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Show 198 PICT0GBAPH8 OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN8. The following is the text in Afgaltixamut: Nu- nA- mu- quk' A- x' 1- xik' ai- ba- li to- qgu- qiu gfi nii- hu tcuk nac- qui Place two quarrel ( with) one an- ( one) killed him ( the large knife took head other. other) ( with a) qlu- gft, i- n6- qtclu- gu; Ka- s& ha- lik' na- bdn'ca- gti- liik a- gti- nii- qua- qlu- hft'. off. laid him down; Shaman etick bird to set ( or place) on the ( bnried) ( offering) ( wooden) top of ( over). That portion of the Kauvuya tribe of Indians in Southern California known as the Playsanos, or toiclanders, formerly inscribed characters upon the gravestones of their dead, relating to the pursuits or good qualities of the deceased. Dr. W. J. Hoffinan obtained several pieces or slabs of finely- grained sandstone near Los Angeles, California, during the summer of 1884, which had been used for this purpose. Upon these were the drawings, in incised lines, of the Fin- back whale, with figures of men pursuing them with harpoons. Around the etchings were close parallel lines with cross lines similar to the drawings made on ivory by the southern Innuit of Alaska. GRAVE- POSTS. Figures 113 and 114 were procured from a native Alaskan by Dr. Hoffman in 1882, and explained to him to be drawings made upon grave- posts. Drawings similar to these are made on slabs of wood by devoted friends, or relatives, to present and perpetuate the good qualities of a deceased native. The occupation is usually referred to, * i* Y as well as articles of importance of which the departed < tf one was the possessor. r Figure 113 refers to a hunter, as land animals are + shown as the chief pursuit. The following is the expla- 2 nation of the characters: 1. The baidarka, or boat, holding two persons; the occupants are shown, as are also the paddles, which project below the horizontal body of the vessel. / W* f * 2. A rack for drying skins and fish. A pole is added above it, from which are seen floating streamers of calico or cloth. * 3. A fox. 4. A land otter. 5. The hunter's summer habitations. These are tem- 4ftk porary dwellings and usually constructed at a distance .. nmttm from home. This also indicates the profession of a skin- J^ 1 8ASJKT hunter, as the permanent lodges, indicated as winter houses, t. &, with round or dome- like roof, are located near the sea- shore, and summer houses are only needed when at some distance from home, where a considerable length of time is spent. |
