Indian Sign Language

Brlg. Gen. Gibbon entertained an audience last evening with some reminiseences of his services among the Indians, says the Washington Star. Gen. Gibbon's experience with the Indiana commenced in the Seminóle war as far back as 1849. Gen. Gibbon said it was remarkable how much can be told by means of slgn language between people accuf-tomed to its use. As an instance of this he related a circumstance of the Seminóle war. Hostilities appearirtg to be imminent between the whites and the Seminóles, under Billy Bowlegs, their chief, it was desired to communicate with the Indians to ascertain whether It was really their purpose to go to war. It was very difflcult o get at the Seminóles, however, and no method seemed open until one day a man came in from his cabin down on the coast and stated that he had left there on account of his supposed danger from Indians. He had found upon his cabin door a small white flag made of heron's wings, attached to a stick. On the end of the stick were a twist of tobacco and a small string of beads. He said some Indians had scrawled upon his door witM the end of a burned stick some signs. There were three star in a line, then a f uil, round circle, and then four more stars. These signs were interpreted to mean that Billy Bowlegs desired to have a peaceful smoke and talk with the white men; that hls messenger had been at the cabin three days before the time of the full moon, and that he would come again four days after the full moon to receive the answer of the white man. The Indlan's message was answered by the presence of the white men four days after the full moon, and, sure enough, Billy Bowlegs was on hand, a conference was had, and It was shown that the Indiana did not desire to engage in a general war, but that the outrages of which the whites complained had been committed by a few unreliable, bad Indians.