They could draw maps in the sand to explain the geography of their country, and Europeans could often make them understand what they required by rough drawings.

They themselves related many events by means of a picture language--the beginning of hieroglyphics; and in the south-eastern parts of Canada, as in the United States, these signs or pictographs were recorded in bead-shell work--the celebrated "wampum".
[Footnote 9: "It is surprising how dexterous all these natives of the plains are in communicating their ideas by signs.

They hold conferences for several hours, upon different subjects, during the whole of which time not a single word is pronounced upon either side, and still they appear to comprehend each other perfectly well.

This mode of communication is natural to them; their gestures are made with the greatest ease, and they never seem to be at a loss for a sign to express their meaning" (Alex.

Henry the Younger, 1800).