A curious use for fire among some Indians was in giving signals. A place
visible from a great distance was selected. Upon it a little fire was
built with fuel which gave a dense smoke. Sometimes the signal depended
upon the number of fires kindled side by side. Thus when Pima Indians
returned from a war-party against Apaches, they gave smoke signals if they
had been successful. A single fire was built first; its one smoke column
meant success. Then a number of little fires, kindled in a line side by
side, indicated the number of scalps taken. Sometimes messages were given
by puffs of smoke. When the fire had been kindled, a blanket was so held
as to prevent the smoke rising. When a lot of smoke had been imprisoned
beneath it, the blanket was suddenly raised so as to let it escape. It was
then lowered, held, and raised so as to cause a new puff. These puffs of
smoke rose regularly in long, egg-shaped masses, and according to their
number the message to be sent varied. Such signaling by smoke puffs was
common among Plains tribes.