp steel. Do not stare at strangers; drop your eyes if they stare hard at you; and this, above all, for women. The women of the lodge are the keepers of the fire, but the men should help with the heavier sticks. Always give a word or sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, or even a stranger, if in a lonely place. Do not talk to your mother-in-law at any time, or let her talk to you. Be kind. Show respect to all men, but grovel to none. Let silence be your motto till duty bids you speak. Thank the Great Spirit for each meal. HONESTY Catlin says: “As evidence of . . . their honesty and honor, there will be found recorded many striking instances in the following es. pag * * * * * * * “T have roamed about, from time to time, during seven or eight years, visiting and associating with some three or four hundred thousands of these people, under an almost infinite variety of circumstances; * * * % * * * and under all these circumstances of exposure, no Indian ever betrayed me, struck me a blow, or stole from me a shilling’s worth of my property, that I am aware of.” (Vol. I., p. 9-10.) “Never steal, except it be from an enemy, whom it is just that we should injure in every possible way.” (‘Teachings of Tshut-che-nau, Chief of Kansas,’’ Hunter; p. 21.) . ‘“ Among [between] the individuals of some tribes or nations, 44 The Book of Woodcraft theft is a crime scarcely known.” (Hunter’s “Captivity Among American Indians,” 1798-1816; p. 300.) “Theft was unknown in an Indian camp.” (G. B. Grinnell; “Indians of To-day,” p. 8.) Every traveler among the highly developed tribes of the Plains Indians tells a similar story, though, of course, when at war, it was another matter. Even that rollicking old cut-throat, Alexander Henry IT, says after fifteen years among the Wild Indians: ‘I have been frequently fired at by them and have had several nar- row escapes for my life. But Iam happy to say they never pillaged me to the value of a needle.”” (“Journal”’ 1799— 1814, P. 452.) In my own travels in the Far North, 1907, I found the Indians tainted with many white vices, and in many re- spects degenerated, but I also found them absolutely honest, and I left valuable property hung in trees for months, without fear, knowing that no wild Indian would touch it. There is a story told of Bishop Whipple: He was leaving his cabin, with its valuable contents, to be gone some months, and sought some way of rendering all robber-proof. His Indian guide then said: ‘Why, Brother, leave it open. Have no fear. There is not a white man within a hundred miles!” On the road to a certain large Indian Ojibway village in 1904 I lost a considerable roll of bills. My friend, the white man in charge, said: “If an Indian finds it, you will have it again within an hour; if a white man finds it, you will never see it again, for on people are very weak, when ut comes to property matters.’ Finally, to cover the far Southwest, I oe that the experience of most travelers agrees with the following: The Spartans of the West 45 “T lived among the Wild Indians for eight years (1872-1880) ; I know the Apaches, the Navajos, the Utes, and the Pueblos, and I never knew a dishonest Indian.” (Robert A. Widenmann, West Haverstraw, N. Y.) TRUTHFULNESS AND HONOR “Falsehood they esteem much more mean and contemptible than stealing. The greatest insult that can be offered to an Indian, is, to doubt his courage: the next is to doubt his honor or truth! * * * * * * * “Lying, as well as stealing, entails loss of character on habitual offenders; and, indeed, an Indian of independent feelings and ele- vated character will hold no kind of intercourse with any one who has been once clearly convicted.” (Hunter’s “Captivity Among Indians,” 1797-1816, p. 301.) “This venerable, worn-out warrior [the Kansas Chief, Tshut-che-nau, Defender of the People], would often admonish us o our faults and exhort us never to tell a lie.” (Hunter, p. 21. “On all occasions, and at whatever price, the Iroquois spoke the truth, without fear and without hesitation.” (Morgan’s “League of the Iroquois,” p. 330.) “The honor of their tribe, and the welfare of their nation is the first and most predominant emotion of their hearts; and from hence proceed in a great measure all their virtues and their vices. Actuated by this, they brave every danger, endure the most exquisite torments, and expire triumphing in their forti- tude, not as a personal qualification, but as a national charac- teristic.”’ (Carver’s ‘‘Travels,” p. 271.) The Indian’s assent to a treaty was always binding. I cannot discover a case of breach, excepting when the whites first broke it; and this does not mean the irresponsible whites, but the American Government. The authorities at Washington never hesitated to break each and every 46 The Book of Woodcraft treaty apparently, as soon as some material benefit seemed likely to accrue. Col. R. I. Dodge says: “The three principal causes of wars with the Indians are: “First, Non-fulfilment of treaties by the United States Government. “Second, Frauds by the Indian agents. “Third, Encroachments by the whites.”’ (‘“Hunting-grounds of the Great West,” 1878, pp. XLIII-XLIV.) Captain John G. Bourke, who served under General Crook in 1872, when the Apaches were crushed by over- whelming numbers and robbed of their unquestioned heri- tage, says: “It was an outrageous proceeding, one for which I should still blush, had I not long since gotten over blushing for any- thing that the United States Government did in Indian mat- ters.” (“On the Border with Crook,” p. 217.) “The most shameful chapter of American history is that in which is recorded the account of our dealings with the Indians. The story of our Government’s intercourse with this race is an unbroken narrative of injustice, fraud and robbery.” (Grin- nell’s “Blackfoot Lodge Tales,” 1892, p. IX.) In brief, during our chief dealings with the Redman, our manners were represented by the border outlaws, the vilest criminals the world has known, absolute fiends; and our Government by educated scoundrels of shameless, heartless, continual greed and treachery. The great exception on American soil was that of William Penn. He kept his word. He treated the Indians fairly; they never wronged him to the extent of a penny, or harmed him or his, or caused a day’s anxiety; but con- tinued his loyal and trusty defenders.” (See Jackson’s “Century of Dishonor.’’) The Spartans of the West 47 How is it that Canada has never had an Indian war or an Indian massacre? Because the Government honorably kept all its treaties, and the Indians themselves were honorable, by tradition; they never yet broke a treaty. In northwestern Canada, there were two slight outbreaks of half-breeds (1871 and 1885), but these were misunder- standings, easily settled. There was little fighting, no massacres, and no heritage of hate in their track. What wonder that all who could, among the Indian tribes, moved over the ‘Medicine Line,” and dwell in Canada to-day! TEMPERANCE AND SOBRIETY When the white traders struck into the West with their shameful cargoes of alcohol to tempt the simple savages, it was the beginning of the Great Degradation for which we must answer. The leading Indians soon saw what the drink habit meant, and strove in vain to stem the rising current of madness that surely would sweep them to ruin. About 1795, Tshut-che-nau, chief of the Kansas, did his best to save the youth of his people from the growing vice of the day. “‘Drink not the poisonous strong-water of the white people;’ he said, ‘it is sent by the Bad Spirit to destroy the Indians.’ He preached, but preached in vain.” (J. D. Hunter, p. 21.) Pere Lafitau says, in 1724: “They never permit themselves to indulge in passion, but always, from a sense of honor and greatness of soul, appear masters of themselves.” (P. 378, “Century of Dis- honor.’’) 48 The Book of Woodcraft In 1766, living among the Sioux, Carver writes: “We shall find them temperate, both in their diet and pota- tions (it must be remembered that I speak of those tribes who have little communication with Europeans) that they withstand with unexampled patience, the attacks of hunger, or the incle- mency of the seasons, and esteem the gratification of their appetites but as a secondary consideration.’ (“ Travels,” p. 269.) Concerning the temperance of the Wild Indian, Catlin writes, in 1832: “Every kind of excess is studiously avoided. * * * * * * * “Amongst the wild Indians in this country, there are no beg- gars—no drunkards— and every man, from a_ beautiful natural precept, studies to keep his body and mind in such a healthy shape and condition as will, at all times, enable him to use his weapons in self-defense, or struggle for the prize in their manly games.” (Catlin, Vol. L., p. 123.) And, how was it he fell from these high ideals? Alas! we know too well. G. B. Grinnell has sent me a record which, in one form or another, might have been made about every western tribe: “The Reverend Moses Merrill, a missionary among the Oto Indians from 1832 to the beginning of 1840, kept a diary from which the following account is taken: “April 14, 1837. Two men from a trading expedition in the Indian country called on me to-day. They state that one half of the furs purchased in the Indian country are obtained in exchange for whiskey. They also stated that the Shiennes, a tribe of Indians on the Platte River, were wholly averse to drink- ing whiskey, but, five years ago — now (through the influence of a trader, Captain Gant, who, by sweetening the whiskey, induced them to drink the intoxicating draught), they are a tribe of drunkards.’” (“Trans. and Repts. Nebraska State Historical Society, IV.,” p. 181.) The Spartans of the West 49 After describing the rigid dieting that formed part of the Indian’s training, Eastman adds: _ “Tn the old days, no young man was allowed to use tobacco in any form until he had become an acknowledged warrior and had achieved a record.” (Ind. Boy.,” p. 50.) PHYSIQUE We need but little evidence on this head. All historians, hostile or friendly, admit the Indian to have been the finest type of physical manhood the world has ever known. None but the best, the picked, chosen and trained of the whites, had any chance with them. Had they not been crushed by overwhelming numbers, the Indians would own the continent to-day. Grinnell says (“Indians of To-day,” p. 7.): “The struggle for existence weeded out the weak and the sickly, the slow and the stupid, and created a race physically perfect, and mentally fitted to cope with the conditions which they were forced to meet, so long as they were left to them- selves.’ Speaking of the Iroquois in primitive condition, Brinton says that physically “they were unsurpassed by any other on the continent, and I may even say by any other people in the world.” (‘‘The American Race,” p. 82.) The most famous runner of ancient Greeee was Phi- dippides, whose record run was 152 miles in 2 days. Among our Indians such a feat would have been consid- ered very second rate. In 1882, at Fort Ellice, I saw a young Cree who, on foot, had just brought in despatches from Fort Qu’ Appelle (125 miles away) in twenty-five hours. It created almost no comment. I heard little from the trad- ers but cool remarks like, ‘‘A good boy”’; “pretty good run.” It was obviously a very usual exploit, among Indians, 50 The Book of Woodcraft “The Tarahumare mail carrier from Chihuahua to Batopilas, Mexico, runs regularly more than 500 miles a week; a Hopi messenger has been known to run 120 miles in 15 hours.” (“Handbook American Indians,” Part II., p. 802.) The Arizona Indians are known to run down deer by sheer endurance, and every student of southwestern his- tory will remember that Coronado’s mounted men were unable to overtake the natives, when in the hill country, such was their speed and activity on foot. We know that white men’s ways, vices, and diseases have robbed them of much of their former physique, and yet, accord- ing to Dr. Daniel G. Brinton (““The American Race,” 1891.) “The five Companies (500 men) recruited from the Iroquois of New York and Canada, during the Civil War, stood first on the list among all the recruits of our army, for height, vigor, and corporeal symmetry.” (Grinnell’s “Indian of To-day,” p. 56.) The wonderful work of the Carlisle Indian School foot- ball team is a familiar example of what is meant by Indian physique, even at this late date, when the different life has done so much to bring them low. (While this was in press the all round athletic champion- ship of the world was won at the Olympic games (1912) by James Thorpe, a Carlisle Indian. He was at best the pick of 300,000, while against him were white men, the pick of 300,000,000.) The whole case, with its spiritual motive, is thus summed up by Eastman in his inspiring account of the religion of his people, the Dakotas: “The moment that man conceived of a perfect body, supple, symmetrical, graceful, and enduring —in that moment he had laid the foundation of a moral life. No man can hope to main- tain such a temple of the spirit beyond the period of adolescence, The Spartans of the West 51 unless he is able to curb his indulgence in the pleasures of the senses. Upon this truth the Indian built a rigid system of Buys) training, a social and moral code that was the law of his ife. “There was aroused in him as a child a high ideal of manly strength and beauty, the attainment of which must depend upon strict temperance in eating and in the sexual relation, together with severe and persistent exercise. He desired to be a worthy link in the generations, and that he might not destroy by his weakness that vigor and purity of blood which had been achieved at the cost of so much self-denial by a long line of ancestors. “He was required to fast from time to time for short periods and to work off his superfluous energy by means of hard running, swimming and the vapor bath. The bodily fatigue thus induced, especially when coupled with a reduced diet, is a reliable cure for undue sexual desires.”” (Eastman’s “Soul of the Indian,” PP- 90-92.) In their wonderful physique, the result of their life-long, age-long training, in their courage, their fortitude, their skill with weapons, their devoted patriotism, they realize more than any other modern race has done the ideal of the Spartan Greek, with this advantage; that, in his moral code, the Indian was far superior. IN GENERAL “T admit,” says Father Lallemant, of the Hurons, “that their habits and customs are barbarous in a thousand ways, but, after all, in matters which they consider as wrong, and which their public condemns, we observe among them less criminality than in France, although here the only punishment of a crime is the shame of having committed it.” (‘Century of Dishonor,” p. 378.) Even stronger is the summary of the Jesuit Father, J. F. Lafitau: “They are high-minded and proud; possess a courage equal to every trial, an intrepid valor, the most heroic constancy under 52 The Book of Woodcraft torments, and an equanimity which neither misfortunes nor reverses can shake. Toward each other they behave with a natural politeness and attention, entertaining a high respect for the aged, and a consideration for their equals which appears scarcely reconciliable with that freedom and independence of which they are so jealous.” (Moeurs des Sauv. Amer., 1724, quoted in “Century of Dishonor” p. 378.) Long afterward the judicial Morgan in his League of the Iroquois, says, (p. 55): “Tn legislation, in eloquence, in fortitude, and in military sagacity, they had no equals. “Crimes and offences were so infrequent, under their social system, that the Iroquois can scarcely be said to have had a criminal code.” Captain John H. Bourke, who spent most of his active life as an Indian fighter, and who, by training, was an Indian hater, was at last, even in the horror of an Indian- crushing campaign, compelled to admit: “The American Indian, born free as the eagle, would not tolerate restraint, would not brook injustice; therefore, the restraint imposed must be manifestly for his benefit, and the government to which he was subjected must be eminently one of kindness, mercy and absolute justice, without necessarily degenerating into weakness. The American Indian despises a liar. The American Indian is the most generous of mortals; at all his dances and feasts, the widow and the orphan are the first to be remembered.” (Bourke’s “On the Border with Crook,” p. 226.) “Bad as the Indians often are,” says this same frontier veteran, “T have never yet seen one so demoralized that he was not an example in honor and nobility to the wretches who enrich them- selves by plundering him of the little our Government appor- tions for him.” (Bourke’s “On the Border with Crook,” p. 445.) The Spartans of the West 53 Catlin’s summary of the race is thus: “The North American Indian, in his native state, is an honest, hospitable, faithful, brave; warlike, cruel, revengeful, relent- less — yet honorable— contemplative and religious being.” (Vol. I., p. 8.) Omitting here what he gives elsewhere, that the Redman is clean, virtuous, of splendid physique, a master of wood- craft, and that to many of his best representatives, the above evil adjectives do not apply. Bishop Whipple thus sums up the wild Indian, after intimate knowledge, during a lifetime of associations, (“Century of Dishonor,” Jackson; p. VII.): “The North American Indian is the noblest type of a heathen man on the earth. He recognizes a Great Spirit; he believes in immortality; he has a quick intellect; he is a clear thinker; he is brave and fearless, and, until betrayed, he is true to his plighted faith; he has a passionate love for his children, and counts it a joy to die for his people. Our most terrible wars have been with the noblest types of the Indians and with men who had been the white man’s friends. Nicolet said the Sioux were the finest type of wild men he had ever seen.” Why, then, has he so long been caluminated? ‘“Be- cause,” explains the Bishop, “Ahab never speaks kindly of Naboth whom he has robbed of his vineyard. It soothes conscience to cast mud on the character of the one whom we have wronged.” When General Crook, after he had crushed, and enabled the nation to plunder the Apaches, was ordered to the northward on a similar expedition against the Sioux, a friend said to him, ‘It is hard to go on such a campaign,” the General replied, “Yes, it is hard; but, sir, the hardest thing is to go and fight those whom you know are in the right.” (“Century of Dishonor,” p. VI.) 54 The Book of Woodcraft Finally, let me reproduce in full the account by Bonne- ville, from which I have already selected portions: In 1834, he visited the Nez Perces and Flatheads, and thus sums up these wholly primitive Indians, for they were as yet uncorrupted by the whiskey-trader or those who preached the love of money. “They were friendly in their dispositions, honest to the most scrupulous degreein their intercourse with the white man.” (P. 200.) “Simply to call these people religious would convey but a faint idea of the deep hue of piety and devotion which pervades their whole conduct. Their honesty is immaculate, and their purity of purpose and their observance of the rites of their religion are most uniform and remarkable. They are certainly more like a nation of saints than a horde of savages.” (“‘ Cap- tain cee Narrative;” by Washington Irving, p. 171, 1837. It would, I know, be quite easy to collect incidents — true ones — that would seem to contradict each of these claims for the Redman, especially if we look among the degraded Indians of the Reservations. But I do not con- sider them disproofs any more than I consider our religion disproved by the countless horrors and wickedness recorded every day as our daily history, in every newspaper in every corner of the land. The fact remains that this was the ideal of the Indian, and many times that ideal was exemplified in their great men, and at all times the influence of their laws was strong. One might select a hundred of these great Indians who led their people, as Plato led the Greeks or as Tolstoi led the Russians, and learn from each and all that dignity, strength, courtesy, courage, kindness, and reverence were indeed the ideals of the teepee folk, and that their ideal was realized more or less in all their history — that the noble Redman did indeed exist. The Spartans of the West 55 The earliest of the northern Indians to win immortal fame was the great Mohawk, Hiawatha. Although the Longfellow version of his life is not sound as history, we know that there was such a man; he was a great hero; he stood for peace, brotherhood, and agriculture; and not only united the Five Nations in a Peace League, but made provision for the complete extension of that League to the whole of America. Pontiac, the Napoleon of his people; Tecumseh, the chevalier Bayard, who was great as warrior and statesman, as well as when he proclaimed the broad truths of humanity; Dull Knife, the Leonidas of the Cheyennes; Chief Joseph, the Xenophon of the Nez Perces; Wabasha, Little Wolf, Pita-Lesharu, Washakie, and a hundred others might be named to demonstrate the Redman’s progress toward his ideals. SUMMARY Who that reads this record can help saying: “If these things be true, then, judging by its fruits, the Indian way must be better than ours. Wherein can we claim the better thought or results?” To answer is not easy. My first purpose was to clear the memory of the Redman. To compare his way with ours, we must set our best men against his, for there is little difference in our doctrine. One great difference in our ways is that, like the early Christians, the Indian was a Socialist. The tribe owned the ground, the rivers and the game; only personal property was owned by the individual, and even that, it was consid- ered a shame to greatly increase. For they held that greed grew into crime, and much property made men forget the poor. Our answer to this is that, without great property, that is 56 The Book of Woodcraft power in the hands of one man, most of the great business enterprises of the world could not have been; especially enterprises that required the prompt action impossible in a national commission. All great steps in national progress have been through some one man, to whom the light came, and to whom our system gave the power to realize his idea. The Indian’s answer is, that all good things would have been established by the nation as it needed them; anything coming sooner comes too soon. The price of a very rich man is many poor ones, and peace of mind is worth more than railways and skyscrapers. In the Indian life there was no great wealth, so also pov- erty and starvation were unknown, excepting under the blight of national disaster, against which no system can insure. Without a thought of shame or mendicancy, the young, helpless and aged all were cared for by the nation that, in the days of their strength, they were taught and eager to serve. And how did it work out? Thus: Avarice, said to be the root of all evil, and the dominant characteristic of our race, was unknown among Indians, indeed it was made impossible by the system they had developed. These facts long known to the few are slowly reaching all our people at large, in spite of shameless writers of history, that have done their best to discredit the Indian, and to that end have falsified every page and picture that promised to gain for him a measure of sympathy. Here are the simple facts of the long struggle between the two races: There never yet was a massacre of Indians by whites — and they were many — except in time of peace and made possible by treachery. There never yet was an Indian massacre of whites except in times of declared war to resist invasion. The Spartans of the West ws There never yet was an Indian war but was begun by the whites violating their solemn treaties, encroaching on the Indians’ lands, stealing the Indians’ property or murdering their people. There never yet was a successful campaign of whites against Indians except when the whites had other Indians to scout, lead and guide them; otherwise the Redmen were too clever for the whites. There never yet was a successful war of whites against Indians except when the whites were in overwhelming numbers,with superior equipments and unlimited resources. There cannot be the slightest doubt that the Indian was crushed only by force of superior numbers. And had the tribes been united even, they might possibly have owned America to-day. Finally, a famous Indian fighter of the most desperate period thus summarizes the situation and the character of the dispossessed : “History can show no parallel to the heroism and fortitude of the American Indians in the two hundred years’ fight during which they contested inch by inch the possession of their coun- try against a foe infinitely better equipped, with inexhaustible resources, and in overwhelming numbers. Had they even been equal in numbers, history might have had a very different story to tell.” (Gen. Nelson A. Miles, U. S. A., Letter, February 16, 1912.) I never yet knew a man who studied the Indians or lived among them, without becoming their warm friend and ardent admirer. Professor C. A. Nichols, of the South- western University, a deep student of Indian life, said to me, sadly, one day last autumn: “I am afraid we have stamped out a system that was producing men who, taken all around, were better than ourselves.” 58 The Book of Woodcraft Our soldiers, above all others, have been trained to hate the Redmen, and yet the evidence of those that have lived years with this primitive people is, to the same effect as that of missionaries and travelers, namely, that the high-class Indian was brave; he was obedient to authority. He was kind, clean and reverent. He was provident, unsordid, hospitable, dignified, courteous, truthful, and honest. He was the soul of honor. He lived a life of temperance and physical culture that he might perfect his body, and so he achieved a splendid physique. He was a wonderful hunter, a master of woodcraft, and a model for outdoor life in this country. He was heroic and picturesque all the time. He knew nothing of the forgiveness of sin, but he remembered his Creator all the days of his life, and was in truth one of the finest types of men the world has ever known. We set out to discover the noble Redman. Have we entirely failed? Surely, it is our duty, at least, to do justice to his memory, and that justice shall not fail of reward. For this lost and dying type can help us in many ways that we need, even as he did help us in the past. Have we forgotten that in everything the white pioneer learned of woodcraft, the Indian was the teacher? And when at length came on the white man’s fight for freedom, it was the training he got from the Redman that gave him the victory. So again, to fight a different enemy to-day, he can help us. And in our search for the ideal outdoor life, we cannot do better than take this Indian, with his reverence and his carefully cul- tured physique, as a model for the making of men, and as a pattern for our youth who would achieve high manhood, in the Spartan sense, with the added graces of courtesy, honor and truth. The Spartans of the West 59 The world knows no higher ideal than the Man of Gali- lee; nevertheless, oftentimes, it is helpful to the Plainsmen climbing Mount Shasta, if we lead them, first, to Sheep- Rock Shoulder, before attempting the Dome that looks down upon the clouds. STANDARD INDIAN BOOKS “Drake’s Indian Chiefs, the lives of more than 200 Indian Chiefs, by Samuel G. Drake. Boston. 1832. “Adventures of Captain Bonneville,” by Washington Irving, in 3 vols. London. 1837. An amazing record of the truly noble Redmen. « “North American Indians,” by George Catlin, in 2 vols. London. 1866. A famous book; with many illustrations. “Life Amongst the Modocs,” by Joaquin Miller, Bentley & Son. London. 1873. A classic. The story of a white boy’s life among the uncontaminated Redmen. “Tndian Sign Language,” by W. P. Clark. Philadelphia, Pa. 1884. A valuable cyclopedia of Indian life, as well as the best existing treatise on Sign Language. “A Century of Dishonor,” by Helen Jackson (H. H.). Boston. 1885. Treats of the shameful methods of the U. S. in dealing with Indians, an unbroken record of one hundred years of treachery, murder and infamy. “On the Border With Crook,” by John G. Bourke, U.S. A. Scribner’s Sons. New York. 1891. A soldier account of the Apache War. Setting out an Indian hater, he 60 The Book of Woodcraft learned the truth and returned to make a terrible ar- raignment of the U. S. Government. “Indian Boyhood,’ by Charles A. Eastman, M. D. Mc- Clure, Phillips & Co. New York. 1902. A Sioux Indian’s story of his own boyhood. “The Story of the Indian,” by G. B. Grinnell. Appleton & Co. New York. 1902. “Two Wilderness Voyagers,” by F. W. Calkins. Fleming H. Revell Co. New York. 1902. The Indian Babes in the Woods. “ Lives of Famous Indian Chiefs,” by W. B. Wood. Ameri- can Indian Hist. Pub. Co. Aurora, Ill. 1906. “My Life as an Indian,” by J. W. Schultz. Doubleday, Page & Co. New York. 1907. A white man’s life among the Blackfeet in the old days. “Handbook of American Indians,” by F. W. Hodge and associates. Pub. in 2 large vols. by Smithsonian Insti- tution, Washington, D. C. 1907. This is a concise and valuable encyclopedia of Indian names and matters. “Famous Indian Chiefs I have Known,” by Gen. O. O. Howard. U. S. A. The Century Co. New York. 1908. Treats of Osceola, Washakie, etc. from the white man’s standpoint. “The Soul of the Indian,” by Charles A. Eastman. Houghton, Mifflin Co. Boston & New York. 1011. A Sioux Indian’s account of his people’s religion. “Legends of Vancouver,” by Pauline Johnson. Thomson Stationery Co., Vancouver, B. C. 1912. A valuable collection of charming legends gathered on the West coast. Besides these the Annual Reports of the Bureau of Eth- nology, (1878 to date, Smithsonian Institution, Washing- ton, D. C.) are full of valuable information about Indians. III. The Purpose and Laws of the Woodcraft Indians The Redman’s Way HUS have I shown forth the ways of the great Redmen. And their high code I would here set down for the growth and guidance of all young people, for the building up of their bodies and the helping and strengthening of their souls. That they may go forth with the seeing eye, the steady hand and muscles that fail not; and learn to know the pleasant ways of the woods, and be in all-wise masters of themselves. That no manner of stress or ill-fortune or hardship or wounding of the spirit may come, but they shall face it without flinching. Yea, with the calm fortitude of the Proven Minisino, rather rejoicing that the Great Spirit has been pleased to send them so noble an occasion to show forth how fully each one, by his will, is ruler of a great soul in its worthy tabernacle. This is, indeed, the thought in our Nation and in the Lodge of Vigil: Our watchword is “ Blue Sky.” For under the blue sky, in the sunlight, we seek to live our lives; and our thoughts are of “‘blue sky,” for that means ‘“‘cheer”’; and when there are clouds, we know that the blue sky is ever behind them, and will come again. Our totem is the white horned-shield, with horns of blue. aR 62 The Book of Woodcraft The horns are given to fight, and the shield to ward off. In these, we symbolize that we are ready for all manner of trial. Our war-cry is “How Kola! How Kola! How Kola! Shunka meneetu Y aooooo00!”’ (which is the ‘‘ Hail! Brother,” and the wolf, and: the howl of the wolf). Our sign is the closed hand held up, with little finger and thumb out as horns; and raising the hand, so held palm forward to the head, and down, is both a courteous salute and a sign that we are of the Brotherhood. Some also in salute add the word “How,” or “ Haw.” THE LAWS Obedience. Obedience is the foundation of all law; therefore, at all times; obey the law and the Chief and the Council of your Tribe, without evil-speaking or resentment or delay. Courage. The greatest of all gifts is courage, and the meanest of faults is fear. In the words of Quonab, “My father taught me there is nothing that can shame a man but being afraid.” Cleanliness. There is no strength without cleanliness. While the Redmen took an ice-cold morning plunge Purpose and Laws 63 each day, from snow around again to snow, there were none on earth to match them in their strength. But when they fell from this high estate, and forgot the old way, their strength went from them, because with dirt came in disease, and they became its prey; for foul disease is ever the child of dirt, be it in per- son, in camp, in speech, or in mind. Smoking. Let no one use tobacco till he be a full- grown man of eighteen snows; and then only as a burnt sacrifice to the Great Spirit. In the child or the young brave, it saps the strength; but in the man it may be a helper of prayer and meditation. Fire-water. No Fire-water in camp. Should we drink of destruction, or surrender to an enemy that will wreck our bodies and turn our wisdom into folly? Wild-life. The Great Spirit made all things, and we have no right to unmake them, except we know it be to preserve ourselves. Therefore, protect all song- birds and harmless squirrels. Keep the game-laws, and do no harm to the beauty of the landscape. Wild-fire. The forest is the father of the rivers and the game. There can be no good thing without the forest. The enemy of the forest is wild-fire. There- fore, at all times, be sure to fight it, and leave no camp fire unguarded, lest it should become wild- fire. Kindness. Above all others, the great Tecumseh was kind to every man and to the beasts. And his kind- ness came again to him. It caused him no loss; no, not the value of a hair, and it gave him power over all men. Let each one strive to do at least one act of kindness every day, for thereby he becomes kinder, and his kindness comes to him again. Play Fair. Play no game except according to the 64. The Book of Woodcraft rules of the game. Loyalty is playing fair; foul play is treachery. to. Silence. Do not hasten to speak before your elders. Keep silence in youth, then it may be your older thoughts will be worth the telling. 11. Reverence. Respect all worship of the Great Spirit; ard show deference to those that are your elders. 12. Word of Honor. Word of honor is sacred. THE RULERS OF THE NATION The whole Nation is ruled by The Great Council, to which all our Head Chiefs, Rulers, Nobles, and Medicine Men may belong, if the Council itself invite them. They are many. They meet once a year, and elect in person: The High Council of Guidance, which shall be made up of fifteen leaders of the Nation and the Head Chief of all the Medicine Lodges. They meet as often as they need, and in them is power to make change and enforce all laws. These sixteen shall elect their own Chief, one of themselves. Seven shall be a sufficient and lawful meeting if duly heralded. The whole Nation is divided into three Lodges: The Little Lodge, for the very young (all under 15). The Big Lodge, for the young men (of 15 years and all above). The Medicine Lodge of the Old Guides and the Medicine Men (for those who have reached the years of manhood, even 21). Tribe. Each of the first two Lodges is further divided into Tribes numbering from 20 to 100 members in each. Band. And, again, each Tribe into Bands of 5 to 10 members each. The Medicine Lodge, or Lodge of the Old Guides. This is Purpose and Laws 65 open to all men of ripe years who have shown a right spirit within, and loving the ways of the woods are willing tc help; and who also are voted worthy by the Council of their Medi- cine Lodge. Nevertheless, the High Council of Guidance may withhold its consent, so the election becomes void. If besides being Old Guides, they take also the degrees of Camper, Camp Cook,' Camp Doctor, and Gleeman, or Herald, they may become Medicine Men of the Lodge, and for those who would follow further, there is the Inmost or Red Lodge of Power whose secrets are known only to the Head Chief of the Lodge and to certain others, but are not to be set down on paper, or given to the people at large. In the Medicine Lodge, each Medicine Man has two votes, whereas each Old Guide has but one. In every Tribe is at least one Old Guide or Medicine Man, who presides over their search for wisdom, and their Councils, in time of difficulty, helping with his experience and riper knowledge. Four times in every Moon, he should hold Council with his Tribe, from snow around again to snow. THE INITIATION OF A BRAVE All who would learn the life, and take on the vows of the other Lodges, must pass through three stages of: (1) Indian Boy; (2) Young Brave; and (3) Minisino or Tried Warrior. Before being admitted as an Indian Boy, he must: (1) Know the laws of the Lodge. (2) Have slept out three nights without a roof overhead (tents allowed). (3) Be proposed, seconded, posted, for one Moon, if not in camp, or for seven suns when in camp; and then voted into a Band by that Band (one blackball to exclude). After this, he faces some trial of his fortitude, and, if found worthy, may take the vow in this wise: 66 The Book of Woodcraft Standing before the Old Guide or Medicine Man in open Council, he shall be questioned and instructed, so he shall know more fully of the sacred purpose of the Order. Then, the Medicine Man shall say to him: “Ts it your serious wish to become a member of the Order of Woodcraft Indians?” Ans. “It is.” “Can any here testify that you have fully qualified, by learning the law of the Lodge, by sleeping out for three nights, and by being found acceptable to the Band you wish to join?” Ans. (by the officer who knows): “Yes, O Chief, I can vouch for him.” “You know our laws; we shall take them one by one. (1) “Do you promise obedience to the Council?” Ans. “TI do.” (And so, through the twelve laws, whereby he is bound to obedience, courage, cleanliness, abstinence from fire- water, tobacco; and to cherish the Great Spirit’s gifts; and to kindness, fair-play, loyalty, silence, reverence, honor.) The Medicine Man then says: ‘Raise your right hand and say afterme: ‘I give my word of honor that I will obey the Chief and Council and the laws of my Tribe, and if at any time I fail in my duty, I will appear before the Council, when ordered, and submit without murmuring to its decision.’”’ Now, the Medicine Man pins the badge over the candi- date’s heart, takes him by the hand, and says: “‘I receive you into our Order, and, by this badge, I confer on you the degree of Indian Boy in the Band, and declare your instal- ation complete, as a member of . . . . Bandinthe a an Big Lodge.” Thus he enters the Tribe and the Order by joining a Band, ™~ Purpose and Laws 67 THE LITTLE LODGE (For those under 15 years old.) Having thus entered the Little Lodge as Indian Boy, the next step is Young Brave. To become a Young Brave, the Indian Boy must: (1) Have served one month at least in his low degree. (2) Know fifty signs of the Sign Language. (3) Know ten forest trees. (4) Walk a mile in fifteen minutes. (5) Swim fifty yards. (6) Followatrail a quarter ofa mile (nosnow) in one hour. (7) Know the Dipper and the Pole Star. (8) Light five successive fires with one match each, in different places; wildwood material only. (9) Have slept out twelve nights (it need not be in succession). Minisino or Tried Warrior. To become a Minisino the Young Brave must: (rt) Know elementary first aid. (2) Know twenty forest trees; fruit, leaf and trunk. (3) Know one hundred signs of the Sign Language. (4) Light ten successive campfires with ten matches (with wildwood material). (5) Tie five standard knots in a rope. (6) Swim one hundred yards. (7) Walk three miles in one hour. (8) Know the Pole Star, the two Dippers, and at least three of the other constellations. (9) Have slept out thirty nights. (ro) Be sunburnt to the waist. (11) Have cooked nine digestible meals by the campfire. (12) Haveagood record in keeping the Laws of the Order, 68 The Book of Woodcraft THE BIG LODGE (For those 15 years of age, and over.) To become an Indian Boy in the Big Lodge, the quali- fication is the same as in the Little Lodge, excepting that the candidate must be fifteen or over. If he is a graduate of the Little Lodge, he may take his Second Degree without waiting a month. Young Brave. To become a Young Brave, the Indian Boy must: Have had one month’s service as Boy, and take the same tests as in the Little Lodge are required to qualify for Minisino or Tried Warrior. Minisino. To become a Minisino, the Young Brave must: (t) Have a thorough course in first aid. (2) Know two hundred signs of the Sign Language. (3) Know ten constellations. (4) Know twenty-five native wild birds. (5) Know fifteen native wild quadrupeds. (6) Know thirty forest trees. (7) Know twenty wild flowers. (8) Swim one hundred yards in three minutes. (9) Make a rubbing-stick fire with tools made by himself. (10) Light fifteen successive fires with fifteen matches, all in different places and with wildwood stuff. (11) Single-paddle a canoe one mile in twenty minutes. (12) Tie ten standard knots in a rope. (13) Make an Indian bed, or else a serviceable bow and arrow. (14) Dance any good campfire dance. (r5) Walk four miles in one hour. Purpose and Laws 69 (16) Set up a two-man tent, single-handed. (17) Be able to make a comfortable, rainproof shelter, and a dry, comfortable bed, also light a fire and cook a meal, including roast meat, boiled potatoes, and fresh bread, with no tools or utensils but a hatchet and what he can make with it. THE LAWS FOR THE RULING OF THE TRIBE I. NAME This Brotherhood shall be called ‘‘ The (any local Indian name) Tribe of the ae Lodge of Woodcraft Indians.” II. PURPOSE The true purpose of this Tribe in its Councils shall be to learn of the great Redmen, and to seek out and follow such things as they teach in the outdoor life and the pleasures of woodcraft, and help us to work actively for the preser- vation of wild-life and landscape, and cherish the spirit of Brotherhood, and, above all, see the Beautiful in all things, and through all these achieve a high manhood. Ill, WHO MAY ENTER Those who would enter must show themselves worthy, according to the established initiation. The number in the Tribe may not exceed 50 (or other number, as agreed). Those who would enter must be admitted to a Band, which is already part of the Tribe, or is afterward made such. The Indian Boy has no vote in the Tribe, nor can he hold 70 The Book of Woodcraft office; he must first become a Young Brave. Young Braves and Minisino have each a vote, and may hold office. Iv. COUNCILS A Council of the Tribe should be held in the first part of each Moon. The yearly Council for the election of officers shall be held on the first sun of the Crow Moon (March) or as soon after as possible. The moons are: Snow (Jan.), Hunger (Feb.), Crow or Wakening (March), Grass (April), Planting (May), Rose (June), Thunder (July), Red (Aug.), Hunting (Sep.), Leaf-falling (Oct.), Mad (Nov.), Long-night (Dec.). Special Councils may be called by the Chief, and must be called by him upon the written request of one fourth of the Council, or one third of the Tribe. A quarter of the whole number shall be a quorum of the Council or Tribe. Seven suns’ notice must be given before each Council. A Brave or Minisino may vote at any Council of the Tribe, by proxy in his own handwriting. Vv. THE RULERS OF THE TRIBE Head Chief, elected by the whole Tribe. He should be strong and acceptable, for he is the leader and must enforce the laws. He is Head of the Council and of the Tribe and has charge of the standard which bears the totem of the Tribe. The Second Chief takes the Head Chief’s place in his absence; otherwise, he is merely a Councilor. He is elected by the whole Tribe. So, also, the elected Third Chief is leader, only when the other two are away. Purpose and Laws 71 Wampum Chief or Keeper. He is not elected, but appointed for one year by the Chief. He is charged with keeping the money and public property of the Tribe, except the records. He ought to have a lock-box or small trunk to keep valuables in. Chief of the Painted Robe or Feather Tally. He is not elected, but appointed for one year by the Chief. He keeps the tribal records, including the Book of Laws, the Roster or Roll, the Winter Count or Record of Camps and Seasons, and the Feather Tally, or Record of Honors and Exploits. He enters nothing except as commanded by the Council. He should be an artist. Sometimes one Councilor or Chief holds more than one office. The Old Guide or Medicine Man is elected and appointed by the whole Tribe. He is a member of the Council with- out election. Add to these the Chief of each Band or Clan in the Tribe, and all the Sachems and Sagamores (see page 74); pro- vided always that that number of non-elective members shall not exceed the number of elective members. These officers and Councilors form the governing body. (If there are too many Nobles, omit those who were latest raised to rank.) All disputes, etc., are settled by the Chief and the Coun- cil. The Council makes the laws and fixes the dues. The Chief enforces the laws. All rulers are elected or appointed for one year, or until their successors are chosen. The election to take place on, or as soon as possible after, Spring Day, which is the first Sun of the Crow Moon (March 1st). Each year an Honorary Life Member may be elected. (Whenever in doubt, follow the National Constitution.) 72 The Book of Woodcraft Vow of the Head Chief. (To be signed with his name and totem in the Tally Book.) I give my word of honor that I will maintain the Laws, see fair play in all the doings of the Tribe, and protect the weak. Vow of each Brave. (To be signed with the name and totem of each in the Tally Book.) I give my word of honor that I will obey the Chief and Council of my Tribe, and if I fail in my duty, I will appear before the Council, when ordered, and submit without murmuring to their decision. VI. CHANGES OF THE LAW Changes of this code may be in harmony with the National laws made at any Council by a two-thirds vote of all the Tribe. Notice of proposed amendments shall be made public for at least seven suns before the meeting. VII. DUES Dues shall be, first . . . . . a year; second, all assessments made by the Council for Tribal property; and, third, when necessary, the Council shall assess those taking part in camp. The initiation fee for new Braves shall be which shall include the first year’s dues, but this shall not include assessments. VIII. SECRET It is charged that all keep secret the doings in Council. Ix. LAWS AND PUNISHMENTS The laws are as already given on pages 62-64. Punishments are meted out by the Chief and Council, after a hearing of the case. They consist of: Purpose and Laws 73 Exclusion from the games or boats for a time. Reduction in rank, or of fines, etc. The extreme penalty is death; that is, banishment from the Tribe. THE BAND OR CLAN Each Band or Clan of not less than five or more than ten members, elects its Chief for one year, or until his successor is elected. The Chief appoints his own Second Chief, to act in his absence, and also a Tally Keeper, who should be an artist, for it is his office to keep the records, the Winter Count, and the Tally Robe of his Band, and it is his glory to embellish them in all ways. A Wampum Keeper, also, is needed, and may be appointed by the Chief, though he, himself may act, unless otherwise arranged. The other members, even those of lowest degree, sit in the Council without election. Two to fifteen, or even twenty, Bands, unite to form a Tribe. Every member of the Band is a member of the Tribe, because the tests are the same; and he may use the Tribal Totem and War Cry. But the Band has also a Totem and a War Cry of its own. The Band keeps its own Tally, and raises what dues it pleases. But it also pays dues to the Tribe and is repre- sented in the Tribal Council by its Chief and Nobles (if any) and such Tribal Councillors as it can elect. One Medicine Man or Old Guide may serve for the whole Tribe. COSTUMES The costume of the Little Lodge is a coat of olive-green khaki, with knee breeches of the same. Across the back from shoulder to shoulder, a line of fringe one inch deep. The costume of the Big Lodge, of the Old Guide, and of 74 The Book of Woodcraft the Medicine Man, is the same, with fringe on the shoulders but not across the back; and may have on the trousers, down the outer seam, from the knee to the bottom, a fringe which begins at a quarter-inch deep, and widens gradually till it ends an inch deep at the bottom. On great occasions, much regalia and gorgeous Indian costumes are worn, but the badges are the same. TITLES OF NOBLES When a Brave has won 24 honors in either Lodge, accord- ing to the Standard of Honors, he may claim the title of Sagamore.* He that has won 24 grand honors becomes a Grand Saga- more. He that has won 48 honors becomes a Sachem. He that has won 48 grand honors becomes a Grand Sachem. All Sachems and Sagamores sit in the Council of their Tribe without election, and by right of their honors. But the Lodges do not mingle; that is, a member of the Little Lodge cannot sit by right in a Council of the Big Lodge. ~ *During the ten years since the Order was founded only ten have won the Sagamore’s Crown, viz: Sagamore Plenty-Coups, 1905. (Douglas A. Miller, of Greenwich, Conn. ” — Deerfoot, 1906. mae ea Wood, of Rutherford, a Deerslayer, 1906. (Willis R. Monroe, of Cos Cob, Conn.) 2 Silver-Fox, 1908. (S. Miller Jordan, of Rutherford, N. J.) 2 Kingbird, 1910, (Jas. F. Gilkinson, of Middletown, Conn.) 4 Eagle-eye, 1g!z. (Geo. L. White, of Cos Cob, Conn.) ” Little Thunder, 1912. (Albert E. Finiels, of Cos Cob, Conn.) me Little Beaver, 1912. (Richard L. Burdsall, of Port ‘Chester, N. Y.) Karonawa, 1912. (Paul Cecil Spofford, of Port Chester, N.Y Ningonit, Ig12. (Edward 'D. Graber, of Greenwich, Conn.) Purpose and Laws rae BADGES OF RANK The badge of the Indian Boy in the Little Lodge is a green ribbon, fastened on with a green pin bearing the blue horned white shield of the Woodcraft Indians. The badge for the Young Brave in the Little Lodge is a blue ribbon, pinned on with the horned-shield pin. It is worn on the breast, but may be repeated, with the symbol cut out of cloth, and sewn on the arm. INDIAN BOY YOUNG BRAVE MINISINO (Little Lodge) (Little Lodge) (Little Lodge) | LUCLCUCCK(A Big Lodge) The badge for the Minisino or Tried Warrior in the Little Lodge is the same, but with red ribbon. The badge of the Chief in either Lodge is a head-band with two horns on it, worn in addition to his other badge. The badges for the Big Lodge are the same as for the Little Lodge, excepting that behind the emblem is a triangle or “Big Lodge” of yellow cloth. This is not seen in the badge of the Little Lodge, for the reason that the “Lodge” is so small, it is surely hidden behind the shield. The titles, Sagamore, Grand Sagamore, Sachem, and Grand Sachem, also may be won by those of the Big Lodge, taking, however, the standards proper for their age. On entering the Big Lodge, he does not carry with him the The Book of Woodcraft A \————.| titles won in the Little Lodge, O= but begins again in his new rN = = =i4 degree. : The badge of the Old Guide is +) the horned-shield on a broad blue band which goes around the left arm. Saea The badge of the Medicine MEDICINE MAN Man is the same, but with a red band, and on the shield are two ieee 7 eyes, to signify that he is a Seer, GRAND whereas, others move in blind- SAGAMORE ieee. The badge of the Sagamore is a SACHEM ae. black and white warbonnet. i The badge of the Grand Sag- rf thal SS > amore is a black and white, tuf- ted warbonnet. Seer The badge of the Sachem is a *\ black and white warbonnet with tail. The badge of the Grand Sachem is a black and white tufted warbonnet with two tails. All are worn on the spear arm, or on the breast. THE STANDARD The standard of the Tribe or Band is a staff about eight feet long, painted red, and bearing a shield on which is the totem of the Tribe or Band. A small shield on top is white with blue horns, to typify the whole nation. The standard is carried around when a proclamation is being made. If the Chief deputes another to be Herald, he also gives him the standard to carry as a badge of authority. Purpose and Laws v7 Some carry a banner standard instead of a shield stand- ard in which case the banner is hung on a cross piece. Re d= trail g Standard When not in use, it is stuck in the ground, near the Chief’s teepee or place in Council. TOTEMS The Totem of the whole Nation of BANNER STANDARDS. Woodcraft Indians is the White Buffalo head, symbolized by the Horned White Shield. This is used chiefly on Totem poles and on publications. Each Tribe, of course, has a special Totem. This is selected by the Council, and should be something easy to draw. So, also, each Band has its totem and, finally, each Brave adds a private Totem of his own, usually a drawing of his Indian name, if he wins one. The first of these Tribes took as its Totem a Blue Buffalo, and so became the Blue Buffalo Tribe; and Deerfoot, the Chief, uses the Blue Buffalo Totem, with his own added underneath. 78 The Book of Woodcraft As soon as organized, the Tribe or Band should select a Totem and a Call. Take one out of the accompanying list, or a modification of one of them; or take any one that is suggested by them. Thus, you might take the “Wild Cat,” but wish to have it of some other color. This you are free to do. Take one, two, three, or even four colors if you like, but two are most convenient. When the book says “‘purple on green,” that means the Totem is in purple; all the rest of the flag is green. Do not be afraid to select other colors, but always keep them as flat tints; avoid mere pictures on the flag. Lines are easily put in with black paint, when they are needed, which is not often. Any bird, animal, tree, or flower, will do for To- tem, but it is all the better if it have some special reason. One Tribe set out on a long journey to look for a Totem. They agreed to take the first living wild thing that they saw and knew the name of. They traveled all one day and saw nothing to suit, but next day, in a swamp, they startled a blue heron. It went off with a harsh cry. So they be- came the “Blue Herons,” and adopted as a war cry the croak of the bird and its name — ‘“Hrrrrr — Blue Heron.” Another Band may have the Wolf Totem. The Snap- ping Turtles were formed because their camp was on a lake that was the haunt of a huge snapper. The Flying Eagles had organized, but were sitting in Council waiting for a sign to guide them in choice of aname. A bald eagle came from the lake, flew over the camp, then went back on the lake. This was accepted as the sign, and the Tribe became’ the Flying Eagle Band of New Jersey Purpose and Laws 79 ORDER OF DOINGS IN COUNCIL The Head Chief, or the Herald he may appoint, walks around with the standard,.announcing that a Council is to be held, and all must come to Council. The form used among the Ogallala is Neetah Kolah nahoonpo omneechee-yay nee-chopi. (My friends, give ear, a Council we hold.) For ' ‘assent”’ or “approval” we say How, for “dissent” or “no” we say Wah. Opening Council with Omaha Tribal Prayer. (See page 145) Roll Call. Tally of last Council and report of Tally Chief. Report of Wampum Chief. Reports of Scouts. Left-over business. Complaints. Honors awarded. New braves. New business. Challenges, etc. Social doings, songs, dances, stories. Closing Council. HOW TO BEGIN Suppose that you have a lot of fellows that want to forma Band of Woodcraft Indians. They ought to be a gang that usually goes together, not less than five or more than ten, between 8 and 15, or 15 and 18 years of age. They should live near each other. It is no use taking in fellows that live in another town. With these you organize a Band. This is how to go about it: Get a copy of the “Book of Woodcraft” from your local book-seller or from Doubleday, 80 The Book of Woodcraft Page & Co., Garden City, L. I., N. Y., and read or tell them the first few pages, the Laws of the Lodges, and the Life of Tecumseh. Talk it over and see if all are fully inspired with the idea. If they take to it, get some suitable man to act as your Old Guide, which means he is a man of good character and able and willing to give the time. He must begin by breaking you in as Indian Boys. For this you qualify as follows: Know the Indian laws, signs, and salute. Have slept out three nights without a roof overhead. Be proposed, recorded, posted for one Moon, if not in camp, or for Seven Suns when in camp, and then voted into the Band by that band (one blackball to exclude). Unless this is the foundation of a new band in which case it is enough if all are willing to accept the candidate as a founder without waiting. Each then takes the pledge as given on pages 65-6, is enrolled as an Indian Boy, and is invested with the green badge. While the fellows are preparing, it is well to think on what name the band is to bear. Turn to the pages given Totems and Calls for suggestions. You should use some animal or object that is easy to draw and not already used by a band in your region, preferably one or something, that belongs to your country. Do not hesitate to make little changes in the color, etc., of the design if you can make it more acceptable. ; Thus you may wish to use the Wolf Totem because some of your fellows are good at howling, or the Hoot Owl be- cause your leader has had some good lessons in hooting; but you cannot take them as they stand because there is already a Wolf and Hoot Owl Band in your region. All you need to do is to change the color, and make it the Black Wolf, Red Hoot Owl, etc., as you please. Purpose and Laws 8I For colors take two, three or four if you like, but two is the best combination. Having got the Band together let them elect for one year a Chief, one of their number, the natural leader of the gang. . Let this leader get a blank book about 7 x9, with about 200 pages in it, to be the Tally Book of the band. This he should either keep himself or appoint one of his band to keep. He should also appoint a Wampum Keeper or else take the office himself. THE TALLY BOOK AND HOW TO KEEP IT The Tally Book is the record of the Band’s doings. It should be: kept like the proceedings of any other society. The Tally Keeper who is an artist has a great advantage, as a few sketches and photographs thrown in make a most interesting variation. Some of these Tally Books are beautifully illustrated with colored drawings and are highly prized. In some cases each member has added his thumb mark in printer’s ink opposite his name when first entered. The first page of the Tally Book should bear an inscrip- tion thus: The Tally Book of the Thunder Band (or whatever it is) of Woodcraft Indians For Example. The next page should say for example: On the First day of the Snow Moon (January) of 1910, the following assembled at No. 139 Tenth Avenue, to form a Band of Indians. 82 The Book of Woodcraft Jas. Cameron as their Old Guide, John Smith Peter Petro Jas. O’Brien Sam Selig Patrick Keenan John June ‘Robert Junk (The address of each added.) It was agreed that the regular order of business should be followed in all business meetings: The Old Guide takes the chair, or in his absence, or at his request, the Chief of the Band takes the chair and the meeting goes as follows: Roll Call New Braves Read the Tally of the last | New business meeting Studies Report of Scouts Social doings, songs, dances, Left-over business stories Complaints Adjournment. Honors 8th Sun Snow Moon, rg10. Second meeting of Band. The Band assembled at 1149 East oth St., the home of Sam Selig. At 7 o’clock the meeting was opened with Guide Cameron in the chair. The following also present: Smith, O’Brien, Keenan, Junk, Petro, and June. First the Old Guide announced that the Mohawks of Manhattan were not willing to take us in as a Band of their Tribe, as they had already 50 members. Next the following were examined, passed and duly sworn in as Indian Boys: Smith, O’Brien, Keenan, Junk, and June. This took in all the Band except two. It was decided therefore to go ahead and complete the organi- zation. After discussion it was agreed to call this the “THUNDER BAND OF MANHATTAN (unattached),” Purpose and Laws 83 its Totem and colors to be a red thunder-bolt on a black circle in the middle of the white flag; our War Cry is to be: Rumble, Rumble, Thunder, Bang, Crash-sh-sh, begin- ning low and rising higher and stronger to the Bang then dying away on the sh-sh. A resolution to call it the “Bowery Pirates” was voted down, as was the suggestion to call it the ‘“‘ Yellow Dogs” — in spite of the fact that O’Brien could lead with a fine imi- tation of a small dog in deep trouble. Keenan said it was better than the dog could do it. Smith was elected Chief for one year. He appointed Keenan as his Second and Petro as his Tally Keeper. The rest of the time was spent teaching the laws to the other two and in taking the first lesson in Sign Language. The Old Guide gave us the Laws in a shorter form: The Indian Laws in Brief Obedience is the brave’s first duty. Courage is the brave’s highest gift. Keep yourself and your camp Clean. No Smoking till you are eighteen. No Alcohol in Camp. Take care of all harmless Wild-life. Ever guard against Wild-jire. Do at least one Kindness every day. Play Fair. Foul play is treachery. 10. Keep Silence before your elders, unless duty bids you speak. 11. Respect all Worship of the Great Spirit. 12. Word of Honor is sacred. SIAN RE po © An assessment of roc each was made to buy badges and cover postage. 84 The Book of Woodcraft An application was made by three fellows on Fourth Avenue for membership, but was refused as the Band was full. But they were invited to join the meetings as outside Scouts or visitors until they had enough to form a new Band under the same Guide. It was arranged to hold the next meeting at Keenan’s, 1100 Fifth Avenue. Meeting adjourned at 9 o’clock. 15th Sun Snow Moon, 1910. Third meeting of the Thunder Band. Held at Selig’s as arranged. Old Guide Cameron in the chair. Etc., etc., etc. 1st Sun Hunger Moon, 1910. Fifth meeting, etc. At this meeting Smith, the Chief, was able to qualify as a Young Brave, and so the Old Guide has sent for the badge. Two others expect to qualify before a month. The Thunder Band was sent into another room while the Old Guide organized the new band of six members. They are now “THE SCREECH OWLS” because two of them can screech so loud; but they wouldn’t tell us how they did it, or what their War Cry is. Now we had two Bands, we agreed to unite and form a tribe, keeping our own Band just the same. The name decided on was the “‘TRIBE OF THUNDER-ROLLERS OF THE LITTLE LODGE.” So each puts a small Thunder Bird under the Totem of his Band. Nomina- tions were made at once for Tribal officers. The election came seven suns later. The Thunder Band got their Chief in as Head Chief. The other officers were about divided. Whenever we can, we have Tribal meetings, but Band meetings where only one Band is represented are easier to arrange. We have one about once a week. Purpose and Laws 85 The Guide says he will take us out camping next summer if we all pass as Young Braves. We are trying hard and mean to go. Our Guide says The Indian Brave must be like Tecumseh; besides a great master of Woodcraft he was H — onorable. O — bedient. W — ild-fire fighter. K — ind. O — pposed to foul play. L — over of wild life. A — Icohol hater. B — rave. R — everent. A — nti-smoker. V —ery modest. E — ver clean. Which, reading down the initials, gives us the greeting of our Tribes — How, Kola, Brave. WAR CRY OF THE BAND The Call or War Cry is something to be carefully con- sidered. It is a great help if you get it right. The howl of a wolf as suggested by “‘ Yow-w-w”’ is not the same as the howl suggested by the wolf itself. Go to some zoo where they have a lot of wolves and wait till you hear a real howl. Oftentimes one can start them by howling. If you cannot get a wolf to show you, listen to some big dog doing it; it is pretty much the same. Remember the Call was used as a signal when in the enemy’s country. If it is done exactly right, the enemy think it is done by the animal not by the Scout. The friends of the Scout know it is he that calls because he gives it the right number of times or at the right 86 The Book of Woodcraft intervals. Thus perhaps the Barred Owl Call is given three times and the reply to that is arranged to be the cry but once. If the answer is given three times to the three-times Call that would mean that the one answering was not a friend — it is either an enemy or the owl itself. It is such a great help to get the Call just right that cer- tain patrols have decided on a given Call, because that was one which they knew or could do. For these reasons it is well to avoid foreign animals, etc. Nevertheless those who have taken such as “Kangaroo,” “Cockatoo,” and “Rhino,” need not change them but rather adopt some call that will serve their purpose in our own country. When it comes to such things as ‘‘ Blue-Moon,”’ “ Echo,” “Horseshoe,” ‘‘Red-hand,” etc., the Band can of course decide on any good yell, howl, whistle, squeak noise or call they like, only make it something peculiar and far-reaching. They should practise it only among themselves. Out- siders are not supposed to know it. Remember then that the Calls and Totems given here are mere suggestions, you can take one of these (if it is not already in use in your town) or take any other bird, reptile, fish, animal or object that commends itself to you and‘is easy to draw. In many of the Totems suggested no Call or War Cry is given. To supply this use any local yell or cry that your fellows can do or invent or make with two sticks, stones, or other apparatus. Purpose and Laws BLUE BUFFALO. fl tai. FLYING EAGLES, BLUE HERONS On whit d. TO: 1904. ere aha Black and white on red. Blue on green. “Vek-yek-yek.”? “Arrrer.? ® HORNED om) KINGBIRDS. Ig02. BLACKBEARS. Black and white on pale red. SINAWA, 1906. 1903. Black on red. Black on red. " (a) . AHMEEKS. Ig09. Black on red. ie a SILVER FOXES. 19 fend Sat 2H” 1904. RED TRAILERS. Black on white. 1903. Red on pale yellow. S64 or. rs att SG Goma OWENOKES. Ce MOON BAND. Sheik 1905. Red with black lines BLAZING ARROW. Yellow on blue. on pale blue. Red on pale yellow. 87 88 The Book of Woodcraft RAVEN Black on red. Hroo-Hroo Black and yellow on green , OKOKOHOO or Wa-ha-hoo-hoo CAT OWL Red and white on purple. Hoo-hoo-hoo SCREECH OWL =. Dark red, white face on BLACK, WOE: BLACK CAT purple ground. Black on yellow or Black with yellow eyes Whil-il-il-loo LOBO BAND A oe 00 Asoft quavering cry. Gray on pink. yellow cosines : Ya-hooo000. eee) WOLF Black on red for Wolves Brown on yellow for Brown LYNX, FOX. Wolves. Brown on gray. Red on yellow for Red Foxes Red on pale blue for Red Brown on blue. Silver on gold for Silver Wolves, etc., etc. Red on green. Foxes ew-w-w : Yow-wow-wow Yap-yurrr. eis WILD CAT. GRIZZLY. LITTLE BEAR. @ray or brown on tea green. Brown. Black or brown on pale buff. Yah-row-row Grr-woof. Woof-woof i at FIREBOAT. Dark blue on pale green. A long whistle, alin THUNDER CANOE. Black or dark gray on pale blue. A whistle then a bang. BLACK HAWKE. Black on red. Kek-kek-kek. BLUEHAWK. Blue on blood red. Indian worwhoop. THUNDER. Orange on black. Bang-rumble-boom. Purpose and Laws FLYING BLACK HAWK. 89 LOON. Black and white for Red Loon, Amber Loon, etc., on blue ground. A tremulous whooo, ye Black on orange or red. MUSTANG. Black Mustang, Red Mus- tang, and Wild Horse; on yellow ground. A long neigh. ‘v. BUCKHORN. Black buck, etc., on pale green ground. BALD EAGLE. White and brown on yellow. Krek-krek-kay. A shrill, hissing whistle. NIGHT-BIRD. Brown and whiteon pale blue- green. Peabody-peabody-peabody whistled. FORKED LIGHTNING. Red or yellow on blue-green. Fizz-bang. BUCK. SEABIRD. Purple on blue. Black and white. A shrill whistle. Kee-way-u. 90 The Book of Woodcraft cic. = SHUNKA-REELA. (running fox) SILENT BEAVER. Yellow and black on pale Brown on blue. blue. No mouth — no cry. RED-GODS. Red on pale blue. el Yap-yahoo. STING RAY. Green with black marks pale red ground. BADGER. White and black on yellow BLAZING STAR. ground. Yellow star—red tail— A rattling whistle. blue. WHOOPING CRANE on WS White on blue ground—black © wing. WOLVERINE, BLUE MOON. Kah-roo, a trumpeted croak.; Black and pale brown on Pale blue on deep green. white. Any known night song. Garoooo. RED-GODS. COUGAR. ECHO BAND. Red with black lines on pale Dark brown on pale blue. Pale on dark blue. blue. An awful yell. Ek-ho. Purpose and Laws 91 " d Blue mountain, red flames BUGLING ELK. on black. Dark brown on rose red. COYOTE. Yip-yip-yahoo-bang. Brown and white on yellow. Yoop-yoop-yah-yow in as- cending side like a coyote’s bark MOOSE. Black on pale green. A long smooth bellow. WHITE MOUNTAINS or FIRE-MOUNTAIN BAND. FLYING EAGLE. SNOW PEAK BAND. White on dark blue. White and brown on pale Rumble-shshsh avant THE-NIGHT. blue. URES SSSI Gray on black. Kek-Kek-Kek, Prow-row. a | SUNRISE BAND. THUNDERBIRD. Yellow on pale blue. Dark blue on yellow, white Calla loud Yo-ho, yo-ho, yo- head. see nae ho on ascending notes. Lightning comestfrom his eye. ed on blue field. COON. Gray with black marks on a SUN: J BAND. MOHAWE. red ground. Red or yellow on blue-green Black and red on olive green A high pitched quavering or pink. ; : Indian whoop. Ho0-00-00-00, A long descending whistle. g2 The Book of Woodcraft SHINING MOUNTAIN. Dark blue semi-circle with white mountain. ———Pwy ie WAR QUILL. SPO'Ss White feather black tip and red tuft on yellow. ARROWHEADS. YELLOW QUILL. LIGHT HEART. Red on pale blue. KINGSNAKE. Yellow with red ground pale green. Turquoise blue arrow on dark brown. All yellow with black tip on Ping. pale green. 9.6(CO ie] FLYING PATROL or o °o FLEET FOOT or Ce] WINGED HEEL. THE SEVEN STARS. BLUE SKY : White on red. Pale pink on dark blue. Large blue circle on white. OJIBWA. Orange on pale blue. Peace Whoop. on DEERFOOT. RED-HAND. Yellow and black on blue- Red hand on gray. green. Ho. RED ARROW. Pea Red on white. Lip-zid. BLACKFOOT. HORSESHOE. SNAPPER BAND. Black and red Blue on pale yellow. Red on turquoise. War Whoop. Clink-Clank. Snap-ouch. IV. Honors, Degrees, and Indian Names Honors ONORS are of two kinds, individual, and group or degree. Any brave may take both kinds, if he wishes. The standards for the individual honors, it will be seen, are higher. I shall give these first, as they have been in use from the beginning. DECORATIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL HONORS The decorations for the exploits are: eagle-feathers and wampum medals. Thus, the emblems of a high honor or grand coup would be an eagle feather with a red tuft on the end, avd a wampum or beaded medal for the head band or necklace. The symbol for a low honor or coup would be a plain eagle feather — that is without any tuft and a wampum or beaded medal of half-size. Thus, it will be seen that the medals do not take the place of the feathers, but repeat the honor in another form. DECORATIONS FOR GROUP HONORS OR DEGREES The decoration for the group honors or degrees, of which there are twenty-four, set forth on pages 117-141 is an honor band made in beads, quills, or embroidery. These honor bands are used as arm bands or as decorations of the war shirt. 93 94 The Book of Woodcraft STANDARDS OF HONORS These exploits are intended to distinguish those who are first-class in their department, and those who are so good that they may be considered in the record-making class. They may be called Honors and High Honors, but the Plains Indians speak of their exploits as Coup (pronounced coo) and Grand Coup. The Sioux, I am informed, use the French word coup, but call them ‘‘ Justee-na coo,” and “Tonka coo,” the “Little Deed,” and the “Big Deed.” No one can count both Coup and Grand Coup, or repeat their honor in the same department, except for heroism, mountain climbing, and others that are specified as “re- peaters,” in which each honor is added to that previously worn. No honors are conferred unless the exploit has been properly witnessed or proven, as though for the Century Bar of the L. A. W. When it is a question of time under one minute, only stop-watches are allowed. Honors are allowed according to the standard of the year in which the application was made. An honor, once fairly won, can never be lost for sub- sequent failure to reach the standard. Except when otherwise stated, the exploits are meant for all ages. Any one counting coup, according to the class above him may count it a grand coup in his own class, unless other- wise provided. This list is made by the High Council of Guidance. The exploits are founded on world-wide standards, and with the help of the best experts. The Council will gladly consider any suggestion, but it must be under- stood that no local group has any power to add to or vary the exploits in any way whatsoever. Honors, Degrees, and Indian Names 95 Class I. Red Honors — Heroism Honors are allowed for saving a human life at risk of one’s own; it is a coup or a grand coup, at the discretion of the Council. A soldier’s war medals count for a grand coup each. Courage. (The measure of courage has not yet been discovered.) RIDING To ride a horse 1 mile in 3 minutes, clearing a 4-foot hurdle and an 8-foot water jump, counts honor; to do it in 2 minutes, clearing a 5-foot hurdle and a 12-foot water jump, high honor. | \ Trick-riding. To pick up one’s hat from the ground while at full gallop on a horse of not less than 13 hands, counts honor. To do it 3 times without failure, from each side, with horse of at least 15 hands, counts high honor. GENERAL ATHLETICS (Advisers — J. E. Sullivan, secretary of Amateur Athletic Union; Dr. Luther H. Gulick of Russell Sage Foundation, New York.) Those under ro are children; those over 10 and under 16 are boys; those over 16 and under 18 are lads; those over 18 are men. Girls take the standards according to their ages up to 18, but for athletics are never over that. No matter what their age, thenceforth they continue in the “lad class,” and in filing the claim need only mention their class. Men over 70 return to the lad class. The records are given according to Spalding’s Almanac, where will be found the names of those who made them, with date and place. 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Run 10 miles, coup. 80 m., g. coup. 70 m., Record 52 m. 38% s. “ 15 “ “ ba “cc “ 14 a “ * h. 27 is 118 " z3 “ce ao “ “ 3, “oe “ 25 “ “ 2 . 13 : 5 a “ 3° “ fis 43 [73 “ce 4 it3 its 3 (73 a0 “cc 34 “ 40 “oe [73 63 “ “ e 73 “ce 5 (73 203 “ ae “c “ 5° (73 “cc 9 “ iT3 8 “ “ 7 ty 29 “ 47 75 16 14 12 20 to “ “ 100 rT c 24 “c “ce 21 “ “ 17 “ 36 “ 14 “ Walk 10 miles, coup. 1% hrs. g coup 14h. Sone h. 17 m. 40} s. oe “ oc 15 “ ci3 3 “ “cc 28 “ (t9 2 14 e 44 “ “ 20 ci3 “ 4 “ce “cc 3 (73 6e 3 “ 8 “ a2 “ “ce 25 “cc ce 5, ci9 “ 44 iT9 “ce 4 “ 3 “ 33 “ “ 30 “ce “ 73 “ce “ 2 “ “ce 5 “ 33 “ 8 “ce 40 10 9 peas Hay [19 50 “ “ 13 “es “ 12 “ “ 9 “cc 29 “ 22 “ “ 75 <3 “ 18 “ce “ 163 “ “ 15 “ce ° “ 15 “ “ 100 it3 “ 30 “ “ 25 “ “ 21 46 ° ii9 2 ci9 Sigteso © Sg a as sob 75 2 6 5 “19 “ 164 “ I0o “ “o 12 “ “ Io “cc c 7 “ce It oe 38 “ Swim cs “ “ 4 “c “ 33 “ “ 2 “ 58 “ fo} “ sf tor “in any time. ge grand coup in any time Bicycle roo milesin 24 hrs, coup 200 “ in 24 hrs., grand coup (Acc. to L. A. W. rules) Weight-throwing. ‘Throw the 56-lb. weight from a 7-ft. circle: coup 22 {t.; grand coup 28 ft.; Rec. 38 ft. 73 in. Dumb-bell. Pushing up one 50-lb. dumb-bell with one hand to full arm length above the shoulder: 15 times for coup; 30 times, grand coup; Rec. 94 times. Ditto with 1oo-ib. dumb-bell: 5 times, coup; 10 times, grand coup; Rec. 20 times. Ditto with two 100-lb. dumb-bells once; one in each hand, same time grand coup. To turn a wheel, coup. 102 The Book of Woodcraft Handspring. To throw a tumbler or 4-legged hand- spring, coup; to throw a clean handspring, grand coup. Back handspring. A clean back handspring, grand coup. WATER-SPORTS AND TRAVEL (For swimming, rowing, etc., see classified athletics on a previous page.) Bathing. A coup for having bathed out of doors in water of natural temperature anywhere north of N. Lat. 30, or south of S. Lat. 30, for 300 days in the year; a grand coup for 365 days. Sailing. To have sailed any two-man craft for 30 successive days, 12 hours a day at the wheel — the other man not a professional sailor — coup. Sixty days of the same in salt water, grand coup. Log-riding. Tread a sawlog 100 yards in any time, without going overboard, for coup; do. it 100 yards and back in 30 minutes, for grand coup. Canoeman. A coup is allowed to those who can paddle (single) a canoe on dead water, make their paddling coup (see p. 100), spill the canoe and get into her again, and bale her alone. A grand coup, when they make their paddling coup, spill, right, and bale the canoe alone, three times in succession, and have run a rapid that falls 6 feet in 200 yards. Canoe-camper. To have made a continuous canoe trip of 500 miles, sleeping out every night, coup; 1,000 miles of the same, grand coup. - Saddle-camper. To have made a continuous saddle trip of 500 miles, sleeping out every night, coup; 1,000 miles, grand coup. Camper. A coup, for passing 30 successive nights out of doors, never once sleeping under shingles, but in tent, Honors, Degrees, and Indian Names 103 teepee, or bivouac, every night. A grand coup, for 60 nights of the same. Lone-iramper. A coup, for traveling alone, on. foot, 100 miles, carrying one’s outfit, sleeping out every night; a grand coup, for 200 miles. Gang-itramper. A coup, for traveling 150 miles on foot with a party, carrying one’s own outfit, sleeping out every night; a grand coup, for 250 miles. Ski-man. To have traveled 6 miles in an hour, 4o miles in one day, covered 40 feet in a jump, and traveled 500 miles all told, counts a coup. To have traveled 7 miles in an hour 50 miles in one day, made a s5o-foot jump, and traveled 1,000 miles all told, counts a grand coup. Arctic Traveler. A coup, for entering the Arctic Circle by sea; a grand coup, by land. Tropic Traveler. A coup, for crossing the Equator by sea or rail; a grand coup, on foot. Motoring. To have covered 1,000 miles within 30 days, acting as your own chauffeur and mechanic, coup. To have covered 1,000 miles in 4 days, 100 miles in 2 hours, acting as your own chauffeur and mechanic, grand coup. (In both cases garage privileges allowed.) MOUNTAIN-CLIMBING (ALL AFOOT) (Not open to boys, i.e., those under 14.) By Sir Martin Conway, ex-President of the Alpine Club. The exploits in this class are repeaters. The first one to climb a standard peak gets double honors; one for climb, one for first climb. For lads (i.e., over 14 and under 18.) 104 The Book of Woodcraft COUP In Great Britain — Ben Macdhuie, Ben Nevis, Ben Lomond, Ben Cruachan, Snowdon, Scarfell. In Europe — Vesuvius, Breithorn. In North America — Mt. Washington; Electric Peak, Wyo. GRAND COUP In Europe — Mt. Blanc, Monte Viso, Etna, Monte Rosa. In North America — Pike’s Peak, Shasta, Adams. In Asia — Fujiyama; Tabor. Add to this all the honor list of next. For men (i.¢., all over 18.) COUP In Europe —Mt. Blanc, Monte Rosa, Monte Viso, Ecrins, Grand Paradis, Jungfrau, Finsteraarhorn, Wetter- horn, Bernina, Ortler, Gross Glockner, Matterhorn from Zermatt. In North America — St. Helen’s, Adams, Shasta, Hood, Rainier, Mt. Shaughnessy, Mt. Stephen, Popocatepetl; Orizaba. GRAND COUP In Europe — Meije, Aig. du Grépon, Aig. du Géant, Aig. du Dru, Matterhorn (by Italian or Stockje ridges), Dent Blanche, Mischabelhérner from Seas, Schreckhorn, Monte di Scerscen, Fiinffinger Sp., Kleine Zinne. In North America — Mt. Sir Donald, Mt. Logan, Mt. Assiniboine, Mt. Fairweather, Mt. St. Elias, Grand Teton, Mt. McKinley. Any peak in Alaska over 13,000 feet high. In South America — Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, Illimani, Aconcagua. Honors, Degrees, and Indian Names 105 In Asia — Any peak 19,000 feet high. In Africa — Any peak over 15,000 feet high. TARGET-SHOOTING (Open to men only.) Everything that can be said in favor of firearms for use in general sport applies to the rifle only (and its understudy the revolver). The scatter-gun has no official existence for us. It is ruination to the marksman’s power and should be abolished. A rifle range is a desirable adjunct to all grown-up camps. Honors awarded according to the army standards. Revolver-shot. Target 4x4 ft. Bull’s eye 8 inches (counts 4 points). Inner ring 2 feet (3 points). Outer, the rest of target (2 points). Distance, 30 yards. Ninety-six shots divided in any number up to six days, one hand, standing: 250 points count coup; 300, grand coup. Half with left hand only; half with right only: 230 points, coup; 260, grand coup. Rifleman. To be a marksman of the highest rank but one, according to militia standards, a coup; to be an expert rifleman of the highest rank, a grand coup. EYESIGHT To spot the Rabbit three times out of five at 60 yards, also to distinguish and map out correctly six Pleiades and see clearly the ‘“‘Pappoose (Alcor) on the Squaw’s (Mizar) back,” counts a coup; to spot the Rabbit three times out of five at 70 yards and seven Pleiades and the Pappoose, counts a far sight. grand coup. (Those who habitually wear glasses may use them in this test.) (See “Far-sight,” among the games.) To make a 75 score in ten tries in the game of Quick- sight, with ten counters, counts coup; a 95 score counts 106 The Book of Woodcraft a grand coup. (See ‘“Quick-sight,”’ among the games.) BIG-GAME HUNTING (By permission of the Campfire Club of America.) Inasmuch as Hunting Big Game must be recognized in our list of national outdoor sports, it should be elevated to a higher plane by the adoption of these rules, because they tend to give the utmost prominence to the many ad- mirable features of the chase, and at the same time reduce the total sum of destruction. To have gone alone into the haunts of big game, that is to say, without professional guide, and by fair hunting, unaided by traps or poison, or dogs (except where marked “d”’), have killed and saved for good purposes, in absolute accordance with the game laws, any of the following kinds of game (or others of a corresponding character), counts honors as below: Each species counts one coup; that is, one Tiger would count one coup, ten Tigers would not count any more, and when he gets his Tiger, his Moose, etc., the sportsman is supposed to stop so far as that species is concerned. The presence of a professional hunter reduces a grand coup to a coup, and if he took any part in the actual killing it does not count at all. A native gun-bearer is not nec- essarily a professional guide. COUP Black Bear (d) Water-buck Puma (d) Deer Gray Wolf (d) Moose, Wapiti, etc. Wild Boar, otherwise than Tiger (from elephant-back with spear (d) or Machan) Caribou 14-foot Crocodile or Alligator Honors, Degrees, and Indian Names 107 GRAND COUP Elephant Hippopotamus Lion Moose (by stalking) Tiger (without help of ele- Mountain Goat phants) Mountain Sheep, adult ram Jaguar Chamois Leopard Himalayan Tahr, adult male Puma Gray Wolf Rhinoceros Grizzly Bear Indian Bison Spectacled Bear African Buffalo Wild Boar, with spear, etc. Gorilla Sword fish, 15 feet long, Okapi from small boat Class II, White Honors CAMPERCRAFT AND SCOUTING Bee-line. Come to camp through strange woods from a point one mile off and return in 30 minutes, for coup; in 20 for grand coup. Match-fire. Light 15 campfires in succession with 15 matches, all in different places, all with stuff found in the woods by himself, one at least to be on a wet day, for coup; if all 15 are done on wet days, or if he does 30, of which two are on wet days, it counts grand coup. Flint and Steel Fire. To light 15 campfires in succession with wildwood tinder, one at least on a wet day, and none to take over a minute from striking the flint, to having the blazes, coup; if all 15 are done on one day, or if he does 30 fires in unbroken succession, two at least on wet days, and in no case more than half a minute from strike to blaze, grand coup. 108 The Book of Woodcraft Rubbing-stick Fire. Light a fire with a fire-drill or rub- bing-sticks, with material of one’s own gathering, counts coup; to do it in one minute counts grand coup. Water Boiling. Boil one quart of water in a 2-quart pail in 11 minutes for coup; in g minutes for grand coup. Allowed one log, one match, one axe or hatchet. The water is boiling when jumping and bubbling all over the surface. Axeman. To chop down three 6-inch trees in succession. in 60 seconds each, throwing them to drive each a given stake, coup; in 45 seconds each, grand coup. Knots. To make 30 different standard knots in a rope, for coup; 50 for grand coup. Lasso. To catch 10 horses or cattle in corral, with 10 throws of the lasso, counts coup; to catch 10 on the range in 10 throws counts a grand coup. Lasso. To catch a horse or beef by each of his four feet in four successive throws, grand coup. Lasso. To catch, throw, and “‘hog-tie” a beef or horse in 2} minutes for coup, in 13 minutes for grand coup. The record is said to be 40 seconds. Diamond Hitch. Pack a horse with not less than 100 pounds of stuff, with diamond hitch, to hold during 8 hours of travel, coup. Ten days in succession, a grand coup. Size Guessing. ‘To guess one inch, one foot, one yard, one rod, one acre, 100 yards, 200 yards, one quarter mile, one half mile, and a mile, within 20 per cent. of average error, for coup; 10 per cent. for grand coup. Height and Weight Guessing. To guess the height of 1o trees or other high things, and the weight of 10 stones or other things ranging from one ounce to 100 pounds, within ro per cent. of average error, for coup; 5 per cent. for grand coup. Gauging Farness. To measure the height of 10 trees without climbing, or 10 distances across a river, etc., with- Honors, Degrees, and Indian Names 109 out crossing, within 10 per cent. of average error, for coup; 5 per cent. for grand coup. Tools: an axe and a pocket rule only. Star Gazing. Know and name 15 star groups, for coup; know 20 star groups and tell the names and something about at least one star in each, for grand coup. Latitude. Take the latitude from the stars at night with a cart wheel, or some home-made instrument, 10 times from different points, within one degree of average error, for coup; one half degree for grand coup. Traveler. A coup for being able to take correct latitude, longitude, and local time. . Have made awillow bed, or a rush mat, or an equally good one of wild material. 6. Have made a waterproof roof of wildwood materials. 7. Have cooked 21 digestible meals with ordinary camp outfits, for at least three persons. (12 meals for L. L.) 8. Know how to make a raft. *9. Know how to choose a camp site and how to prepare for rain. *to. Know how to build a latrine (toilet). *11. Know how to dispose of the camp garbage and refuse. *12. Have slept out 100 nights (no roof but canvas); not necessarily consecutive nights. (50 for L. L.) 13. Have traveled 500 miles, all told, in canoe, on foot, or in saddle, while sleeping out. (250 for L. L.) 14. Have had charge of a camp of five or more for seven suns (one week) and kept all going in good shape. Honors, Degrees, and Indian Names 121 CAMP COOK (Chabakwed) The Degree of Camp Cook is conferred on those who take 6 of these tests: 1. Can make a good fireplace of wood, of stone, sod, or earth. *2. Light 15 fires with 15 successive matches, one on a wet day. (10 fires and 10 matches for L. L.) *3. Cook 5 batches of good bread ina Dutch oven. (3 for L. L.) 4. Cook 5 batches of good bread without any utensils but a hatchet. (3 for L. L.) *5. Cook 21 digestible meals over campfire for a party of two or more. (12 for L. L.) *6. Boil a quart of water in a 2-quart pail in 10 minutes. (15 for L. L. given 1 match, 1 log, 1 axe.) 7. Cook a meal consisting of baked bread, fried meat or fish, roast meat or boiled potatoes without any utensils or tools but a hatchet. 8. Have trained a class in cooking; showing and making them do it properly. CAMP CRAFTSMAN (Enokid) The Degree of Camp Craftsman may be conferred on those who take 15 out of these tests: 1. Have a knowledge of tanning and curing. *2. Can sole and heel a pair of boots, sewed or nailed, and generally repair boots and shoes. 3. Can dress a saddle, repair traces, stirrup leathers, etc., and know the various parts of harness. 4. Can patch a garment. 122 The Book of Woodcraft 5. Can make a lace or a button of a leather patch. 6. Make set of 6 camp chairs and a camp table. 4. Make a waterproof vessel of birch bark. 8. Repair a broken boat or canoe. g. Repair a tent cover so it will not leak. ro. Make an axe helve or a hoe handle. mz. Can repair a leaky kettle or pot. 12. Can solder a tin. 13. Make a basket of wildwood materials. *14. Make an Indian bed. *rc. Make a grass mat. 16. Can fell a 6-inch tree in 60 seconds and drive with it a given stake. 17. Cut down a 6-inch tree, and chop and split it into stove wood, using axe only. 18. Cut and flat with 2 true surfaces a railway tie 8 feet long, 9-inch face and 6 inches thick, using axe only. *19. Distinguish between rip saw, crosscut, keyhole saw, 2-handed crosscut and show how they are used. *20, Show the right and wrong way of putting nails into two boards, one of which is to be fastened across the other. 21. Make a boat or a birch canoe. 22. Build a log cabin. CAMP DOCTOR (Mashkiki) The Degree of Camp Doctor is conferred on those who take 20 out of these tests: *r. Can demonstrate the Schaefer method of resuscita- tion. 2. Carry a person down a ladder. 3. Bandage head and ankle. Honors, Degrees, and Indian Names = 123 *4. Demonstrate treatment of wound of the neck with severe arterial hemorrhage. 5. Treat mangled injury of the leg without severe hemorrhage. 6. Demonstrate treatment for rupture of varicose veins of the leg with severe hemorrhage. 7. Show treatment for bite of finger by mad dog. 8. Demonstrate rescue of person in contact with elec- tric wire. 9. Apply tourniquet to a principal artery. 10. State chief difference between carbolic poisoning and intoxication. *rtr, Pass first-aid tests of American Red Cross Society. 12. Write a statement on the care of the teeth. 13. State a principle to govern in eating, and state in the order of their importance, five rules to govern the care of his health. 14. Be able to tell the difference in effect of a cold and hot bath. *15. Describe the effect of alcohol and tobacco on the growing boy. 16. Tell how to care for the feet on a march. 17. Describe the effect of walking as an exercise. 18. Know how to treat sprains. 19. Tell how athletics may be overdone. *20. State what the chief causes of each of the following diseases are: tuberculosis, typhoid, malaria. 2t. Tell what should be done to a house which has been occupied by a person who has had a contagious disease. 22. Tell how they may codperate with the board of health in preventing disease. 23. Describe the method used in their community in disposing of garbage and the evil effect of flies. *24. Know how to treat for bad sunburn. 124 The Book of Woodcraft 25. Tell how a city should protect its foods; milk, meat, and exposed foods. 26. Tell how to plan the sanitary care of a camp. 27. State the reason why school children should under- go a medical examination. 28. Must know what wood herbs, etc., or camp staples will produce sweat, purge, vomit, or warmth; what will make a quick poultice which will check diarrhoea, etc. *29. Know poison ivy, sumac, oak, etc., and the proper treatment for cases of poisoning by these. 30. Make, use, and teach others to use, the Indian Sweat Lodge. 31. Have taught a class in first aid. (The Little Lodge can scarcely expect to take this.) CANOEMAN (Chemaunigan) The Degree of Canoeman may be conferred on those who take 15 of these tests: 1. Can tie rapidly 6 different useful knots. (4 in L. L.) 2. Splice ropes. 3. Can find, collect, prepare and use “‘wattap,”’ that is spruce roots for canoe binding, etc. 4. Can find, collect, prepare and use gum for canoe gumming. 5. Use a palm and needle. 6. Fling a rope coil. *7. Row, pole, scull, and steer a boat; also bring a canoe or boat properly alongside and make fast. 8. Can build a boat or built canoe. g. Can make a paddle and paint it Indian fashion. *1o. Repair a boat or canoe. 11. Repair a birch-bark or canvas canoe. * Honors, Degrees, and Indian Names 125 12. Must know the laws of mooring, beaching, caching, or portaging a canoe, also how to sit in it and how to change seats with another when afloat. *13. Can swim 100 yards. 14. Can swim 50 feet with boots, pants and shirt on. (For L. L. 25 feet.) 15. Have sailed any 2-man craft for 30 successive days, 12 hours a day at the wheel — the other man not a professional sailor. *16. Have paddled (single) a canoe on dead water, 1 mile in 12 min. (15 min. L. L.) 17. Have spilled the canoe and got into her again, and baled her without help. 18. Have taken canoe camper’s honor, that is made a continuous canoe or rowboat trip of at least 500 miles, sleeping out every night. (100 miles for L. L. 19. Have a knowledge of weather-wisdom and tides. 20. Can state direction by the stars and sun. 21. Can steer by compass. 22. Have taught a class to handle a canoe. FISHERMAN (Gagoiked) The Degree of Fisherman may be conferred on those who take 9 of these tests: *:, Catch and name 1o different species of fish: salmon or trout to be taken with flies; bass, pickerel, or pike to be caught with rod or reel, muskallonge to be caught by trolling. (7 for L. L.) 2. Make a bait rod of 3 joints, straight and sound, 14 oz. or less in weight, ro feet or less in length, to stand a strain of 13 Ibs. at the tip, 13 lbs. at the grip. Or else 126 The Book of Woodcraft make a jointed fly-rod 8-10 feet long, 4-8 ozs. in weight, capable of casting a fly 60 feet. 3. Name and describe 25 different species of fish found in North American waters, and give a complete list of the fishes ascertained by himself to inhabit a given body of water. (15 for L. L.) 4. Give the history of the young of any species of wild fish from the time of hatching until the adult stage is reached. 5. Make a net and catch a fish in it. © 6. Make a turtle trap and catch a turtle in it. *7, Make a 6-foot leader of clean. gut, with smooth knots to stand a strain of 5 lbs. *8. Take with the fly, unassisted, a 3-lb. trout, land- locked salmon, or bass, or a 12 lb. salmon, on a rod not more than 5 oz. in weight. g. Or else take on a rod, without assistance in hooking, playing, or landing a trout, black bass, pike (muscallonge), grayling, salmon, bluefish, weakfish, striped bass, kingfish, sheepshead, or other game fish, whose weight in pounds equals or exceeds that of the rod in ounces. 1o. Cast a fly with a rod of 5 oz. or less, not over 10 feet long, 65 feet. Or, with 4-oz. dummy frog, 5-foot rod, outdoors, overhead casting, tournament style, send it 80 feet if under 18, 110 if over. zz. Swim a hundred yards. 12. Paddle (single) a canoe 1 mile in 12 minutes. (15 for L. L.) 13. Row without help x mile in 10 minutes. (14 for L. L.) FORESTER (Mitigwakid) The Degree of Forester may be conferred on those who take 18 of these tests: Honors, Degrees, and Indian Names 127 *r. Can identify 25 kinds of trees when in leaf, or 15 kinds of deciduous (broad leaf) trees in winter, and tell some of the uses of each. (15 for L. L.) 2. Identify 12 kinds of shrubs. (8 for L. L.) 3- Collect and identify samples of 30 kinds of wood and be able to tell some of their uses and peculiar properties. (12 for L. L.) 4. Determine the height, and estimate the amount of timber, approximately, in 5 trees of different sizes. *5. Can state the laws for transplanting, grafting, spraying, and protecting trees. 6. Make a collection of 60 species of wild flowers, ferns, or grasses dried and mounted in a book and correctly named. (30 for L. L.) *7, Can recognize in the forest all important commercial trees in his neighborhood. 8. Can distinguish the lumber from each and tell for what purpose each is best suited. 9. Can tell the age of old blazes on trees which mark a boundary or trail. *to. Can recognize the difference in the forest between good and bad logging, giving reasons why one is good and another bad. 11. Can tell whether a tree is dying from injury by fire, by insects, by disease or by a combination of these causes. 12. Knows what tools to use in lumbering. *13. Knows how to fight fires in hilly or in flat country. 14. Knows the effect upon stream-flow of the destruc- tion of forests at head waters. 15. Knows what are the 4 great uses of water in streams. 16. Knows what causes the pollution of streams, and how it can best be stopped. 17. Knows how, in general, water-power is developed. 128 The Book of Woodcraft 18. Can tell, for a given piece of farm land, whether it is best suited for use as a farm or forest, and why. 1g. Can point out examples of erosion, and tell how to stop it. 20. Can estimate closely how much timber and how much cordwood is in a given acre of woods. 21. Name 6 trees that will float when green, and 6 that will not. *22. Know something of the relation of birds and quad- rupeds to forest trees. 23. Can fell a 6-inch tree in 60 seconds, driving with it a given stake. (2 min., and to fall within 2 feet of a stake, for L. L.) 24. Have made 1oo trees grow where none grew here- tofore. (25 for L. L.) 25. Have camped in the woods for 30 nights. 26. Have taught a class the rudiments in forestry. FRONTIER SCOUT (Gimab ) The Degree of Frontier Scout may be conferred on those who take 8 out of these tests: *7, Milk a cow. Interpret from any language into English. Fell a tree in a given place. Weld an iron. Temper a knife. Solder a tin. Shoot to win honors with a rifle. Tie 6 kinds of knots. Make a thread lashing. Use an axe correctly. oO OH . Oe a ance Lal Honors, Degrees, and Indian Names 129 GLEEMAN OR CAMP CONJURER (Nagamed) The Degree of Gleeman is conferred on those who take 8 of these tests: 1. Can open and lead the Council. *2, Light the Sacred Fire with rubbing-sticks. *3. Know the Peace Pipe Ceremony. 4. Know the ceremony of giving names. *s. (Can sing many songs, including the Mudji-mukasin, Omaha, Zonzimondi, Bark Canoe, alone or as a leader. 6. Can dance the Caribou dance, the Scalp dance, the Snake dance. 7. Can tell many stories. 8. And know the art of ‘making medicine,” which is the making of goodfellowship by seeking out talent, select- ing and leading it and stopping without offending those who are not helpful. 9. Know how to conduct in initiations and have the wisdom to stop them in decent season. 10. As wellas to sing the Good-night song when good- night time has come. *t1. Have camped out 30 nights. 12. Teach some one else to run the Council. 13. Teach a dance to a sufficient number to give it. * HERALD OR CRIER (Bibaged) The Degree of Herald is conferred on those who take 10 of these tests: 1. Can walk 1 mile in t1 min. (15 for L. L.) 2. “ 39 “ “ qahrs. (Not open to L. L.) 130 The Book of Woodcraft 3. Canrun 100 yds. in 13 sec. (14 for L. L.) 4. “ “ ymilein 54 min. (Not open to L. L.) 5 “ swim 100 yards. 6. Have slept out 30 nights. 7. Can send and receive a message in one of the follow- ing systems of signaling: Semaphore, Morse, or Myer, not fewer than 24 letters per minute. (12 letters for L. L.) 8. Make correct smoke signals meaning “Camp is here,” “TI am Lost,” ‘All well,” ‘All come to Council.” *9. Can talk Sign Talk, knowing at least 4oo signs. (200 for L. L.) *1o. Know the 25 signs and blazes of the Indian code. (15 for L. L.) *11. Can read and translate into his own language a page or conversation from some other language. *r2. Can conduct a Council. *73. Know the ordinary rules of courtesy, precedence, introduction, salutation, etc. 14. Know the history of the National Flag and the proper way of saluting, etc. 15. Have taught half a dozen fellows to qualify. HORSEMAN (Bebamomigod) The Degree of Horseman may be conferred on those who take 10 of these tests: 1. Show that they are at home in a saddle and can ride at a walk, trot, and gallop. *2. Know how to saddle and bridle a horse correctly. 3. Can catch 6 horses in corral or on range with 12 throws of the lasso. 4. Know how to water and feed and to what amount, and how to groom a horse properly, * Honors, Degrees, and Indian Names 131 5. Know how to harness a horse correctly in single or double harness and to drive. *6. Can pack roo lbs. of stuff with diamond hitch, to stay during 4 hours of travel or 2 miles of trotting. (2 hours or 1 mile for L. L.) 7. Have a knowledge of the power of endurance of horses at work and know the local regulations concerning driving. 8. Know the management and care of horses. *9. Can identify unsoundness and blemishes. 1o. Know the evils of bearing or check reins and of ill- fitting harness or saddlery. 11. Know two common causes of, and proper remedies for, lameness, and know to whom he should refer cases of cruelty and abuse. 12. Are able to judge as to the weight, height, and age of horses. 13. Know 3 breeds and their general characteristics. 14. Are able to treat a horse for colic. 15. Describe symptoms and give treatment for the fol- lowing: wounds, fractures and sprains, exhaustion, choking, lameness. 16. Understand horseshoeing. *17. Can clear a 4-foot hurdle and an 8-foot water jump. 18. Pick up their hat from the ground going at full gallop on a horse not less than 13 hands high. (11 hands for L. L.) HUNTER (Gaossed.) The Degree of Hunter may be conferred on those who take 14 of these tests: Y. Can walk 1 mile in rz minutes. (14 in L. L.) { « & 39 “ yo hours. (Not open to L. L. ) Ee “ run roo yards in 13 Secs. (15 in L. L.) 132 The Book of Woodcraft 4. Canrun rmilein 53 minutes. (Not open to L. L.) “ swim 100 yards. 6. “ spot the Rabbit (see Games) 3 times out of 5 at 60 yards. 7. see and map out 6 Pleiades. 8. ** see the Pappoose on the Squaw’s back (spec- tacles allowed if habitually worn.) (See p. 204.) *9. Have killed according to the Campfire Law (p. 106), any one big game animal. *1o. Have got a good photograph of a big game animal wild in its native surroundings. *11. Know and name correctly 25 native wild quad- rupeds. (15 for L. L.) z2. Know and name correctly 50 wild birds in the field and their nests. (30 for L. L.) *13. Know and clearly discriminate the tracks of 25 of our common wild quadrupeds. (15 for L. L.) 14. Can trail an animal or else iron track prints for half a mile without aid of snow. (Snow allowed in L. L.) 15. Have won honors with rifle. That is, be a marks- man according to the rules of the National Rifle Association. 16. With bow make a total score of 300 points at 60 yards, standard target (see p. 112). (25 points for L. L.) *17. Have caught alive and uninjured with his own make of trap one wild quadruped and one wild bird. *18. Know the Pole Star and 15 star groups. (ro star groups in L. L.) 19. Have taught any one of these but the first 9 to some other brave. ce MOUNTAINEER (W adjiwed) The Degree of Mountaineer may be conferred on those who take 8 of these tests: Honors, Degrees, and Indian Names 133 *r. Take two honors at least in the list of mountain- climbing (sce p. 103). (One in L. L.) 2. Havecamped outat least 30 nights in the mountains. 3. Know, name and describe the 14 great divisions of the earth’s crust (according to Geikie). (Any 8 for L. L.) Es Know and name 25 different kinds of rock. (ro in. L. L. *5. Define watershed, delta, drift, fault, glacier, terrace, stratum, dip. (Any 5 of these in L. L.) 6. Know at least 20 mammals that live in the moun- tains. (12 for L. L.) 7. “ “eo mountain birds. (25 in L. L.) 8. “ “ 95 mountain trees. (15 in L. L.) 9g. Have made a journey alone on foot through the mountains of at least 100 miles, sleeping out every night. (Companion and horse allowed in L. L.) io. Can swim too yards. PATHFINDER OR SCOUT (Mikan) The Degree of Pathfinder is conferred on those who take 12 of these tests: zt. Know every land bypath and short cut for a dis- tance of at least 2 miles in every direction around your local headquarters in the country. (1 mile in L. L.) *2, Have a general knowledge of the district within a 5-mile radius of his local headquarters, so as to be able to guide people at any time, by day or night. (2 miles for L.L.) 3. Know the general direction and population of the 5 principal neighboring towns and be able to give strangers correct directions how to reach them. (3 towns in L. L.) 4. Know the country in 2-mile radius, or in a town 134 The Book of Woodcraft must know ina }-mile radius what livery stables, garages, and blacksmiths there are. (1 mile in L. L.) 5. Know the location of the nearest meat markets, bakeries, groceries, and drug stores. *6. Know where the nearest police station, hospital, doctor, fire alarm, fire hydrant, telegraph and telephone offices, and railroad stations are. *7, Know something of the history of the place, its principal public buildings, such as town or city hall, post- office, schools, and churches. 8. As much as possibleof the aboveinformation should be entered on a large scale map. o. Fella 6-inch tree or pole in a prescribed direction so as to fall between two stakes 2 feet apart, within 60 seconds. (4 feet and 2 minutes for L. L.) 10. Tie 6 kinds of knots quickly. (4 for L. L.) 11. Lash spars properly together for scaffolding. 12. Build a modern bridge or derrick. 13. Make a camp kitchen. 14. Build a shack or cabin of one kind or another suit- able for three occupants. 1s. Walk1 milein 11 minutes. (15 for L. L.) 16. Run too yards in 13 seconds. (Not open for L. L.) 17. Run 50 yards in 7$ seconds. (Not open to L. L.) 18. Swim too yards. * SCOUT RUNNER (Kee-mo-sah'-bee) The Degree of Scout Runner is conferred on those who take 9 of these tests: * * 1. Can walk 1 mile in 11 minutes. (14 in L. L.) 2. “30 miles in 12 hours. (Not open to L. L.) Honors, Degrees, and Indian Names 135 3. Can run too yards in 13 seconds. (Not open to L.) 4. “ runs5o yards in 7¢ seconds (Not open to B. L.) *5. “ © _ mile in 54 minutes. (Not open to L. L.) *6. “ swim 100 yards. *7 “ paddle a canoe 1 mile in 12 minutes. (15 in L. L.) 8. Know the Semaphore or Wigwag or Myer code and take as well as receive a message at the rate of at least 24 letters a minute. *9. Know 200 signs of the Sign Language. (100 in L. L.) to. Know the 25 secret signs and blazes of the Indian code (15 in L. L.) *r1. Have slept out 30 nights. 12. Know and can clearly discriminate the track of 25 of our common wild quadrupeds; also trail for a mile without snow, till near enough to photograph or bag it. (Snow allowed in L. L.) 13. Must have carried a letter 3 times over a mile of enemy’s country with at least 20 hostiles out against him, of his own class. SHARPSHOOTER (Godaakwed) The Degree of Sharpshooter is conferred on those who take 7 of these tests: *1. Qualify as in “marksman” with the rifle in accord- ance with the regulations of the National Rifle Association. *. Make a bow and arrow which will shoot a distance of 100 feet with fair precision. 3. Make a regulation archery target — 4 feet across, with the g-inch centre and 4 rings, each 4% inches wide. 4. Makea total score of 350 with 60 shots of bow and arrow in one or two meets, using standard 4-foot target at 40 yards or 3-foot target at 30 yards. (300 in L. L.) 136 The Book of Woodcraft 5. Make a total score of 300 with 72 arrows, using stand- ard 4-foot target at a distance of 50 yards, or 3-foot target at 36 yards. (250 for L. L.) 6. Shoot so far and fast as to have six arrows in the air at once. (5 in L. L.) 7. See and map out 6 Pleiades. 8. See the Pappoose on the Squaw’s back in the Dipper Handle. 9. Spot the Rabbit 3 times at 60 yards. STAR WISEMAN (Gijiged) The Degree of Star Wiseman may be conferred on those who take 7 of these tests: *1. Havea general knowledge of the nature and move- ments of the stars. *2. Point out and name 1o principal constellations. (6 in L. L.) *3. Can find the North by means of other stars than the Pole Star in case of that star being obscured by clouds. 4. Can tell the hour of the night by the stars and moon. 5. Know and can name 20 of the chief stars. (15 in L. L.) 6. Know, name and can point out 3 of the planets. (x in L. L.) 7. Have a general knowledge of the positions and move- ments of the earth, sun, and moon. 8. Have a general knowedge of tides, eclipses, meteors, comets, sun-spots, and planets. *9. Take the latitude from the stars with home-made instruments, within 1 degree of error. (2 degrees in L. L.) *to. Make a sundial that works. Honors, Degrees, and Indian Names 137 SWIMMER (Shingebis) The Degree of Swimmer may be conferred on those who take 8 of these tests: *r. Can swim 100 yards. 2. Swim on the back 50 feet. (25 for L. L.) *3. Swim 50 feet with shoes and clothes on. (25 for L. L.) * 4. Demonstrate breast, crawl, and side stroke. 5. Dive properly from the surface of the water. 6. Can dive into from 7 to 10 feet of water and bring from bottom to surface a loose bag of sand weighing 5 tb. (4 to 7 feet and 3 tb. for L. L.) *7. Demonstrate on land five methods of release from a drowning person who clutches you. 8. Demonstrate in the water two methods of release. 9 Demonstrate the Schaefer method of resuscitation (prone pressure). to. Demonstrate safely crossing thin or rotten ice. 11. Have a knowledge of weather wisdom and tides. 12. Teach 3 fellows to swim. (1 for L. L.) TRAVELER (Bebamadisid) The Degree of Traveler may be conferred on those who take 11 of these tests: 1. Have walked x mile in 11 minutes. (14 in L. L.) *2, Have tramped 30 miles a day. (Not open to L. L.) 3. Have climbed 1 of the standard peaks (p. 103.) 4. Knows at least 15 star groups, including the Dipper and the Little Bear. (10 in L. L.) 138 The Book of Woodcraft *5. Have camped out in at least 10 different States or countries. . 6. Have entered the Arctic or Antarctic circles. 7. Have.crossed the Equator. 8. Can take exact latitude and longitude with instru- ments. *9. Can take latitude within 2 degrees of error, with home-made instruments. 10. Have made a compass survey of roo miles of coun- try. 11. Have traveled at least 100,000 miles by rail or steamship or other means. *12. Have traveled 500 miles on foot, by bicycle, by canoe, or in saddle, camping out. 13. Know 200 signs of the Sign Language. (100 for L. L.) 14. Can make himself comfortable in the woods with only wildwood material. 15. Can swim roo yards. 16. Have slept out 30 nights. VILLAGE SCOUT OR BIG VILLAGE SCOUT (Odena-winini) The Degree of Village Scout may be conferred on those who take 14 of these tests: *r, Know how to turn in an alarm for fire. 2. Know how to enter burning buildings. 3. Know how to prevent the spread of fire. 4. Understand the use of hose; unrolling, joining up, connecting two hydrants, use of nozzles, etc. 5. Understand the use of escapes, ladders, and chutes. 6. Know how to improvise ropes and nets. *., Know what to do in case of panic. * Honors, Degrees, and Indian Names 139 8. Understand the fireman’s lift and drag. 9g. How to work in fumes. 10, Understand the use of fire-extinguishers. 11. How to rescue animals. 12. How to save property. 13. How to organize a bucket brigade. 14. How to aid the police in keeping back crowds. 15. How to ride a wheel. *:6. Repair a puncture. 17. Walk 4 miles in one hour. 18, Know the signs: Meaning respectively: Official mark, fire-plug 8 feet out, please remove dust, add, subtract, divide, multiply, equals, parallel, plumb, circle, more than, "less than, triangle, right-angle, square, because, therefore, this direction, male, female young. WHITE MAN’S WOODCRAFT (Dibaakid) The Degree of White Woodcraftsman may be conferred on those who take g of the following tests: 1. Take, develop, and print photographs of 12 separate subjects, 3 interiors, 3 portraits, 3 landscapes, and 3 in- stantaneous “‘action photos.”’ *2. Make a recognizable photograph of any wild bird larger than a robin, while on its nest. *.. Make a recognizable photograph of a wild animal in its native haunts. 4. Make a recognizable photograph of a fish in the water. 140 The Book of Woodcraft *5. Map correctly from the country itself the main features of half a mile of road, with 440 yards each side toa scale of 2 feet to the mile, and afterward draw same map from memory. *6. Measure the height of a tree, telegraph pole, and church steeple without climbing, 7. Measure width of a river without crossing. 8. Estimate distance apart of two objects a known distance away and unapproachable, within an average of 10 per cent. of error in 1o different trials. g. Can measure a gradient. 1o. Can estimate the speed of a stream. 11. Can tell the number of gallons of water going over a fall or down a stream. 12. Can estimate the horsepower of a given fall. 13. Teach the last seven to some one else. (The Little Lodge may take three of the first six and three of the second — that is, six in all.) WISE WOODMAN (Nibwaka-winini) The Degree of Wise Woodman may be conferred on those who take 12 of these tests: *:, Have a list of 100 different kinds of birds person- ally observed on exploration in the field. (50 for L. L.) 2. Have identified beyond question, by appearance or by note, 45 different kinds of birds in one day. (25 for L. L.) 3. Have made a good clear photograph of some wild bird, the bird image to be over # inch in length on the nega- tive. (Any size image for L. L.) 4. Have secured at least two tenants in bird boxes erected by himself. (x for L. L.) Honors, Degrees, and Indian Names 141 5. Have daily notes on the nesting of a pair of wild birds from the time the first egg is laid until the young have left the nest. (Daily notes 20 to the month for L. L.) 6. Have attracted at least 3 kinds of birds, exclu- sive of the English sparrow, to a “lunch counter”’ which he has supplied. (Include English sparrow for L. L.) *7. Have a knowledge of the game laws of the state in which he lives. *8. Preserve and mount the skin of a game bird, or ani- mal, killed in season. (Preserve only for L. L.) 9. Mount for a rug the pelt of some fur animal. *ro. Know 25 different kinds of trees. (15 for L. L.) *11. Know 30 different wild flowers. (20 for L. L.) 12. Know 10 different snakes. (5 for L. L.) 13. Know ro different fungi. (5 for L. L.) 14. Know the signs of weather. 15. Make fire with the rubbing-sticks. Winning a Name Each brave aims at winning a name. These Indian names are a sort of honorable nickname given in recognition of some exploit or personal gift. Thus Deerfoot was the great runner and Hawkeye had the sharp eyes. Killdeer was famous in our deer hunt, as also was Deerslayer; Grey- wolf was the best scout; Eel-scout was the one who slipped through the enemies’ lines as often as he pleased; Little Beaver was the best worker; Chicadee was the smallest; the noisy chatterer, forever showing off without doing any work, was called Bluejay; Spycatcher was given to a warrior who captured a hostile spy by a deed of unusual daring. On rare occasions the name was an inglorious one. Thus a lazy boy was called ‘‘ Young-man-afraid-of-a-Shovel,” or “‘Shovel,”’ for short; another was “‘Scare-cat, ” because of his 142 The Book of Woodcraft timidity; one small boy whose tears were ever ready to flow was named ‘‘Rain-in-the-Face”’; a fellow without any grit was called the “Quitter,”’ and an awkward brave who upset the canoe several times was called ‘‘Tippecanoe.” But they can get rid of them as soon as they do something highly creditable. Naming the Brave. When the Council decides that a bad name or annoying nickname is to be dropped, the Chief or Medicine Man writes it on a piece of wood or bark. Then, making a speech explaining the circumstances, he burns the bark in the Council Fire, announcing that that name be forgotten. No one must mention it again under pain of punishment. Then the brave is given his new name of honor; the Chief makes a speech as before, telling of the exploit and announcing the name. It is written down in the Tally; then each Chief and Councilor comes forward, shakes hands with the brave, saying ‘‘Bo-jou, Nichy” — followed by the new name. Indian Names That Have Been Won by Scouts. As a rule, the idea — ‘‘ wonderful,” “great,” “admirable,” or ‘‘above others” — is understood, else the name would not have been given. Anoki — Actor. Bodaway — (He) makes fire. Apenimon — Trusty. Chissakid — Juggler. Apenindis — Self-reliant. Eesta-nax — Jack-rabbit. Ay-no-keetch — Hunter. Eet-su-moot-si — Brave all alone. Bebe-ji — Wild Horse. En-do-ban-uh — Scout. Bebe-mak — Dark Horse. Etut-botsots — Strong alone. Beedajim — (He) brings the news. Gash-wan — High Hop. Beejee-gash — Leaping Panther. Gibodeg — Little Breeches. Bemossed — Walker. Giganini — Man-fish. Biminak — Slick Roper. Gimab — Spy. Bisanabi — The SilentOne. Gimo-gash — Silent power. Bissanajib — Rock-splitter, or Gitch-amik — Mighty beaver. crusher, Gitchi-saka — Big Stick. Honors, Degrees, Gwaia-koose — He walks straight. Huya — Fighting Eagle. Ininaja — (He) was sent. Ishka-kid — Fire-juggler. Ishkotekay — (He) makes fire. Iss-see-kas — Top of the Mountain. Jangened — Hostile. Jibendam — Stay with it. Ka-ba-to — Runner. Ka-gi-git — Speak not. Kah-no-see-tuk — Pine Tree. Kak-i-no-sit — The tall one. Karonawa — Famous Runner. Kawin-jag — Fears not. Kee-mo Sah-bee — Trusty Scout. Kee-shee Ka-ba-too — Quick Runner. Kijika — (1) walk quickly. | Kin-a-pik — Snake. Kinji-gisiss — Shining face. Manij-wa — Scalper. Mash-kiki — Doctor. Me-et-ees — Lone tree. Mingan — Grey-wolf; “Peerless Scout.” Minikwa or Nita-anoki — Tumbler. Minobi — (I) am gay. Minoday — Well cooked. Minoway — Moving Voice Misatik — Big Stick. Mishe-gash — Mighty Jumper Mit-te-gwab — Bow. Mojag — Never Quit. Neetah Wass-wa — Good Spearman. Nibaw —I stand up. Nibenab or Nibab — Sits up all night. Nibe-jomini — Camp of Creepers. that is, and Indian Names 143 Nita-bimossed — Good Walker. Nodin — Wind. Nokidee — Soft Heart. Nokisan — Wonder Cook. Odagoma — Iron Nerve. Okemahgansis — A Little Chief. ‘(Oma-gash — Bounding Buck. On-jima — Strong Hand. Ooita-eish — Little Iron. Osh-ki-de — New Spirit within. Pajigwad — Stick to it. Pangi-Wendigo — Little Giant. Panossim — Water-dog or Sea-dog. Paw-pung-is — Jumping-jack. Pe-hask-a — Yellow Hair. Pee-mah-ta-ha-che-gay — Trailer. Mee-mah-te-gay — Swimmer. Pis-chig-ay — Spear. Sakawa — (He) makes fire. Sheboygo — Writer. Shee-mah-gan — Spear. Shingebis — Diver. Shunka-reela — Swift or Flying Fox. So-kit-tay — Strongheart. Songan — Strong. So-tee-ay-mo — Brave. Tchi-bak-we — Medicine Cook. Wabang — To-morrow. Wa-bee-no-sa — Walks all night. Wadjepi — Nimble. Wah-bit — Keen Eyes. Wah-da-ga — Swimmer. Wah-peh-soos — He jumps like a deer. Wapoos — Rabbit Wass-wa — Spearman, or Big Spearman. Wee-wees — Little Owl. English Names that Have Been Given Arrowfoot Bald Eagle. Black Hawk, Big Moose. Big Otter. Deerblinder. Deerslayer. Eagle-eye. Eel-scout. Hawk-eye. High-hop. Hoot-owl. Jack-rabbit. Jumping-jack. Krag. Leaping Panther. Little Thunder. Many-tongues. 144 The Book of Woodcraft Mustang. Spear-deep. Never-scare. Stronghow. Night-owl. Strongheart. Plenty-coups. Twinklefoot Red Arrow. White Thunderbolt. Redjacket. Wing-foot. Spy-catcher. Wolverine. Sheet-lightning. Indian Names Given in Ridicule. Ashki — Raw, fresh, new. Mewishkid — Cry-baby. Bakedon — Quitter. Nagatew — Quitter. Gitchee-mukasin — Big shoes. Onawama — Cheek Kittimi — Lazy. Swangideed — An audacious person; Kiwanis — A foolish noise. the nervy one. Mah-ka-ahuh — Plenty of whoop. Takiside — Cold feet. Mangidon — Big mouth, or All Wissa-nodin — Hot air. mouth. English Names that Have Been Given in Ridicule. Blue-jay — (Much talk; no work.) Rain-in-the-face — (His tears came Chicken-heart. easily.) Chilly-feet. Scare-cat. Funny-face. Tippecanoe — (He upset the boat.) Quitter. Names Given to Women Agokay —I stick to it O-jistoh — A Star. Anang — Star. ‘ Osawi — Yellow. Anangons — Little Star. Osawindibé — Yellow Hair. Anohom — Singer. Pagwadgi — Wild thing. Awashonks, The Woman Chief of Pingosh — Stinger. Seconsit, R. I 1671. Puppinshaas — Bird. Bimodon — A Grumbler. Satinka — Magic Dancer. Gash-kit-on — I am a Winner Uppishau — Flower. Gijig — Sky Wabigoon — White Flower. Gamowini — Sweet Singer. Wabisi — White Swan. Kis-ke-mas — Waving Grass. Wap-o — Sunbeam (happiness). Mijakwad — Skyblue. Wap-o-me-o — Happy Bird. Minoway — Magic Voice. Wetamoo, the beautiful Woman Mokatewis — Sunburnt. Sachem of the Wampanoags Namid-Anang — Star Dancer. 1662. Namid — Dancer. Winne-taska — Pleasant Laughter. Nijanang — Twin Stars. Wohsum-Naab — Shining Eyes. Niji-Namid — Star Dancer. Wohsumoe — Shining. Ogin — Rose. V. Woodland Songs, Dances, and Ceremonies THE OMAHA TRIBAL PRAYER. Harmonized by Pror. J. C. Fittmorg. Slow. Grave. Solemn. pA2P pm a a ao a A mi = _). ea} = rs — [A] = gaa —=—__ —————— ——_—_— Wa-kon-da dhe - dhu Wa-padhin a - ton-he. ee ee ee a Con Ped. \ * A a a a a a oa —— === —=—_ =z Wa-kon-da dhe-dhu Wa-pa-dhin a - ton-he. is e aa a 2 P= = = e e. i ja Vee. ee oe a t t Ped. ; P id * (By permission from Alice C. Fletcher’s “ Indian Story and Song.”’) MN) Translation: Father a needy one stands before thee; I that sing am he. 145 146 The Book of Woodcraft SITTING BULL’S WAR SONG--Indian Words (By permission from E. S. Curtis’ North American Indians, Vol. ITI, p. 149) Moderato. ~ a = wo ©. > eas -e- > ce eRRDIEE 2 === ————— q 8 __ =i . — ————— oo | Ma-ka Si-to- mi-ni....... i Chaz he - may-a....... SSS See | to- pe li hé-i-chey awaon-jel - o. A Fam >=I4N 1 @—#—# rat aes - tea === t 12 dosh i-) ee” Ma ka... Si-to.. mi ni, Ma- ka.. Si- to - mi- Dis iag ines Be-li-chey a - - wa-on ye - lo yy = [f= —» — - 2 - | - — —— —9 = ED t ft | ae BS et oF ea ES e Bél - chei.. chey.. a - po, Bél.. ch e i fanaa eal =e chey a po. Ma - ka,... Ma > SSS SS] Si to mi ni. Moderato. ~~ 2s £ « =~ > a a Fe eee ee a+ =e] $ i : — Earth wide is my fame,...... They are shouting my name;.. rn = —, a E c = + a | a a a eee | Sing hol the ea - gle soul..... Who follows Sitting Bull. The Book of Woodcraft 147 THE GHOST DANCE SONG (From Prof. Jas. Mooney’s ‘The Ghost Dance Religion,” 14th. Ann. Rep. Bur. Ethn. p. 977.) Ani’QU NE‘CHAWU'NANY’ Moderato. = oe ~~ 2 a ee ee =~4 a o. es F. (el ae i teed Ty. Ca tJ o ihe RE LE i Fi if iY =) Cm 2 as (a 2 - oo ¢ a a 3 A - ni’-qu ne’-cha - wu’ - na ni’ ® - ol'-qu ne-cba - wu! - na- ni’; 4 T T are rea ( I aa a | rs 3 5 bt ei einai. SH | =. 1 } =. i} G24 ee ey Ld ve ec le Ce @- wa'-wa bi'-qS na’- ka-ye’-na, a - wal-wa Dbi'-qi-na’ - ka - ye’-na; = = = = ~~ Pat D f-ya - hub ni! bi th’ ti, i-ya- hwh ni’. bi «> thi. tt, Ani’qu ne’chawu’nani’, Ani’qu ne’chawu nani’; Awa'wa biqina‘kaye’na, Awa'wa biqina’/kaye’na; Iyahwh ni’bithi‘ti, Tyaho’h ni'bithi'ti. Translation Father, have pity on me, Father, have pity on me; I am crying for thirst, Iam crying for thirst; All is gone—I have nothing to eat, Allis gone—I have nothing to eat. This is the most pathetic of the Ghost-dance songs. It is sung to a plaintive tune, sometimes with tears rolling down the cheeks of the dancers as the words would bring up thoughts of their present miser- able and dependent condition. It may be considered the Indian para- phrase of the Lord’s prayer. Also translated: Father have pity on me, My soul is ever hungry for thee; I am weeping, There is nothing here to satisfy me. 148 The Book of Woodcraft THE PEACE PIPE CEREMONY The Medicine Man, standing in front of the ready- laid fire, opens Council thus: ‘‘Neetah Kola nayhoon-po omnicheeyay nee-chopit — Hear me, my friends, we are about to hold a council. “Now light we the Council Fire after the manner of the Forest children, not in the way of the white man, but — even as Wakonda himself doth light his fire — by the rub- bing together of two trees in the storm-wind, so cometh forth the sacred fire from the wood of the forest.” (He uses the drill; the smoke comes, the flame bursts forth.) ‘Now know we that Wakonda, whose dwelling is above the Thunder-bird, whose messenger is the Thunder- bird, hath been pleased to smile on his children, hath sent down the sacred fire. By this we know he will be present at our Council, that his wisdom will be with us. “This is a Council of Peace, so light we first the Pipe of Peace.” (Kneeling at the fire he lights the pipe. As soon as it is going, he lifts the pipe grasped in both hands, with the stem toward the sky, saying): To Wakonda; that his wisdom be with us. Hay-oon- kee-ya. Noon-way. (All answer): Noon-way. (Amen, or this is our prayer.) To Maka Ina, Mother Earth, that she send us food, Hay- oon-kee-ya. Noon-way. (All answer): Noon-way. To Weeyo-peata, the Sunset Wind, that he come not in his strength upon us. Hay-oon-kee-oon-ee-ya-snee. Noon- way. (Then blows smoke and holds the stem to the west.) (All answer): Noon-wey. Songs, Dances, and Ceremonies 149 To Wazi-yaia, the Winter Wind, that he harm us not with his cold, Hay-oon-kee-oon-ee-ya-snee. Noon-way. (Pipe as before.) (All answer): Noon-way. To Weeyo-hinyan-pata, the Sunrise Wind, that he trouble us not with his rain. Hay-oon-kee oon-ee-ya- snee. Noon-way. (Pipe as before.) (All answer): Noon-way. To Okaga, the Hot Wind, that he strike us not with his fierce heat, Hay-oon-kee-oon-ee-ya-snee. Noon-way. (Pipe as before.) (All answer): Noon-way. Then the Medicine Man stands holding the pipe in one hand and proclaims aloud: ‘Now with the Blessing of Wakonda and respite from the Tah-tee-yay To-pa, we may deal with business of gravest import, doubting nothing, for wisdom from above is with us.” THE SCALP DANCE If the assemblage is mixed, each brave selects a squaw for this, ten to thirty couples taking part; otherwise, twenty braves can do it. They come out of the woods in proces- sion, form a circle about the fire; standing with both hands raised they look upward and sing the Omaha Tribal Prayer (see page 145). They sit in a large circle, alternately brave and squaw. Each squaw has a club by her side. Squaws begin to sing the Coona song (Cahuilla Bird Dance Song) (next page) or Omaha Love Song (p. 50, Fletcher), guided by Medicine Man and drum. 150 . The Book of Wooderaft BIRD DANCE SONG. CAHUILLA TRIBE. “Recorded by Harmonized by @HAS.F. LUMMIS. ARTHUR FARWELL. Moderately, with motion. d = 126. pe a= a = ao = = Tee ee Re Le? ee = malo na bo co li-n,” loo na loo= =a lo co lé-u, a. 4ou and tremulous, flutelike and in obvious imitation of low weird bird tones. o4 Cm “a5 “> —————_—_—_——— = SS | eg 5 OES - w we a esd Coo - na loo - o fb cot li-u wi8 dpem-a- i-qua to-qua-i- ca to co li-u —— : == — = ——S Se ——— oe the spines.) And then mS a change set in and kept a on until they turned into A ? the Lone Star State.” As we watched, the water caused the toothpicks to straighten out until they made the pattern of a star as in (79 B.”’ BIRD BOXES OR HOUSES A good line of winter work is making bird boxes to have them ready for the spring birds. Two styles of bird houses are in vogue; one a miniature house on a pole, the other is an artificial hollow limb in a tree. First — the miniature cabin or house on a pole. This is very good for martins, swallows, etc., and popular with most birds, because it is safest from cats and squirrels. But most of us consider it far from ornamental. To make one, take any wooden box about six inches square put a wooden roof on it (ain Cut), then bore a hole in the middle of one end, making it one and one half inches wide; and on the bottom nail a piece of two-inch wood with an inch auger hole in it (b). Drive in a nail for a perch below the door and all is ready for a coat of soft, olive- green paint. After this is dry, the box is finished. When you set it in place, the end of the pole is shaved to fit tight into the auger hole in the bottom, and the pole then set up, or fastened to the end of the building. In the latter case a six or eight foot pole is long enough. In some neighbor- hoods it is necessary to put tin as a cat and rat guard, on 188 The Book of Woodcraft the pole, as shown (cand d). Some elaborate these bird houses, making a half dozen compartments. When this is done the pole goes right through the lowest floor and fits into a small hole in the floor above. Tin hihe as Cat-quarcl ani BIRD BOXES These large apartment houses are very popular with the purple martin, as well as with the English sparrow if they are set up in town. Alexander Wilson tells us that the Choctaw and Chicasaw Indians used to make bird houses for the General Scouting Indoors 189 purple martins thus: ‘Cut off all the top branches from a sapling, near their cabins, leaving the prongs a foot or two in length, on each of which they hang a gourd, or calabash properly hollowed out for their con- venience.” But the wild-wood box or hollow limb is more sightly and for some birds more attractive. There are several ways of using the natural limb. One is, take a seven or eight inch stick of chestnut about twenty inches long, split four slabs off it: (O) then saw off three inches of each end of the “core” and nail the whole thing together again (P and Q), omitting the middle part of the core. Another way is to split the log in half and scoop out the interior of each half (L and M). When nailed together again it makes a commodious chamber, about five inches wide and a foot or more deep. Another plan is: Take a five-inch limb of green chest- nut, elm, or any other tough-barked tree. Cut a piece eighteen inches long, make a long bevel on one end (e). Now carefully split the bark on one side and peel it. Then saw the peeled wood into three pieces (f g h), leave out g and put the bark on again. Cut a hole in the bark on the longest side, at the place farthest from the beveled end (x in e), and your bird nest is finished. The beveled end is there to make it easily nailed up; when in place, it is as at I. The front — that is, the side where the door is — should always be the under one; and the door in each case should be near the top. But these methods presuppose a fine big stick of wood. I have more often found it convenient to work with scraps. Here is one easy way that I have long used: From a four or five inch round log saw off two sections each two inches thick, or failing a log, cut out two circles from a two-inch plank, for top and bottom parts (like f and h); 190 The Book of Woodcraft then using six or seven laths instead of bark, make a hol- low cylinder (J). Cover the hollow cylinder with a large piece of bark and cut the hole (K). Cut your entry at the top, half on each of a pair of laths. Cover the whole thing with bark nailed neatly on; or failing the bark, cover it with canvas and paint a dull green mottled with black and gray. This last has the advantage of giving most room in a small log. Of course, if one can find a hollow limb, all this work is saved. By way of variety this one can be put up hanging from a nail, for which the wire loop is made. To a great extent the size of hole regulates the kind of bird, as most birds like a tight fit. For wrens make it about one inch; for bluebirds, and tree- swallows one and one half inches; for martins two and one half inches. For latest ideas send to The Jacobs Bird House Com: pany, 404 So. Washington Street, Waynesburg, Pa. See also the “Making of a Hollow Tree,” By E. T. Seton, Country Life in America, November, 1908, and seq. “Putting up Bird Boxes,” By B. S. Bowdish (special leaflet), Audubon Society, 141 Broadway, New York. 15 cents per dozen. “Useful Birds and Their Protection,” By E. H. Forbush, Massachusetts State Board Agriculture, p. 388. HOW TO RAISE SOME MONEY A good Scout always ‘travels on his own steam.’”’?’ When you want to go camping, don’t go round begging for the cash, but earn it. And a good time to do this is in the win- ter when you are forced to stay indoors. , How? One way, much in the line of our work, is making General Scouting Indoors Ig! some bird houses. I know a number of persons who would gladly put up bird houses, if they could get them easily. See article on Bird Houses. ‘You can either sell them in a lot to a man who has al- ready a shop for garden stuff or hardware, or put them on a hand cart and sell them at much better prices yourself. It is useless to take them to a farmer, or to folks in town, but a ready sale will be found among the well-to-do in the suburbs, in a country town, or among the summer residents of the country. The simple boxes might fetch so cents each, the more elaborate $1.00 or $2.00 according to the labor they have cost you. Another way is the manufacture of Indian stuff such as furniture, birch-bark boxes, baskets, rustic seats, etc., as described elsewhere in the book. See index. VIII. General Scouting Outdoors Rubbing-Stick Fire HAVE certainly made a thousand fires with rubbing- sticks, and have made at least five hundred different experiments. So far as I can learn, my own record of thirty-one seconds from taking the sticks to having the fire ablaze is the world’s record, andI can safely promise this: That every boy who will follow the instructions I now give will certainly succeed in making his rubbing- stick fire. Take a piece of dry, sound, balsam-fir wood (or else cedar, cypress, tamarac, basswood or cottonwood, in order of choice) and make of it a drill and a block, thus: Drill. Five eighths of an inch thick, twelve to fifteen inches long; roughly rounded, sharpened at each end as in the cut (Cut 1 a). Block, or board, two inches wide, six or eight inches long, five eighths of an inch thick. In this block, near one end, cut a side notch one half an inch deep, wider on the under side; and near its end half an inch from the edge make a little hollow or pit in the top of the block, as in the illustra- tion (Cut r b). Tinder. For tinder use a wad of fine, soft, very dry, dead grass mixed with shredded cedar bark, birch bark or even cedar wood scraped into a soft mass. 192 General Scouting Outdoors 193 Bow. Make a bow of any bent stick two feet long, with a strong buckskin or belt-lacing thong on it (Cut 1 c). Socket. Finally, you need a socket. This simple little thing is made in many different ways. Sometimes I use a pine or hemlock knot with a pit one quarter inch deep, made by boring with the knife point. But it is a great help to have a good one made of a piece of smooth, hard stone or marble, set in wood; the stone or marble having in it a smooth, round pit three eighths inch wide and three eighths inch deep. The one I use most was made by the Eskimo. A view of the under side is shown in Cut 1 (fig. d). a 5 ee OTE 1. Tools for firemaking Now, we are ready to make the fire: Under the notch in the fire-block set a thin chip. Turn the leather thong of the bow once around the drill: the thong should now be quite tight. Put one point of the drill into the pit of the block, and on the upper end put the socket, which is held in the left hand, with the top of the drill in the hole of the stone (as in Cut 2). Hold the left wrist against the left shin, and the left foot on the fire-block. Now, draw the right hand back and forth steadily on level and the full length of the bow. This causes the drill to twirl in the pit. Soon it bores in, grinding out powder, 194 The Book of Woodcraft which presently begins to smoke. When there is a great volume of smoke from a growing pile of black powder, you know that you have the spark. Cautiously lift the block, leaving the smoking powder on the chip. Fan this with your hand till the live coal appears. Now, put a wad 2. Ready to make fire of the tinder gently on the spark; raise the chip to a con- venient height, and blow till it bursts into flame. N.B. (1) The notch must reach the middle of the fire-pit. (2) You must hold the drill steadily upright, and cannot do so without bracing the left wrist against the left shin, and having the block on a firm foundation. (3) You must begin lightly and slowly, pressing heavily and sawing fast after there is smoke. (4) If the fire does not come, it is because you have not followed these instructions. HIKING IN THE SNOW In the suggested programs I have given a number of outlines for one-day hikes. For those who wish to find out General Scouting Outdoors 195 what animals live near there is no time better than when the snow is on the ground. I remember a hike of the snow-track kind that afforded myself and two boy friends a number of thrills, more than twenty-five years ago. There were three of us out on a prowl through the woods, looking for game. We saw no live thing, but there had been a fall of soft snow, a few days before; tracks were abundant, and I proposed that each of us take a track and follow it through thick and thin, until he found the beast, which, if living and free, was bound to be at the other end of the line; or, until he found its den. Then, each should halloa to let the others know that his quarry was holed. Close by were the tracks of a mink and of two skunks. The ae. Bas a Loe ss swan : €, VON POED Ee Oe gE hae ake ee we & He be oe Mink track mink-track was my guide. It led southward. I followed it through swamps and brushwood, under logs, and into promising nooks. Soon I crossed the trail of the youngest boy, closely pursuing his skunk. Later, I met my friend of skunk No. 2, but our trails diverged. Now I came toa long hill down which my mink had tobogganed six or eight feet, after the manner of the otter. At last the trail came to an end in a perfect labyrinth of logs and brush. I went all around this. The snow was clear and smooth. My mink was certainly in this pile. So I let off a long halloa and got an answer from one of the boys, who left his trail and came to me within a few minutes. It happened that this one, Charlie, was carrying a bag with a ferret in it, that 196 The Book of Woodcraft we had brought in the hope that we might run to earth a rabbit; and this particular ferret was, like everything his owner had, “‘absolutely the best in Canada.” He claimed that it could kill rats, six at a time; that it could drive a fox out of its hole; that it was not afraid of a coon; while a skunk or a mink was simply beneath its notice. I now suggested that this greatest of ferrets be turned in after the mink, while we watched around the pile of logs. I never did like a ferret. He is such an imp of murder incarnate. It always gives me the creeps to see the blood- thirsty brute, like a four-legged snake, dive into some hole, Skunk track with death and slaughter as his job. I hate him; but, after all, there is something thrilling and admirable about his perfectly diabolical courage. How would one of us like to be sent alone into a dark cave, to find out and fight some unknown monster, much larger than ourselves, and able, for aught we know, to tear us into pieces in a moment! But the ferret never faltered; he dived into the log laby- rinth. It was a small ferret and a big mink; I awaited anxiously. After a long silence, we saw our four-footed partner at the farther end, unruffled, calm and sinuous. General Scouting Outdoors 197 Nothing had happened. We saw no mink, but I knew he was there. The ferretteer said, “It just proved what he had claimed — ‘a mink was beneath his ferret’s notice’!” Maybe? Now, we heard the shout of hunter No. 2. We answered. He came to us to say that, after faithfully following his skunk-trail leader for two hours, through forest, field and fen, he had lost it in a host of tracks in a ravine some half-a- mile away. So we gave our undivided attention to skunk No. 1, and in a few minutes had traced him to a hole, into which there led a multitude of trails, and from which there issued an odor whose evidence was beyond question. Again we submitted the case to our subterranean representative, and nothing loth the ferret glided down. But presently re- appeared, much as he went, undisturbed and unodorized. Again and again he was sent down, but with the same result. So at length we thrust him ignominiously into the bag. The ferret’s owner said there was no skunk; the rest of us said there was, but that the ferret was “‘scared,” “‘no good,” etc. Then, a plan suggested itself for clearing or convicting that best of all ferrets. We plugged up the skunk hole, and went back to the house. It seemed that the youngest brother of one of my companions had a tiny pet dog, a toy, the darling of his heart — just such a dog as you read about; a most miserable, pampered, cross, ill-bred, useless and snarling little beast, about the size of a large rat. Prince was his name, for Abraham, his little master, never lost an opportunity of asserting that this was the prince of all dogs, and that his price was above rubies. But Prince had made trouble for Bob more than once, and Bob was ready to sacrifice Prince on the altar of science, if need be. Indeed, Satan had entered into Bob’s heart and sketched there a plausible but wicked plan. So this boy set to work and 198 The Book of Woodcraft coaxed Prince to leave the house, and beguiled him with soft words, so that he came with us to the skunk’s den in the woods. It required but little encouragement, then, to get that aggressive little beast of a doglet to run into the hole and set about making himself disagreeable to its occu- pant. Presently, we were entertained with a succession of growlets and barklets, then a volley of howlets, followed by that awful smell — you know. Soon afterward, Prince reappeared, howling. For some minutes he did nothing but roll himself in the snow, rub his eyes and yell. So that after all, in spite of our ferret’s evidence, there was a skunk in the hole, and the ferret had really demonstrated a vast discretion; in fact, was prob- ably the discreetest ferret in Canada. We had got good proof of that skunk’s existence but we did not get him, and had to go home wondering how we should square ourselves for our sacrilege in the matter of the pet dog. It was Bob’s job to explain, and no one tried to rob him of the glory. He began by sowing a few casual remarks, such as, “Pears to me there must be a skunk under the barn.” Then, later, when Prince bounded in, “Phew! ‘pears to me that there fool purp has been after that skunk!” Poor little Prince! It made him lose his nightly couch in Abraham’s bosom and condemned him to be tubbed and scrubbed every day, and to sleep outdoors for a week. But he had his revenge on all of us; for he barked all night, and every night, under our windows. He couldn’t sleep; why should we? And we didn’t. Of course, this instance is given rather as a dreadful example of error than as a model for others. We got back from our hike that time with a lot of inter- esting wild animal experience, and yet you will note we did not see any wild animal all the time. General Scouting Outdoors 199 OLD WEATHER WISDOM When the dew is on the grass, Rain will never come to pass. When the grass is dry at night, Look for rain before the light. When grass is dry at morning light, Look for rain before the night. Three days’ rain will empty any sky. A deep, clear sky of fleckless blue Breeds storms within a day or two. When the wind is in the east, It’s good for neither man nor beast. When the wind is in the north, The old folk should not venture forth, When the wind is in the south, It blows the bait in the fishes’ mouth. When the wind is in the west, It is of all the winds the best. An opening and a shetting Is a sure sign of a wetting. (Another version) Open and shet, Sure sign of wet. (Still another) It’s lighting up to see to rain, 200 The Book of Woodcraft Evening red and morning gray Sends the traveler on his way. Evening gray and morning red Sends the traveler home to bed. Red sky at morning, the shepherd takes warning; Red sky at night is the shepherd’s delight. If the sun goes down cloudy Friday, sure of a clear Sun- day. If a rooster crows standing on a fence or high place, it will clear. If on the ground, it doesn’t count. Between eleven and two You can tell what the weather is going to do. Rain before seven, clear before eleven. Fog in the morning, bright sunny day. If it rains, and the sun is shining at the same time, the devil is whipping his wife and it will surely rain to-morrow. If it clears off during the night, it will rain shortly again. Sun drawing water, sure sign of rain. A circle round the moon means “‘storm.” As many stars as are in circle, so many days before it will rain. Sudden heat brings thunder. A storm that comes against the wind is always a thunder- storm. The oak and the ash draw lightning. Under the birch the cedar, and balsam you are safe. East wind brings rain. West wind brings clear, bright, cool weather. North wind brings cold. South wind brings heat. (On Atlantic coast.) General Scouting Outdoors 201 The rain-crow or cuckoo (both species) is supposed by all hunters to foretell rain, when its ‘““Kow, kow, kow” is long and hard. So, also, the tree-frog cries before rain. Swallows flying low is a sign of rain; high, of clearing weather. The rain follows the wind, and the heavy blast is just before the shower. OUTDOOR PROVERBS What weighs an ounce in the morning, weighs a pound at night. A pint is a pound the whole world round. Allah reckons not against a man’s allotted time the days he spends in the chase. If there’s only one, it isn’t a track, it’s an accident. Better safe than sorry. { No smoke without fire. The bluejay doesn’t scream without reason. The worm don’t see nuffin pretty ’bout de robin’s song.— (Darkey.) Ducks flying over head in the woods are generally pointed for water. _ If the turtles on a log are dry, they have been there half an hour or more, which means no one has been near to alarm them. Cobwebs across a hole mean “‘nothing inside.” Whenever you are trying to be smart, you are going wrong. Smart Aleck always comes to grief. You are safe and winning, when you are trying to be kind. 202 The Book of Woodcraft The Stars A settlement worker once said to me: “It’s all very well talking of the pleasures of nature study, but what use is it to my little Italians and Polish Jews in the slums of New York? They get no chance to see the face of nature.” “Tf they do not,” J replied, “‘it is their own fault. They watch the pavements too much for coppers; they are forever looking down. To-night you ask them to look wp. If the sky is clear, they will have a noble chance.” Yes! the stars are the principle study for outdoors at night and above all in winter time; for not only are many of the woodcraft pursuits impossible now, but the nights are long, the sky is clear, and some of the most famous star- groups are visible to us only in winter. So far as there is a central point in our heavens, that point is the Pole Star — Polaris. Around this all the stars in the sky seem to turn once ae ye, in twenty-four hours. It is . ' wey easily discovered by the help ee A of the Pointers, or Dipper, * ew we known to every country boy o * W tore in America. * “*k Most of the star-groups are CUT + known by the names of hu- man figures or animals. The modern astronomers laugh at and leave out these figures in the sky; but we shall find it a great help to memory and interest if we revive and use them; but it is well to say now that it is not because the form of the group has such resemblance, but because there is some traditional association of the two. For example: General Scouting Outdoors 203 The classical legend has it that the nymph Callisto, having violated her vow, was changed by Diana into a bear, which, after death was immortalized in the sky by Zeus. Another suggestion is that the earliest astronomers, the Chaldeans, called these stars “the shining ones,’”’ and their word happened to be very like the Greek Arktos (a bear). Another explanation (I do not know who is authority for either) is that vessels in olden days were named for animals, etc. They bore at the prow the carved effigy of their namesake, and if the “Great Bear,’’ for example, made several very happy voyages by setting out when a certain constellation was in the ascendant, that constellation might become known as the Great Bear’s Constellation. It is no doubt, because it is so conspicuous, that the Great Bear is the oldest of all the constellations, in a human historical sense. Although it has no resemblance to a Bear, the tail part has obvious resemblance to a Dipper, by which name it is known to most Americans. Therefore, because so well known, so easily pointed out, and so helpful in pointing out the other stars, this Dipper will be our starting point and shall prove our Key to the whole sky. If you do not know the Dipper, get some one who does to point it out; or look in the northern sky for the shape shown in Cut, remembering that it goes around the Pole Star every twenty-four hours, so that at different times it is seen at different places. Having found the Dipper, note carefully the two stars marked b and a; these, the outer rim of the Dipper bowl are called the Pointers, because they point to, or nearly to, the Pole Star; the latter being about three dipper rims (a d) away from the Dipper. Now, we have found the great Pole Star, which is called by Indians the “Star that never moves” and the “Home 204 The Book of Woodcraft Star.”’ Note that it is in the end of the handle of a Little Dipper, or, as it is called, the Little Bear, Ursa minor; this Bear, evidently, of an extinct race, as bears, nowa- days, are not allowed such tails. Now, let us take another view of the Dipper. Its handle is really the tail of the Great Bear, also of the extinct long- tailed race. (Cut 2.) Note that it is composed of seven stars, hence its name, ‘‘The Seven Stars.” Four of these are in the bowl and three in the handle; the handle is bent at the middle star, and this one is called Mizar. Just above Mizar is a tiny star called Alcor. Can you see Alcor? In all ages it has been considered a test of good eyesight to see this little star, even among the Indians. They call the big one the Old Squaw, and the little one the “ pappoose on her back.” Keep this in mind as a test. Can you see the pappoose? If I give you the Latin names of the stars and the scien- tific theories as to their densities and relations, you certainly will not carry much of it away. But let us see if the old animal stories of the sky are not a help. In Cut No. 2 of the Great Bear Hunt, for instance, you see the Dipper in the tail of the long-tailed Bear; and not only is this creature hunted, but in many other troubles. Thus, there is a swarm of flies buzzing about his ear, and another on his flank below b of the Dipper. These swarms are really nebule or clusters of very small stars. Close below the Bear are two Hounds of Bodtes in leash and in full pursuit of Ursa. They also have annoyances, for there is a swarm of flies at the ear of each. On Ursa’s haunch are two areas that, according to the star maps, belong to the Hounds, so we must consider them the bites the hounds are going to take out. Last, and leading, is the great hunter ‘‘Bodtes.”” If you follow the Dipper, that is, the Bear’s tail, in a curve for General Scouting Outdoors 205 the length of two tails, it will bring you to Arcturus, the wonderful star that the Bear hunter wears like a blazing jewel in his knee. Just above the head of Bodtes is another well-known con- stellation, the Northern Crown. (Corona borealis.) This very small and very beautiful star-group has been called the “Diamond Necklace in the sky.” because it looks like CUT 2. Bodétes Hunting the Great Bear a circle of jewels with one very large one in the middle of the string. The Indians call it the Camp Circle of the Gods. If you draw a line from the back rim of the Dipper through Mizar, that is, the star at the bend of the handle, and continue about the total length of the Dipper, it will touch the Crown. The step from the Crown to the Cross is natural, and is easy in the sky. If you drawa line up- * ward from the middle of the Dipper ae? bowl, straight across the sky, about three *” : total Dipper lengths, until it meets the a Milky Way, you reach the Northern ¥ Cross, which is also called Cygnus, the yorrHerNn cRoss 206 The Book of Woodcraft Swan. You note it is on the opposite side of the Pole Star from the Dipper, and about one and a half Dipper lengths from the Pole. One more easily known group is now in sight, that is, Cassiopeia in her chair. It is exactly opposite the Big Dipper on the other side of the Pole Star, and about as far from the latter as the Big Dipper is, that is, the Big Dipper and Cassiopeia balance each other; as the one goes up, the other goes down. There is yet another famous constel- . lation that every one should know; and , thatis ‘Orion, the great hunter, the Bull- casstopeia _ fighter in the sky.” During the summer, it goes on in day-time, but in winter it rises in the evening and passes over at the best of times to be seen. February is a particularly happy time for this wonder and splendor of the blue. If you draw a line from the inner rim of the Dipper, through the outer edge of the bottom, and continue it about two and a half total lengths of the Dipper, it will lead to the Star ‘‘Procyon”’ the “Little Dogstar,’” the principal light of the constellation Canis minor. Below it, that is, rising later, is Sirius the “‘Great Dogstar,” chief of the Constellation Canis major, and the most wonderful starin the sky. It is really seventy times as brilliant as the Sun, but so far away from us, that if the Sun’s distance (92,000,000 miles) be represented by one inch, the distance of Sirius would be represented by eight miles; and yet it is one of the nearest of the stars in the sky. If you see a star that seems bigger or brighter than Sirius, you may know it is not a star, but a planet, either Venus, Jupiter or Mars. Having located the Dogstar, it is easy to go farther to the southward, and recognize the Great Hunter Orion. The General Scouting Outdoors 207 three Kings on his belt are among the most striking of all the famous stars in our blue dome. And, having found them, it is easy to trace the form of the Giant by the bright stars, Betelgeuse (orange), in his right shoulder, and Bella- trix in his left, Saiph in his right knee, and Rigel in his left foot. In his left hand he shakes the lion skin to baffle the bull while his right swings the mighty club that seems al- ready to have landed on the bull’s head, for the huge crea- SEU Nath wl” - oA a 2 i Z i ate 4 - * i Pleiades Procyon «+ teHyader %, me bi reer) Belelgeuse™® Bellatrix->: A ORION ture’s face is spotted all over with star-groups called the “Hyades.” The wonderful red star, Aldebaran, is the Bull’s right eye and the Pleiades are the arrow wounds in the Bull’s shoulder. Serviss tells us that the Pleiades have a supposed connection with the Great Pyramid, because “about 2170 B. C., when the beginning of spring coincided with the culmination of the Pleiades at midnight, that wonderful group of stars was visible just at midnight, 208 The Book of Woodcraft through the mysterious southward-pointing passage of the Pyramid.” Out of Orion’s left foot runs the River Eridanus, to wander over the sky; and, crouching for protection at the right foot of the Great Hunter, is Lepus the Hare. Now, how many constellations have you learned? In the Indian Scouts you need ten. Ten sounds hard, but here you have already got seventeen, and I think will have little trouble in remembering them. And why should you do so? There are many reasons, and here is one that alone would, I think, make it worth while: An artist friend said to me once: “I am glad I learned the principal star groups when I was young. For my life has been one of wandering in far countries, yet, wherever I went, I could always look up and see something familiar and friendly, something that I knew in the dear bygone days of my boyhood’s home, and something to guide me still.” PLEIADES AS A TEST OF EYESIGHT This star group has always been considered a good test of eyesight. I once asked a group of boys in camp how many of the Pleiades they could count with the naked eye. A noisy, forward boy, who was nicknamed “Bluejay,” because he was so fond of chattering and showing off, said, ‘‘Oh, I see hundreds.” “Well, you can sit down,” I said, “for you can do nothing of the kind.” Another steadier boy said, ‘‘I believe I see six,’’ and he proved that he did see them, for he mapped them out properly on a board with six pebbles. That boy had good eyes, because poor eyes see merely a haze, but another boy present had better eyes, for he saw, General Scouting Outdoors 209 and proved that he saw, seven. This is considered first- class. The Indians as a rule see seven, because they call them the Seven Stars. But, according to Flammarion, it is possible to exceed this, for several persons have given proof that they distinguished ten Pleiades. This is almost the extreme of human eyesight. There is, however, { The Pleiades as seen with the best of naked eyes according to the same authority, a record of thirteen Pleiades having been actually seen by the unaided human eye. The telescope reveals some 2,000 in the cluster. The Indians call them the ‘Seven Dancers,” and tell a legend that seems to explain their dancing about the small- est one, as well as the origin of the constellation. Once there were seven little Indian boys, who used to take their bowl of succotash each night and eat their suppers together on a mound outside the village. Six were about the same size, one was smaller than the rest, but he had a sweet voice, and knew many songs, so after supper the others would dance around the mound to his singing, and he marked time on his drum. When the frosty days of autumn were ending, and winter 210 The Book of Woodcraft threatened to stop the nightly party, they said, ‘Let us ask our parents for some venison, so we can have a grand feast and dance for the last time on the mound.” They asked, but all were refused. Each father said, ‘When I was a little boy, I thought myself lucky to get even a pot of succotash, and never thought of asking for venison as well.” So the boys assembled at the mound. All were gloomy but the little singer, who said: “Never mind, brothers! We shall feast without venison, and we shall be merry just the same, for I shall sing you a new song that will lighten your hearts.” First, he made each of them fasten on his head a little torch of birch bark, then he sat down in the middle and thumped away at his little drum and sang: _ Ki yi yi yah Ki yi yi yah And faster Ki yi yi yah ‘Ki yi yi yah And faster still, till now they were spinning round. Then: Ki yi yi yah Ki yi yi yah Whooooocop They were fairly whirling now, and, as the singer gave this last whoop of the last dance on the mound, they and he went dancing over the treetops into the sky; light of heart and heels and head, they went, and their parents rushed out in time to see them go, but too late to stop them. And now you may see them every clear autumn night as winter draws near; you may see the little torches sparkling as they General Scouting Outdoors 211 dance, the six around the little one in the middle. Of course, you can’t hear his song, or even his drum, but you must remember he is a long way off now. There is another story of a little Indian girl called Two-Bright-Eyes. She was the only child of her parents. She wandered away one evening seeking the whippoorwill and got lost — you see, even Indians get lost sometimes. She never returned. The mourning parents never learned what became of her, but they thought they saw a new pair of twin stars rising through the trees not long after, and when their grief was so softened by time that they could sing about it, this is the song they made about their loss: THE TWIN STARS Two-Bright-Eyes went wandering out To chase the whippoorwill. Two-Bright-Eyes got lost, and left Our teepee, oh, so still! Two-Bright-Eyes.was lifted up To sparkle in the skies, And look like stars, but we know well That that’s our lost Bright-Eyes. She is looking for the camp, She would come back if she could; She is peeping thro’ the trees to find The teepee in the wood. The Planets The stars we see are suns like our Sun, giving out light to worlds that go around them as our world goes around our Sun; as these worlds do not give out light, and are a long 212 The Book of Woodcraft way off, we cannot see them. But around our own Sun are several worlds besides ours. They are very near to us, and we can see them by the reflected light of the Sun. These are called “planets” or “wanderers,” because, before their courses were under- stood, they seemed to wander about, all over the sky, unlike the fixed stars. They are so close to us that their distance and sizes are easily measured. They do not twinkle. There are eight, in all, not counting the small Planetoids; but only those as large as stars of the first magnitude concern us. They are here in order of nearness to the Sun: 1. MERCURY is always close to the Sun, so that it is usually lost in the glow of the twilight or of the vapors of the horizon, where it shows like a globule of quicksilver. It has phases and quarters like the Moon. It is so hot there “that a Mercurian would be frozen to death in Africa or Senegal” (Flammarion). 2. VENUS. The brightest of all the stars is Venus; far brighter than Sirius. It is the Morning Star, the Evening Star, the Shepherd’s Star, and yet not a star at all, but a planet. It has phases and quarters like the Moon. You can place it only with the help of an almanac. 3. THE EARTH. 4. MARS. The nearest of the other worlds to us. It is a fiery-red planet. It has phases like the Moon. 5. JUPITER, like a very large star of the first magni- tude, famous for its five moons, and really the largest of the planets. 6. SATURN, noted for its rings, also like a very large star of the first magnitude. 7. URANUS and (8) NEPTUNE, are too small for observation without a telescope. General Scouting Outdoors 213 THE MOON The Moon is one fifth the diameter of the Earth, about one fiftieth of the bulk, and is about a quarter million miles away. Its course, while very irregular, is nearly the same as the apparent course of the Sun. But ‘‘in winter the full Moon is at an altitude in the sky near the limit attained by the Sun in summer, . . . and even, at certain times, five degrees higher. It is the contrary in summer, a season when the Moon remains very low” (F.). The Moon goes around the Earth in twenty-seven and a quarter days. It loses nearly three quarters of an hour each night; that is, it rises that much later. “‘ Astronomy with an Opera Glass.” Garrett P. Serviss, D. Appleton & Co., New York City. Price, $1.50. MAKING A DAM When I was a boy we had no natural swimming pool, but there was a small stream across our farm; and I with my two friends succeeded in making a pool, partly by dam- oo eer ae Se) ee LcS Sa Sees ming up the little stream, and partly by digging out the place above the dam. The first things needed were two logs long enough to 214 The Book of Woodcraft reach from bank to bank. These we placed across with the help of the team, and fixed them firmly three feet apart. Inside of each and tight against it we drove a row of strong stakes leaving a gap or sluiceway for the water to run until the rest of the dam was finished. (PMass3 This cribbing we now filled HS 5 with clay dug out of the bed 5K stones «, of the brook above the dam. =“ sae 2 >», Hammering it down hard, and S covering the top with flat stones. Finally we closed up the sluice- way with stakes and clay like the rest of it, and in one night the swimming hole filled up. Next morning there was a little cataract over the low place I had purposely left for an overflow. The water was four feet deep and many of us there learned to swim. WHEN LOST IN THE WOODS If you should miss your way, the first thing to remember is, like the Indian, “You are not lost; it is the teepee that is lost.” It isn’t serious. It cannot be so, unless you do something foolish. The first and most natural thing to do is to get on a hill, up a tree, or other high lookout, and seek for some landmark near the camp. You may be so sure of these things: You are not nearly as far from camp as you think you are. Your friends will soon find you. You can help them best by signaling. The worst thing you can do is to get frightened. The truly dangerous enemy is not the cold or the hunger, so much as the fear. It is fear that robs the wanderer of his judgment and of his limb power; it is fear that turns the General Scouting Outdoors 215 passing experience into a final tragedy. Only keep cool arid all will be well. If there is snow on the ground, you can follow your back track. If you see no landmark, look for the smoke of the fire. Shout from time to time, and wait; for though you have been away for hours it is quite possible you are within te earshot of your friends. If you happen to have a gun, fire | it off twice in quick succession on your high lookout then wait and listen. Do this several times and wait plenty long enough, perhaps an hour. If this brings no help, send up a distress signal — that is, make two smoke fires by smothering two bright fires with green leaves and rotten wood, and keep them at least fifty feet apart, or the wind will confuse them. ‘Two shots or two smokes are usually understood to mean ‘‘I am in trouble.” Those in camp on seeing this should send up one smoke, which means “ Camp is here.” In a word, ‘‘keep cool, make yourself comfortable, leave a record of your travels, and help your friends to find you.” INDIAN TWEEZERS Oftentimes, a camper may need a pair of tweezers or forceps to pull out a thorn or catch some fine end. If he happens to be without the real thing, he can supply the place with those of Indian style— these are simply a small pair of clam-shells, with edges clean and hinge un- broken. The old-time Indians had occasionally a straggly beard. They had no razor, but they managed to do without one. Asa part of their toilet for special oc- casion they pulled out each hair by means of the clam- shell nippers. | \ 216 The Book of Woodcraft A HOME-MADE COMPASS If you happen to have a magnet, it is easy to make a compass. Rub a fine needle on the magnet; then on the side of your nose. Then lay it gently on the surface of a cup full of water. The needle will float and point north. The cup must not be of metal. AN INDIAN CLOCK, SHADOW CLOCK OR SUNDIAL To make an Indian shadow clock or sundial, prepare a smooth board about fifteen inches across, with a circle divided by twenty-four rays into equal parts. Place it on a level, solid post or stump in the open. At night set the dial so that the twelve o’clock line points ex- actly north, as deter- mined by the Pole Star and nailit down. Then, fix a stick or pointer with its upper edge on the centre and set it b exactly pointing to the Pole Star (ab); that is, SS the same angle as the ce latitude of the place, and fix it there immov- ably; it may be necessary to cut a notch (c) in the board to permit of a sight line. The hours eight at night to four next morning may as well be painted black. As a time- piece, this shadow clock will be found roughly correct. General Scouting Outdoors 217 The Indians of course used merely the shadow of a tree, or the sun streak that fell on the lodge floor through the smoke opening. LIGHTS For camp use, there is nothing better than the Stone- bridge folding lantern, with a good supply of candles. A temporary torch can readily be made of a roll of birch bark, a pine knot, or some pine-root slivers, in a split stick of green wood. HUNTER’S LAMP A fairly steady light can be made of a piece of cotton cloth or twisted rag, stuck in a clam-shell full of oil or melted grease. An improvement is easily made by putting the cotton wick through a hole in a thin, flat stone, which sets in the grease and holds the wick upright. Another improvement is made by using a tin in place of the shell. It makes a steadier lamp, as well as a much larger light. This kind of a lamp enjoys wide use and has some queer names, such as slot-lamp, grease-jet, hunter’s lamp, etc. (See Cut on next page.) WOODMAN’S LANTERN When nothing better is at hand, a woodman’s lantern can bemadeofatomatocan. Makea big hole in the bottom for the candle, and punch the sides full of small holes, prefer- ably from the inside. If you have a wire to make a hanger, well and good; if not, you can carry it by the bottom. This lets out enough light and will not go out in the wind. If you want to set it down, you must make a hole in the ground for the candle, or if on a table, set it on two blocks. (Cut on next page.) 218 The Book of Woodcraft Another style is described in a recent letter from Hamlin Garland: “Apropos of improved camp lights, I had a new one ‘sprung on me,’ this summer: A forest ranger and I were visiting a miner, about a mile from our camp. It came on dark, pitch dark, and when we started home, we could not follow the trail. Wit (LE ) n RTT Garlands forester Tomato.tm * ee Lanterns It was windy as well as dark, and matches did very little good. So back we went to the cabin. The ranger then picked up an old tomato can, punched a hole in the side, thrust a candle up through the hole, lighted it, and took the can by the disk which had been cut from the top. The whole thing was now a boxed light, shining ahead like a searchlight, and the wind did not affect it at all! I’ve been camping, as you know, for thirty years, but this little trick was new tome. Perhaps it is new to you.” H.G. Still another style, giving a better light, is made by General Scouting Outdoors 219 heating an ordinary clear glass quart bottle pretty hot in the fire, then dipping the bottom part in cold water; this causes the bottom to crack off. The candle is placed in the neck, flame inside, and the bottle neck sunk in the ground. CAMP LOOM AND GRASS MATS The chief use of the camp loom is to weave mats for the beds of grass, straw, hay, or, best of all, sedge. I have made it thus: tone * Cross-bar Ps cenit we Hl a Fixed i - Cross-bar fh Ff A 3-foot cross-bar A is fast to a small tree, and seven feet away, even stakes are driven into the ground 8 inches apart, each 3 feet out of the ground. Five stout cords are tied to each stick, and to the cross- bar, keeping them parallel. Then, between each on the cross-bar is attached another cord (four in all) the far end of which is made fast to a loose cross-bar, B. One fellow raises the loose cross-bar B, while another lays a long bundle of grass tight in the corner C. Then B is lowered to D, and another roll of grass or sedge is tucked 220 The Book of Woodcraft in on the under side of the stake cords. Thus the bundles are laid one above and one below, until the mat is of the the required length. The cords are then fastened, the cross-bars removed, and the mat, when dried, makes a fine bed. When added to the willow bed, it is pure lux- ury; but lawful, because made of wildwood material. NAVAHO LOOM A profitable amusement in camp, is weaving rugs or mats of inner bark, rags, etc., on a rough Navaho loom. The crudest kind, one which can be made in an hour is il- lustrated on next page. I have found it quite satisfactory for weaving rough mats or rugs. (A and B) are two trees or posts. (C) is the cross piece. (D) is the upper yarn- beam, wrapped its whole length with a spiral cord. (£) is the lower yarn-beam, similarly wrapped. (F F) are stout cords to carry the frame while the warp is being stretched between the yarn-beams. (GG) is a log hung on for weight. (H H) is a round stick fastened between the yarns, odds on one side, evens on the other, to hold the yarns open until the rug is all done, but about one inch when it is drawn out. Now with a needle, the yarns or strings for the warp are stretched from one yarn-beam to another, as a continuous string. The exact method is shown on a larger scale in the upper figure (JJ) The batten or spreader (J) is a piece of light wood two inches wide and one half inch thick, with square edges, but thin sharp. point, and about as long as the yarn beam. Now we are ready to begin. Run the batten between the yarns under the sticks (H H.) Then drop it to the bottom and turn it flatwise, thus spreading the yarns apart General Scouting Outdoors 221 in two rows. Lay a line of soft bark, rags, or other woof in this opening on top of the batten, making sure that it projects a couple of inches at each end. Double these long ends around the strong cords (F F) then back along themselves. Now draw out the spreading batten and press the woof down tight. Ds ae | bi F F i \ SLT TTC Tee } N — SS ~~ Run the batten through alternate threads again, but the reverse way of last, and this time it goes more slowly for the lack of a guide rod.* Lay a new line of woof as *This is done much more quickly by help of a heald-rod, that is, a horizontal stick as wide as the blanket, with every other strand of the warp loosely looped to it by a running cord near the top. When this rod is pulled forward it reverses the set of the threads and allows the batten to drop in at once. 222 The Book of Woodcraft above. When the rug is all finished except the top inch or more, draw out the rod (H H) and fill the warp to the top. Finally cut and draw out the spiral cords on each yarn-beam. This frees the rug, which is finished, excepting for trim and binding, when such are de- sired. Those who want full details of the best Navaho looms and methods will find them in Dr. Washington Matthew’s article on Navaho Weavers, 3d Annual Report, Bur. of Ethnology, 1881-2. Washington 1884. CAMP RAKE A camp rake is made of forked branches of oak, beech, hickory, or other hard wood, thus: Cut a handle an inch Cord. thick (B C) and 4 feet long, of the shape shown. Flatten it on each side of A, and make a gimlet-hole through. Now cut ten branches of the shape DE, each about 20 inches long. Flatten them at the Z end, and make a gimlet-hole through each. Fasten all together, 5 on each side of the handle, General Scouting Outdoors 223 as in F, with a long nail or strong wire through all the holes; then, with a cord, lash them together, spacing them by putting the cord between. Sharpen the points of the teeth, and your rake is ready. CAMP BROOM There are two ways of making a camp broom. First, the twig broom. This is easily made as follows: Cut a handle an inch thick, and shape it to a shoulder, as in A BC. Lash on birch or other fine twigs, one layer at a time, until sufficiently thick, as D Z. Now at F, put a final lashing of cord. This draws the broom together, and binds it firmly to the handle. Trim the ends even with the axe, and it is ready for use. The other style is the backwoods broom. This was usually made of blue-beech or hickory. A 4-foot piece of a 4-inch green trunk is best. Shavings 18 inches long are , 224 The Book of Woodcraft cut down, left attached at J, and bent back over the end until there is a bunch of them thick enough; when they are bound together with a cord and appear asin K. Now thin down the rest of the handle Z M, and the broom needs only a little drying out to be finished. BUILDING A BOAT Most camp sites are selected with a view to boating; certainly no camp is complete without it. Winter is a good time to build a boat, if you have a workshop big enough to hold it. NE TTUrS * ea o Bitcone : - The simplest kind of a craft is the best to start with. Get two boards, smooth and with as few knots as possible, 15 in. wide, and 15 ft. long; about 50 sq. ft. of tongue and groove flooring; a piece of 2 x 6 in. scantling, rs in. long; and plenty of 3-in. nails. Begin by beveling the stern post to an edge (a). Set General Scouting Outdoors 225 this on the ground and nail two of the boards to it, one on each side (b). At a point about 7 feet from the bow, put in a temporary cross piece 33 ft. long (c), which can have the ends either plumb, or spreading wider toward the top. Around this, bend the two side boards till their stern ends are but 3 ft. apart. Nail on an end piece (d e) to hold them there. Now cut a strip of 1x 2in. stuff, and nail it inside along the lower edge of the side board, so as to give a double thickness on which to nail the bottom. Turn the boat upside down and nail on the tongue and groove stuff to form the bottom. Now, turn her over, remove the shaping board, put in the necessary stern and mid seats (see dotted lines), nail on a piece of board to double the thickness where the rowlocks are needed — each about 12 inches abaft the mid seat, add rowlocks, and the carpenter work is done. Tar all the seams, caulking any that are gaping, and when the tar has set, paint her inside and out. As soon as this is dry, she is ready for the water. She may leak a little at first, but the swelling of the wood has a tendency to close the seams. This is the simplest form of boat. Great improvement can be made by making the sides deeper, and cutting the lower edge so that the bottom rises at bow and stern, also by setting the stem or bow-post at an angle, and finally by adding a keel. If you cannot get a 15-in. board, use two or more narrow ones. Their joints can be made tight by caulking. A DUGOUT CANOE Basswood, tulip wood, and white pine were the favorite woods for a dugout canoe, though no one made one when 226 The Book of Woodcraft they could get birch bark. The method of making was simple but laborious. Cut your log to the exact shape desired on the outside, then drive into it, all along the side, thin wire nails, an inch long, so that there should be one every two feet along the side, and more on the bottom. Now, hollow out the inside with adze or axe, till the nail points are reached. Sometimes longer nails were used for the bottom. The wood at bow and stern was, of course, much thicker. “CAMP HORN I wish every Camp would get a good camp horn or Michigan lumberman’s horn. It is about four feet long, has a six-inch bell-mouth, and is of brass. Its sounds are made by mouth, but a good player can give a tune as on a post horn. Its quality is wonderfully rich, mellow and far- reaching, and it can be heard for three or four miles. It is a sound to stir the echoes and fill the camp with romantic memories. SLEEP OUTDOORS As you drive through New England in the evening, summer or winter, you must notice a great many beds out of doors, on piazza or on sun-deck. Many of these are beds of persons who are suffering from lung trouble. They have found out that this is the way to cure it. Some of them are the beds of persons who fear lung trouble, and this they know is the way to evade it. Take, then, this lesson: If possible, every brave should sleep out of doors as much as possible; not on the ground, and not in the wind, but in a bed, warm, dry, and rainproof, and he will be the better for it, General Scouting Outdoors 227 THE GEE-STRING CAMP Whenever complete isolation from summer resorts or mixed company make it permissible, we have found it well to let the fellows run all day during warm weather, clad only in their shoes and their small bathing trunks, breech- clout or gee-string. This is the Gee-String or Indian Camp. Its value as a daily sun bath, a continual tonic and a mentally refreshing hark back to the primitive, cannot be overestimated. IX. Signaling and Indian Signs Sign Language O YOU know the Sign Language? ID If not, do you realize that the Sign Language is an established mode of communication in all parts of the world without regard to native speech? Do you know that it is so refined and complete that ser- mons and lectures are given in it every day, to those who cannot hear? Do you know that it is as old as the hills and is largely used in all public schools? And yet when I ask boys this question, ““Do you use the Sign Language?” they nearly always say ‘‘No.” The first question of most persons is “What is it?” It is a simple method of asking questions and giving answers, that is talking, by means of the hands. It is used by all the Plains Indians, and by thousands of white people to-day, in cities, as well as in the western country, and to an extent that surprises all when first they come to think of it. Not long ago I asked a boy whether the policemen on the crowded streets used Sign Language. He said, “No!” at least he did not know if they did. I replied: ‘‘When the officer on Fifth Avenue wishes to stop all vehicles, what does he do?” “Ae raises his hand, flat with palm forward,” was the reply. 228 Signaling and Indian Signs 220 “Yes, and when he means ‘come on,’ what does he do?” “He beckons this way.” ““And how does he say ‘go left, go right, go back, come, hurry up, you get out?’”’ Each of these signs I found was well known to the boy. The girls are equally adept and equally unconscious of it. One very shy little miss—so shy that she dared not speak — furnished a good illustration of this: “Do you use the Sign Language in your school?” I asked. She shook her head. “Do you learn any language but English?” She nodded. ‘What is the use of learning any other than English?” She raised her right shoulder in the faintest possible shrug. “Now,” was my reply, “don’t you see you have already given me three signs of the Sign Language, which you said you did not use?” After collecting popular signs for several years I found that I had about one hundred and fifty that are in estab- lished use in the schools of New York City. Here are some of the better known. Each boy will probably find that he has known and used them all his schooldays: You (pointing at the person); Me (pointing at one’s self); Yes (nod); No (head shake); Go (move hand forward, palm first); Come (draw hand toward one’s self, palm in); Hurry (same, but the hand quickly and energetically moved several times); Come for a moment (hand held out back down, fingers closed except first, which is hooked and straightened quickly several times) ; 230 The Book of Woodcraft Stop (one hand raised, flat; palm forward); Gently or Go easy (like “‘stop,”’ but hand gently waved from side to side); Good-bye (hand high, flat, palm down, fingers wagged all together) ; Up (forefinger pointed and moved upward); Down (ditto downward); Silence or hush (forefinger across lips) ; Listen (flat hand behind ear); Whisper (silently move lips, holding flat hand at one side of mouth); Friendship (hands clasped); Threatening (fist shaken at person); Warning (forefinger gently shaken at a slight angle toward person); He is cross (forefinger crossed level); Shame on you (right forefinger drawn across left toward person several times); Scorn (turning away and throwing an imaginary handful of sand toward person); Insolent defiance (thumb to nose tip, fingers fully spread); Surrender (both hands raised high and flat to show no weapons) ; Crazy (with forefinger make a little circle on forehead then point to person); Look there (pointing); Applause (silently make as though clapping hands); Victory (one hand high above head as though waving hat); Indifference (a shoulder shrug); Ignorance (a shrug and headshake combined) ; Pay (hand held out half open, forefinger and thumb r uvbed together) ; Signaling and Indian Signs 231 Poverly (both hands turned flat forward near trouser pockets) ; Bribe (hand held hollow up behind the back); Knife (first and second fingers of right hand used as to whittle first finger of left); I am thinking it over (forefinger on right brow and eyes raised); I forgot (touch forehead with all right finger tips, then draw flat hand past eyes once and shake head); I send you a kiss (kiss finger tips and move hand in graceful sweep toward person); The meal was good (pat stomach); I beg of you (flat hands tight together and upright); Upon my honor (with forefingers make a cross over heart) ; Bar up, fins, or I claim exemption (cross second finger of right hand on first finger and hold hand up); Give me (hold out open flat hand pulling it back a little to finish) ; I give you (the same, but push forward to finish); Give me my bill (same, then make motion of writing); Get up (raise flat hand sharply, palm upward); Sit down (drop flat hand sharply, palm down); Rub it out (quickly shake flat hand from side to side, palm forward); Thank you (a slight bow, smile and hand-salute, made by drawing flat hand a few inches forward and downward palm up); Do you think me simple? (forefinger laid on side of nose); Will you? or, is it so? (eyebrows raised and slight bow made); Will you come swimming? (first and second fingers raised and spread, others closed) ; Also of course, the points of the compass, and the numer- als up to twenty or thirty. 232 The Book of Woodcraft My attention was first directed to the Sign Language in 1882, when I went to live in western Manitoba. There I found it used among the Crees and Sioux, the latter especi- ally being expert sign-talkers. Later, I found it a daily necessity for travel among the natives of New Mexico and Montana. One of the best sign talkers I ever met was the Crow In- dian, White Swan, who had been one of Custer’s Scouts. He was badly wounded by the Sioux, clubbed on the head, and left for dead. He recovered and escaped; but ever after was deaf and dumb. However sign talk was familiar to all his people and he was at little disadvantage i in day- time. From him I received many lessons in Sign Language and thus in 1897 began to study it seriously. Now I wish to teach it to the Scouts. If each of them would learn to use with precision the one hundred and fifty schoolboy signs and then add twice as many more, they would become fairly good sign-talkers. These additional signs they can find in the “Dictionary of the Sign Language.”* Why should you talk the Sign Language? ‘There are many reasons: In this code you can talk to any other Scout, without a outsider knowing or understanding. It makes conversation easy in places when you must not speak aloud, as in school, during music, or by the bedside of the sick. It is a means of far-signaling much quicker than sema- phore or other spelling codes, for this gives one or more words in one sign. It will enable you to talk when there is too much noise to be heard, as across the noisy streets. *To be issued by Doubleday, Page & Co. Signaling and Indian Signs 233 It makes it possible to talk to a deaf person. It is a wonderful developer of observation. It is a simple means of talking to an Indian or a Scout of another nationality whose language you do not understand. This indeed is its great merit. It is universal. It deals not with words but with ideas that are common to all mankind. It is therefore a kind of Esperanto already established. So much for its advantages; what are its weaknesses? Let us frankly face them: It is useless in the dark; It will not serve on the telephone; It can scarcely be written; Tn its pure form it will not give new proper names. To meet the last two we have expedients, as will be seen, but the first two are insurmountable difficulties. Remember then you are to learn the Sign Language be- cause it is silent, far-reaching, and the one universal language. Since it deals fundamentally with ideas, we avoid words and letters, but for proper names it is very necessary to know the one-hand manual alphabet, For numbers we use the fingers, as probably did the ear- liest men who counted. Yes. The sign for ‘“‘yes” is so natural that one can see it instinctively made if we offer food to a hungry baby. That is simply a nod. That is if you are near, but far off, make your right hand with all fingers closed except index and thumb which are straight and touching at top, advance, bend toward the left side as though bowing, then returned and straight again. No. This also is a natural sign, we can see it if we offer bitter medicine to a baby. The sign for “No,” when near, is shake the head; but, when too far for that to be seen, hold the closed right hand in front of the body, then sweep it 234 The Book of Woodcraft Signaling and Indian Signs 246 Sep. Thirty One Hundred 236 The Book of Woodcraft outward and downward, at the same time turn the palm up as though throwing something away. Query. The sign for Question — that is, “I am asking you a question,” “I want to know ”— is much used and important. Hold up the right hand toward the person, palm forward, fingers open, slightly curved and spread. Wave the hand gently by wrist action from side to side. It is used before, and sometimes after all questions. If you are very near, merely raise the eyebrows. The following are needed in asking questions: How Many? First the Question sign, then hold the tcit hand open, curved, palm up, fingers spread, then with right digit quickly tap each finger of left in suc- cession, closing it back toward the left palm, begin- ; ‘\ ning with the little finger. ‘, * How Much? Same as * How many? \ Whai? What are you . doing? What do you . want? What is it? First give Question, then hold | right hand palm down, fin- QUERY SIGN gers slightly bent and separated, and, pointing forward, throw it about a foot from right to left several times, describing an arc upward. When? Tf seeking a definite answer as to length of time, make signs for Question, How much, and then specify time by sign for hours, days, etc. When asking in general “When” for a date, hold the left index extended and vertical, other and thumb closed, make a circle round left index tip with tip of extended right index, others and thumb closed; and on IM any & Signaling and Indian Signs 237 when the index reaches the starting point, stop it and point at tip of left index (what point of shadow?). Where? (What direction) Question, then with forefinger sweep the horizon in a succession of bounds, a slight pause at the bottom of each. Which? Question, then hold left hand in front of you with palm toward you, fingers to right and held apart; place the end of the right forefinger on that of left forefinger, and then draw it down across the other fingers. Why? Make the sign for Question, then repeat it very slowly. Who? (Question, and then describe with the right fore- finger a small circle six inches in front of the mouth. Eat. Throw the flat hand several times past the mouth in a curve. Drink. Hold the right hand as though holding a cup near the mouth and tip it up. Sleep. Lay the right cheek on the right flat hand. My, mine, yours, possession, etc. Hold out the closed fist, thumb up, and swing it down a little so thumb points forward. House. Hold the flat hands together like a roof. Finished or done. Hold out the flat left hand palm to the right, then with flat right hand chop down past the ends of the left fingers. Thus ‘Will you eat?” would be a Question, you eat, but Have you eaten would be, Question, you eat, finished. Way or road. Hold both flat hands nearly side by side, palms up, but right one nearer the breast, then alternately lift them forward and draw them back to indicate track or feet traveling. The Indian had much use for certain signs in describing the white trader. The first was: Liar, Close the right hand except the first and second 238 The Book of Woodcraft fingers; these are straight and spread; bring the knuckles of the first finger to the mouth, then pass it down forward to the left, meaning double or forked tongue. The second sign, meaning ‘‘very” or “very much,” is made by striking the right fist down past the knuckles of the left without quite touching them, the left being held still. Another useful sign is time. This is made by drawing a circle with the right forefinger on the back of the left wrist. It looks like a reference to the wrist watch, but it is certainly much older than that style of timepiece and probably refers to the shadow of a tree. Some prefer to draw the circle on the left palm as it is held up facing forward. If you wish to ask, “What time is it?” You make the signs Question, then Time. If the answer is “ Three o’clock,” you would signal: Time and hold up three fingers of the right hand. Hours are shown by laying the right forefinger as a pointer on, the flat palm of the left and carrying it once around; minutes by moving the pointer a very little to the left. If you wish to signal in answer 3:15. You give the signs for hours 3 and minutes 15. Holding all ten fingers up for ro, then those of one hand for 5. It takes a good-sized dictionary to give all the signs in use, and a dictionary you must have, if you would become an expert. I shall conclude with one pretty little Indian sign: First, SIGN FOR VERY MUCH Signaling and Indian Signs 239 give the Question sign, then make an incomplete ring of your right forefinger and thumb, raise them in a sweep until above your head, then bring the ring straight down to your heart. This is the Indian way of asking, ‘Is the sun shin- ing in your heart?” — that is, “Are you happy?” — your answer will, I hope, be made by the right hand and arm standing up straight, then bowing toward the left, followed by a sharp stroke of the right fist knuckles past those of the left fist without their touching, which means “ Yes, the sun shines in my heart heap strong.” PICTURE-WRITING The written form of Sign Language is the picture-writing also called Pictography, and Ideography, because it repre- sents ideas and not words or letters. It is widely believed that Sign Language is the oldest of all languages; that in- deed it existed among animals before man appeared on earth. It is universally accepted that the ideography is the oldest of all writing. The Chinese writing for instance is merely picture-writing done with as few lines as possible. Thus, their curious character for ‘Hearing’ was once a complete picture of a person listening behind a screen, but in time it was reduced by hasty hands to a few scratches; and “‘War,’’ now a few spider marks, was origi- nally a sketch of ‘“‘two women in one house.” To come a little nearer home, our alphabet is said to be descended from hieroglyphic ideographs. “A” or “Ah,” for example, was the sound of an ox repre- “ented first by an outline of an ox, then of the head, which in various modifications, through rapid writing, became our ‘‘A.” “QO” was a face saying “Oh,” now simplified into the round shape of the mouth. 240 The Book of Woodcraft “S” was a serpent hissing. It is but little changed to- day. We may also record our Sign Language in picture-writing, as was the custom of many Indian tribes, and we shall find it worth while for several reasons: It is the Indian special writing; it is picturesque and useful for decoration; and it can be read by any Indian no matter what language he Some Inpian Scout Pictoerarpus Y K eo é he S a ‘, WG ‘ Sunrise tne un oF day wo moon ormonlb camp speaks. Indeed, I think it probable that a pictograph inscription dug up 10,000 years from now would be read, whether our language was understood or not. When the French Government set up the Obelisk of Luxor in Paris and wished to inscribe it for all time, they made the record, not in French or Latin, but in pictographs. — , $o Oo 00 nieker-bocker | 4 days inpeace (Wew YorK) (under peace- pipe ) VA Ty Vu rk = YW mo + WE tt the tenth Sun Thondcr] at Sunset] Moot way war 6 day| suarne = We with | made to tall | %& camp- began at stuff tracks] Timber ed, ontraill + > sete -v. It is,moreover,part of my method to take the boy through the stages of our race development, just as the young bird must run for a send-off, before it flies, so pictography being its earliest form is the natural first step to writing. Signaling and Indian Signs 241 In general, picture writing aims to give on paper the idea of the Sign Language without first turning it into sounds. In the dictionary of Sign Language I give the written form after each of the signs that has a well established or pos- sible symbol. Many of these are drawn from the Indians who were among the best scouts and above all noted for their use of the picture-writing. A few of them will serve to illustrate. ' u m mt v wv! Y! vi" wu Orertl Numbers were originally fingers held up, and five was the whole hand, while ten was a double hand. We can see traces of this origin in the Roman style of numeration. A one-night camp, a more permanent camp, a village and a town are shown in legible symbols. An enemy, sometimes expressed as a “‘ snake,” recalls our own “snake in the grass.” A “friend,” was a man with a The picture on the teepee lining, to record Guy’s Exploit branch of a tree; because this was commonly used as a flag of truce and had indeed the same meaning as our olive branch. The “‘treaty”’ is easily read; it was a pair of figures like this done in Wampum that recorded Penn’s Treaty. “Good” is sometimes given as a circle full of lines all 242 there is good water. The Book of Woodcraft straight and level, and for “bad” they are crooked and con- trary. The wavy lines stood for water, so good water is clearly indicated. The three arrows added mean that at three arrow flights in that direction, that is a quarter mile, If there was but one arrow and it pointed straight down that meant “good water here,” if it pointed down and outward it meant “good water at a little distance.” If the arrow was raised to carry far, it Level v——> Direction forward Direction backward Sun or day Sunrise Sunset Noon Night Day back one, or yes- terday Day forward one, or to-morrow Moon, or month Rain Snow Year (or snow round to snow) Sh, cUiltce (CkG EE CEE EEE Snow Moon or January Hunger Moon or Febru- ary March the Wakening or Crow Moon Grass Moon or April Planting Moon or May Rose Moon or June Thunder Moon or July Red, Moon or Green Corn, August Hunting Moon, Septem- ber Leaf - Falling Moon, October Mad Moon, November Long Night Moon, De- cember. Signaling and Indian Signs 243 Man Woman R a G) Baby h Scout 0 Scouting ? Question x Yes (@] No xX Doubtful K Surrender & Prisoner i $: Enemy u ; K Friend Hick HD E EK @@ fh @D Good Bad Water Good water Good water in 3 arrow flights One-night camp More permanent camp Village Town Heap or many I have found Bear Grizzly bear Chipmunk Dead bear Treaty of peace meant good ‘water a long way off there.”’ This sign wasof the greatest value in the dry country of the southwest. Most Indian lodges were decorated with pictographs depicting in some cases the owner’s adventures, at other times his prayers for good luck or happy dreams. : The old Indian sign for peace, three angles all pointing one way that is ‘‘agreed,” contrasts naturally with the “war” or “trouble” sign, in which they are going different ways or against each other. 244. The Book of Woodcraft An animal was represented by a crude sketch in which its chief character was shown, thus chipmunk was a small animal with long tail and stripes. Bear was an outline bear, but grizzly bear, had the claws greatly exaggerated. When the animal was killed, it was represented on its back with legs up. Each chief, warrior and scout had a totem, a drawing of which stood for his name or for himself. TRS Dax oe # AUN A man’s name is expressed by his totem; thus, the above means, To-day, 20th Sun Thunder Moon. After three days “‘Deerfoot,” Chief of the Flying Eagles, comes to our Standing Rock Camp. When a man was dead officially or actually, his totem was turned bottom up. Here is a copy of the inscription found by Schoolcraft on the grave post of Wabojeeg, or White Fisher, a famous Ojibwa chief. He was of the Caribou ; clan. On the top is his clan totem re- versed, and on the bottom the White Fisher; the seven marks on the left were war parties he led. The three marks in the middle are for wounds. The moose head is to record a desperate fight he had with a bull moose, while his success in war and in peaceare also stated. This inscription could be read only by those knowing the story, and is rather as @ memory help than an exact record. Signaling and Indian Signs 245 BLAZES AND INDIAN SIGNS — BLAZES First among the trail signs that are used by Scouts, Indians, and white hunters, and most likely to be of use to the traveler, are axe blazes on tree trunks. Among these some may vary greatly with locality, but there is one that I have found everywhere in use with scarcely any variation. That is the simple white spot meaning, “Here is the trail.” The Indian in making it may nick off an infinitesimal speck of bark with his knife, the trapper with his hatchet may make it as big as a dollar, or the settler with his heavy axe may slab off half the tree-side; but the sign is the same in principle and in meaning, on trunk, log or branch from Atlantic to Pacific and from Hudson Strait to Rio Grande. “This is your trail,” it clearly says in the universal language of the woods. There are two ways of employing it: one when it appears on back and front of the trunk, so that the trail can be run both ways; the other when it appears on but one side of each tree, making a blind trail, which can be run one way only, the blind trail is often used by trappers and pros- pectors, who do not wish any one to follow their back track. But there are treeless regions where the trail must be marked; regions of sage brush and sand, regions of rock, stretches of stone, and level wastes of grass or sedge. Here other methods must be employed. A well-known Indian device, in the brush, is to break a twig and leave it hanging. (Second line.) Among stones and rocks the recognized sign is one stone set on top of another (top line) and in places where there is nothing but grass the custom is to twist a tussock into a knot (third line). These signs also are used in the whole country from Maine to California. 246 The Book of Woodcraft INDIAN SIGNS Si gos in Stones This is the Trait Turn to the Right Turn to the Left. Important Warning Signs in Twigs Bee, Ww ee he This is the Trail: Turn to the Right Turn tothe Left’ Important Warning Signs in Grass wh. why. ch addy, This is the Trail Tin to the Right Turn to the Left Important Warning, Sgt in Blazes «JS a “ . * o This istheTrail Turn tothe Right’ Turn to the Left —_ Important Warning Code for Smoke Signals ; Camp is Here’ Lam lost. Help Good News All come to Council Some Special Blazes used by Hunters & Surveyors ATrapto ATrap to Campi is to tes isto Special Adirondack ‘Seventy Right Left Right Left Special —_ Line Here Signaling and Indian Signs 247 In running a trail one naturally looks straight ahead for the next sign; if the trail turned abruptly without notice one might easily be set wrong, but custom has provided against this. The tree blaze for turn “‘to the right” is shown in Number 2, fourth row; “‘to the left” in Number 3. The greater length of the turning blaze seems to be due to a desire for emphasis as the same mark set square on, is understood to mean “Look out, there is something of special importance here.” Combined with a long side chip it means “very important; here turn aside.” This is often used to mean “camp is close by,” and a third sign that is variously combined but always with the general meaning of “warning” or ‘‘something of great importance” is a threefold blaze. (No. 4 on fourth line.) The com- bination (No. 1 on bottom row) would read “Look out now for something of great importance to the right.” This blaze I have often seen used by trappers to mark the where- abouts of their trap or cache. Surveyors often use a similar mark —— that is, three simple spots and a stripe to mean, “There is a stake close at hand,” while a similar blaze on another tree near by means that the stake is on a line between. STONE SIGNS These signs done into stone-talk would be as in the top line of the cut. These are much used in the Rockies where the trail goes over stony places or along stretches of slide-rock. GRASS AND TWIG SIGNS In grass or sedge the top of the tuft is made to show the direction to be followed; if it is a point of great importance 248 The Book of Woodcraft three tufts are tied, their tops straight if the trail goes straight on; otherwise the tops are turned in the direction toward which the course turns. The Ojibways and other woodland tribes use twigs for a great many of these signs. (See second row.) The hang- ing broken twig like the simple blaze means ‘‘This is the trail.” The twig clean broken off and laid on the ground across the line of march means, “‘Here break from your straight course and go in the line of the butt end,” and when an especial warning is meant, the butt is pointed toward the one following the trail and raised somewhat, in a forked twig. If the butt of the twig were raised and pointing to the left, it would mean “Look out, camp, or ourselves, or the enemy, or the game we have killed is out that way.” With some, the elevation of the butt is made to show the distance of the object; if low the object is near, if raised very high the object is a long way off. These are the principal signs of the trail used by Scouts, Indians, and hunters in most parts of America. ‘These are the standards — the ones sure to be seen by those who camp in the wilderness. SMOKE SIGNALS There is in addition a useful kind of sign that has been mentioned already in these papers—that is, the Smoke Signal. These were used chiefly by the Plains Indians, but the Ojibways seem to have employed them at times. A clear hot fire was made, then covered with green stuff or rotten wood so that it sent up a solid column of black smoke. By spreading and lifting a blanket over this smudge the column could be cut up into pieces long or short, and by a preconcerted code these could be made to convey tidings. Signaling and Indian Signs 249 But the simplest of all smoke codes and the one of chief use to the Western traveler is this: One steady smoke — “Here is camp.” Two steady smokes—“I am lost, come and help me.” I find two other smoke signals, namely: Three smokes in a row — “Good news.” Four smokes in a row — “Ail are summoned to council.” These latter I find not of general use, nor are they so likely to be of service as the first two given. SIGNAL BY SHOTS The old buffalo hunters had an established signal that is yet used by the mountain guides. It is as follows: Two shots in rapid succession, an interval of five seconds by the watch, then one shot; this means, “‘where are you?” The answer given at once and exactly the same means “Here I am; what do you want?” The reply to this may be one shot, which means, “All right; I only wanted to know where you were.” But if the reply repeats the first it means, ‘“‘I am in serious trouble; come as fast as you can.” SPECIAL SIGNS A sign much used among the Utes was three flocks of geese flying one way meaning, ‘‘All at Peace.” But two one way and one the other meant, “Look out! there is a war afoot.” Another Indian sign was a little heap of stones, meaning ‘“‘We camped here because one of us was sick.’ This originated in the hot stones used for making steam 250 The Book of Woodcraft in the vapor bath that is so much favored by Indian doctors. The Indians sometimes marked a spot of unusual im- portance by sinking the skull of a deer or a mountain sheep deep into a living tree, so that the horns hung out on each side. In time the wood and bark grew over the base of the horns and “medicine tree’ was created. Several of these trees have become of historic importance. A notable example of this was the big Ramtree that by common con- sent demarked the hunting grounds of the Blackfeet from those of the Nez Perces. It was held by these Indians in religious veneration until some white vandal deliberately destroyed it by way of a practical joke. It would be easy to record many other Indian signs; the sign for the ‘first crow” of spring; the sign for “buffalo in sight”; the sign for a “‘war party coming”’; the sign that a certain man ‘wants the arrows,” that another man owes him, and the sign that the owner of the teepee is ‘praying and must not be disturbed.”’ But these are things that are quickly passing away and the Indians themselves are for- getting them. Signaling and Indian Signs 251 The most important of the signs used by men of the wil- derness are herein described. They are interesting as a crude beginning of literature. The knowledge of such things appeals to most boys. ‘They find pleasure in learning this crudest of writing. Furthermore, many a one in the past has owed his life to an inkling of this woodcraft knowledge, and there is no reason to doubt that many a wilderness traveler in the future will find it of equally vital service. WEATHER SIGNALS (Adopted for general use by the United States Signal Service on and after March 1, 1887.) No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4 No. 5 White Flag Blue Flag Black Triangular White Flag White and Blue Flag Black Centre Clear or Fair Rain or Snow Temperature Cold Wave Local Rain or Snow No. 1, white flag, clear or fair weather, no rain. No. 2, blue flag, rain or snow. No. 3, black triangular flag, refers to temperature, and above Nos. 1 or 2, indicates warmer weather; below No. 1 or 2, colder weather, and when not displayed, station- ary weather. No. 4, white flag with black centre (cold wave flag), sudden fall in temperature; this signal is usually ordered at least twenty-four hours in advance of the cold wave. It is not displayed unless a temperature of forty-five degrees, or less is expected, nor is flag No. 3 ever displayed with it. No. 5, means local'rain or snow; with 3 above it means with higher temperature; with 3 below it means lower temperature. A red flag with a black centre indicates that a storm of marked violence is expected. 252 The Book of Woodcraft DISPLAY EXAMPLES = " Colder. Fair Rain or Snow. Warmer. Fair Cold Wave. Fail Weather Warmer Weather, followed by Weather Rain or Snow STORM AND HURRICANE WARNINGS > io ia a | nl .E. . E. . W. Hurri- Winds. Winds Winds. Winds. cane. Storm Warnincs.—A red flag with a black centre indicates a storm of marked violence. The pennants displayed with flags indicate direction of wind—red, easterly; white, westerly; pennant above flag indicates wind from northerly quadrants; below, from south- erly quadrants. By night a red light indicates easterly winds, white light below red, westerly winds. ‘o red flags with black centres indicate approach of tropical hurricane. No night hurricane signals are displayed. SIGNALS ON THE RAILWAY Most of us are familiar with some of the signals given by brakemen, conductors, or engineers, but not so many of us have sat right down to inspect the code, as officially fixed. A conductor on the Canadian Pacific Railway allowed me to copy it out from his “‘Trainman’s Book,” 1909, and since then I have been told that this is the code in universal use, so I give it in full. It consists of color signals, hand and lantern signals, toots, and cord-pulls. It will add a new interest to the journey, at least when you can read the ‘‘Signs of the Iron Trail,” and the “Talk of the Iron Horse.” Signaling and Indian Signs 253 THE CODE (From C. P. R. “Trainman’s Book,” 1909, No. 7563; but in general use.) Colors: Red = Stop. Green = Go ahead. Yellow = Go cautiously. Green and White = Flag station. stop at night. Blue = Workmen busy under car. Hand, Flag and Lamp Signals: Swung across track Stop. Raised and lowered vertically Go ahead. Swung at half-arms’ length, in small circle across track, train standing Back up. Swung vertically in a big circle, at arms’ length across the track, when train is running Train broken in two. Swung horizontally above head, ' when train is standing Put on air-brakes. Held at arms’ length above the head, when train is standing Release air-brakes. Other Hand Signals, modifications of the above: Hand (or hands) held out horizon- tally and waved up and down Go ahead. Hand (or hands) suddenly drawn flat and horizontal Stop. Sometimes hands raised and held palms forward All right. Arm thrust forward and swept back toward opposite shoulder, as in beckoning Come back. Signals by Engine Whistle: (o a short toot. — a long one) © = Stop; put on brakes. = = — Take off brakes; get ready to start. The Book of Woodcraft — 000 == Flagman go out to protect rear of train. == Flagman return from west or south. —— — — — = Filagman return from east or north. _-—— == (when running) Train broken in two. To be repeated till answered by the same from the trainman, i. e., No. 4 in hand, flag and lamp signals. Similarly, this is the answer to No. 4 of hand, flag and lamp signals. oo = (allright) the answer to any signal not otherwise provided for. 000 = (when the train is standing) back up; also is the reply to signals to “back up.” ocoo = Call for signals. —oo = Calls attention of other trains to signals. oo == The acknowledgment by other trains. ——oo — Approaching grade-crossings, and at whis- tle posts. — = Approaching stations. o— = (when double-heading) Air-brakes have failed on leading engine, and second engine is to take control of them. Sec- ond engine repeats same as soon as it has control. 0000000000, etc. == Cattle (or persons) on the track. Air-whistle or Cord-pull: When the train is standing: Two blasts = Start. Three Four Five ef = Back. «== Put on or take off brakes. = Call in flagman. “ce When the train is running: (All but the 2nd are answered by 2 blasts) Two blasts — Stop at once. Three “ = Stop at next station. Four “ = Reduce speed. Signaling and Indian Signs 256 Five ‘“ = Increase speed. Six “ = Increase steam-heat. Seven ‘“ = Release air-brakes, or sticking brake. The engineer responds to these with two short toots, meaning “All right,” except in the second, when the engineer answers in three short toots. X. Campercraft or The Summer Camp Camping Out it is that he gets the best chance to practise the things that are peculiar to scouting; and camping out is the only complete outdoor life. When a boy, I was of course eager for a chance to camp out, but I had a very wrong idea about it. I believed that one must undergo all sorts of hardships, in order to be really ‘doing it”; such as, sleep on the ground with one blanket, go without proper food, etc. I know some boys that were injured for life by such practices. It is well, then, to keep in mind that camping out offers a number of priceless benefits, and is also beset by one or two dangers. Let us aim to get all the good and avoid all the all. The good things are: The pure air, especially at night; the bracing and lung-healing power of the woods; the sun bath; the tonic exercise; and the nerve rest. The bad things are: The danger of rheumatism from sleeping on the ground, or in damp clothes; the exhaustion from bad nights, through insufficient bed-clothes or an uncomfortable bed; and the dangers arising from irregular meals and badly cooked food. T have seen boys go back from an ill-run camp, tired out and but little benefitted; whereas, if properly guided, every 256 itis boy looks forward to camping out. Then Campercraft or The Summer Camp 257 camp-out should mean a new spell of life — a fresh start in vigor for every one concerned. Many mothers ask with fear, ‘‘Won’t my boy catch cold, if he camps out?”’ This is the last and least of dan- gers. Almost never does one catch cold in camp. I have found it much more likely that boys suffer through irregular hours of eating and sleeping; but these are troubles that the camp discipline is designed to meet. The great evil that campers should beware of, is of course rheumatism. But none need suffer if they will take the simple precaution of changing their wet clothes when not in action, and never sleeping directly on the ground. A warm, dry place for the bed should be prepared in every tent and teepee. Asa rule, it is better to go on a trip with a definite object. If you go with a general vague determination to get healthy, you are likely to think too much about it. It is better to live correctly, and safely assume that you will be healthier for the trip. To illustrate: One of my trips was made to determine the existence of Wood Buffalo on the Great Slave River; another to prove that the Canadian Fauna reached the Lake of the Woods. Some of my friends have made trips to win the badge of expert canoe-man; others for the camper badge, and so forth, and I think it best to go a long way from home. Get as complete a change as possible. OUIFIT FOR A PARTY OF SIX (CAMPING ONE WEEK IN FIXED CAMP) 1 12-foot teepee (if for cold weather), accommodating five or six men not forgetting a storm-cap, Or, in summer, a Io x 12 wall tent. 18 x 10 awning for kitchen and dining-room, in hot or wet weather. 258 The Book of Woodcraft 5 yards mosquito-bar and some dope for stinging-insects. 3 or 4 one-gallon bags of cotton for supplies. A few medicines and pill-kit or ‘first aid,” including cold cream for sunburn. 1 strong clothes line; ball of cord; ball twine; of ball of strong linen pack-thread. Axe. A sharp hatchet. Claw-hammer. Whetstone. Small crosscut saw. Spade. File. Packing needles and sewing-kit for repairing clothes. Nails: One Ib. of 13, two lbs. of 23, two Ibs. of 33, and one lb. of 5-inch. Pocket tool outfit (A, K, and B is good) Soap. Mirror. Toilet-paper. Waterproof match-box. Book of Woodcraft A locker. Cooking outfit: Either a ready-made, self-nesting “‘Buzza- cot,” or 3 cover-kettles, 10-qt., 4-qt., and 2-qt. (riveted, not soldered). 2 frying-pans, with handles and covers. 2 big spoons. Coffee strainer. i Dutch oven. 1 wire grill. 2 bake-pans. i butcher knife, Campercraft or the Summer Camp 259 Salt and pepper casters. Tin boxes to hold stock of same. 2 folding buckets. 2 folding wash-basins. Dishpan. Tea-pot (riveted). Coffee-pot (riveted). Dishcloths and towels. Soap. Folding lantern and supply of candles. 4 flat steel rods to cook on. And for each man, plate, cup, saucer, and porringer (preferably enameled); also knife, fork, and spoon. And such other things as are dictated by previous experi- ence, or for use in the games to be played. . Besides which each member has his ordinary clothes, with a change, and toilet-bag, also: A rubber blanket. — 2 wool blankets. 1 cotton or burlap bed-tick, 23 x 64 ft. Swimming-trunks. A pair of brown sneaks. A war-sack of waterproof. Khaki suit. Fishing tackle and guns, according to choice. Pocket knife. Food to last six fellows one week: Oatmeal . . . . . . . + 6_ Ibs. Rice . . . . .. . . 2 Ibs. Crackers. . . . . . . «0 Ibs. Cocoa. se oe a es a ee 260 The Book of Woodcraft Tea % Ib. Coffee 3 Ibs. Lard . 5 lbs. Sugar. . . . 6 Ibs. Condensed milk . 12 tins Butter 7 Ibs. Eggs . 3 dozen Bacon .... . . . 5 Ibs. Preserves 5 lbs. Prunes ; 3 Ibs. Maple syrup . 3 quarts Cheese t Ib. Raisins 3 Ibs. Potatoes. . 4 bushel White beans . 3. quarts Cannedcorn. . . . . . 3° tins Flour che ates Si &. 4h... C257 Tbs. Baking-powder . tb. Concentrated soups z lpe Salt 2 Ibs. . Pepper I ounce Fresh fish and game are pleasant variations, but seem to make little difference in the grocery bill. OUTFIT FOR EACH BRAVE 1 good 5-foot lancewood bow, complete with string. 6 standard arrows, 25 in. long, 3 feathers, steel points. 1 quiver of waterproof canvas or leather. 1 arm-guard. 1 head-band. I pair moccasins or “‘sneaks.” 1 waterproof blanket. 2 Indian blankets of gray wool. Campercraft or the Summer Camp 261 TENTS There are many styles of small tents on the market; al- most any of them answer very well. For those who wish to equip themselves with the latest and best, a 10 x 12-foot wall tent of to-ounce double-filled army duck, stained or dyed yellow, brown, or dull green, is best. It will accommodate a party of five or six. For tramping trips, light tents of waterproof silk are made. One large enough for a man weighs only two or three pounds. Any of the established makers can supply what is needed if they know the size of the party and nature of the outing. TEEPEES The Indian teepee has the great advantage of ventilation and an open fire inside. It has the disadvantage of needing a lot of poles and of admitting some rain by the smoke-hole. (It is fully described on page 444.) A new style of teepee, invented by myself some years ago, has been quite successful, since it combines the advan- tage of teepee and tent and needs only four poles besides the smoke-poles. It is, however, less picturesque than the old style. This gives the great advantage of an open fire inside, and good ventilation, while it is quite rainproof. 262 The Book of Woodcraft - It can be put up with four long poles outside the can- vas, the holes crossing at the top as in the Indian teepee. Of course the point of the cover is attached before the poles are raised. It may be got from D. T. Abercrombie & Co., 311 Broad- way, New York. THE CAMP GROUND In selecting a good camp ground, the first thing is a dry, level place near good wood and good water. If you have horses or oxen, you must also have grass. Almost all Indian camps face the east, and, when ideal, have some storm-break or shelter on the west and north. Then they get the morning sun and the afternoon shade in summer, and in winter avoid the coldest winds and drifting snows, which in most of the country east of the Rockies come from the north and west. Sometimes local conditions make a different exposure desirable, but not often. For obvious reasons, it is well to be near one’s boat-landing. After pitching the tent or teepee, dig a trench around, with a drain on the low side to prevent flooding. LATRINE Each small camp or group of tents in a large camp, must have a latrine, that is a sanitary ditch or hole. For a small camp or short use, this is a narrow trench a foot wide, sur- rounded by a screen of bushes or canvas. It is made nar- row enough to straddle. Each time after use, a shovelful of dry earth is thrown in. But a large camp needs the regulation army latrine. This is a row of seats with lids over a long trench which has a layer of quicklime in the bottom. The wooden structure Campercraft,or the Summer Camp 263 is banked up so no flies can get in. The lids are down tight when the seat is notin use. A shovelful of quicklime is then thrown in after each occasion. A running trough is arranged along side so it is tributary to the main trench; this also is kept coated with quicklime. The place should be thoroughly screened, but is as well without a roof except over the seats. All camps should be left as clear of filth, scraps, papers, tins, bottles, etc., as though a human being had never been there. ARRIVING ON THE CAMP GROUND As soon as all are on the ground, with their baggage, let the Leader allot the places of each band or clan. Try to have each and every dwelling-tent about 25 feet from the next, in a place dry and easy to drain in case of rain and so placed as to have sun in the morning and shade in the after- noon. Each group is responsible for order up to the halfway line between them and the next group. Loose straw, tins, papers, bottles, glass, filth, etc., out of place are criminal disorder. Pitch at a reasonable distance from the latrine, as well as from the water supply. As much as possible, have each band or clan by itself. As soon as convenient, appoint fellows to dig and pre- pare a latrine or toilet, with screen. All will be busied settling down, so that usually there is no methodic work the first day. But the second day it should begin. CAMP OFFICERS AND GOVERNMENT After the routine of rising, bathing, breakfast, etc., there should be called at eight o’clock a High Council. That is, a 264 The Book of Woodcraft Council of all the Leaders, Old Guides or Medicine Men, and Head Chief; that is, the Chief of the whole camp, appointed for that day. He is the Chief in charge, or Head Man of the village. It is his duty to appoint all other officers for the day, and to inspect the camp. In some camps this High Council meets at night when the younger members are asleep. The other officers are: Assistant Chief in Charge, who goes about with the Chief and succeeds him next day. Keeper of the Milk and the Ice-box, when there is ice for the milk. Keeper of the Letters. We takes all letters to the post and brings back all mail. Keeper of the Canoes. No boats may be taken without his sanction, and he is responsible for the same. Keeper of the Garbage. He must gather up and destroy all garbage each day at a given hour; preferably late afternoon. Keeper of the Latrine. He must inspect hourly, and see that all keep the rules. Keeper of the Campfire. He must have the wood cut and laid for the Council-fire at night, with an extra supply for all the evening, and must keep the Council-fire bright, not big; but never dull. Also, the High Council should appoint a Tally Keeper for the whole camp; he is to serve throughout the whole period of the encampments, keeping the records for every day. Sometimes the work is divided, but one fellow can do it better, if he is willing. A band or clan prize for the whole term is always offered. The competition for this is judged by points, and for each of the above services to the camp, the band, to which the scout belongs, gets up to 25 points per day, according to his efficiency. Campercraft or the Summer Camp 265 No fellow should leave camp without permission. If he does so, he may cause his Band to lose points. THE DOG SOLDIERS In every large camp it is found well to follow the Indian custom in forming a Lodge of Dog Soldiers. These are a band of eight or ten of the strongest and sturdiest fellows. They act as police when needed, but wear no badge. They must at once run to any place where the signal (a loud bay- ing) is heard, and act promptly and vigorously. When the Chief has selected the huskies he wishes to have in the Dog Lodge, he invites all to meet secretly in some quiet teepee at night, explains the purpose and adds “TI have called on you who are here. If any do not wish to serve, now is the time to retire.” The sacred fire is lighted in the middle, all stand in a ring about it, each with his right hand on a war club above the fire, his left holding a handful of ashes. Then all repeat this vow: “As a Dog Soldier I pledge the might of my manhood to the cause of law and justice in this Camp for the term of the Camp or until released by the Chief, and if at any time I fail in my duty through fear entering into my heart, may I be dropped, scorned and forgotten like these ashes.” Then he scatters the ashes. It is customary for each Tribe to adopt further a secret sign and password, which is taught to the Dog Soldiers as a finish. INSPECTION Every day there is an inspection. It is best in the middle of the morning. The Chief and his second go from 266 The Book of Woodcraft tent to tent. Each Clan is allowed 50 points for normal, then docked 1 to 10 points for each scrap of paper, tin, or rubbish left lying about; also for each disorderly feature or neglect of the rules of common sense, decency or hygiene, on their territory; that is, up to halfway between them and the next group. They may get additional points for extra work or inventions, or unusual services for the public good; but it is always as a Clan that they receive the points, though it was the individual that worked for them. After the inspection, the Chief announces the winning Band or Clan saying: ‘‘The Horns of the High Hikers were won to-day by . . . . . Band.” And the horns are accordingly hung on their standard, pole or other place, for theday. At the end of the camp, provided ten were present for at least a fortnight, Clan or Band that won them oftenest carries them home for their own; and ever after- ward are allowed to put in one corner of their banner a small pair of black horns. The Wolf Band banner p. 77 shows that they have twice captured the horns. THE HORNS OF THE HIGH HIKERS What are they? Usually a pair of polished buffalo horns with a fringed buckskin hanger, on which is an inscription saying that they were won by .. . . . Band at such a camp. When buffalo horns cannot be got, common cow horns or even horns of wood are used. COUNCIL-FIRE CIRCLE In every large permanent camp I establish a proper Council-fire Circle or Council Camp. The uses and Campercraft or the Summer Camp 267 benefits of these will be seen more and more, as camp goes on. For the Council-fire Circle, select a sheltered, level place that admits of a perfectly level circle 4o feet across; 30 feet has. been used, but more room gives better results. On the outer rim of this, have a permanently fixed circle of very low seats; 6 inches is high enough, but they should have a back, and for this, the easiest style to make is that marked K. L. on page 457. Each Band or Clan should make its own seat, and always go there in Grand Council. On the back of the seat should be two loops of wire or string in which to put their standard. Back of the first row should be a slightly higher row. If the ground slopes up, all the better, but in any case there should be fixed seats enough for ail the camp. The place should be carefully leveled and pre- pared, and kept always in order, for it will be used several times each day, either for councils or for games, dances and performances. At one side of the ring in a conspicuous place should be the throne of the Chief (p. 457); close by this a desk and seat for the Tally Keeper and on the desk should be a lan- tern holder; in the exact middle of the ring is the Council- fire, never a bonfire. ’ TOTEM-POLE Directly opposite the Chief’s throne, on the outer edge of the camp, should be the Totem-pole. This I always set up as soon as possible in all permanent camps. Its purpose is, 1st, to typify the movement; 2nd, to display the Totems of all the Tribes, or Bands that camp here; 3rd, to serve as a place of notice. Any document posted on the Totem-pole is considered published. 268 The Book of Woodcraft Sa es% 4 } fi a Totem-pole of the Sinawa Tribe (15 feet high) 6 of Flying Eagles c and d from Niblack’s West Coast Indians. Eagles and Bears COUNCILS Three kinds of Councils are held in the Council Place: 1. The High Council of the Chiefs and the Old Guides every morning at 8 o’clock, and at other times when called. 2. The General or Common Council of all the fellows every night from seven to nineo’clock. At this we have some business (in the awarding of honors), some campfire stunts or challenges, and a little entertainment. 3. Grand Council. This is usually held once a week. Every one comes in full Scout or Indian dress. Visitors are invited. Business except when very interesting is dispensed with, and a program of sports and amusements, chiefly for the visitors, is carefully prepared. This is “‘Strangers’ Night”? and they should be entertained. not bored. Campercraft or the Summer Camp 269 BEDS Of all things, the camper’s bed is the thing most often made wrong, and most easily made right, when one knows how; and of all things comfort at night is most essential. Every dealer in camp outfits can produce an array of different camp beds, cots, and sleeping bags, that shows how important it is to be dry and warm when you sleep. The simplest plan is the oldest one — two pair of blankets and waterproof undersheet on a neatly laid bed of evergreen boughs, dry leaves, or dry grass. The ideal way of laying the boughs is shown in the figure below. When I can’t get grub of the Broadway sort, Pll fatten on camper’s fare, Pll tramp all day and at night resort To a bed boughed down with care. But there are few places now in eastern America where you are allowed to cut boughs freely. In any case you cannot take the bough bed with you when you move, and it takes too much time to make at each camp. Sleeping bags I gave up long ago. They are too difficult to air, or to adjust to different temperatures. Rubber beds are luxurious, , but heavy for a pack outfit, and Bed % in cold weather they need thick % blankets over them, otherwise they are too cool. So the one ideal bed for the : us = < ree nr SIAR 270 The Book of Woodcraft camper, light, comfortable, and of wildwood stuff, is the Indian or willow bed, described on p 471. WATER, OR THE INDIAN WELL If there is swamp or pond, but no pure water at hand, you can dig an Indian well in half an hour. This is simply a hole about 18 inches across and down about 6 inches below water-level, a few paces from the pond. Bail it out quickly; let it fill again, bail it a second time, and the third time it fills, it will be full of filtered water, clear of every- thing except matter actually dissolved. It is now well known that ordinary vegetable matter does not cause disease. All contamination is from animal refuse or excreta, therefore a well of this kind in a truly wild region is as safe as a spring. MOSQUITOES, BLACK FLIES, ETC. If you are camping in mosquito or fly season, the trip may be ruined, if you are not fully prepared. For extreme cases, use the ready-made head-nets. They are hot, but effectual. You can easily get used to the net; no man can stand the flies. In my Arctic trip of 1907, we could not have endured life without the nets. Indians and all wore them. Of the various dopes that are used, one of the simplest and best is Colonel N. Fletcher’s, given in Kephart’s ‘‘ Book of Camping and Woodcraft”’: “Pure pinetar . . . . I Oz. Oilpennyroyal . . . . . . tr oz. Waselme . 4 2 « 4 © » a Ree Mix cold in a mortar. If you wish, you can add 3 per cent. carbolic acid to above. Some make it 13 ozs. tar.” Campercraft or the Summer Camp 271 Most drug shops keep ready-made dopes under such names as Citronella, Repellene, Lollakapop, etc. LICE AND VERMIN In certain crowded camps there is danger of head lice and body vermin. I have heard washing in potato water recommended as a sure cure. Potato water is the water potatoes have been boiled in. Most drug shops have tobacco ointment and blue ointment; a very little of these applied to the body where there is hair is a sure cure. SUGGESTED CAMP ROUTINE 6:30 A.M. Turn out, bathe, etc. 7:00 Breakfast. 8:00 Air bedding in sun, if possible 8:15 High Council of Leaders. 9:00 Scouting games and practice. II:00 Swimming. 12:00 M. Dinner. too P.M. Talk by leader. 2:00 Games, etc. 6:00 Supper. 7:00 Evening Council. 10:00 Lights out: Sometimes High Council for a few minutes instead of in the morning. CAMPFIRES The day Columbus landed (probably) the natives re- marked; ‘‘White man fool, make big fire, can’t go near; Indian make little fire and sit happy.” 272 The Book of Woodcraft We all know that a camp without a campfire would be no camp at all; its chiefest charm would be absent. Your first care, then, is to provide for a small fire and pre- vent its spreading. In the autumn this may mean very elaborate clearing, or burning, or wetting of a space around the fire. In the winter it means nothing. Cracked Jimmy, in “Two Little Savages,” gives very practical directions for lighting a fire anywhere in the timbered northern part of America, thus: “First a curl of burch bark as dry as it can be, Then some twigs of soft wood, dead, but on the tree, Last of all some pine-knots to make the kitile foam, And there’s a fire to make you think you're settin’ right at home.” If you have no birch bark, it is a good plan to shave a dry soft-wood stick, leaving all the shavings sticking on the end in a fuzz, like a Hopi prayer stick. Several of these make a sure fire kindler. Fine splinters may be made quickly by hammering a small stick with the back of the axe. In the case of a small party and hasty camp, you need nothing but a pot hanger of green wood for a complete kitchen, and many hundreds of times, on prairie and in forest, I found this sufficient. Campercraft or the Summer Camp B74 A more complete camp grate is made of four green logs (aspen preferred), placed as in the illustration. Set the top logs 3 inches apart at one end, ro inches at the other. The top logs should be flattened in the middle of their top sides — to hold the pot which sits on the open- ing between the top logs. The fire of course is built on the ground, under the logs. Sometimes stones of right size and shape are used instead of the logs, but the stones do not contribute anything to the heat and are less manageable. TI il Sree ss ut Green log grate Camp kitchen In addition to this log grate, more elaborate camps have a kitchen equipped with a hanger as below, on which are pot hooks of green wood. In wet weather, an axeman can always get dry wood by 274 The Book of Woodcraft cutting into a standing dead tree, or on the under side of down timber that is not entirely on the ground. On the prairies and plains, since buffalo chips are no more, we use horse and cow | chips, kindled with dry grass and roots of sage-brush, etc. To keep a fire alive all night, bank the Y coals: i. e., bury them in ashes. Always put out the fire on leaving camp. It is @ crime to leave a burning fire. Use buckets of water if need be. COUNCIL-FIRE The Council-fire is a very different thing from the cooking fire or the so-called bonfire. And there are just as many ways of making it wrong. These are the essentials: It must be easily started. It must give a steady, bright light. It must have as little heat as possible, for it is mostly used in the summer. Therefore, it must be small. It is best built as in (c), about two and one half feet high; the bottom stick about three feet long; the rest shorter and smaller. The small wood and chips to light it can be put either under or on top of the second layer. It should be drawn in toward the top, so as to burn with- out falling apart. : It must contain a large proportion of dry, winter-seasoned wood, if it is to blaze brightly. The readiest seasoned wood jis usually old lumber. Campercraft or the Summer Camp a For an all-evening Council-fire, at least three times as much should be in stock as on the fire when started. Here are some wrong methods. The high pyramid or bonfire, (a) goes off like a flash, roasts every one, then goes dead. The shapeless pile (b), is hard to light and never bright. 0 The bonfire is always bad. It wastes good wood; is dangerous to the forest and the camp; is absolutely un- sociable. A bonfire will spoil the best camp-circle ever got together. It should be forbidden everywhere. FIREARMS Experience shows that it is unwise to have firearms in camp. And no one under fourteen years of age should be allowed the use of a gun or pistol under any circumstances. ‘The didn’t-know-it-was-loaded fool is the cause of more sorrow than the deliberate murderer. For any one to point a firearm at another is a crime. If he didn’t know it was loaded, he should be still more severely punished. Never let the muzzle of the gun sweep the horizon. Never carry a gun full-cock or hammer down. The half- cock is made for safety. Use it. Never pull a gun by the muzzle. Never shoot at anything about which you are in doubt. 276 The Book of Woodcraft CAMP COOKERY (See Horace Kephart’s ‘‘Book of Camping and Wood- craft.’’) In most camps the staples are: Coffee (or tea), bacon, game, fish and hardtack, bannocks or biscuit, usually and most appropriately called ‘“‘sinkers” and “damper.” To make these necessary evils, take 1 pint flour. 1 teaspoonful of baking-powder, Half as much salt, Twice as much grease or lard, With water enough to make into paste, say one half a pint. When worked into smooth dough, shape it into wafers, half an inch thick, and three inches across. Set in a greased tin, which is tilted up near a steady fire. Watch and turn the tin till all are browned evenly. For other and better but more elaborate methods of making bread, see Kephart’s book as above. For cooking fish and game the old, simple standbys are the frying-pan and the stew-pan. As a general rule, mix all batters, mush, etc., with cold water, and always cook with a slow fire. There is an old adage: Hasty cooking is tasty cooking. Fried meat is dried meat. Boiled meat is spoiled meat. Roast meat is best meat. This reflects perhaps the castle kitchen rather than the camp, but it has its measure of truth, and the reason why Campercraft or the Summer Camp 277 roast meat is not more popular is because it takes so much time and trouble to make it a success. During my Barren Ground trip I hit on a remarkably successful roaster that, so far as I know, was never tried before. The usual pot-stick is set in the ground (if no tree be near), and the roast hung by a wire and a cord; where they Camp-roaster meet is a straight or flat piece of wood, or bark, set in a loop of the wire. The wind strikes on this, causing the roast to turn; it goes till the cord is wound up then unwinds itself and goes on unceasingly. We used it every day. It was positively uncanny to see the way in which this thing kept on winding and unwinding itself, all day long, if need be. 278 The Book of Woodcraft WAR-SACK Every brave in camp should have a war-sack. This is a sack of waterproofed canvas to hold clothing and anything that is unbreakable. It has several advantages over a trunk. It is cheap ($1.50), waterproof, light, a comfortable pack to carry or to stow in a canoe, collapsible when empty, safe to float in an upset, and at night it serves as a pillow. Its disadvantages are that it will not protect breakables, and you have to take out most of the things to find an article not on the top. Nevertheless, all old campers use the war- sack. They can be had of any camp outfitter. SCOUT BUTTONS On the Plains, when a button is lost or needed, it is easy to make one of leather. Usually a piece of an old strap is isused. Cut it the right size, make two holes in it, and sew it on as an ordinary button. This never breaks or fails. As the old plainsman who first showed me, said, ‘‘ There’s a button that’ll be right there when the coat’s all wore away from behind it.” Showing how a lace may be cut from a small piece ee, ge Ml] l \ Bultons made of } thick leather ff J f ——as Campercraft or the Summer Camp 279 LACE OR THONG If you need a lace or thong and have no leather long enough, take a square piece, round the corners, then cut it round and round, till it is all used up. Pull and roll the thong produced, until it is small and even, with- out kinks. XI. Games for the Camp Interesting Pursuits essential to exercise as relish is to digestion. And for this reason have no use for the Indian clubs or dumb- bells. An ideal exercise is in the open air, employing not only every member vigorously —not violently — but also the faculties including the great coérdinating power that is the crowning gift of the athlete — the power to make all parts play the game in the measure needed to secure the best total result. How needful is it then to have interesting pursuits that inspire the Scout to do and be his very best. The appeal to the imagination that is assumed by such games as Spear-throwing and Dispatch-runner is the great- est and most elevating of all. Without some such magical power, no fellow really does the best that is in him. It makes a live wire of every fibre in his make-up. I HAVE always taken the ground that interest is as TILTING SPEARS A simple and useful part of the patrol outfit that should be made ready before going into camp is a supply of tilting- spears. I have seen a good many campers try tilting in the water or on the land, and make an utter failure of it, by reason of the absurdly clumsy, heavy spears used. A green 280 Games for the Camp 281 sapling was cut for handle, and the end tied up in a bundle of rags that was 18 inches through. This was hard enough to lift, when dry, and as it usually soon fell into the water, and got sopping wet, its weight became trebled, and one could not use it as a spear at all. The correct spears always used in our camps are made thus: Take 8 feet of the butt-end of an ordinary bamboo fishing-rod — or, if anything, a little heavier than ordinary. Get a 2-inch plank of any light wood, and from this cut a disk 3 inches across, bevel off and round the edges. Borea hole (about 3 inch) in the middle, and put this on the top of the —— bamboo, so that it sets against RJ Wooden olisk a shoulder or knot. Drive a No 7 circular plug in the hollow of the bamboo for a wedge, and make all secure with one or two \j/aFV" 8 aa very thin nails driven in (No.7). ~# spate ane Now pad the head an inch thick with the ordinary horsehair stuffing that is used in furniture, and bind all with strong burlap, sewing it at the seams, and lashing it around the bamboo with string (No. 8). This completes the dry land spear. If for use in the water, make a final cover out of rubber cloth. This keeps the spear dry. A completed spear weighs about 1} lbs. Each band should have a half-dozen of these spears. They serve a number of purposes, some of them quite dif- ferent from that originally intended. og TILTING IN THE WATER When used in the water, the ordinary rules of canoe- tilting are followed. Each spearman stands in the bow of his boat, on the bow-seat. His crew bring him within 8 282 The Book of Woodcraft feet of his rival, and now he endeavors to put him over- board. Points are reckoned thus: Forcing your enemy to put one foot down off the seat: osc ce eee ek OG Forcing your enemy to put two feet down off the seat 2 3 2 + « « «© » TO Forcing yourenemyononeknee. . . 5 Forcing your enemy down on two knees 10 Forcing your enemy to lose his spear . 10 Forcing your enemy overboard . . . 25 It is a foul to strike below the knee, or to use the spear as a club. The umpire may dock up to 25 points for fouls. When canoes are used, the spearman stands on the bot- tom, so all points are by loss of spear, or by going over- board. TUB-TILTING ON LAND But by far the most of the tilting is done on land, around the campfire. For this we use two barrels, about flour barrel size. These are set level, exactly a spear length apart, centre to centre. Each fighter takes his place on a barrel, and his game is to put the other off the other barrel. To prevent acci- dents, we have usually a catcher behind each man. The umpire stands alongside, near the middle. It is a foul to use the spear as a club, or to push below the knees, or to push the barrel, or to seize the other man’s spear in your hand. A foul gives the round to the other man. The round is over when one man is off. It is a draw when both go off together. They change barrels and spears after each round. Games for the Camp 283 If one drops his spear, and recovers it without going off, it is all right. The battle is usually for 5, 7, or 11 rounds. T do not know of any good thrusts having been invented, but several good parries are well known. One is to use your spear-handle as a single stick. The best players parry much by wriggling the body. Often, when over- balanced, one can regain by spinning completely around. So much for the game. It is immensely popular at night by the blazing campfire, and is especially used in initiations. STILL-HUNTING THE BUCK, OR THE DEER-HUNT The deer is a dummy, best made with a wire frame, on which soft hay is wrapped till it is of proper size and shape, then all is covered with open burlap. A few touches of white and black make it very realistic. If time does not admit of a well-finished deer, one can be made of a sack stuffed with hay, decorated at one end with a smaller sack for head and neck, and set on four thin sticks. 284 The Book of Woodcraft The side of the deer is marked with a large oval, and over the heart is a smaller one. Bows and arrows only are used to shoot this deer. A pocketful of corn, peas, or other large grain is now needed for scent. The boy who is the deer for the first hunt takes the dummy under his arm and runs off, getting ten minutes’ start, or until he comes back and shouts “ready!” He leaves a trail of corn, dropping two or three grains for every yard and making the trail as crooked as he likes, playing such tricks as a deer would do to baffle his pursuers. Then he hides the deer in any place he fancies, but not among rocks or on the top of a ridge, because in one case many arrows would be broken, and in the other, lost. The hunters now hunt for this deer just as for a real deer, either following the trail or watching the woods ahead; the best hunters combine the two. If at any time the trail is quite lost the one in charge shouts “Lost Trail!” After that the one who finds the trail scores two. Any one giving a false alarm by shouting “‘ Deer’’ is fined jive. Thus they go till some one finds the deer. He shouts “‘ Deer!” and scores tem for finding it. The others shout “Second,” “Third,” etc., in order of seeing it, but they do not score. The finder must shoot at the deer with his bow and arrow from the very spot whence he saw it. If he misses, the second hunter may step up five paces, and have his shot. If he misses, the third one goes five, and so on till some one hits the deer, or until the ten-yard limit is reached. If the finder is within ten yards on sighting the deer, and misses Games for the Camp 285 his shot, the other hunters go back to the ten-yard limit. Once the deer is hit, all the shooting must be from the exact spot whence the successful shot was fired. A shot in the big oval is a body wound; that scores five. A shot outside that is a scratch; that scores two. A shot in the small oval or heart is a heart wound; it scores ten, and ends the hunt. Arrows which do not stick: do not @uee count, unless it can be proved that they passed right through, in which case they take the highest score that they pierced. Tf all the arrows are used, and none in the heart, the deer escapes, and the boy who was deer scores twenty-five. The one who found the dummy is deer for the next hunt. A clever deer can add greatly to the excitement of the game. Originally we used paper for scent, but found it bad. It littered the woods, yesterday’s trail was confused with that of to-day, etc. Corn proved better, because the birds 286 The Book of Woodcraft and the squirrels kept it cleaned up from day to day, and thus the ground was always ready for a fresh start. But the best of all is the hoof mark for the shoe. These iron hoof marks are fast to a pair of shoes, and leave a trail much like a real deer. This has several advantages. It gives the hunter a chance to tell where the trail doubled, and which way the deer was going. It is more realistic, and a boy who can follow this skilfully can follow a living deer. In actual practice it is found well to use a little corn with this on the hard places, a plan quite consistent with realism, as every hunter will recall. It is strictly forbidden to any hunter to stand in front of the firing line; all must be back of the line on which the shooter stands. There is no limit to the situations and curious combina- tions in this hunt. The deer may be left standing or lying. There is no law why it should not be hidden behind a solid tree trunk. The game develops as one follows it. After it has been played for some time with the iron hoof mark as above, the boys grow so skilful on the trail that we can dis- pense with even the corn. The iron mark like a deer hoof leaves a very realistic “slot” or track, which the more skil- ful boys readily follow through the woods. A hunt is usually for three, five, or more deer, according to agreement, and the result is reckoned by points on the whole chase. THE BEAR HUNT This is played by half a dozen or more boys. Each has a club about the size and shape of a baseball club, but made of Straw Club == straw tied around two or three switches cad tightly sewn, up in burlap. Games for the Camp 287 One big fellow is selected for the bear. He has a school- bag tightly strapped on his back, and in that a toy balloon fully blown up. This is his heart. On his neck is a bear- claw necklace of wooden beads and claws. (See Cut.) He has three dens about, one hundred yards apart in a triangle. While in his den the bear is safe. If the den is a tree or rock, he is safe while touching it. He is obliged to come out when the chief hunter counts too, and must go the rounds of the three till the hunt is settled. The object of the hunters is to break the balloon or heart; that is, kill the bear. He must drop dead when the heart bursts. The hunter who kills him claims the necklace. Bear-claw y } Necklace But the bear also has a club for defence. Each hunter must wear a hat, and once the bear knocks a hunter’s hat off, that one is dead and out of this hunt. He must drop where his hat falls. Tackling of any kind is forbidden. The bear wins by killing or putting to flight all the hunters. In this case he keeps the necklace. The savageness of these big bears is indescribable. Many lives are lost in each hunt, and it has several times happened that the whole party of hunters has been exter- minated by some monster of unusual ferocity. This game has also been developed into a play. 288 The Book of Woodcraft SPEARING THE GREAT STURGEON This water game is exceedingly popular and is especially good for public exhibition, being spectacular and full of amusement and excitement. The outfit needed is: (1) Asturgeon roughly formed of soft wood; it should be about three feet long and nearly a foot thick at the head. It may be made realistic, or a small log pointed at both ends will serve. The Wooden Sturgeon SS ete Sor eaten (2) Two spears with six-inch steel heads and wooden handles (about three feet long). The points should be sharp, but not the barbs. Sometimes the barbs are omit- ted altogether. Each head should have an eye to which is attached twenty feet of one-quarter-inch rope. On each rope, six feet from the spearhead, is a fathom mark made by tying on a rag or cord. (3) Two boats with crews. Each crew consists of a spearman, who is captain, and one or two oarsmen or pad- dlers, of which the after one is the pilot. All should be expert swimmers or else wear life belts during the game. The game. Each boat has a base or harbor; this is Games for the Camp 289 usually part of the shore opposite that of the enemy; or it obviates all danger of collision if the boats start from the same side. The sturgeon is left by the referee’s canoe at a point midway between the bases. At the word “Go!” each boat leaves its base and, making for the sturgeon, tries to spear it, then drag it by the line to the base. When botk get their spears into it the contest becomes a tug of war until one of the spears pulls out. The sturgeon is landed when the prow of the boat that has it in tow touches its proper base, even though the spear of the enemy is then in the fish: or it is landed when the fish itself touches base if it is also in tow at the time. The boats change bases after each heat. Matches are usually for one, three, or five sturgeon. Points are counted only for the landing of the fish, but the referee may give the decision on a foul or a succession of fouls, or the delinquent may be set back one or more boat- lengths. Sometimes the game is played in canoes or boats, with one man as spearman and crew. Rules: It is not allowed to push the sturgeon into a new position with the spear or paddle before striking. It zs allowed to pull the sturgeon under the boat or pass it around by using the line after spearing. It is allowed to lay hands on the other boat to prevent a collision, but otherwise it is forbidden to touch the other boat or crew or paddle or spear or line, or to lay hands on the fish or to touch it with the paddle or oar, or touch your own spear while it is in the fish, or to tie the line around the fish except so far as this may be accidentally done in spearing. It is allowed to dislodge the enemy’s spear by throwing your own over it. The purpose of the barbs is to assist in this. It is allowed to run on to the sturgeon with the boat. 290 The Book of Woodcraft It zs absolutely forbidden to throw the spear over the other boat or over the heads of your crew. In towing the sturgeon the fathom-mark must be over the gunwale — at least six feet of line should be out when the fish isin tow. It is not a foul to have less, but the spear- man must at once let it out if the umpire or the other crew cries “Fathom!” The spearman is allowed to drop the spear and use the paddle or oar at will, but not to resign his spear to another of the crew. The spearman must be in his boat when the spear is thrown. If the boat is upset the judge’s canoe helps them to right. Each crew must accept the backset of its accidents. CANOE TAG Any number of canoes or boats may engage in this. A rubber cushion, a hot-water bag full of air, any rubber football, or a cotton bag with a lot of corks in it is needed. The game is to tag the other canoe by throwing this info it. The rules are as in ordinary cross-tag. SCOUTING Scouts are sent out in pairs or singly. A number of points are marked on the map at equal distances from camp, and the scouts draw straws to see where each goes. If one place is obviously hard, the scout is allowed a fair number of points as handicap. All set out at same time, go direct, and return as soon as possible. Points are thus allowed: Last back, zero for traveling. The others count one for each minute they are ahead of the last. Points up to 100 are allowed for their story on return. Games for the Camp 291 Sometimes we allow 10 points for each Turtle they have seen; 10 for each Owl seen and properly named; 5 for each Hawk, and 1 each for other wild birds; also 2 for’a Cat; 1 for a Dog. No information is given theScout; he is told to go to such a point and do so and so, but is fined points if he hesitates or asks how or why, etc. THE GAME OF QUICKSIGHT Take two boards about a foot square, divide each into twenty-five squares; get ten nuts and ten pebbles. Give to one player one board, five nuts, and five pebbles. He places these on the squares in any pattern he fancies, and when ready, the other player is allowed to see it for five - 186 e| ° oe ee n | je |e ae ©] o ® P ‘as e Quicksight Game eeess eoseg seconds. Then it is covered up, and from the memory of what he saw the second player must reproduce the pattern on his own board. He counts one for each that was right, and takes off one for each that was wrong. They take turn and turn about. This game is a wonderful developer of the power to see and memorize quickly. 292 The Book of Woodcraft FAR-SIGHT, UR SPOT-THE-RABBIT Take two six-inch squares of stiff white pasteboard or whitened wood. On each of these draw an outline Rabbit, one an exact duplicate of the other. Make twenty round black wafers or spots, each half an inch across. Let one player stick a few of these on one Rabbit-board and set it se G& inches 5g C@G6eedeea up in full light. The other, beginning at 100 yards, draws near till he can see the spots well enough to reproduce the pattern on the other which he carries. If he can do it at 75 yards he has wonderful eyes. Down even to 70 (done 3 times out of 5) he counts high honor; from 70 to 60 counts honor. Below that does not count at all. HOME STAR OR POLE STAR Each competitor is given a long, straight. stick, in day- time, and told to lay it due north and south. In doing this he may guide himself by sun, moss, or anything he can find in nature — anything, indeed, except a compass. ' The direction is checked by a good compass corrected for the locality. The one who comes nearest wins, Games for the Camp 293 It is optional with the judges whether the use of a time- Piece is to be allowed. RABBIT HUNT The game of Rabbit-hunting is suited for two hunters in limited grounds. Three little sacks of brown burlap, each about eight inches by twelve, are stuffed with hay. At any given place in the woods the two hunters stand in a 1o0-foot circle with their bows and arrows. One boy is blindfolded; the other, without leaving the circle, throws the Rabbits into good hiding places on the ground. Then the second hunter has to find the Rabbits and shoot them without leaving the circle. The lowest number of points wins, as in golf. If the hunter has to leave the circle he gets one point for every step he takes outside. After he sees the Rabbit he must keep to that spot and shoot till it is hit once. One shot kills it, no matter where struck. For every shot he misses he gets five points. After his first shot at each Rabbit the hider takes alter- nate shots with him. If it is the hider who kills the Rabbit, the hunter adds ten points to his score. If the hunter hits it, he takes ten off his score. If the hunter fails to find all the Rabbits, he scores twenty- five for each one he gives up. The hider cannot score at all. He can only help his friend into trouble. Next time the two change places. A match is usually for two brace of Rabbits. ARROW FIGHT This is a good one for challenges between two bands of equal numbers, say six on a side. 294 The Book of Woodcraft Each brave is armed with a bow and arrows (blunt preferred). Let the two bands stand in a row opposite a given bank, 10 to 20 yards away. Against this bank should be a row of 12-inch wooden or card disks (wooden dishes do well) set on edge lightly in stakes. Each brave is represented by a disk, which is opposite his enemy or corresponding number. Thus six disks, number one toa six, represent the Wolf Band; they are opposite the Eagles, and vice-versa. At the word go each shoots at the disks that represent his enemies. As soon as the disk that represents himself is shot, he must fall; he is out of the fight. The battle continues until all of one side are down. A truce may be arranged to recover the arrows. HOSTILE SPY Hanging from the Totem-pole is a red or yellow horsetail. This is the Grand Medicine Scalp of the band. The Hos- tile Spy has to capture it. The leader goes around on the morning of the day and whispers to the various braves, “Look out — there’s a spy in camp.” At length he goes secretly near the one he has selected for spy and whispers, “Look out, there’s a spy in camp, and you are it.” He gives him at the same time some bright-colored badge, that he must wear as soon as he has secured the Medicine Scalp. He must not hide the scalp on his person, but keep it in view. He has all day till sunset to get away with it. If he gets across the river or other limit, with warriors in close pursuit, they give him ten arrowheads (two and one half cents each), or other ransom agreed on. If he gets away safely and hides it, he can come back and claim fifteen arrowheads from the Council as ransom for the scalp. If he is caught, he pays his captor ten arrowheads, ransom for his life. Games for the Camp 295 FHE SCOUT MESSENGER This is played with a Scout and ten or more Hostiles, or Hounds, according to the country; more when it is rough or wooded. The Scout is given a letter addressed to the ‘Military Commandant’™ of any given place a mile or twoaway. He is told to take the letter to any one of three given houses, and get it endorsed, with the hour when he arrived, then return to the starting-point within a certain time. The Hostiles are sent to a point halfway, and let go by a starter at the same time as the Scout leaves the camp. They are to intercept him. If they catch him before he delivers the letter he must ransom his life by paying each two arrowheads (or other forfeit) and his captor keeps the letter as a trophy. If he gets through, but is caught on the road back, he pays half as much for his life. If he gets through, but is over time, it is a draw. If he gets through successfully on time he claims three arrowheads from each Hostile and keeps the letter as a trophy. They may not follow him into the house (that is, the Fort), but may surround it at one hundred yards distance. They do not know which three houses he is free to enter, but they do know that these are within certain narrow limits. The Scout should wear a conspicuous badge (hat, shirt, coat, or feather), and may ride a wheel or go in a wagon, etc., as long as his badge is clearly visible. He must not go in female dress. A CHALLENGE FOR SCOUT MESSENGER OR? sees 2 day, 1913, the Sinawa Tribe of Cos Cob, Conn., will send a letter by one man into the town of *The “ Military Commandment ”’ is usually the lady of the house that he gets to. 296 The Book of Woodcraft Jellypot (two miles off) and will have him bring again an answer within the space of three hours; and hereby challenge any twenty picked warriors of the Flying Eagles of New Jersey to capture or hinder the delivery of said letter. On this the messenger will stake his scalp or any other agreed forfeit according to the rules of the game of Scout Messenger. TREE THE COON This is an indoor game, founded on the familiar “Hunt the Thimble.” We use a little dummy coon; either make it or turn a ready-made toy rabbit into one, by adding tail and black mask, and cropping the ears. Sometimes even a little rag ball with a face painted on it. All the players but one go out of the room. That one places the coon anywhere in sight, high or low, but in plain view; all come in and seek. The first to find it sits down silently, and scores 1. Each sits down, on seeing it, giving no clue to the others. The first to score 3 coons is winner, usually. Sometimes we play till every one but one has a coon; that one is the booby. ‘The others are first, second, etc. Sometimes each is given his number in order of finding it. Then, after 7 or 8 coons, these numbers are added up, and the /owest is winner. NAVAJO FEATHER DANCE An eagle feather hung on a horsehair, so as to stand up- right, is worked by a hidden operator, so as to dance and caper. The dancer has to imitate all its motions, A mafionette may be used. Itisa great fun maker. Games for the Camp 297 FEATHER FOOTBALL OR FEATHER-BLOW This is an indoor, wet-weather game. The players hold a blanket on the knees or on the table. A soft feather is put in the middle. As many may play as can get near. They may be in sides, 2 or 4, or each for himself. At the signal “‘Go!” each tries to blow the feather off the blanket at the enemy’s side, and so count one for himself. A game is usually best out of 7, 11, or 13. COCK-FIGHTING Make 2 stout sticks, each 2 feet long (broomsticks will do). Pad each of these on the end with a ball of rag. These are the spurs. Make an 8-foot ring. The two rivals are on their hunkers, each with a stick through be- hind his knees, his hands clasped in front of the knees, and the arms under the ends of the spurs. Now they close; each aiming to upset the other, to make him lose his spurs or to put him out of the ring, any of which ends that round, and scores 1 for the victor. If both fall, or lose a spur, or go out together, it is a draw. Battle is for 3, 5, 7, 11, or 13 rounds. ONE-LEGGED CHICKEN FIGHT In this the two contestants stand upon one leg, holding up the ankle grasped in one hand behind. Points are scored as above, but it is a defeat also to drop the up leg. STRONG HAND The two contestants stand right toe by right toe, right hands clasped together; left. feet braced; left hands free. 298 The Book of Woodcraft At the word Go!” each tries to unbalance the other; that is, make him lift or move one of his feet. A lift or a shift ends the round. Battles are for best out of 3, 5, 7, or 11 rounds. BADGER-PULLING The two contestants, on hands and knees, face each other. A strong belt or strap is buckled into one great loop that passes round the head of each; that is, crosses his nape. Halfway between them is a dead line. The one who pulls the other over this line is winner. The contestant can at any time end the bout by lowering his head so the strap slips off; but this counts 1 against him. Game is best out of 5, 7, 11, or 13 points. STUNG, OR STEP ON THE RATTLER —— SOMETIMES CALLED POISON This is an ancient game. A circle about three feet across is drawn on the ground. The players, holding hands, make a ring around this, and try to make one of the number step into the poison circle. He can evade it by side-stepping, by jumping over, or by dragging another fellow into.it. First to make the misstep is “‘it’’ for the time or for next game. Sometimes we use a newspaper with a switch lying across it. Each when stung sits down. When one only is left he is the Rattler, and may sting each of the others with the switch across their hand. BUFFALO CHIPS When I was among the Chipewyan Indians of Great Slave Lake, in 1907, I made myself popuiar with the young men, as well as boys, by teaching them the old game of hat-ball or Buffalo Chips. Games for the Camp 299 The players (about a dozen) put their hats in a row near a house, fence, or log (hollows up) A dead-line is drawn 10 feet from the hats; all must stand outside of that. The one who is “it” begins by throwing a soft ball into one of the hats. If he misses the hat, a chip is put into his own, and he tries over. As soon as he drops the ball into a hat, the owner runs to get the ball; all the rest run away. The owner must not follow beyond the dead-line, but must throw the ball at some one. If he hits him, a chip goes into that person’s hat; if not, a chip goes into his own. As soon as some one has 5 chips he is the Buffalo; he wins the booby prize: that is, he must hold his hand out steady against the wall, and each player has 5 shots at it with the ball, as he stands on the dead-line. RAT-ON-HIS-LODGE Each player has a large, smooth, roundish stone, about 4 or 5 inches through. This is his rat. He keeps it per- manently. The lodge is any low boulder, block, stump, bump, or hillock on level ground. A dead-line is drawn through the lodge and another parallel, 15 feet away, for a firing line. The fellow who is ‘‘it,” or “keeper,” perches his rat on the lodge. The others stand at the firing-line and throw their rats at his. They must not pick them up or touch them with their hands when they are beyond the dead- line. If one does, then the keeper can tag him (unless he reaches the firing-line), and send him to do duty as i aSeEE at the rock. But they can coax their rats with their feet, up to the dead-line, not beyond, then watch for a chance to dodge back to the firing-line, where they are safe at all times. 300 The Book of Woodcraft If the rat is knocked off by any one in fair firing, the keeper is powerless till he has replaced it. Meantime, most of the players have secured their rats and got back safe to the firing-line. By using bean bags or sandbags instead of stones this may be made an indoor game. WATCHING BY THE TRAIL This is a game we often play in the train, to pass the time pleasantly. Sometimes one party takes the right side of the road with the windows there, and the other the left. Sometimes all players sit on the same side. The game is, whoever is first to see certain things agreed on scores so many points. Thus: A crow or a cow counts A horse A sheep A goat A cat A hawk An owl TAN HRW nD The winner is the one who first gets 25 or 50 points, as agreed. When aroot, one naturally takes other things for points, as certain trees, flowers, etc. TRAILING A good trailing stunt to develop alertness and obser- vation is managed thus: One fellow wearing the tracking irons is deer. He is given 100 beans, 30 slices of potato and 1o minutes start. He has to lay a track, as crooked as he pleases, dropping a bean every 3 or 4 yards and a slice Games for the Camp 301 of potato every 20. After ten minutes’ run the deer has to hide. The trailers follow him, picking up the beans and potato slices. Each bean counts 1 point, each slice of potato 2. The one who finds the deer scores 10 for it. APACHE RELAY RACE One band is pitted against another, to see who can carry a message and bring a reply in shortest time, by means of relays of runners. One mile is far enough for an ordinary race. This divides up even 220 yards to each of eight runners. The band is taken out by the Chief, who drops scouts at convenient distances, where they await the arrival of the other runner, and at once take the letter on to the next, and there await the return letter. A good band of 8 can carry a letter a mile and bring the answer in about 9 minutes. THE WEASEL IN THE WOOD The old French Song game much like our game of ‘‘But- ton,Button,” orthe Indian Moccasin game, is given in the Section on Songs, etc. THROWING THE SPEAR This was popular among Indians until the rifle made the spear of little use. The spear is of a straight, slender staff of ash or hickory, about 7 feet long. It should have a steel point, the weight should be chiefly in the head end; that is, the balancing point should be 2 feet from the head. A tuft of colored feathers or hair near the light end helps the spear to fly straight, and is a distinctive ornament. 302 The Book of Woodcraft The target should be a burlap sack stuffed tight with straw and ranged as for archery. Make it big, 6 feet square, if possible, and always begin so close to it that you at least hit the sack nearly every time. Afterward you can work off to the correct range of 30 feet. WATER-BOILING CONTEST Given a hatchet and knife, 1 match, a 2-quart pail, 7 inches or less in diameter, one quart of water and a block of soft wood about 2 feet long and 5 or 6 inches through. Any one should have the water boiling in 1o minutes. The record is said to be 7.59 First cut plenty of wood. Spend three minutes on it. Support your pail on four pegs driven in the ground. If ‘water is handy dip the pegs in it before placing. The water must be jumping and bubbling all over the surface or it is not boiling. If the first match goes out, contestants are usually al- lowed a second, but are penalized by having 2 minutes added to their time. MEDLEY SCOUTING The following competition in Medley Scouting took place at one of my camps. A prize was offered for the highest points in the following: At the word, “Go.” Bring a leaf of sugar-maple; and tell how it differs from other maples. Tell a short story. Bring a leaf of poison ivy (wrapped in a thick paper, to avoid touching it), and describe the poison, and mode of counteracting it. Games for the Camp 303 Mark off on a stick your idea of a yard. Bring a leaf of witch hazel, and tell what it is good for. Show a bed made by yourself in camp of woods material. Bring a leaf of beech, and tell how it differs from those most like it. Show a dancer’s war club made by yourself in camp, and tell what they are used for. Dance a step; any — English, Irish, Scotch, or Indian. Strike a match and light a lamp; both of them im- aginary. Show a birch-bark utensil or article made by yourself. Make a map of North America from memory in 10 minutes. Boil a quart of water in a 2-quart pail, given 1 match, a hatchet, and a stick of wood. You should do it inside of I2 minutes. Give an imitation of some animal, actions or sounds. Play the part of an Indian woman finding her warrior dead. For each of the first 20 competitors, points were given; the prize adjudged by the total. Some of these stunts may seem trivial, but there was a purpose in each, and that purpose was served. In the Indian widow, for example, we wished to select the best actor for play. Most of the fellows failed. Two were good, but one, nearly the smallest in camp, was so fine that he brought tears into the eyes of many. The selection of the various leaves impressed these kinds on all, especially those who failed to bring the right ones. The song and dance was introduced to cultivate the spirit of going fearlessly in and doing one’s best, however poor it might be; and the elements of handicraft were recognized in birch-bark vessel and war club. 304. The Book of Woodcraft By the bed competition, all’ were taught how easy it is to make one’s self comfortable in the woods. The water-boiling was particularly instructive and was tried twice. The first time the winner took 14 minutes, and the second best 20. The last time, the winner’s time was 8 minutes, and the second one’s 10. Even the imitations of monkey, lynx, cat, panther, moose, etc., developed a keen observation, and a lot of good natural history that was intensely interesting a: well as amusing. XII. Health and Woodland Medicine FIRST AID. (Rudimentary) (Second Aid, and best, is bring the doctor) TO REVIVE FROM DROWNING clothing if any. (2) Empty the lungs of water, by laying the body breast down, and lifting it by the middle, with the head hanging down. Hold thus for a few seconds, till the water is evidently out. (3) Turn the patient on his breast, face downward. (4) Give artificial respiration thus: by pressing the lower ribs down and forward toward the head, then release. Repeat about twelve times to the minute. (5) Apply warmth and friction to extremities, rubbing toward the heart. (6) DON’T GIVE UP! Persons have been saved after hours of steady effort, and after being under water over twenty minutes. (7) When natural breathing is reéstablished, put the patient into warm bed, with hot-water bottles, warm drinks, or stimulants, in teaspoonfuls, fresh air, and quiet, Let him sleep, and all will be well. 3°5 A S SOON as the patiert is in a safe place, loosen the 306 The Book of Woodcraft SUNSTROKE (1) Reduce the temperature of the patient and the place — that is, move the patient at once to a cooler spot, if possible, in the shade. (2) Loosen or remove the clothing about the neck and body. (3) Apply cold water or ice to the head and body, or even wrap the patient in sheets wet from time to time with cold water. (4) Use no stimulant, but allow free use of cold water to drink. BURNS AND SCALDS Exclude the air by covering the burn with a thin paste of baking-soda, starch, flour, vaseline, olive oil, linseed oil, castor-oil, lard, cream, or cold cream. Cover the burn first with the smear; next with a soft rag. soaked in the smear. Shock always accompanies severe burns, and must be treated. HEMORRHAGE, OR INTERNAL BLEEDING This is usually from the lungs or stomach. If from the lungs, the blood is bright-red and frothy, and is coughed up; if from the stomach, it is dark, and is vomited. Cause the patient to lie down, with head lower than body. Small pieces of ice should be swallowed, and ice-bags, or snow, cold water, etc., applied to the place whence it comes. Hot applications may be applied to the extremi- ties, but avoid stimulants, unless the patient is very weak. Health and Woodland Medicine 307 CUTS AND WOUNDS After making sure that no dirt or foreign substance is in the wound, the first thing is tight bandaging — to close it and stop the bleeding. The more the part is raised above the heart — the force-pump — the easier it is to do this. If the blood comes out in spurts, it means an artery has been cut; for this, apply a twister or tourniquet — that is, make a big knot in a handkerchief, tie it round the limb, with the knot just above the wound, and twist it round with a stick till the flow is stopped. LIGHTNING To revive one stunned by a thunderbolt, dash cold water over him. SHOCK OR NERVOUS COLLAPSE A person suffering from shock has pale, dull face, cold skin, feeble breathing, rapid, feeble pulse, listless, half- dead manner. Place him on his back with head low. Give stimulants, such as hot tea or coffee, or perhaps one drink of spirits. Never remove the clothing, but cover the person up. Rub the limbs and place hot-water bottles around the body. Most persons recover in time, without aid, but those with weak hearts need help. FAINTING Fainting is caused by the arrest of the blood supply to the brain, and is cured by getting the heart to correct the lack. To aid in this have the person lie down with the head lower than the body. Loosen the clothing. Give fresh air. * 308 The Book of Woodcraft Rub the limbs. Use smelling-salts. Do not let him get up until fully recovered. MAD DOG OR SNAKE BITE Put a tight cord or bandage around the limb between the wound and the heart. Suck the wound many times and wash it with hot water to make it bleed. Burn it with strong ammonia or caustic or a white-hot iron; or cut out the wounded parts with a sharp knife or razor, if you can- not get to a doctor. INSECT STINGS Wash with oil or weak ammonia, or very salt water, or paint with iodine. TESTS OF DEATH Hold a cold mirror to the nostrils or mouth. This shows at once if there is any breath. Push a pin into the flesh. If living, the hole will close again; if dead, it will remain open. CINDERS OR SAND IN THE EYE Can be removed with the tip of a lead-pencil, or the wet end of a tiny roll of soft paper. I have seen a woman lick the cinder out of her child’s eye when other means were lacking. BOOKS RECOMMENDED “First Aid”? By Major Charles Lynch. P. Blakiston Sons & Co., YOI7 Walnut St., Philadelphia, IgiI. 30 cents, Health and Woodland Medicine 309 Some Wildwood Remedies or Simples (In case no standard remedies be at hand.) For trees mentioned, but not illustrated here, see Forestry section. Antiseptic or wound-wash: Strong, salt brine, as hot as can be borne: a handful of salt in a quart of water. Balm for wounds: Balsam Fir. The gum was con- sidered a sovereign remedy for wounds, inside or out; it is still used as healing salve, usually spread on a piece of linen and laid over the wound for a dressing. Bleeding, to stop, nose or otherwise: Gather a lot of leaves of witch hazel, dry them, and powder them to snuff. A pinch drawn up the nose or on a wound will stop bleeding. The Indians used a pinch of powder from a puff ball. Bowel complaint: Get about a pound of small roots of sassafras, or else two pounds of the bark, smashed up. Boil in a gallon of water till only one pint of the fluid is left. A tablespoonful of this three times a day is a good remedy for bowel trouble. Chills and fever: Two pounds of white poplar or white willow bark, smashed up and soaked for twenty-four hours in a gallon of water and boiled down to a pint, make a sure remedy for chills and fever. A dessertspoonful four times a day is the proper dose. A tea made of spice bush twigs is a good old remedy for chills and fever. Makeit strong, and sip it hot all day. Cold or fever cure: A decoction of the poplar bark or roots of flowering dogwood is a good substitute for quinine, as tonic and cold cure, bowel cure, and fever driver. Cough remedy: (That is, to soften and soothe a cough:) Slippery elm inner bark boiled, a pound to the gallon, boiled down to a pint, and given a teaspoonful every hour. Linseed is used the same way, and is all the better if licorice or sugar of any kind be added. 310 The Book of Woodcraft Golden willow. Health and Woodland Medicine 311 Cherry leaf — teeth enlarged, 312 The Book of Woodcraft Another woodland remedy is the syrup made by boiling down the sap of the sweet birch tree. Cough and irritated throat: Mix a spoonful of sugar with two of butter, and eat it slowly. This usually stops a hacking cough that would keep the patient from sleep. Cough and lung remedy: A pound of inner bark of black cherry, soaked twenty-four hours in a gallon of water and boiled down to one pint, makes a famous cough remedy and lung balm. A tablespoonful three or four times a day. Diuretic: A decoction of the inner bark of elder is a powerful diuretic. Face-ache: Heat some sand in the frying-pan, pour it into a light bag and hold it against the place. The sand should be as hot as can be borne. This treatment is good for most aches and pains. Inflammation of the eyes or skin: Relieved by washing with strong tea of the bark of witch hazel. Ink: The berries and leaves of red or staghorn sumac boiled together in water make a permanent black ink. Lung balm: Infusion of black cherry bark, root pre- ferred, is a powerful tonic for lungs and bowels. Good also as a skin wash for sores. When half wilted, the leaves are poisonous to cattle. Nose-bleed: A snuff made of the dried leaves of witch hazel stops nose-bleed at once, or any bleeding. Nose stopped up at night: Wet the nose outside, as well as in, with cold water, and prop the head up higher with pillows. Pimples and skin rash: A valuable tonic or skin wash for such troubles is strong tea made of the twigs of alder. Poison ivy sting, to cure: Wash every hour or two with soapy water as hot as can be borne, then with hot salt water. This relieves the sting, and is the best simple remedy. The sure cure is washing the parts two or three Health and Woodland Medicine 313 Poison ivy. 314 The Book of Woodcraft times in alcohol in which is dissolved sugar-of-lead, 20 to 1. This will cure the sores in three days unless the trouble is complicated with rheumatism, in which case you need a doctor. The same remarks apply to poison oak and poison sumac. Purge, mild: A de- coction of the inner bark of butternut, preferably of root, is a safe, mild purge. Boil a pound in a gallon of water till a quart only is left. A teaspoonful of it is a dose. Witch hazel. Purge, strong: The young leaflets of elder are a drastic purgative. They may be ground up and taken as decoction, boiling a pound in a gallon of water till it makes a quart. Use in very small doses — one teaspoonful. Purge, fierce: The root, fresh or not long dry, of blueflag, should be pow- dered and given in twenty- grain doses. A grain is about the weight of a grain of wheat, or one twenty- fourth of an ounce; so twenty grains is what will cover a quarter-dollar to the depth of one sixteenth inch. Rheumatism: Put the patient in bed. Make him drink Poison sumac. Health and Woodland Medicine 315 plenty of hot water, or better a thin extract of sassafras, or tea made of wintergreen leaves. Keep very warm, so as to get a good sweat. Rub him all over, especially the place afflicted, with grease or vaseline. The only use of these last things is to protect the skin. It is the rubbing that does the good. The Indian treatment was a Turkish bath, as described later. Sores and wounds: Can be cleansed by washing with hot brine, that is a handful of salt in a quart of water. Sunburn: If you take your sunburn gradually, a little each day, it doesn’t hurt. But if you are foolhardy at first, and expose your white skin, arms, or neck and back to the blaze of the summer sun for a few hours you will pay a heavy price. At night you will be in a torment of fever- fire. The punishment may last for days. Huge blisters will arise, and you may be obliged for a time to give up all 316 The Book of Woodcraft active sports. As soon as you find you are overburnt, put cold cream, vaseline, sweet-oil, or grease of any kind on the place, and keep it covered up. In a day or two you will be well. But it is best to go slow. Do not get overdone at all, and so have no damage to repair. Male-fern. Sweater: A famous woodman’s sweater is tea made from the leaves and twigs of hemlock. Make a gallon of about two pounds of twigs, etc., and sip it all day. Sweet birch. Tapeworm: Boil a pound of smashed-up male-fern or evergreen fern root in a gallon of water till but a pint of fluid is left. A teaspoonful three or four times a day — followed by a purge — is a famous remedy. Health and Woodland Medicine 317 Tonic: An infusion or tea of black alder bark is a wonderful tonic, and a healer of the skin, inside and out. Boil a pound of. bark in a gallon of water till a quart is left. Take half a cupful four times a day. This is a bracer for the feeble constitution. Tonic: A fine tonic is made from the twigs of sweet birch, by boiling two pounds of twigs in a gallon of water, till it makes about a pint of strong brown tea, which should be sipped, about half a pint a day. Sumac. Tonic: A decoction, or boiled in water extract, of almost any part of the red sumac tree, is a powerful tonic. Make it of two pounds of sumac ina gallon of water boiled to a pint. Take a big spoonful twice a day. . Wash for sore throat: Inner bark of hemlock is a power- ful astringent and good as a throat wash. A pound of bark in a gallon of water is boiled to a quart. Worms: The berries of black alder used as tincture 318 The Book of Woodcraft (bruised in alcohol) are a powerful remedy for worms. A dessertspoonful three times a day is a dose. Worms and tonic: The inner bark and root bark of tulip tree, either as dry powder or infusion, are powerful tonics and especially good for worms. Wound-wash. See Antiseptic. For other remedies, see Dr. Elisha Smith’s “Botanic Physician,” Cincinnati, 1844. AN INDIAN BATH OR SWEAT LODGE A Turkish bath in the woods is an interesting idea. The Indians have always used this style of treatment and, with their old-time regard for absolute cleanliness, took the bath once a week, when circumstances permitted. Their plan was to make a low, round-topped lodge, about five feet high and as much across, by bending over a number of long willow poles with both ends stuck in the ground. A few slender cross-bars lashed on here and there com- pleted the skeleton dome. This was covered over with a number of blankets, or waterproof covers of canvas, etc. A shallow pit was dug near one side. The patient stripped and wentin. A fire was made previously close at hand, and in this a number of stones heated. When nearly red-hot, these were rolled in, under the cover of the Sweat Lodge into the pit. The patient had a bucket of water and a cup. He poured water on the hot stones, a dense steam arose, which filled the Lodge, causing the intense heat, which could be modified at will. The more water on the stones the greater, of course, the steam. Meantime, the patient crinks plenty of water, and is soon in a profuse sweat. Half an hour of this is enough for most persons. They should then come out, have a partial rub-down, and plunge into cold water, or have it thrown over them. After this a Health and Woodland Medicine 319 thorough rub-down finishes, and the patient should roll up in a blanket and lie down for an hour. Aromatic herbs or leaves are sometimes thrown on the stones to help the treatment. This is fine to break up a cold or help a case of rheu- matism. I have found it an admirable substitute for the Turkish bath. LATRINE Nothing in camp is more important than the latrine or toilet. It is fully described on page 262. THE KEEN EYES OF THE INDIAN. DO YOU WISH TO HAVE THEM? Near-sightedness. An eminent eye doctor, Dr. W. H. Bates of New York, has found out how you can have sight as keen and eyes as good as those of the Indians who live out of doors. After eight years’ study of the sub- ject he has established the following: a. The defect known as near-sight or short-sight seldom exists at birth, but is acquired. b. Besides being acquirable, it is preventable and in some cases curable. c. It comes through continual use of the eye for near objects only, during the years of growth. The Remedy. The remedy is, give the eye regular mus- cular exercise every day for far-sight by focussing it for a few minutes on distant objects. Itis not enough to merely look at the far-off landscapes. The eye must be definitely focussed on something, like print, before the necessary muscular adjustment is perfect and the effect obtained. The simplest way to do this is — get an ordinary eye testing card, such as is sold for a nickel at any optician’s. 320 The Book of Woodcratft Hang it up as far off as possible in the schoolroom and use it each day. Train your eyes to read the smallest letters from your seat. By such exercises during the years of growth almost all short-sight or near-sight, and much blurred sight or astig- matism, may be permanently prevented. An interesting proof is found by Dr. Casey Wood in the fact that while wild animals have good sight, caged animals that have lost all opportunities for watching distant objects are generally myopic or short-sighted. In other words, nature adapts the tool to its job. DRY SOCKS A certain minister knowing I had much platform ex- perience said to me once, ‘‘How is it that your voice never grows husky in speaking? No matter how well I may be my voice often turns husky in the pulpit.” He was a thin, nervous man, very serious about his work and anxious toimpress. I replied: ‘‘ You are nervous before preaching, which makes your feet sweat. Your socks are wet when you are in the pulpit, and the sympathy between soles and voice is well known. Put on dry socks just before entering the pulpit and you need not fear any huskiness.” He looked amazed and said: ‘You certainly have sized me up all right. Tl try next Sunday.” I have not seen him since and don’t know the result, but I know that the principle is sound — wet feet, husky throat. SHUT YOUR MOUTH AND SAVE YOUR LIFE This was the title of an essay by George Catlin, a famous outdoor man, who lived among the Indians, and wrote about Health and Woodland Medicine 321 them 1825 to 40. In this he pointed out that it is exceed- ingly injurious to breathe through your mouth; that, indeed, many persons injured their lungs by taking in air that was not strained and warmed first through the nose, and in many cases laid the foundation of diseases which killed them. DON’T TURN OUT YOUR TOES MUCH When you see a man whose toes are excessively turned out, you may know he was born and brought up on side- walks. He is a poor walker and will not hold out on an all day-tramp. The mountaineer and the Indian scout always keep their feet nearly straight. It is easier on the feet and it lengthens the stride; makes, in short, a better traveler. A glance at his tracks will tell you how a person walks. TOBACCO No Indian was allowed to use tobacco until a proven warrior. It was injurious to the young they said, but in the grown man if used only as a burnt sacrifice it helped in prayer and meditation. Some of the finest Indians, Spotted-tail for example, never smoked as a habit. In the New York Literary Digest for December 30, 1911, there appeared the following important article: INJURIOUSNESS OF TOBACCO The opinion that tobacco is injurious to the young and apparently harmless to adults, quoted in these pages recently from American Medicine, is adjudged by the editor of Good Health (Battle Creek, Mich., December) to be one of those half- truths which Tennyson tells us are “ever the blackest lies.” 322 The Book of Woodcraft He agrees heartily with the first part of it, but asserts that no respectable medical authority will be found to endorse the other half of it. Has the editor of American Medicine, he asks, never heard of tobacco blindness? And how about cancer of the lip and of the throat, diseases almost confined to smokers? Bou- chard, of Paris, an authority on diseases of the heart and blood- vessels, names tobacco, the writer goes on to say, as one of the leading causes of this deadly class of maladies. And this is by no means a new idea. Medical examiners tell us that nine tenths of the rejected applicants for the Army are refused on account of tobacco-heart. We read further: “King Edward died of tobacco-heart. Mark Twain was another victim of this disease. A king of Hungary fell off his horse some time ago and lost his life because of defective vision due to smoking. The death-rate from disease of the heart and blood-vessels has increased, within the last ten years, from 6 per 100,000 to 24 per 100,000 or 400 per cent. Is there no evidence from these facts that it is not ‘harmless to adults’? ““No experienced coach will allow men in training for athletic events to make use of tobacco, so well known are its effects upon the heart. A well-known physician said to the writer just before the Yale-Harvard boat-race: ‘I am sure Yale will be beaten, for the coach permits the men to use tobacco.’ “The ill effects of tobacco upon the kidneys are familiar to all physicians. Statistics gathered some years ago showed that Io per cent. of all smokers have albumen in the urine. The physician forbids the use of tobacco or very greatly restricts its use in cases of Bright’s disease. “But even on a priori grounds it may be safely said that tobacco is anything but harmless. The deadly effects of tobacco are well enough known. In very minute doses nicotin produces deadly effects. One tenth of a grain killed a goat, and a much smaller dose killed a frog. The farmer uses tobacco leaves and stems to kill ticks on sheep. An eminent German botanist has recently shown that tobacco, even in minute quantities, produces pernicious effects on plants. “Numerous investigators have shown that pigeons are proof against anthrax, a disease very deadly to sheep. Charrin showed that after giving to a pigeon a very small dose of nicotin the creature quickly dies when infected with the anthrax germ, Health and Woodland Medicine 323 “Doctor Wright, of London, showed that nicotin lowers the tuberculo-opsonic index of the blood; that is, it lowers the power of resistance of the body against tuberculosis. He cited the case of a young man who was a great smoker and whose tuberculo- opsonic index was zero instead of 100. The young man was suffering from tuberculosis and died within a few weeks. “Post-mortem examination made at the Phipps Institute showed that smokers are twice as subject to tuberculosis as non-smokers. ” These are only a few of the thousand facts, the writer goes on, that might be cited on his side of the question. Nothing in them shows that there is any distinction between the child and the adult, and the fact that the effects are often less apparent in the latter is due, we are told, solely to the fact that they possess greater vital resistance than, children. Finally, he remarks: “We would remind the editor to review the study of phys- iologic chemistry and pathology, and consult a few up-to-date standard works on the practice of medicine in relation to the cause of Bright’s disease, arteriosclerosis, angina pectoris and other maladies involving the heart and blood-vessels, the death- rate from which has kept even pace along with the increase of tobacco during the last thirty or forty years.” SEX MATTERS Some of our best authorities tell us that more than half of our diseases, mental and physical, come from ignorance and consequent abuse of our sexual powers. We have long known and realized vaguely that virtue and strength are synonymous; that the Puritan fathers, for example, notwithstanding their narrowness and their unlovely lives, were upon the whole a people of pure life, who reaped their reward in their wonderful mental, moral, and physical strength, not entirely gone to-day. All men realize the desirability of virtue; and hitherto we have attempted to keep our young people virtuous by keeping them ignorant. Most thinking men to-day admit 324 The Book of Woodcraft and maintain that as a protection ignorance is a sad failure. It is far better for the parent to teach the child the truth — the sacred truth — by degrees, as he or she is ready for it. Most children are ready at seven or eight to know something about the process of procreation, especially if they live on a farm where they see it all about them. No boy is any the worse for learning of these things. All are better for knowing them. Rest assured of this, more nations have been wiped out by sex abuse than by bloody war. The nation that does not bring up its youth with pure ideals is certainly going to destruction. Every leader of boys should talk frankly to his charges and read to them or have them read: “From Youth Into Manhood,” by Dr. Winfield S. Hall. ‘YY. M. C. A. Press, 124 East Twenty-eighth Street, New York. STARVATION FOODS IN THE NORTHERN WOODS For a man who is lost, the three great dangers in order of importance, are Fear, Cold, and Hunger. He may endure extreme hunger for a week and extreme cold for a day, but extreme fear may undo him in an hour. There is no way of guarding against this greatest danger excepting by assur- ing him that he is fortified against the other two. Starvation is rare in warm regions and I suppose that no one ever starved during the late summer and early autumn. The woods then are full of roots, nuts, and berries that, as a rule, are wholesome and palatable, and usually there is a large amount of small game at this season. The greatest danger of starvation is in the far north during winter. By the far north I do not mean the Polar regions, where few go and where life usually depends on Health and Woodland Medicine 325 keeping touch with the ship, but the wooded regions of Canada and Alaska where there are hundreds, yes, thou- sands of travelers each year, and where each year one hears of some one dying of starvation, through ignorance of the few emergency foods that abound in that country. Fish are not included among these foods, for the wanderer in the snow is not likely to be equipped with fish hook, spear or net. The fish, moreover, are in winter protected by ice of great thickness. Animal food is exceedingly scarce at such times, the forms most likely to be found are rabbits, mice, insect-borers, ants, and rawhide gear. Of course the mounted Indian never starved, because he would bleed his horse each day and live on the blood; taking care that his steed had fodder enough to keep up his strength. But we must assume that this source of food is not avail- able — that our traveler is on foot. A well-known explorer states in his book that northern expeditions should be undertaken chiefly or only in rabbit years — that is, when rabbits are at the maximum of their remarkable periodic increase. While there is some truth in this, we must remember, first, a rabbit year in one region is not necessarily a rabbit year in another, so we could not foretell with certainty what would be a season of abundant food in the region proposed for the expedition; second, men will at any risk go into the vast northern wilderness every year, for it is destined to be the great field for exploration, and every traveler there ought to know the foods he can count on finding at all times. Rabbits. If when in straits for food he have the luck to be in a rabbit country, he should select a thicket in which their tracks and runs are very numerous. By quietly walking around it, he is likely to see one of these silent, ghostlike hares, and can easily secure it with his gun. Without a gun his next best reliance is on snares. String, 326 The Book of Woodcraft a shoelace, a buckskin thong, or even a strip of clothing, may be used asa snare. There are many ways of making a rabbit snare, but the simplest is the best. The essentials are, first, the snare — an ordinary running noose; second, a twitch-up; that is either a branch bent down, or a pole laid in the crotch of a sapling. If the nearest sapling does not have a crotch the twitch-up can be fastened to it with a willow withe. The snare is fast to the end of the pole, and spread open in a well-worn runway. The loop is about four inches across and placed four inches from the ground. The pole twitch-up is held down by placing the cross-piece of the snare under some projecting snag, as shown. The rabbit, bounding along, puts his head in the noose, a slight jerk frees the cross piece from its holder, and in a moment the rabbit is dangling in the air. The cross piece can be dispensed with if the snare be wrapped three or four times around a snag. The squaws often build a little hedge across a rabbit thicket, so as to close all but three or four Health and Woodland Medicine 427 runs, each of which is guarded bya snare. They then drive the rabbits back and forth, capturing several at each drive. Mice swarm in all the northern country wherever there is heavy sedge, or where the ground is deeply buried in moss, and that means most of the Far North. If I were seeking for mice I should pick out a sedgy hollow, one evidently not actually a pond in summer, and dig through snow and tangle down to the runways, at the level of the ground. If one has traps they may be set here with the certainty of taking some game within a few hours. But usually the mice are so common that they may be caught by hand. I have frequently done this, taking a hint from the method of a fox hunting mice. He advances very slowly, watching for a movement in the cover. As soon as this is seen he seizes the whole tussock, and, after the death squeeze, separates his victim from the grass. Deep snow, unfortunately, puts the mice beyond reach, and excludes them from the bill of fare when most needed. Ants, the next on our list, are usually to be found dor- mant in dead and hollow trees, sometimes in great numbers. Bears and flickers eat them in quantities, and I have met with men who claim to have done so, but I never tried them myself and suspect that they are unpleasantly acid. Insect-borers. These are the fat white grubs that winter under the bark of trees and in dead timber. They are accounted acceptable food by bears and by most birds, which is almost if not quite conclusive evidence that they are good for human food. Their claws, nippers, and spines should be removed. To get them one must have an axe. Rawhide, or even leather, if boiled for hours, will make a nutritious soup. Many a man has bridged the awful gap by boiling his boots, whence the phrase to express the final extreme, ‘“I’ll eat my boots first.” Mark Twain was once 328 The Book of Woodcraft put to this final resort and recorded afterward that “the holes tasted the best.” But the hardest case of all is the best for present dis- cussion. That is the case of the man who has not happened on a rabbit region and who has neither gun nor axe, string nor rawhide. He must look entirely to the vegetable world for sustenance, as do all the northern natives in times of direst famine. Bark and buds. In the forest region are several foods that are available in the depth of winter. First of these is the thin green outer skin or bark, the white innermost bark, and the buds (not the middle brown bark) of quaking asp or white poplar. The brown bark is highly charged with a bitter principle, partly tannin, that makes it unpalatable as well as unwholesome. Aspen bark is a favorite food with elk, deer, beavers, squirrels, rabbits, and mice in winter. I found that by boiling it for some hours it is reduced to a gelatinous and apparently nutritious mass. I have also found the buds of basswood a palatable food supply. In my early days, in the backwood of Canada, we children frequently allayed our hunger with basswood buds and spruce and tamarac shoots. Dr. C. C. Curtis informs me that in British Columbia the natives eat the imner bark of willows, hemlock, and other trees, and I have often heard of the Indians eating the innermost bark of birch. All these are common foods with herbivorous animals. Man, having a less capable stomach, will do well to pre- digest such by roasting or long boiling. Toadstools. There is yet another supply that is commonly shunned, namely—toadstools. No toadstool growing on trees is known to be poisonous, and most contain nutriment — especially the birch polyporus, which grows on birch trees and has pores instead of gills. A toadstool gnawed Health and Woodland Medicine 329 by mice or squirrels is usually good. References to the article on toadstools will show that none but the Amanitas are deadly, and these are well known by their white or yellow gills, their parasol shape, the ring on their upper stem, and the cup out of which they spring. They grow on the ground in the woods. Lichens. But the surest food supply of all is that from the lowly lichens, which exist in enormous quantities throughout the great land of big hunger and little sticks. Doctor C. C. Curtis says: ‘All lichens are rich in carbohydrates; lichen starch or lichenin, constituting 40 to 60 per cent. of the bulk of the higher forms.” They supply winter food to all the northern quadrupeds. The reindeer, the white hare, the musk-ox, and the lemming find in them their chief support; and those which do not live directly on the lichen do so indirectly by preying on those who do. They are not choice dainties for human food. But Richardson, the famous northern naturalist, and the party with him, as well as unnumbered Eskimos and travelers, have lived for weeks on the lichens when other food has failed. The kinds most useful are the Iceland moss (Ceiraria icelandica), the reindeer moss (Cladonia rangiferina), and the rock-tripe or famine-food (Umbilicaria arctica), and other species. To these we might add the Lucanora esculenta or manna lichen, the manna of the Bible; but as this is an old-world species it is not within the intended scope of this article. The Iceland moss is a rigid, erect, branching moss, almost like a seaweed, and of brown color. It abounds in most northern latitudes. Richardson speaks of the Barren Grounds being covered with Cetraria of two species. When 330 The Book of Woodcraft boiled for an hour, it is highly nutritious. Those who wish to familiarize themselves with its appearance as a pre- liminary of northern travel can see it in. most drug shops. The reindeer moss is by far the most abundant of the food lichens. ‘There are thousands of square miles in the barren northern country, deeply covered with reindeer moss. It is indeed the most abundant form of vegetable life, the Cetraria. main support of the reindeer, and the ever-present and obvious guarantee to the traveler that he need not starve. It is readily known by its soft gray-green color and its branching like a little tree without leaves. It grows on rocks or on the ground, and masses sometimes like sponges. It is said to be a nutritious food. It is gritty unless col- lected carefully and washed. This latter, fortunately, is easily done, for grit sinks in the water and the moss floats when fresh. Boiling is the usual way of cooking it. Reindeer moss from Connecticut, however, I boiled for several hours without producing any evident change. It continued to be tough and unpalatable, and tasteless except for a slight suggestion of fish oil. Roasting was more successful than boiling. "When care- fully browned, I found it tasted not unlike burnt bread Health and Woodland Medicine ee crumbs, and, of course, was easily chewed. While roasting it gave off a smell, like seaweed. Rock-tripe. But the last, the rock-tripe or famine-food of the Indians, has proved the most satisfactory of all the starvation foods that I have experimented with. Every one knows it as the flat leathery crinkle-edged lichen that Rock-tripes. grows on rocks. It is blackish and brittle in dry weather, but dull dark greenish on the upper side in wet. It is largely composed of nutritious matter that can be assimi- lated by the human stomach. Unfortunately it is also a powerful purge, unless dried before being boiled, as food. Specimens gathered from the rocks in Connecticut — it is very widely distributed even in New England — after dry- ing and two or three hours boiling, produced a thick muci- laginous liquid and a granular mass of solid jelly, that were 332 The Book of Woodcraft mild and pleasant to the taste, entirely without the bitter- ness of Cetraria, etc. Indeed, it was sweetish, with a slight flavor of licorice and of sago, far from unpalatable at any time, and to a starving man, no doubt, a boon from heaven. It is less abundant in the north country than the reindeer moss, but yet of general distribution and to be found in great quantities and at all seasons of the year. Ledum 4 groenlandicum ® or Labrador Tea. rH Ledum palustre. Rock-tripe is the food that saved the life of Sir John Franklin and Dr. J. Richardson on their long and desper- ate journey for three months, in the summer and autumn of 1821, on foot from Fort Enterprise to the Polar Sea and back. The record of that expedition shows that when they were out of game, as soon happened, their diet was varied with burnt bones when they could find them and toasted Health and Woodland Medicine 333 leather and hide; but the staple and mainstay was rock- tripe. It is not delicious food, nor is it highly nutritious, but it will sustain life, and every traveler should know what it is like and how to use it. Drinks. It will be a fitting conclusion to this question of foods if we note one or two possible drinks. Franklin and Richardson used Labrador tea as a hot drink. This is an infusion of the plants figured here. But good and slightly nourishing drinks are made also of the buds, sprouts, or inner bark of spruce, basswood, tamarac, birch, and es- pecially of slippery elm. XIII. Natural History Our Common Birds or Forty Birds that Every Boy Should Know leucocephalus) is the emblem of America. It is three to four feet from beak to tail, and six or seven feet across the wings. When fully adult it is known by its white head, neck and tail, and the brown body; but when young it is brownish black, splashed and marked with dull white. The only other eagle found in the United States is the Golden or War Eagle (Aquila chrysaétos). This is a little larger. When full grown it is dark brown, with the basal half of tail more or less white. The plumage of the young birds is somewhat like that of the young Bald Eagle; but the two species may always be distinguished by the legs. The War Eagle wears leggings — his legs are feathered to the toes. He is ready for the warpath. The Bald Eagle has the legs bald, or bare on the lower half. Redtailed Hawk or Henhawk ( Buteo borealis). The com- mon hawks of America are very numerous and not easy to distinguish. The best known of the large kinds is the Redtail. This is about two feet long and four feet across the wings. In general it is dark brown above and white beneath, with dark brown marks; the tail is clear reddish with one black bar across near the tip. In young birds 334 "Te Bald Eagle or White-headed Eagle (Halieetos Natural History 335 the tail is gray with many small bars. It has four primaries notched on the inner web. The legs are bare of feathers for a space above the toes. It is common in North Bald Eagle’ Redtailed Hawk or Henhawk. America east of the Rockies up to mid-Canada. It does much good, killing mice and insects. It is noted for its circling flight and far-reaching whistle or scream. The Barred or Hoot Owl (Strix varia). This Owl is known at once by the absence of horns, the black eyes and the plumage barred across the chest and striped below that. It is about twenty inches long, in general gray-brown , marked with white. It is noted for its loud hooting; it is the noisiest owl in our woods. Found in the wooded parts of America up to about latitude 50 degrees, east of the Plains. 336 The Book of Woodcraft Great Horned Owl or Cat Owl (Bubo virginianus). This is the largest of our Owls. About twenty-four inches long and four feet across the wings. It is known at once by its great ear tufts, its yellow eyes, its generally barred plumage of white, black and buff, and its white shirt front. This is the winged tiger of the woods. Noted for its destruction of game and poultry, it is found throughout the timbered parts of North America. Screech Owl (Otus asio). This is not unlike the Horned Owl in shape and color but is much smaller — only “ten inches long. Sometimes its plumage is red instead of gray. It feeds on mice and insects and has a sweet mournful song in the autumn — its lament for the falling leaves. It is found in the timbered parts of North America. Turkey Vulture or Buzzard (Cathartes aura). The Turkey Vulture is about two and a half feet long and about six feet across its wings. It is black everywhere except on the under side of the wing which is gray, and the head which is naked and red. It is known at once by the naked head and neck, and is famous for its splendid flight. It is found from Atlantic to Pacific and north to the Sas- katchewan. It preys on carrion. In the Southern States is another species — the Black Vulture or Carrion Crow — which is somewhat smaller and wears its coat collar up to its ears instead of low on the neck; also its complexion is dusky not red. Loon (Gavia immer). The common Loon is known by its size — thirty-two inches long and about four feet across the wings — and its brilliant black and white plumage. It is noted for its skill as a fisher and diver. Its weird rolling call is heard on every big lake in the country. Common Seagull (Larus argentatus). The common Sea- gull is twenty-four inches long and four feet across. The plumage is white with blue-gray back, when adult; but Natural History 337 PS Screech Owl Turkey Vulture or Buzzard. 338 The Book of Woodcraft splashed brown when young, and with black tips to the wings. Its beak is yellow with red spot on the lower mandible. It is found throughout North America. Common Seagull. Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos). The white Pelican is known at once by its great size — about five feet long and eight feet across the wings — by its long beak, its pouch, and its feet fully webbed. Its plumage is white, but the wing tips are black. It is found in the interior of America up to Great Slave Lake. Wild Duck or Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). Of all our numerous wild ducks this is the best known. It is about twenty-three inches long. Its bottle-green head, white Natural History 339 collar, chestnut breast, penciled sides and curled up tail feathers identify it. The female is streaky brown and gray. It is found in all parts of the continent, up to the edge of the forest. This is the wild duck from which tame ducks are descended. Pelican. Wood Duck or Summer Duck (Aix sponsa). This beau- tiful duck is about eighteen inches long. Its head is beautifully variegated, bottle-green and white. Its eye is ced, its breast purplish chestnut, checkered with white spots, while its sides are buff with black pencilings. This 40 The Book of Woodcraft is one of the wildest and most beautiful of ducks. It nests in hol- low trees and is found in North America up to about latitude 50 de- Wild Duck or Mallard \ Bree: ( Wild Goose, Canada Goose or Honker (Branta canadensis). This fine bird is about three feet long. Its head and neck are black; its cheek patch white; its body gray; its tail black with white coverts above and below. It is found up to the Arctic regions, and breeds north of about latitude 45 de- grees. Itis easily tamed and reared in captivity. Swan. There are two kinds of Swan found in America: The Trum- peter (Olor buccinator), which is almost extinct, is very large and has a black bill, and the Whis- ” tling Swan (Olorcolumbi- anus), which is smaller —about five feet long p and seven feet across. Wild Goose, Canada Goose or Honker Its plumage is pure Natural History 341 white; its bill black, with a yellow spot near the eye. It is found generally throughout North America but is rare now. Bittern (Botaurus lengtiginosus). This bird of marshes is about twenty-eight inches long and can stand nearly three feet high. Its general color is warm yellowish brown splashed with dark brown. The black mark on the side Bittern Great Blue Heron of the neck is a strong feature, and its bright green legs and beak are very distinctive. It is famous for its guttural call notes in the marshes, and is found throughout North America up to about latitude 60 in the interior. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias). This bird is com- monly called Blue Crane. Its great size will distinguish it. In general] it is blue-gray above, white below; head, 342 The Book of Woodcraft white, with black hind head, crest and marks on neck, and shoulders. Its thighs are chestnut. It is found throughout North America to the limit of heavy tim- ber. Quail or Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus). This famous and delicate game bird is about ten inches long. Its plumage is beautifully varied with reddish brown, lilac, and black markings, on a white ground. Its whistle sounds like ‘‘Bob White.”’ It is found in eastern North America up to Massachusetts and South Ontario. Quail or Bobwhite Ruffed Grouse or Partridge Ruffed Grouse or Partridge (Bonasa umbellus). It is known by its mottled and brown plumage, its broad and beautiful fan tail, and the black ruffs on each side of the neck. It is noted for its drumming, which is usually a love song — a call to its mate. Found in the heavy woods of, North America, north of the Gulf States. Dove (Zenaidura macroura). This is an abundant inhabi- tant of the farming country as far north as wheat is now grown. It is about twelve inches long, and known Natural History 343 by its pigeon-like look, and its long wedge-shaped tail, with black and white marks on the feathers. Its breast is soft purplish gray. Its extinct relation, the once plentiful Passenger Pigeon, was eighteen inches long and had a reddish breast. Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens). About six and and a half inches long, black and white. In the male the nape is red, the outer tail feathers white, with black spots. Carefully distinguish this from its large relation the Hairy Woodpecker which is nine and a half inches long and has no black spots on the white outer tail feathers. A familiar inhabitant of orchards the year round, it is found in woods throughout eastern North America. Flicker or Highhole (Colaptes auratus). This large and beautiful woodpecker is twelve inches long. Its head is ashy gray behind, with q red nape in the neck, and brown- gray in front. On its breast is a black crescent. The spots below and the little bars above are black, and the under side of wings and tail are bright yellow. The rump is white. Its beautiful plumage and loud splendid “clucker” cry make it a joy in every woodland. It is found throughout North America, east of the Rockies up to the limit of trees. Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Trochilus colubris). Every one knows the Hummingbird. The male only has the throat of ruby color. It is about four inches long from tip of beak to tip of tail. This is the only Hummingbird found in the Northern States or Canada east of the Prairies. Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus). This bird is nearly black in its upper parts, white underneath, and has a black tail with white tip. Its concealed crest is orange and red. It is eight and a half inches long. Famous for its intrepid attacks on all birds, large and small, that 344 The Book of Woodcraft approach its nest, it is found in North America east of the Rockies, into Southern Canada. Bluejay (Cyanocitta cristata). This bird is soft purplish blue above, and white underneath. The wings and tail are bright blue with black: marks. It is found in the Downy Woodpecker. Kingbird. Natural History 345 woods of America east of the plains to about latitude 55. The Bluejay is a wonderful songster and mimic, but it is mischievous — nearly as bad as the crow indeed. Common Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos). The Crow is black from head to foot, body and’ soul. It is about ti Bobolink Bluejay. or Reedbird. eighteen inches long and thirty wide. It makes itself a nuisance in all the heavily wooded parts of E. North America. Bobolink or Reedbird (Dolichonyx oryzivorus). This bird is about seven and a half inches long. The plumage is black and white, with brown or creamy patch on nape; and the tail feathers all sharply pointed. The female, and the male in autumn, are all yellow buff with dark streaks. Though famous for its wonderful song as it flies over the meadows in June, it is killed by the thousands to supply the restaurants in autumn and served up under 346 The Book of Woodcraft the name Reedbird. It is found in North America, chiefly between north latitude 40 and 52 degrees. Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula). The Oriole is about eight inches long, flaming orange in color, with black head and back and partly black tail and wings. The female is duller in plumage. Famous for its beautiful nest, as Baltimore Oriole. Purple Grackle or Crow Blackbird. well as its gorgeous plumage and ringing song, it is abundant in Eastern North America in open woods up to Northern Ontario and Lake Winnipeg. Purple Grackle or Crow Blackbird (Quiscalus quiscala). This northern bird of paradise looks black at a distance but its head is shiny blue and its body iridescent. It is twelve inches long. When flying it holds its long tail with the edge raised like a boat, hence “‘boat tail.”” In various forms it is found throughout the eastern States, and in Canada up to Hudson Bay. Snowbird (Plectrophenax nivalis). About six and a half inches long, this bird is pure white, overlaid with brown Natural History 347 on the crown, back and sides. The wings, back and tail are partly black. The Snowbird nests in the Arctic regions and is common in most of temperate agricultural America, during winter, wherever there is snow. Baie apasiow Scarlet Tanager. Song-Sparrow (Melospiza melodia). The Song-sparrow is about six and a half inches long — brown above — white underneath. It is thickly streaked with blackish marks on flanks, breast and all upper parts. All the tail feathers are plain brown. There is a black blotch on the jaw and another on the middle of the breast. Always near a brook. 348 The Book of Woodcraft Tt is noted for its sweet and constant song, and is found in all well wocded and watered parts of North America. Scarlet Tanager (Piranga erythromelas). This gorgeous bird is about seven inches long. The plumage of the male is of a flaming scarlet, with black wings and tail; but the female is dull green in color. The Scarlet Tanager is found in the woods of eastern America, up to Ottawa and Lake Winnipeg. Purple Martin (Progne subis). About eight inches in length, with long wings and forked tail, the Purple Martin Purple Martin. Barn Swallow. is everywhere of a shiny bluish or purplish black. Like the Kingbird it attacks any intruder on its lower range. This swallow is found in the wooded regions of east tem- perate America, north to Newfoundland and the Sas- katchewan. Barn Swallow (Hirundro erythrogaster). About seven inches long, this bird is steel-blue above, chestnut on Natural History 349 throat and breast, buffy white on belly. It is known by the long forked tail which is dark with white spots. Famous for its mud nest, it is found in open country about barns in America generally. Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos). About ten inches long, soft gray above, dull white beneath, wings and tail Catbird. Mockingbird. black and white, with wo black on head — the Mocking- bird is famous for its song, and is found in United States north to New Jersey. Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis). This northern Mock- ingbird is about nine inches long, dark slate in color, with a black-brown cap, black tail and a red patch ‘‘on the seat of its pants.” It abounds in the Eastern States and Canada, north to Ottawa, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. 2 Common House Wren (Troglodyies aédon). This little fairy is about five inches long; soft brown above and brown- 350 The Book of Woodcraft ish gray below, it is barred with dusky brown on wings and tail. It nests in a hole, and is found in wooded America east of the plains, north to Saskatchewan. Ottawa and Maine. Chickadee (Penthestes atricapillus). This cheerful little bird is five and a half inches long. Its cap and throat are Chickadee. black. Its upper parts are gray, its under parts brownish, its cheeks white, no streaks anywhere. It does not migrate, so it is well known in the winter woods of eastern America up to the Canadian region where the Brown-Capped or Hudson Chickadee takes its place. Its familiar song chickadee dee dee has given it its name. Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelinus). About eight Natural History 351 inches long, cinnamon-brown above, brightest on head, white below, with black spots on breast and sides, this thrush is distinguished from the many thrushes in America much like it, by the reddish head and round black spots on its under sides. It is found in the woods of eastern North America up to Vermont and Minnesota. Robin (Planesticus migratorius). The Robin is about ten inches long, mostly dark gray in color, but with black on head and tail, its. breast is brownish red. The spots Wood Thrush. Bluebird. about the eye, also the throat, the belly and the marks in outer tail feathers are white. Its mud nest is known in nearly every orchard. Found throughout the timbered parts of America north to the limit of trees. Bluebird (Sialia sialis), About seven inches long, bril- liant blue above, dull red-brown on breast, white below. Found in eastern North America, north to about latitude so degrees in the interior, not so far on the coast. 352 The Book of Woodcraft BOOKS RECOMMENDED ‘Handbook of the Birds of Eastern North America,” By F. M. Chapman, Appleton, N. Y. Price $3.00. (Technical.) “Handbook of Birds of the Western United States,” By Florence Merriam Bailey. Houghton, Mifflin & Co. Price, $3.50. (Technical.) “Bird Homes,” By A. R. Dugmore. Doubleday, Page & Co. (Popular.) “Bird Neighbors,” By Neltje Blanchan. Doubleday, Page & Co. (Popular.) “Birds That Hunt and Are Hunted,” By Neltje Blanchan. Doubleday, Page & Co. (Popular.) How to Stuff a Bird (By E. T. S. from Country Life, July, 1904) A boy found a bird that was lying dead in the woods. Its beautiful plumage, its form and its markings delighted his eye. He carried it home to show to his mother and to ask its name. She admired it with him but she could not tell him what it was, and at length said, ‘“Now go and bury it before it begins to smell.” The boy had not given a thought to the history of the bird, nor had its death caused him a touch of sorrow. He was interested in it as a strange and beautiful thing, and the idea of burying all that beauty, or — worse — see- ing it corrupt, now gave him a deep regret. “How I wish I knew, how to stuff it,” he said, feeling that then he might always renew his present enjoyment. He was expressing the feeling of most young people when they see a dead bird. All would like to save its beautiful plumage at least. They know it can be done, but have Natural History 353 an idea that it is a very difficult thing. In a sense this is true. It is so difficult to stuff a bird well, that not many men in the world to-day can doit. As with all arts, there can be but few masters. But the main process itself is easy to learn; and if the boy who tries to do it fails in making a life-like bird of his specimen, he at least does three things: he saves its beautiful plumage; he adds to his bird acquaintance; and he gains a keener appreciation of the work of others. While each taxidermist has his own methods, all agree in the main. The directions here given are those, recom- mended by good authorities, and that I have found most practical in my own work. There are two ways of preserving a bird: (a) By making a skin. (b) By mounting the bird. MAKING A SKIN The first is removing and preserving the skin in such a way that it may always serve to show what the bird’s plumage is like. Most naturalists prefer to keep their specimens as skins, not only because it is easier and cheaper to do so, but because then they take up less room, and the skin may be properly mounted at any later time. These are the tools and materials used in making a skin: A sharp knife, a pair of stout, short scissors, and a pair of small forceps. (It is, however, quite possible to dispense with all but the knife and scissors in making a bird skin. I rarely use any tool but the scissors.) For materials you will need cotton wool, needle and thread, arsenical soap (some naturalists prefer dry white arsenic) and cornmeal (or fine hardwood sawdust). Some 354 The Book of Woodcraft plaster of paris and benzine will also be required if the specimen is soiled with grease. The hardest birds to begin on are the very large ones, and the next hardest, perhaps, are the very small ones. The easiest birds are those about the size of a robin or bluejay (leaving out the woodpeckers). Supposing the specimen to be skinned is a robin: First put a little plug of cotton wool in its throat and mouth, also into any wounds the bird may have, to stanch the flow of blood, etc. This should be done the moment the bird comes into your possession. Now lay the bird on its back, tail toward your right hand, part the feathers, and make a slit from near the end of the breast-bone into the vent (S.V. Fig. 1 p. 356), taking care to cut only the skin, not the walls of the abdomen. Separate the skin from the flesh by pushing it with the finger nail or knife-blade. As soon as the flesh is exposed, put a pinch of meal on it to keep the feathers from sticking, and also to soak up oil, blood, etc. Some use plaster for this; but plaster is disagreeable under the finger nails, it takes the gloss off the feathers, and if the specimen happens to be a game-bird it injures the meat for the table. The plaster is better however for white, fluffy birds, as meal or sawdust lodges in the down. Push the skin from the body till the leg is reached. Work the leg out of the skin till the knee-joint is clear on the inside of the skin; (H L, Fig. 2) cut the leg off at the knee, taking great care not to cut or tear the skin. The severed leg now hangs to the skin. When both legs are thus cut, work around the base of the tail, freeing the skin. Then cut straight through the bone and all, with the scissors, at the part marked with arrow and black line in Fig. 3 —leaving the tail bone with the tail hanging to the skin, Natural History 355 This is one of the most difficult parts of the skinning. It is so hard to get at, and so easy to tear the skin, that one is to be congratulated if in the first lesson he safely “rounds Cape Horn.” At all stages keep the meal applied to the body as fast as it is exposed, and in quantity enough to soak up all moisture; and avoid stretching the skin. With the tail and legs free, there is no difficulty in pushing the skin off until stopped by the wings. Cut them off at the shoulder joint deep in the muscles of the breast (W. W, Fig. 4), leaving them attached to the skin, just as the legs and tail are. The skin is now inside out. It can readily be worked along the neck and onto the head. Here it is stopped by the ears. In the robin these are like pockets of skin tucked into the small skull and may be easily pulled out without cutting. In large birds the knife must be used. The next and last difficulty is the eyes. The skin must be cut free from them, carefully avoiding injury to the eyelids or the eyeballs. Now the skin is attached only to the forepart of the skull (Fig. 4). Cut off the neck at the back of the skull and the skin is freed from the body, but needs careful cleaning. Dig the eyes out of the sockets, taking great care not to break the eyeballs, as their liquid is very difficult to remove from the feathers. Cut out a section of the skull so as to enlarge the hole behind by extending it downward and sideways, as shown in Fig. 5, and remove the brains through this. Cut off any lumps of flesh left about the jaws, but do not break the jaw bone or its joints. Next turn attention to the wings. Push the skin back to the first joint (the elbow) in each. Cut and scrape the meat from the bone. But there is a joint beyond 356 The Book of Woodcraft sa alles 6 7 Se C i coscoh. CONT _ ZN Z GL SE Skinning and stuffing a Robin Natural History 357 this—the one that corresponds with our forearm. This must be reached in a different way. There are two bones in this, and the space between them is full of meat. The quill feathers on its under side hold the skin tight. In birds up to the size of a robin, this can be cut out after the skin is forced a little farther back than the elbow joint on the upper side, but in large birds it is well to slit the skin under the wing from X to J (Fig. 1), along the line between the two bones. Clean off the leg bones in the same way as the first wing joint, turning the skin back as far as the heel joint (H in Fig. 2). Carefully scrape off any lumps of fat left on the skin, and especially remove the grease and flesh about the tail bones. Now this is the time I have usually found most con- venient to remove stains from the plumage. If of blood, hold the stained feathers on the inside rim of a cup of lukewarm water and wash till clear. Then dry the feathers with cornmeal. The shaking and turning they get in the next operation will make them fluff out as before. If the stain is grease, use a cream made of benzine and plaster of Paris. Let this dry on the feathers. It dries as powder and falls off, taking the grease with it. The next thing I now do is to tie the wing bones with a stout linen thread, so that their ends are shackled together as far apart as in life, (Fig. 6.) Some do not do this, but it strengthens the skin, and I find it a great help in several ways. Now comes the poisoning. After trying dry arsenic for long, I have come back to the old-fashioned arsenical soap. It is much less liable to poison any one, since it is not blown about by the wind. It does not look like anything but soap and hence is unlikely to be mistaken 358 The Book of Wooderaft for something good to eat. And last of all the soap in it takes care of the grease in the skin. Every part of the under side of the skin and of the bones exposed is to be painted with this cream of the soap. It is well now to lay a thin film of cotton over the skin or sprinkle it lightly with sawdust to keep the feathers from sticking in the soap. Make two tight round plugs of cotton each as big as the eyeball, put one into each eye-socket. Now push the head back into its place. This is easy when the neck is slippery with the soap. Work the wing and legs back into their places after wrapping each of the bones with enough cotton to take the place of the flesh cut off. This wrapping is not necessary with very small birds, but the larger the bird, the more it is needed. Make a neck of the cotton, push it with the forceps up the neck skin, and well into the skull. Let it hang into the body part, under the string that joins the wing bones. Push another soft wad up the neck and into the throat. Shape a large piece of cotton for the body; set it in place, and draw the skin gently over it till the opening is closed. In large birds it is well to stitch this up, but it is not needed in small ones. All that is needed now is the prinking. Use a needle through the openings of the eyes to fluff out the cotton balls in each, till they fill out the sides of the head properly. Set the innermost wing bones parallel with each other. Aim to arrange the feathers by arranging the skin and bones to which they are attached, rather than by prinking the feathers themselves. If the wing was slit open as at X J, (Fig. 1), fill the space with cotton and close with a few stitches. If at any time it is necessary to leave the specimen half Natural History 359 finished, wrap it in a damp cloth and put it in a close tin box. This will keep it from getting dry. In skinning large birds, a strong hook, attached to a string from the wall in front and above, is a great help. As soon as the tail is cut off stick this hook into the bony pelvis. It holds the bird away from you and answers as a third hand. Finally, make a little shroud out of a sheet of cotton and wrap the bird in this before setting it to dry. Cross the legs as in Fig. 7, and attach a label to these, giving date, sex and place where the bird was taken. The work is now done. But it is wise to lift the skin the next morning and see if all goes well. In a few days it will be dry and safe from ordinary corruption, but must be protected from moth and insects. This is a museum skin. It can be kept indefinitely in this shape, or at any time it can be softened up and mounted. MOUNTING THE BIRD For mounting the bird some additional tools and mate- rials are needed, namely: A pair of wire cutters. A pair of pliers. A file, Some glass eyes, Some annealed or soft iron wire of several sizes, Some tow, and a ball of stout packthread with needle to match. A few ordinary carpenter tools are needed to make the stand, but that is another department. The first part of the mounting is the skinning carried out exactly as in making the skin, up to the point where the cotton is put in. Now there is a difference. You 360 The Book of Woodcraft : cannot put a wire through cotton, therefore use no cotton in a bird to be mounted; use tow instead. Plug the eyes, wrap the legs and wings as before, but with tow. If it is a dry skin that is to be mounted remove the cotton body and replace it with a lump of cotton soaked with water. Wrap damp cloth or cotton around the outside of each leg, and on the bend of each wing. Shut this up in a tin box for twenty-four hours and it will be soft and can be treated like a fresh skin. Cut a wire (of stovepipe size) about a foot long. File a sharp point at one end and bend the other end into a hook (Fig. 8). Take tow in long strips and lash it tight over, around and through the hook — stitching it tight and binding it on with plenty of packthread — until you have a body the size and shape of the one you took out of the robin, with a neck on it also, like the bird’s own neck (Figs. 9 and 10). Of course the real body should be at hand to give the measurements. Keep the neck lower than it appears, because the real neck is supple and drops low between the shoulders in a way not possible for the substitute. This body should be hard enough to hold a pin or needle driven into it; indeed some taxi- dermists use bodies carved out of cork. Put the point of the wire up the neck, and out through the top of the skull between the eyes (N. W. Fig. 11). Gently work the neck up to the back of the skull and the body into its place. Now make two other sharpened wires. Work one up through each foot under the skin of the leg, under the wrapping, and on straight through the hard body — which it enters about the middle of the side (X in Fig. 9). When this is far enough through clinch it and drive it back firmly into the body; taking care to avoid tearing the skin, by easing up the leg on the wire, as it is drawn back. Natural History 361 Do the same for the other leg. Get the tail into its right place; drive a sharpened 3-inch wire through the pope’s nose or tail bone into the body to hold it there; work the skin together till the opening can be closed with a few stitches; and now we are ready for the stand. The simplest is the best for the present purpose. A piece of a board slightly hollowed on the under side is got ready in a few minutes. With an awl bore two holes through this about one inch apart and run a foot-wire through each. Clinch them on the under side, fastening them firmly with tacks or small staples. Now we are ready to give the robin its natural pose. This is done by bending the wires in the neck and legs. A wire or a large pin will have to be driven into each wing to hold it to the side, at least while drying (X, Fig. 11); and another in the middle of the back (B P, Fig. 11). The prinking of the specimen is now done chiefly with needles reaching through the feathers to the skin. Pins may be driven into the body anywhere to hold the skin or feathers in place; and cotton thread may be lashed around the body or the wings and around the projecting wire till everything is held in the position that is wished. Then the bird is set away to dry. In a week the specimen should be ready for the finishing touch — the putting in of the eyes. A plug of damp cotton is fastened on each eye-place the night before. In the morning the eyelids are once more soft. The eyes are put through the opening in the sockets, the lids neatly set around them. Some prefer to set them in a bed of putty or plaster of paris. Cut off the projecting wires flush, so that the feathers hide what is left, remove the thread lashings and the mounting of the robin is finished. The process is much the same for all birds, but the larger 362 The Book of Woodcraft the bird the more difficult. Seabirds, ducks, and divers are usually opened at the back or under the side. Wood- peckers and owls and some others have the head so large that it will not come through the neck skin. This calls for a slit down the nape of the neck, which, of course, is carefully sewn up in finishing. If the bird is to have its wings spread, each wing must be wired to the body in the way already set forth for the legs. If the bill keeps open when you want it shut, put a pin through the lower jaw into the palate toward the part in front of the eyes, or even wind a thread around the bill behind the pin (see Fig. rr). The mistakes of most beginners are: making the neck too long, stuffing it too full, or putting the body so far into it as to stretch the skin and show bare places. To make good accessories for a group of mounted birds is another very special business. It involves a knowledge of wax flowers, imitation woods, water, stones, etc., and is scarcely in the line of the present book. Therefore the beginner is advised to use the simplest wooden stands. Not every one has the taste for natural history, but those who have will find great pleasure in preserving their birds. They are not urged to set about making a collection, but simply to preserve such specimens as fall in their way. In time these will prove to be many, and when mounted they will be a lasting joy to the youthful owner. If the museum should grow too large for the house, there are many public institutions that will be glad to offer their hospitality and protection. There is, moreover, a curious fatality attending a begin- ner’s collection. It hardly ever fails. He speedily has the good luck to secure some rare and wonderful specimen that has eluded the lifelong quest of the trained and pro- fessional expert. Natural History 363 (From Country Life, June 1904) OWL-STUFFING PLATE (P. 364) Fig. 1. The dead owl, showing the cuts made in skinning it: A to B, for the body; El to H, on each wing, to remove the meat of the second joint. Fig. 2. After the skinning is done, the skull remains attached to the skin, which is now inside out. The neck and body are cut off at Ct. Sn to Sn shows the slit in the nape needed for owls _and several other birds. Fig. 3. Top view of the tow body, neck end up, and neck wire projecting. Fig. 4. Side view of the tow body, with the neck wire put through it. The tail end is downward. Fig. 5. The heavy iron wire for neck. Fig. 6. The owl after the body is putin. It is now ready to close up, by stitching up the slit on the nape, the body slit B to C, and the two wing slits El to H on each wing. Fig. 7. A dummy as it would look if all the feathers were off. This shows the proper position for legs and wings on the body. At Wisa glimpse of the leg wire entering the body at the middle of the side. Fig. 8. Another view of the body without feathers. The dotted lines show the wires of the legs through the hard body, and the neck wire. Fig. 9. Two views of one of the eyes. These are on a much larger scale than the rest of the figures in this plate. Fig. 10. The finished owl, with the thread wrappings on and the wires still projecting. Nw is endof the neck wire. Bp is back-pin, that is, the wire in the centre of the back, Ww and Ww are the wing wires. Tl are the cards pinned on the tail to hold it flat while it dries. In the last operation remove the thread and cut all these wires off close, so that the feathers hide what remains. STUFFING AN ANIMAL Mounting a mammal, popularly called animal, is a much more difficult thing than mounting — that is, stuffing — a bird. 364 The Book of Woodcraft q I ) i a i a =} UCT n To illustrate the mounting of a Horned Owl. uteri! Natural History 365 It is so difficult that I do not advise any boy to try it unless he has the time and patience to go into it seriously. To do this he should get some standard treatise on Taxidermy, such as: “Taxidermy and Zodlogical Collecting,’ by W. T. Hornaday. (Scribners. $2.50) or “The Art of Taxidermy,” by John T. Rowley. (Mac- millan’s. $1.75.) Nevertheless all may learn to preserve the skins of small animals for cabinet collections, or for mounting at some later time. The best instructions for this are those issued by the Biological Survey of the United States Department of Agriculture. I reproduce them. PRESERVING SMALL MAMMAL SKINS By Dr. C. Hart Merriam Directions for Measurement The tools necessary for measuring mammals are a pair of compasses or dividers, a steel rule graduated in milli- meters, and two large pins. Dividers with round points are better than those with triangular points. All measurements should give the distance in a straight line between the points indicated. They should be taken by means of dividers, or by driving pins into a board to mark the points between which the measurement is desired. They should never be made with a tape-linc over the convexities or inequalities of the surface. The three most important measurements, and those which should always be taken in the flesh are: (1) total length; (2) length of tail; (3) length of hind foot. The Book of Woodcraft 366 JeUIeU ][eWs B IINSvITH 0} MOF ‘Dr.Q.Haar Meany, eee | Ra am See LS Natural History 367 (z) The Torat LencrtH is the distance between the tip of the nose and the end of the tail vertebre. It is taken by laying the animal on a board, with its nose against a pin or upright post, and by straightening the back and tail by extending the hind legs with one hand while holding the head with the other; a pin is then driven into the board at the end of the vertebre. (See Fig. 2.) (2) The LENGTH or Tart is the length of the caudal vertebre. It is taken by erecting the tail at right angle to the back, and placing one point of the dividers on the backbone at the very root of the tail, the other at the tip end of the vertebrie. (See Fig. 3.) (3) The HIND Foor is measured by placing one point of the dividers against the end of the heel (calcaneum), the other at the tip of the longest claw, the foot being flattened for this purpose. (See Fig. 4.) DIRECTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF SKINS Skin all mammals as soon as possible after death. Lay the animal.on its back, and make an incision along the middle of the belly from just behind the fore legs nearly to the vent. Be careful not to stretch the skin while removing it, and exercise great caution in skinning around the eyes and lips, which are easily cut. Skin as far down on the feet as possible, but leave in the bones of the legs. Remove the bone from the tail by pulling it between the fingers (in the larger species a split stick answers well). Take out the skull, being careful not to cut or injure it in any way, and wash out the brains by means of a syringe or jet of water. Remove the tongue, and cut off the thick flesh from the sides and base of the skull. Tie a tag to the skull, bearing the same number 368 The Book of Woodcraft that is attached to the skin, and dry in the shade. In damp weather it is sometimes necessary to use powdered borax to prevent the remaining flesh from decomposing. Never put arsenic or salt on a skull. Remove all fat and tags of flesh that,adhere to the skin. In cleaning off blood or dirt that may have soiled the hair an old toothbrush and a liberal supply of corn- meal will be found serviceable. Poison all parts of the skin with dry arsenic (or better still, with a mixture of powdered arsenic and alum in the proportion of four parts arsenic to one part alum), being particular to put an extra supply in the feet and tail. Put a wire in the body, letting it extend to the extreme tip of the tail, but be careful not to stretch the tail. Use annealed iron wire of as large size as will fit easily into the tip end of the tail. In rabbits, foxes, and wildcats put wires in the legs also. Stuff the skin to nearly its natural size with cotton or tow (never use wool, feathers, or other animal substances); sew it up along the belly, and place it flat on a board to dry (belly down), with the fore legs extended in front and parallel to the body (#. e., not projecting sideways), and the hind legs and tail directed backward. The accompanying cut (Fig. 1) shows the appearance of a well- made skin, Attach to each skin a label bearing the same number that is given the skull. On this label should be stated the sex, locality, date of capture (name of month should always be written in full), and name of collector. All skins should be thoroughly dry before they are packed for shipment. They should be carefully wrapped in cotton and packed in small wooden boxes. Cigar-boxes do very well for the smaller species. Wasuincton, D. C., March, 1889. Natural History 369 TRAPPING ANIMALS Trapping wild ‘animals with steel traps is a wretchedly cruel business and will doubtless be forbidden by law before long. The old-fashioned deadfall which kills the animal at once is quite sufficient for all the legitimate work of atrapper. But many boys wish to capture animals alive without doing them any injury, and this is easily managed for most species if a ketchalive is used. The Were netting : xe . Section of Boxtrap or pT Ketchalive “Ketthalive (set) ketchalive or old-fashioned box trap is made in a hundred different ways; but the main principles are shown in the illustration. The lock on the side is necessary for some species, such as skunks, that would easily lift the lid and escape. For skunks, cats, weasels, mink, rats, etc., use a piece of chicken as bait. For rabbits use bread, turnip, apple, or other vegetable. The trap should be visited every morning or not used at all. THE SECRETS OF THE TRAIL It was Fenimore Cooper who first put the good Indian on paper — who called the attention of the world to the wonderful woodcraft of these most wonderful savages, 370 The Book of Woodcraft It was he who made white men realize how far they had got away from the primitive. It was he who glorified the woodman and his craft. Yet nowhere do we find in Cooper’s novels any attempt to take us qut and show us this woodcraft. He is content to stand with us afar off and point it out as something to be worshiped — to point it out and let it die. Fenimore Cooper has had many imitators, just as Uncas has had many successors. The fine art of trailing is still maintained in the Far West, and it has always seemed strange to me that none has endeavored to give it perma- nent record, other than superlative adjectives of outside praise. TRAILING What is trailing? The fox-hunter has some idea when he sees a superb pack follow a faint scent through a hundred perplexing places, discerning just which way the fox went, and about how long ago. The detective does another kind of trailing when he follows some trifling clue through the world of thought, tracing the secret of an unknown man along an invisible path, running it to earth at last in the very brain that conceived it. In his trailing the Indian uses the senses of the “‘animal” to aid the brain of the man. To a great extent his eyes do the work of the hound’s nose, but the nose is not idle. When the trail disappears, he must do the human detective work; but under all circumstances his brains must be backed by the finest senses, superb physique, and ripe experience, or he cannot hope to overmatch his prey. HARD TO PHOTOGRAPH TRACKS When, in 1882, I began my dictionary of tracks (see “Life Histories of Northern Animals’’), I found that there was Natural History 371 no literature on the subject. All facts had to be gathered directly from Nature. My first attempts at recording tracks were made with pencil and paper. Next, realizing how completely the pencil sketch is limited by one’s own knowledge, I tried photography; but it invariably happens that not one track in ten thousand is fit for photographing, and it cannot be taken except when the sun is about thirty degrees above the horizon — that is, high enough to make a picture, and low enough to cast a shadow of every detail. Thus photography was possible only for about an hour in the early morning and an hour in the late afternoon. But the opportunity in the meanwhile usually was gone. I then tried making a plaster cast of the tracks in the mud. Only one such in a million was castable. As a matter of fact, none of the finest were in the mud; and the much more interesting dust-tracks were never within reach of this method. For most practical purposes I have been forced to make my records by drawing the tracks. NO TWO TRACKS ALIKE The trailer’s first task is to learn the trails he means to follow. The Red Indian and the Bushman, of course, simply memorize them from their earliest days, but we find it helpful and much easier to record them in some way. Apart from other considerations, a form is always better comprehended if we reproduce it on paper. As a general principle, no two kinds of animals leave the same track. As a matter of fact, no two individuals leave the same trail. Just as surely as there are differences in size and disposition, so there will be corresponding differences in its trail; but this is refining beyond the purposes of prac- ticability in most cases, and for the present we may be satisfied to consider it a general rule that each species 578 The Book of Woodcraft leaves its own clearly recognizable track. One of my daily pastimes when the snow is on the ground — which is the easiest and ideal time for the trailer, and especially for the beginner — is to take up some trail early in the morning and follow it over hill and dale, carefully noting any change and every action as written in the snow, and it is a won- derfully rewarding way of learning the methods and life of an animal. The trail records with perfect truthfulness everything that he did or tried to do at a time when he was unembarrassed by the nearness of his worst enemy. The trail is an autobiographic chapter of the crea- ture’s life, written unwittingly, indeed, and in perfect sincerity. Whenever in America during the winter I have found myself with time to pass between trains, I endeavor to get out into the country, and rarely fail to find and read one of these more or less rewarding chapters, and thus get an insight into the life of the animal, as well as into the kinds that are about; for most quadrupeds are noc- turnal, and their presence is generally unsuspected by those who do not know how to read the secrets of the trail. DOG AND CAT The first trails to catch the eye and the best for first study are those nearest home. Two well-marked types are the tracks of cat and dog. Most anatomists select the cat as the ideal of muscular and bony structure. It is the perfect animal, and its track also is a good one to use for standard. (Illustration 1, p. 374.) In these separate prints the roundness of the toe-pads tells the softness; their spread from each other shows the suppleness of the toes; the absence of claw-marks tells of the retractability of these weapons. The front and hind Natural History 373 feet are equal in length, but the front feet are broader. This is the rule among true quadrupeds. The series of tracks — that is, its trail — shows the manner of the cat in walking. In this the animal used apparently but two legs, because the hind foot falls exactly on the trail made by the front foot, each track being really doubled. This is perfect tracking. There are several advantages in it. Every teamster knows that a wagon whose hind wheels do not exactly follow the front wheels is a very bad wagon to haul in sand, snow, or mud. The trail for it has to be broken twice, and the labor increased, some say, 50 per cent. This same principle holds good in the case of the cat track: by correct following the animal moves more easily. But there is still a more important reason. A hunting cat sneaking through the woods after prey must keep its eyes on the woods ahead or on the prey itself. At the very most it may pick out a smooth, safe, silent place for its front feet to tread on. Especially at the climax of the hunt all its senses are focussed on the intended victim; it cannot select a safe spot for each hind foot in turn, even though the faintest crunch of a dry leaf will surely spoil the stalk. But there is no danger of that; the cat can see the spots selected for the front feet, and the hind feet are so perfectly trained that they seek unerringly the very same spots—-the safe places that the front feet have just left. Thus perfect stepping is silent stepping, and is essential to all creatures that stalk their prey. The opposite kind of stepping is seen in very heavy animals which frequent marshy ground; to them it would be a positive disadvantage to set the hind foot in the tread of the front foot, where so much of the support has just been destroyed. The ox illustrates this. These principles are applicable in geology, where the trails are the only biographical records of certain species. From the manner 374 The Book of Woodcraft € @ ‘ae ay front foot & hind foot hind foot No. 1 Cat. No. 2 Dog. Natural History 375 of setting the feet we can distinguish the predacious and the marsh-frequenting quadrupeds. The next track likely to be seen is that of the dog (Illustration 2). In this the harder, less pliant foot and the non-retractile claws are clearly seen. But the trail shows the dog is not a correct walker. His tracks are “out of register” as a printer would say. And he has a glaring defect — the result no doubt of domestication, of long generations on pavements and in houses — he drags his toes. All these things contribute to make the dog a noisy walker in the woods. WOLF It is well at this time to compare the track of the dog with that of the wolf. I have made dozens of drawings, casts, prints, photographs, and studies of wolf and dog tracks; and have not found a single reliable feature that will distinguish them. One hunter says the wolf has the relatively small outer toes. Yes, sometimes; but not when compared with a collie. Another says that the wolf’s foot is longer; but not when compared with that of a greyhound, staghound, or lurcher. Another, the wolf’s foot is larger; yet it will not rank in size with that of a St. Bernard or a great Dane. The wolf lifts his feet neatly without dragging his toes; but so do many dogs, especially country dogs. Thus all these diagnostics fail. On the whole a wolf is a better walker than a dog. His tracks do usually register, but not always, and in some wolves rarely. Tf a wolf-track in the snow be followed for a mile or two, it will be found to go cautiously up to an unusual or promising object. (Illustration 3.) It is obviously the trail of a suspicious, shy creature while the dog-trail 376 The Book of Woodcraft is direct, and usually unafraid. But this does not apply to the dogs which poach or kill sheep. There is therefore no sure means of distinguishing them, = S g =a fron G oo +009 x | No, 3 Dog and Wolf. 00: even in the wilderness. One can only judge by prob- abilities. I have often heard inexperienced hunters boast that they could “tell them every time”; but old hunters usually say, “No man can tell for sure.” Natural History 377 RABBITS AND HARES America is well provided with rabbits and hares. A score or more of species are now recognized, and two very well-known types are the cottontail of the woods and the jack-rabbit of the plains. The cottontail is much like an English rabbit, but it is a little smaller, has shorter ears, and the whole under part of the tail is glorified into a fluffy, snowy powder-puff. It leads the life of a hare, not making burrows, but entering burrows at times under the stress of danger. The track of a New England cottontail is given in Illustration 4. As the cottontail bounds, the hind feet track. ahead of the front feet, and the faster he goes the faster ahead his hind feet get. This is true of all quadrupeds that bound, but is more obvious in the rabbits, because the fore and hind feet differ so much in size. The jack-rabbit of Kansas is the best known of the long-eared jacks. His trail, compared with that of the cottontail, would be as in Illustrations 5 and 6. The greater size of the marks and the double length of the bounds are the obvious but not important differ- ences, because a young jack would come down to the cottontail standard. The two reliable differences I found are: First, the jack’s feet are rarely paired when he is bounding at full speed, while the cottontail pairs his hind feet but not his front ones. (Animals which climb usually pair their front feet in running, just as tree-birds hop when on the ground.) Second, the stroke that is shown (x in Illustration 5) is diagnostic of the southern jack-rabbit; it is the mark made by the long hanging tail. Each of the four types of hare common in the temperate The Book of Woodcraft 378 fot POU HEE oe syoee = <~ e & oy yore af Aiea & Se paqrayrre te doy hy No. 6. No. 7. No. 5 Jack-rabbit No. 4 Cottontail. Natural History 379 parts of America has its own style of tail and fashion of wearing it: The northern or white-tailed jack carries his snowy- white tail out straight behind, so its general pure-white is visible; The southern or black-tailed jack has his tail jet-black on the upper part, and he carries it straight down; The varying hare has an inconsequent, upturned tuft, like a tear in his brown pantaloons, showing the white undergarment; The cottontail has his latter end brown above, but he keeps it curled up tight on his back, so as to show nothing but the gleaming white puff of cotton on a helpful back- ground of rich brown. The cottontail’s tail never touches the ground except when he sits down on it. The most variable features of any animal are always its most specialized features. The jack-rabbit’s tail-piece is much subject to variation, and the length and depth of the little intertrack-ial dash that it makes in the snow is a better guide to the individual that made it than would be the tracks of all four feet together. THE NEWTON JACK-RABBIT During February of 1902, I found myself with a day, to spare in the hotel office at Newton, Kan. I asked the usual question, ‘“‘Any wild animals about here?” and got the usual answer, ‘No, all been shot off.” I walked down the street four blocks from the hotel, and found a jack-rabbit trail in the snow. Later I found some cottontail tracks, though still in town. I walked a mile into the country, met an old farmer who said that “No rabbits were ever found around here.” A quarter of a mile away was an orchard, and beside it a fence half buried 380 The Book of Woodcraft in snow drifts that were yellow with tall dead grass sticking through. This was promising, so I went thither, and on the edge of the drift found a jack-rabbit form or den, with fresh tracks leading out and away at full speed. There were no tracks leading in, so he must have gone in there before the last snow came, and that was the night before. When a jack runs without fear of any enemy at hand, he goes much like a fox or an antelope, leaving a trail, as in No. 5. But when an enemy is close at hand he runs with long, low hops, from six to seven in succession, then gives an upright leap to take an observation, leaving a trail thus. (Illustration 7.) A silly young jack will lose time by taking one in three for observation, but a clever old fellow is content with one in ten. Here was the trail of this jack straight away, but taking about one observation in twelve hops. He had made a fence a quarter-mile off, and there had sat for some time observing, had then taken alarm and run toward a farmyard, a quarter-mile farther, taking occasional observa- tions. A dog was lying on a doorstep by the road, and past this dog he had run, doing twenty-foot leaps. Two hundred yards down this road he had turned abruptly, as though a human still in sight had scared him. I now began to think the jack was near at hand, although so far I had not seen him. The trail led through several barbed- wire fences and some hedges, then made for another barn- yard half a mile off. Iwas now satisfied that he was only a little ahead of me, therefore I ceased watching the track so closely, watching rather the open plain ahead; and far on, under a barbed-wire fence, sitting up watching me, I soon saw my jack. He ran at once, and the line of his hops, was so — (Illustration 8) — the high ones being for observation. (pen chloe | eee OP ONT - Natural History 381 He never let me get within two hundred yards, and he wasted but little time in observation. He had now taken me on a two-mile circuit and brought me back to the starting point. So he had taught me this—a cunning old jack-rabbit lived in the region around which I had followed him, for they keep to their homeground. All his ways of running and observing, and of using barbed- a eal Asa s* oh a ied a &, . ee = ore Pa a3 . * ys an ee JN aD Wee SS t/ i {f oe ahi t a , X INKY, ? ' yy ar ia a Zee a Za ee Ppa! - & / Pa eS, 2 uh os” t