Sign Language Among North American Indians Compared With That Among Other Peoples Part 36

Left hand horizontal, flat, palm downward, and with the fingers of the right hand brush the other toward the wrist. (_Dakota_ III.)

Place the flat and extended left hand at the height of the elbow before the body, pointing to the front and right, palm toward the ground; then pa.s.s the palmar surface of the flat and extended fingers of the right hand over the back of the left from near the wrist toward the tips of the fingers. (_Kaiowa_ I; _Comanche_ III; _Apache_ II; _Wichita_ II.) "Those who use sinew for sewing, and for strengthening the bow."

Indicate the color _black_, then separate the thumbs and forefingers of both hands as far as possible, leaving the remaining fingers closed, and pa.s.s upward over the lower part of the legs. (_Shoshoni_ and _Banak_ I.) "Black or dark leggings."

WASAJI. SEE OSAGE.

WICHITA.

Indicate a circle over the upper portion of the right cheek, with the index or several fingers of the right hand. The statement of the Indian authorities for the above is that years ago the Wichita women painted spiral lines on the b.r.e.a.s.t.s, starting at the nipple and extending several inches from it; but after an increase in modesty or a change in the upper garment, by which the breast ceased to be exposed, the cheek has been adopted as the locality for the sign.

(_Creel_; _Kaiowa_ I; _Comanche_ III; _Apache_ II; _Wichita_ II.)

Extend the fingers and thumb of the right hand, semi-closed, and bring the hand toward the face nearly touching it, repeating this several times as if going through the motion of tattooing. The Comanches call the Wichitas "Painted Faces"; Caddos call them "Tattooed Faces," both tribes using the same sign. (_Comanche_ I.)

WYANDOT.

Pa.s.s the flat right hand from the top of the forehead backward over the head and downward and backward as far as the length of the arm.

(_Wyandot_ I.) "From the manner of wearing the hair."

PROPER NAMES.

WAs.h.i.+NGTON, CITY OF.

The sign for _go_ by closing the hand (as in type position B 1) and bending the arm; the hand is then brought horizontally to the epigastrium, after which both the hand and arm are suddenly extended; the sign for _house_ or _lodge_; the sign for _cars_, consisting of the sign for _go_ and _wagon_, e.g., both arms are flexed at a right angle before the chest; the hands then a.s.sume type position (L) modified by the index being hooked and the middle finger partly opened and hooked similarly; the hands are held horizontally and rotated forward side by side to imitate two wheels, palms upward; and the sign for _council_ as follows: The right arm is raised, flexed at elbow, and the hand brought to the mouth (in type position G 1, modified by being inverted), palm up, and the index being more open. The hand then pa.s.ses from the mouth in jerks, opening and closing successively; then the right hand (in position S 1), horizontal, marks off divisions on the left arm extended. The sign for _father_ is briefly executed by pa.s.sing the open hand down and from the loins, then bringing it erect before the body; then the sign for _cars_, making with the mouth the noise of an engine. The hands then raised before the eyes and approximated at points, as in the sign for _lodge_; then diverge to indicate _extensive_; this being followed by the sign for _council_.

(_Oto and Missouri_ I.) "The home of our father, where we go on the puffing wagon to council."

MISSOURI RIVER.

Make the sign for _water_ by placing the right hand upright six or eight inches in front of the mouth, back outward, index and thumb crooked, and their ends about an inch apart, the other fingers nearly closed; then move it toward the mouth, and then downward nearly to the top of the breast-bone, at the same time turning the hand over toward the mouth until the little finger is uppermost; and the sign for _large_ as follows: The opened right hands, palms facing, fingers relaxed and slightly separated, being at the height of the breast and about two feet apart, separate them nearly to arm's length; and then rapidly rotate the right hand from right to left several times, its back upward, fingers spread and pointing forward to show that it is stirred up or muddy. (_Dakota_ IV.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 298.]

EAGLE BULL, A DAKOTA CHIEF.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 299.]

Place the clinched fists to either side of the head with the forefingers extended and curved, as in Fig. 298; then extend the left hand, flat, palm down, before the left side, fingers pointing forward; the outer edge of the flat and extended right hand is then laid transversely across the back of the left hand, and slid forward over the fingers as in Fig. 299. (_Dakota_ VI; _Ankara_ I.) "Bull and eagle--'_Haliaetus leucocephalus, (Linn.) Sav._'" In the picture-writing of the Moquis, Fig. 300 represents the eagle's tail as showing the difference of color which is indicated in the latter part of the above gesture.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 300.]

RUs.h.i.+NG BEAR, AN ARIKARA CHIEF.

Place the right fist in front of the right side of the breast, palm down; extend and curve the thumb and little finger so that their tips point toward one another before the knuckles of the remaining closed fingers, then reach forward a short distance and pull toward the body several times ratter quickly; suddenly push the fist, in this form, forward to arm's length twice. (_Dakota_ VI; _Arikara_ I.) "Bear, and rus.h.i.+ng."

SPOTTED TAIL, A DAKOTA CHIEF.

With the index only of the right hand extended, indicate a line of curve from the sacrum (or from the right b.u.t.tock) downward, backward, and outward toward the right; then extend the left forefinger, pointing forward from the left side, and with the extended index draw imaginary lines transversely across the left forefinger. (_Absaroka_ I; _Shoshoni_ I; _Dakota_ VI, VII; _Arikara_ I.) "Tail, and spotted."

STUMBLING BEAR, A KAIOWA CHIEF.

Place the right fist in front of the right side of the breast, palm down; extend and curve the thumb and little finger so that their tips point toward one another before the knuckles of the remaining closed fingers; then place the left flat hand edgewise before the breast, pointing to the right; hold the right hand flat pointing down nearer the body; move it forward toward the left, so that the right-hand fingers strike the left palm and fall downward beyond the left.

(_Kaiowa_ I.) "Bear, and stumble or stumbling."

SWIFT RUNNER, A DAKOTA WARRIOR.

Place the right hand in front of the right side, palm down; close all the fingers excepting the index, which is slightly curved, pointing forward; then push the hand forward to arm's length twice, very quickly. (_Dakota_ VI; _Arikara_ I.) "Man running rapidly or swiftly."

WILD HORSE, A COMANCHE CHIEF.

Place the extended and separated index and second fingers of the right hand astraddle the extended forefinger of the left hand. With the right hand loosely extended, held as high as and nearly at arm's length before the shoulder, make several cuts downward and toward the left. (_Comanche_ III.) "Horse, and prairie or wild."

PHRASES.

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES; SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.

Close the right hand, leaving the thumb and index fully extended and separated; place the index over the forehead so that the thumb points to the right, palm toward the face; then draw the index across the forehead toward the right; then elevate the extended index, pointing upward before the shoulder or neck; pa.s.s it upward as high as the top of the head; make a short turn toward the front and pa.s.s it pointing downward toward the ground, to a point farther to the front and a little lower than at the beginning. (_Absaroka_ I; _Dakota_ VI, VII; _Shoshoni and Banak_ I; _Ute_ I; _Apache_ I.) "White man and chief."

Make the sign for _white man_ (American), by pa.s.sing the palmar surface of the extended index and thumb of the right hand across the forehead from left to right, then that for _chief_, and conclude by making that for _parent_ by collecting the fingers and thumb of the right hand nearly to a point and drawing them forward from the left breast. (_Kaiowa_ I; _Comanche_ III; _Apache_ II; _Wichita_ II.) "White man; chief; father."

SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.

Draw the palmar side of the index across the forehead from left to right, resting the thumb upon the right temple, then make the sign for _chief_--the white chief, "Secretary;" then make the sign for _great lodge, council house_, by making the sign for _lodge_, then placing both hands somewhat bent, palms facing, about ten inches apart, and pa.s.sing them upward from the waist as high as the face. (_Arikara_ I.)

WHERE IS YOUR MOTHER?

After placing the index into the mouth--_mother_, point the index at the individual addressed--_your_, then separate and extend the index and second fingers of the right hand; hold them, pointing forward, about twelve or fifteen inches before the face, and move them from side to side, eyes following the same direction--_I see_, then throw the flat right hand in a short curve outward to the right until the back points toward the ground--_not_, and look inquiringly at the individual addressed. (_Ute_ I.) "Mother your I see not; where is she?"

ARE YOU BRAVE?

Point to the person and make sign for _brave_, at same time looking with an inquiring expression. (_Absaroka_ I; _Shoshoni and Banak_ I.)

BISON, I HAVE SHOT A.

Move the open left hand, palm to the front, toward the left and away from the body slowly (motion of the buffalo when chased). Move right hand on wrist as axis, rapidly (man on pony chasing buffalo); then extend left hand to the left, draw right arm as if drawing a bow, snap the forefinger and middle finger of left hand, and thrust the right forefinger over the left hand. (_Omaha_ I.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 301.]

GIVE ME SOMETHING TO EAT.

Bring the thumb, index and second fingers to a point as if grasping a small object, the remaining fingers naturally extended, then place the hand just above the mouth and a few inches in front of it, and make repeated thrusts quickly toward the mouth several times; then place the naturally extended right hand nearly at arm's length before the body, palm up, fingers pointing toward the front and left, and make a short circular motion with the hand, as in Fig. 301, bringing the outer edge toward the body as far as the wrist will permit, throwing the hand forward again at a higher elevation. The motion being at the wrist only. (_Absaroka_ I; _Dakota_ VII, VIII; _Comanche_ III.)

I WILL SEE YOU HERE AFTER NEXT YEAR.

Raise the right hand above the head (J 2), palm to the front, all the fingers closed except the index, hand slanting a little to backward, then move forward and downward toward the person addressed, describing a curve. (_Omaha_ I.)

YOU GAVE US MANY CLOTHES, BUT WE DON'T WANT THEM.