Smoke signal of successful war party

OPPS NEG.53511

Description in text (page 538) as follows: "Success Of A War Party. Whenever a war party, consisting of either Pima, Papago, or Maricopa Indians, returned from an expedition into the Apache country, their success was announced from the first and most distant elevation visible from their settlements. The number of scalps secured was shown by a corresponding number of columns of smoke, arranged in a horizontal line, side by side, so as to be distinguishable by the observers. When the returning party was unsuccessful no such signals were made. (Pima and Papago I.) Figure 339. A similar custom appears to to have existed among the Ponkas, although the custom has apparently been discontinued by them, as shown in the following proper name: C'u-de g'a-xe, Smoke maker; He who made smoke by burning grass returning from war."

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