Sign Language Among North American Indians Compared With That Among Other Peoples Part 21

Strike the breast gently with the palmar side of the right fist.

(_Wyandot_ I.)

Place the left clinched hand horizontally before the breast, palm toward the body, and at the same time strike forcibly downward in front of it with the right fist, as in Fig. 242. Sometimes the right fist is placed back of the left, then thrown over the latter toward the front and downward, as in Fig. 241 above. The same gesture has also been made by throwing the palmar side of the right fist edgewise downward in front of the knuckles of the left, as in Fig. 243. In each instance the left fist is jerked upward very perceptibly as the right one is thrust downward. (_Kaiowa_ I; _Comanche_ III; _Apache_ II; _Wichita_ II.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 242.]

Strike the clinched fist forcibly toward the ground in front of and near the breast. (_Arikara_ I.)

---- He is the bravest of all.

Make the sign for BRAVE and then the left forefinger, upright, back inward about twelve inches in front of left breast, right index similarly held near the right breast, move them at the same time outward or forward, obliquely to the left, (_Dakota_ I.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 243.]

Raise right hand, fingers extended, palm downward (W 1), swing it around "over all," then point to the man, raise left fist (A 1, changed to left and palm inward) to a point in front of and near the body, close fingers of right hand and place the fist (A 2, palm inward) between left fist and body and then with violent movement throw it over left fist, as though breaking something, and stop at a point in front of and a little below left fist, and lastly point upward with right hand. (_Sahaptin_ I.) "Of all here he is strongest."

The right fist, palm downward, is struck against the breast several times, and the index is then quickly elevated before the face, pointing upward. (_Apache_ I.)

Move the fist, thumb to the head, across the forehead from right to left, and cast it toward the earth over the left shoulder. (_Apache_ III.)

_Deaf-mute natural signs_:

Run forward with a bold expression of the countenance. (_Larson_.)

Not to run back but to run forward. (_Ziegler_.)

_Deaf-mute sign_:

Left hand held as if pressing a loaf against the chest. Make a motion with the right hand, palm upward as if cutting through the fingers of the left with a sawing motion. (_Wing_.)

Other remarks connected with the signs for _brave_ appear on pages 352, 353, and 358, _supra_.

CHIEF.

The forefinger of the right hand extended, pa.s.s it perpendicularly downward, then turn it upward, and raise it in a right line as high as the head. (_Long_.) "Rising above others."

Raise the index finger of the right hand, holding it straight upward, then turn it in a circle and bring it straight down, a little toward the earth. (_Wied_.) The right hand is raised, and in position (J) describes a semicircle as in beginning the act of throwing. The arm is elevated perfectly erect aside of the head, the palm of the index and hand should be outward. There is an evident similarity in both execution and conception of this sign and _Wied's_; the little variation may be the result of different interpretation. The idea of superiority is most prominent in both. (_Boteler_.) "A prominent one before whom all succ.u.mb." The Arikaras understood this sign, and they afterwards used it in talking to me. (_Creel_.) _Wied's_ air-picture reminds of the royal scepter with its sphere.

Raise the forefinger, pointed upwards, in a vertical direction, and then reverse both finger and motion; the greater the elevation the "bigger" the chief. (_Arapaho_ I.)

Place the closed hand, with the index extended and pointing upward, near the right cheek, pa.s.s it upward as high as the head, then turn it forward and downward toward the ground, the movement terminating a little below the initial point. See Fig. 306 in TENDOY-HUERITO DIALOGUE, p. 487. (_Arapaho_ II; _Cheyenne_ V; _Ponka_ II; _Shoshoni_ I.)

(1) Sign for MAN, as follows: Right hand, palm inward, elevated to about the level of the breast, index carelessly pointing upward, suddenly pointed straight upward, and the whole hand moved a little forward, at the same time taking care to keep the back of the hand toward the person addressed; (2) middle, third, little finger, and thumb slightly closed together, forefinger pointing forward and downward; (3) curved motion made forward, outward, and downward.

(_Cheyenne_ II.) "He who stands still and commands," as shown by similarity of signs to _sit here_ or _stand here_.

Extend the index, remaining fingers closed, and raise it to the right side of the head and above it as far as the arm can reach. Have also seen the sign given by _Wyandot_ I. (_Ojibwa_ V.)

The extended forefinger of the right hand (J), of which the other fingers are closed, is raised to the right side of the head and above it as far as the arm can be extended, and then the hand is brought down in front of the body with the wrist bent, the back of hand in front and the extended forefinger pointing downward. (_Dakota_ I.) "Raised above others."

Move the upright and extended right index, palm forward, from the shoulder upward as high, as the top of the head, then forward six inches through a curve, and move it forward six inches, and then downward, its palm backward, to the height of the shoulder. An Arapaho sign, Above all others. He looks over or after us. (_Dakota_ IV.)

Elevate the extended index before the shoulder, palm forward, pa.s.s it upward as high as the head, and forming a short curve to the front, then downward again slightly to the front to before the breast and about fifteen inches from it. (_Dakota_ VI, VII, VIII; _Hidatsa_ I; _Arikara_ I.)

Right hand closed, forefinger pointing up, raise the hand from the waist in front of the body till it pa.s.ses above the head. (_Omaha_ I.)

Another: Bring the closed right hand, forefinger pointing up, on a level with the face; then bring the palm of the left hand with force against the right forefinger; next send up the right hand above the head, leaving the left as it is. (_Omaha_ I.)

The right arm is extended by side of head, with the hand in position (J). The arm and hand then descend, the finger describing a semicircle with the arm as a radius. The sign stops with arm hanging at full length. (_Oto_ I.) "The arm of authority before whom all must fall."

Both hands elevated to a position in front of and as high as the shoulders, palms facing, fingers and thumbs spread and slightly curved; the hands are then drawn outward a short distance towards their respective sides and gently elevated as high as the top of the head. (_Wyandot_ I.) "One who is elevated by others."

Elevate the closed hand--index only extended and pointing upward--to the front of the right side of the face or neck or shoulder; pa.s.s it quickly upward, and when as high as the top of the head, direct it forward and downward again toward the ground. (_Kaiowa_ I; _Comanche_ III; _Apache_ II; _Wichita_ II.) Close the right hand, index raised, extended, and placed before the breast, then move it forward from the mouth, pointing forward, until at arm's length. (_Ute_ I.)

----, Head, of tribe.

Place the extended index, pointing upward, at some distance before the right shoulder, then place the left hand, with fingers and thumb extended and separated, just back of the index; then in pa.s.sing the index upward as high as the head, draw the left hand downward a short distance, as in Fig. 244. Superior to others. (_Absaroka_ I; _Arikara_ I.)

Place both flat hands before the body, palms down, and pa.s.s them horizontally outward toward their respective sides, then make the sign for CHIEF. (_Arikara_ I.) "Chief of the wide region and those upon it."

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 244.]

After pointing out the man, point to the ground, all fingers closed except first (J 1, pointing downward in stead of upward), then point upward with same hand (J 2), then move hand to a point in front of body, fingers extended, palm downward (W 1), and move around horizontally. (_Sahaptin_ I.) "In this place he is head over all."

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 245.]

Grasp the forelock with the right hand, palm backward, pa.s.s the hand upward about six inches and hold it in that position a moment.

(_Pai-Ute_ I.) Fig 245.

Elevate the extended index vertically above and in front of the head, holding the left hand, forefinger pointing upward, from one to two feet below and underneath the right, the position of the left, either elevated or depressed, also denoting the relative position of the second individual to that of the chief. (_Apache_ I.)

----, War. Head of a war party; Partisan.

First make the sign of the _pipe_; then open the thumb and index finger of the right hand, back of the hand outward, moving it forward and upward in a curve. (_Wied_.) For remarks upon this sign see page 384.

Place the right hand, index only extended and pointing forward and upward, before the right side of the breast nearly at arm's length, then place the left hand, palm forward with fingers spread and extended, midway between the breast and the right hand. (_Arapaho_ II; _Cheyenne_ V; _Ponka_ II; _Pani_ I.)

First make the sign for BATTLE, viz: Both hands (A 1) brought to the median line of the body on a level with the breast and close together; describe with both hands at the same time a series of circular movements of small circ.u.mference; and then add the sign for CHIEF, (_Dakota_ I.) "First in battle."

---- of a band.

Point toward the left and front with the extended forefinger of the left hand, palm down; then place the extended index about twelve inches behind the left hand, pointing in the same direction.

(_Arapaho_ II; _Cheyenne_ V; _Ponka_ II; _Pani_ I.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 246.]