What is an acceptable Indian light?

[TexiKan]

No, not a Bud Light! :: Other than an flaming torch, what kind of night illumination is considered more appropriate for an Indian camp? An Indian personna carrying a barn lantern just doesn't look "right."

Along the same line, what the heck did the Indians really use to see at night? :huh:

TexiKan
_____________

If you continue to do what you've always done, you will always get what you've always got.

 

[Rebel]

For illumination at night, i suppose a torch would be the light source. I figure they had tallow with wicks to use as candles. these are just my opinions, and may be all wrong.

 

No, not a Bud Light! Other than an flaming torch, what kind of night illumination is considered more appropriate for an Indian camp? An Indian personna carrying a barn lantern just doesn't look "right."

Along the same line, what the heck did the Indians really use to see at night?

well im a hamms man myself but never a light LOL. to answer you question would need a who / what people . where /what location. when / what time frame .
many Indian people used the candle lamps torches and even oil type lamps . but like i said it all depends on who your talking about , what nation and when ?
myself i use a light switch

 

[waksupi]

Aside from the far north Inuit lamps, I don't recall ever seeing an example. My guess would be they didn't generally use any. Eyes accustomed to the natural changes of light during the day, would adjust much more efficiently than our modern strained eyes. I've travelled in the mountains at night without undue trouble, and on the plains it is usually quite easily done. :m2c:

 

[TANSTAAFL]

Two sticks rapidly rubbed together. ::

 

[TexiKan]

Two sticks rapidly rubbed together. ::

Hmmmmmm. That would be something! Can't say I have ever seen an Indian walking through the night with "two flaming sticks!" :haha: Maybe it will make the next Hollywood movie!

As for Captchee's questions, I am not particular to the era, although I am partial to the Southwest Apache and Yaqui from the 1800's through 1870's. Looking for something for the general, average Rendezvous set up.(not the stitch and ultra PC kind) Still, knowing what was used in the period would be helpful. How did those Indians see in the dark??!! Inquiring minds want to know.

TexiKan
______________

If you continue to do what you've always done you will always get what you've always got.

 

[donk]

No, not a Bud Light!

TexiKan
_____________





I can's say I've ever seen an Indian drink light beer.

as for seeing at night, would an Indian have had a use for a light source. They didn't read books and I doubt they did anything real technical at night and if they did it was probably by the fire. I am no expert but I'm woundering if they used anything at all. :hmm:

 

[Claude Mathis]

Other than an flaming torch, what kind of night illumination is considered more appropriate for an Indian camp? An Indian personna carrying a barn lantern just doesn't look "right."

Is your persona reenacting the period before European contact? If not, a lantern is fine.

 

And there claude has the key .
I would add to influence on the plains peoples at a later date as well.

By the late 1700 early 1800 most eastern people had already been Europeanized not only in shelter but in dress and a relitive way of life . If the people you are studying resisted that then most likely they had no light sources to speak of .

The Inuit use a type of oil lamp as do many of the coastal peoples of the NW.. I have heard of Lakota women using a small bowl filled with pitch to quill by but cant say if its period or not .

As to the Apache people. i cant really say but I would think they had no light source other then camp fires or the fire in their wicyups unless they were confined to reservations. at which time they like the rest probably would have used a type of lantern.
most like left them behind when escaping ,I don

 

[TANSTAAFL]

"a side note here as well.
dont forget in you research that there are many different Nations of the apache people.
Mescalero, White Mountain ,Cherimoya, Lipan, San Carlos ...... and some even say the in the old day the Navajo were included . They all are very distinct in there own ways"

I have found the Jicarilla Apache of northern New Mexico to be interesting. They adopted many of the plains Indian customs and hunted buffalo, yet raised corn and other crops in the mountains.

There were two branches, the Llanero, or plains people, and the Hoyero, the mountain people. They were fierce warriors, while the more numerous Comanche would fight them at every chance out on the plains, they were more than just a little reticent about venturing into the Jicariilla mountain strongholds.

 

[Claude Mathis]

"What is an acceptable Indian light?"

 

"What is an acceptable Indian light?"

anything not wearing a tricorn , having a beard and glasses .

Claude you know what .

in order to understand this question you have to understand the people in question , the way the really lived not what common thought is .
my spelling may not be to good and sometimes folks dont understand me to well but i can understand arrogance when i see it . Why make such a post when you could have simple suggested to keep on track with the topic or not posted at all.
May I respectful point out that you could use some of you own advice .
If you don

 

[Claude Mathis]

"What is an acceptable Indian light?"

anything not wearing a tricorn , having a beard and glasses .

Claude you know what .

in order to understand this question you have to understand the people in question , the way the really lived not what common thought is .
my spelling may not be to good and sometimes folks dont understand me to well but i can understand arrogance when i see it . Why make such a post when you could have simple suggested to keep on track with the topic or not posted at all.
May I respectful point out that you could use some of you own advice .
If you don

 

[jim gray]

What is an acceptable Indian light?

I think that in most cases the moon provided as much light as they would need at night. Raiding parties may have carried torches, but most likely they were for use against the dwellings of their enemies rather than a light source.
They would have made you a target, if there were any hostiles around.

 

and i would say you need to consider your own advice

 

[Claude Mathis]

and i would say you need to consider your own advice

You obviously have something else going on based on your comments and reaction to my post. Your comment regarding my hat, beard and glasses was so far from the topic of the thread, I can only view it as a personal attack, something which I don

 

[TANSTAAFL]

I have seen the light. ::

 

[Henry]

For centuries , people just stop doing things at night time
they spent hours looking at the sky , invented astronomy
litterature ( mostly oral ) a large part of the early
theology ... or slept eace:

Some of the few night activities included
surprise attack on eadible animals or not edible ones
( called " ennemies ") wich was done in the darkness.

One use of portable light was fishing , with
some kind of torch . One engraving ( made by
white man of course ) show something that looks like
a bird nest on a stick but I would not call that
a reliable source . Such things , called fire basket
were used in Europe in the midle age.

For after 1650 period , I see no problem with an
Indian carrying a lantern , just try not to have
all the Indians of the group carrying one.

Actually , the lifestyle of the French setlers
did include lamps , lanterns , candles etc, but they
were expensive and not used as much as we generally
think today . Unless one was rich and powerfull
and could afford burning candles while playing
cards and drinking wine , most people , Europeans
and Indians alike just lived with nature and followed
the sun ( or full moon )

Of course , at a re-enactment event or a rondy
one of the more enjoyable activity is to go from
campfire to the other at night ....

 

[Old Salt]

Texican,

I looked through a few books and the only reference I can find is for an Eskimo seal oil lamp.

I can't remember seeing anything else in museums although I might not have been too interested in lamps.

I know that our european forefathers used to burn a single rush stalk to provide light. It doesn't seem too far a stretch of imagination to think that the native cultures might have used a similiar object.

I could be mistaken but I thought there was usually a cooking fire inside the dwelling which would provide illumination inside.

It's a good question. You have my curiosity peaked. If I find anything else I'll let you know.

Old Salt

 

[TexiKan]

Of course , at a re-enactment event or a rondy
one of the more enjoyable activity is to go from
campfire to the other at night ....

Yes, I suspect that at night the lodge fires were going. And if a type of torch was used, it could leave a trail of potential small fires along the path. At a Rondy, many folks have small lights outside of their tents or tipis. These lights are used to move about the camps. Considering this activity at a modern Rendezvous is more likely, I began wondering if they really used anything like candles or some other small light source at night.

Anything I recall seeing showed several outdoor campfires, illuminating a large area. Thus, the need for a small light source may not have been necessary. But stray away from that source.....

Appreciate the recommendations and insight!

TexiKan
___________________________

If you continue to do what you've always done, you will always get what you've always got.