Whistle
- Indians fashioned whistles from wing bones of eagles, hawks, geese, and
other birds. But a whistle made from an eagle's wing bone was the
most highly prized.
The sound from the whistle was exactly
like that of the bird whose wing bone had been used. For example,
the turkey wing bone whistle reproduced the plaintive note of the turkey's
cry.
Whistles were worn attached to a thong
around the neck and were used for various purposes. In dances, in
courting an Indian maiden, or making a signal for a meeting with her; in
battle during a charge; and when small parties were scouting, to give the
alarm telling whether wild game or the enemy had been sighted - all of
these sounds were understood, whether the low love note or the shrill war
signal.
Related Information
within this Site
[ Eagle
][ Musical Instruments ][
Sun Dance ]