Sign Language Among North American Indians Compared With That Among Other Peoples Part 49

(88) _aga'wa ma'djishkca_ scarcely it moves (very little)

(89) _no'din_ wind

(90) Gesture only.

(91) _Sa'badis_ John Baptist

(92) _migiss'kaneyab_ hook-line

(93) (94) _oginisswa'biginan_ he twisted three cords together

(95)-(98) Gestures only.

(99) _oginis...o...b..donan (i.e., migaskanan)_ he tied together three (i.e., hooks)

(100) Gesture only.

(101) _ogiaba'gidonan dash_ he threw it out

(102) Gesture only.

(103) _owikobi'donan_ he wants to draw it in

(104) _kawes'sa_ in vain ("no go")

(105)-(108) Gestures only.

(109) _ka'win sagakwidis'sinon_ (not) it don't catch on the rock-bottom

(110) _mi'nawa--mo'jag_ again--often (repeatedly)

(111) The same as No. 104.

(112) The same as No. 80.

(113) Gesture only.

(114) _e'nigok_ vigorously

(115) _ja'igwa ona'kwis.h.i.+_ already evening

(116) _esh'kam kis'sina_ more cold (getting colder)

(117) The same as No. 70.

(118) _mi ja'igwa gianiji'tang_ already he has given up

(119) _was'sa ja'igwa_ far already

(120) _niwebas'himin_ we have drifted out

(121) Gesture only.

(122) (123) _mi'sa e'ta mij'iang_ (now) only we are two

(124) Gesture only.

(125) _ja'igwa tehi'gibig_ already near to sh.o.r.e

(126) _mi ja'igwa anibonen'damang_ now we catch new spirits

(127) _esh'kam nigijijaw'isimin_ more we are strong (i.e., our strength and courage increases)

(128) (129) _e-eh! was'sa ja'igwa'_ oh! far already _mi'gwam!_ the ice!

(130) _ja'igwa_ already

(131) _ke'abi_ yet

(132) _go'mapi_ so far perhaps

(133) _ge'ga bangi's.h.i.+mo_ nearly sundown

(134) Gesture only.

(135) _mi gibima'jagang_ we have landed

(136) _mi gibima'disiang_ we have saved our lives.

DISCOURSES.

_ADDRESS OF KIN CHE-ESS._

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 320.]

The following is the farewell address of KIN CHE-ESS (Spectacles), medicine-man of the Wichitas, to Rev. A.J. HOLT, missionary, on his departure from the Wichita Agency, in the words of the latter:

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 321.]

He placed one hand on my breast, the other on his own, then clasped his two hands together after the manner of our congratulations--_We are friends_, Fig. 320. He placed one hand on me, the other on himself, then placed the first two fingers of his right hand between his lips--_We are brothers_. He placed his right hand over my heart, his left hand over his own heart, then linked the first fingers of his right and left hands--_Our hearts are linked together_. See Fig.

232, p. 386. He laid his right hand on me lightly, then put it to his mouth, with the knuckles lightly against his lips, and made the motion of flipping water from the right-hand forefinger, each flip casting the hand and arm from the mouth a foot or so, then bringing it back in the same position. (This repeated three or more times, signifying _talk_ or _talking_.) Fig. 321. He then made a motion with his right hand as if he were fanning his right ear; this repeated. He then extended his right hand with his index finger pointing upward, his eyes also being turned upward--_You told me of the Great Father_.

Pointing to himself, he hugged both hands to his bosom, as if he were affectionately clasping something he loved, and then pointed upward in the way before described--_I love him_ (the Great Father). Laying his right hand on me, he clasped his hands to his bosom as before--_I love you_. Placing his right hand on my shoulder, he threw it over his own right shoulder as if he were casting behind him a little chip, only when his hand was over his shoulder his index finger was pointing behind him--_You go away_. Pointing to his breast, he clinched the same hand as if it held a stick, and made a motion as if he were trying to strike something on the ground with the bottom of the stick held in an upright position--_I stay, or I stay right here_, Fig. 322.