1. Sun—The fore-finger and thumb are brought together at tip, so as to form a circle, and held up towards the sun's track. To indicate any particular time of the day, the hand with the sign of the sun, is stretched out towards the east horizon, and then gradually elevated, to show the ascent of that luminary, until the hand arrives in the proper direction, to indicate the part of the heavens in which the sun will be at the given time.

2. Night, or sleeping—The head, with the eyes closed, is laterally inclined for a moment upon the hand. As many times as this is repeated, so many nights are indicated; very frequently the sign of the sun is traced over the heavens, from east to west, to indicate the lapse of a day, and precedes the motion; it also precedes the following following—

3. Darkness—The hands extended horizontally forwards, and back upwards, pass one over the other, two or three times touching it.

4. Combat—The clenched hands are held about as high as the neck, and five or six inches asunder, then waved two or three times laterally, to show the advances and retreats of the combatants; after which the fingers of each hand are suffered to spring from the thumb towards each other, as in the act of sprinkling water, to represent the flight of missiles.

5. Prisoner—The fore finger and thumb of the left hand are held in the form of a semicircle, opening towards and near the breast, and the fore finger {272} of the right representing the prisoner, is placed upright within the curve, and passed from one side to another, in order to show that it will not be permitted to pass out.

6. Man—A finger held vertically.

7. Seeing—The fore-finger, in the attitude of pointing, is passed from the eye towards the real or imaginary object.

8. Seen, or discovered—The sign of a man, or other animal, is made; after which the finger is pointed towards, and approached to your own eye; it is the preceding sign reversed.

9. Entering a house or lodge—The left hand is held with the back upward, and the right hand also with the back up, is passed in a curvilinear direction down under the other, so as to rub against its palm, then up on the other side of it. The left hand here represents the low door of the skin lodge, and the right, the man stooping down to pass in.

10. Theft—The left fore-arm is held horizontally, a little forward or across the body, and the right hand passing under it with a quick motion, seems to grasp something, and is suddenly withdrawn.

11. Hunting—The fore-finger is brought near the eye, and placed in the attitude of pointing; it is then wagged from side to side, the eye following its devious motion, and seeming to look in the direction indicated. Sometimes the hand is extended far before the eye, and the same motion is given to the finger.

12. Pretty—The fingers and thumb, so opposed as to form a curve, are passed over the face nearly touching it, from the forehead to the chin, then add the sign of Good, No. 42.

13. Eating—The fingers and thumb are brought together in opposition to each other, into something of a wedge shape, and passed to and from the mouth four or five times within the distance of three or four {273} inches of it, to imitate the action of food passing to the mouth.

14. Drinking, or water—The hand is partially clenched, so as to have something of a cup shape; and the opening between the thumb and finger is raised to the mouth, as in the act of drinking. If the idea of water only is to be conveyed, the hand does not stop at the mouth, but is continued above it.

15. Enough, or a bellyful—The sign for eating is first made; then the fore finger and thumb are opposed to each other so as to form a semicircular curve, which is elevated along the body from the belly to the neck, in order to indicate that the interior is filled with food up to that part.

16. Squaw—The hands are passed from the top down each side of the head, indicating the parting of the hair on the top, and its flowing down each side.

17. The discharging of a gun—Is indicated by slapping the back of the right hand, partially closed, into the palm of the left.

18. Death—By throwing the fore finger from the perpendicular into a horizontal position towards the earth, with the back downwards.

19. Killing—The hands are held with the edge upwards, and the right hand strikes the other transversely, as in the act of chopping. This sign seems to be more particularly applicable to convey the idea of death, produced by a blow of the tomahawk or war-club.

20. Bison—The two fore fingers are placed near the ears, projecting, so as to represent the horns of the animal.

21. Surrounding the bison—The sign No. 20 is first made; the hands, with the fore fingers and thumbs in a semicircle, are then brought two or three times together.

22. Discharging the arrow—The hands are placed {274} as in the attitude of drawing the arrow in the bow, (this is also the sign for the bow) and its departure is indicated by springing the fingers from the thumbs, as in the act of sprinkling water.

23. To speak—The motion is like sprinkling water from the mouth by springing the fore finger from the thumb, the hand following a short distance from the mouth at each resilience, to show the direction of the word, or to whom it is addressed; this motion is repeated three or four times.

24. Haranguing—The above motion repeated rapidly, the hand at each motion pursuing a different direction, to show that the talk is addressed to various persons.

25. Quantity, or great number—The hands and arms are passed in a curvilinear direction outwards and downwards, as if we were showing the form of a large globe; then the hands are closed and elevated, as if something was grasped in each hand, and held up about as high as the face.

26. Exchange—The two fore fingers are extended perpendicularly, and the hands are then passed by each other transversely in front of the breast, so as nearly to exchange positions.

27. Inquiry—The hand held up with the thumb near the face, and the palm directed towards the person of whom the inquiry is making; it is then rotated upon the wrist two or three times edgewise, to denote uncertainty.

28. Truth—The fore finger passed, in the attitude of pointing, from the mouth forward in a line curving a little upward, the other fingers being carefully closed.

29. Lie—The fore and middle fingers extended, passed two or three times from the mouth forward; they are joined at the mouth, but separate as they depart from it, indicating that the words go in different directions.

{275} 30. It is so—The motion is somewhat like 28., but the finger is held rather more upright, and is passed nearly straight forward from opposite the breast; and when at the end of its course, it seems gently to strike something, though with a rather slow and not suddenly accelerated motion.

31. Sit down—The fist is clenched, and the motion of it is then the same as if it held a staff, and gently stamped it upon the earth two or three times.

32. Travelling with great rapidity—The hands are held edge up, extended forward and a little sideways, one in advance of the other, though parallel; they then are agitated a little in the manner of a fan, though with a much more rapid and not so wide a motion, the arms being at rest.

33. Running—The arm nearly doubled upon itself, and then the elbow thrown forward and backward, as in the act of running.

34. Riding on horseback—The index and middle finger of the right hand are straddled over the left index finger, representing the rider and the horse; these are then jolted forward, to represent the trotting motion of the horse.

35. Knife—Hold the left hand clenched near the mouth, as if it held one end of a strip of meat, the other end of which was between the teeth; then pass the edge of the right hand, as in the act of cutting, obliquing a little upwards from right to left between the other hand and mouth, so as to appear to divide the supposed meat.

36. Awl—The left fore finger is extended, and the right, also extended, is placed across it, and is then turned on its axis, so as to imitate the action of the awl in making a hole.

37. My offspring—If an Indian wishes to tell you that an individual present is his offspring, he points to the person; and then, with the finger still extended, {276} passes it forward from his loins in a line curving downwards; then slightly upwards; sometimes saying, "That is my child, illum minxi." Dashinga-shinga-we-weet-tah-ohn-na-je.

38. Strength—The hands are clenched; the left fore arm is held almost perpendicularly near the breast, so that the fist is nearly opposite to the throat; the right arm is then carried up between the left and the breast, and continued on over the left fist to the outside of the latter; the right arm is then brought down so as to have the same direction with the other, and the fists rest opposite to each other, in a line with the breast. This motion resembles the act of wringing a thick towel. If he would say, "I am strong," he strikes himself upon the breast two or three times with his fist, previously to the motion above described. If he would say, "You are strong," he previously points to you, &c.

39. Fire—The act of striking fire with the flint and steel is represented; after which the ascent of the smoke is indicated, by closing the fingers and thumb of the right hand, holding them in a vertical position, with the hand as low as convenient; the hand is then gradually elevated, and the fingers and thumb a little expanded, to show the ascent and expansion of the volume of smoke.

40. Rabbit—The fore and little fingers of the right hand are extended, representing the ears of the animal; the hand is then bobbed forward to show the leaping motion of the animal.

41. Deer—The fore finger of the right hand is extended vertically, with the back towards the breast; it is then turned from side to side, to imitate the motion of the tail of the animal when he walks at his leisure.

42. Good—The hand held horizontally, back upwards, describes with the arm a horizontal curve outwards.

{277} 43. Be quiet, or be not alarmed, or have patience—The palm of the hand is held towards the person.

45. I will kill you—Direct the right hand towards the offender, and spring the fingers from the thumb, as in the act of sprinkling water.

46. Fish—Hold the upper edge of the hand horizontally, and agitate it in the manner of a fan, but more rapidly, in imitation of the motion of the tail of the fish.

47. Poor—The two fore fingers extended, with the right, as if it was a knife, imitate the motion of cutting the flesh off of the left finger, beginning towards the tip, and cutting with a quick motion directed towards the base; at the same time turn the left finger a little round, so as to expose the different parts to the action of cutting; intimating that the flesh has diminished from starvation.

48. House or lodge—The two hands are reared together in the form of the roof of a house, the ends of the fingers upward.

49. Husband, companion, or in company—The two fore fingers are extended and placed together, with their backs upward.

50. Snow—The hand is held up about as high as the head, with the fingers suffered to dangle downwards; it is then bobbed a little up and down, as if to throw off drops from the ends of the fingers.

51. Rain—The sign for water (No. 14.) precedes that for snow.

52. Robe—The hands are placed near the shoulders, as if holding the ends of the robe, and then crossed, as if drawing the robe tight around the shoulders.

53. The coming of a person from a distance—Place the fore finger in a vertical position, with the arm extended towards the point from which the person came, or is to come; then bring it gradually near the {278} body, but not in contact with it; or if he continued on, carry it in the direction he passed.

54. Snake—The fore finger is extended horizontally, and passed along forward in a serpentine line. This is also used to indicate the Snake nation of Indians.

55. Crow nation of Indians—The hands held out each side, and striking the air in the manner of flying.

56. Light—Make the sign of the sun in the eastern horizon, and then extend the hands together, with the palm upwards, and carry them from each other outwards.

57. Flat-head nation—One hand placed on the top of the head, and the other on the back of the head.

58. Pierced-nose nation—The finger extended, pass it horizontally by the nostrils.

59. Trade—First make the sign of exchange, (No. 26.) then pat the left arm with the right finger, with a rapid motion from the hand passing it towards the shoulder.

60. Sioux nation—The edge of the hand passed across the throat, as in the act of cutting that part.

61. Black-foot nation—The finger and thumb encircle the ancle.

62. Arrapaho nation—The fingers of one hand touch the breast in different parts, to indicate the tattooing of that part in points.

63. Carrying a pack—The hands are placed each side of the head, as if they held the strap of the hoppas, which passes round the forehead, in order to relieve that part, by supporting a portion of the weight of the burden; with this motion, two or three slight inclinations of the head and corresponding movements of the hands are also made.

64. Pretty—Another sign, beside that marked {279} No. 43., is the following: curve the fore finger of the right hand, and place the tip on the ridge of the nose between the eyes, so as to represent a high Roman nose; then bring down the hand in a curvilinear manner, until the wrist touches the breast; after which add the sign, No. 42.

65. No, not, or none—The hand waved outwards, with the thumb upward. For yes, see No. 30.

66. Destroyed, or all gone, no more—The hands held horizontally, and the palms rubbed together, two or three times round; the right hand is then carried off from the other, in a short horizontal curve.

67. Anger—The fingers and thumb of the right hand, with the ends together, and near the breast; then turn the hand round two or three times, so as to describe verticle circles; indicating that the heart is disturbed.

68. Dissatisfaction, or discontent—The extended finger placed transversely before the situation of the heart, rotate the wrist two or three times gently, forming a quarter of a circle each time.

69. Indecision—The index and middle fingers extended and diverged, place them transversely before the situation of the heart, and rotate the wrist two or three times gently, forming each time a quarter of a circle.

70. Fool—The finger is pointed to the forehead, and the hand is then held vertically above the head, and rotated on the wrist two or three times.

71. Swiftness—The two index fingers are held parallel together, and pointing forward; the right one is then passed rapidly forward.

72. Shienne nation—With the index finger of the right hand proceed as if cutting the left arm in different places, with a sawing motion from the wrist upwards, to represent the cuts or burns on the arms of that nation.

73. Left-handed—The left hand clenched is held {280} up before the neck; the elbow is then brought in to the side, at the same time giving to the fore-arm a twist, so as to bring the closed palm opposite the breast.

74. I do not understand—The fingers and thumb of the right hand brought together near their tips, and then approached and receded to and from the ear two or three times, with a quick motion, made within the distance of two or three inches; finish with the sign, No. 65.

75. I understand—The same sign with the preceding, excepting the No. 65., which is omitted. The motion of the fingers is designed to represent the sound entering the ear.

76. Love or affection—The clenched hand pressed hard upon the breast.

77. Me (I)—The clenched hand struck gently, and with a quick motion, two or three times upon the breast. Or, the fingers brought together, are placed perpendicularly upon the breast.

78. You—Is expressed by simply pointing at the persons, and the same for other objects within view.

79. Multitude—First indicate a man, No. 6., or whatever object it may be, and then the sign of a great many, No. 25.

80. Opposite—A clenched hand held up on each side of the head, at the distance of a foot or more from it.

81. Hill—A clenched hand held up on the side of the head, at the distance of a foot or more from it.

82. River—The hand, in the form of a scoop or ladle, is carried to the mouth, as if conveying water, and then drawn along in a horizontal line, with the edge downward, about the height of the breast.

83. Counting, or enumeration—The fingers or thumbs expanded, count ten. In order to proceed with the enumeration by tens, the hands must be {281} clenched; and if again expanded, it counts twenty, and so on, the hands being clenched between every ten. In order to indicate the digits, clench the hands, and extend the little finger of the left hand for one; extend also the ring finger for two, and so on; the thumb for five. These must remain extended, whilst the thumb of the right is extended for six, &c. Any number within five, above any number of tens, is indicated by clenching the left hand and crossing the right over it, with the requisite number of fingers extended. For the number of sixteen, exhibit the sign of ten, and then extend four fingers, and the two thumbs in the order of enumeration; for seventeen, proceed by extending the fore finger of the right hand, and so on to twenty. In this manner any sum can be denoted, always holding the backs of the hands upward. When enumerating a small number, where a considerable exertion of the memory is requisite, the Indians extend the left hand with the palm upward; whilst, with the index of the right, the fingers are successively bent into the palm, beginning as before with the little finger; and the greater difficulty in recalling to mind the numbers or events, the more apparent resistance is offered to the inflection of the finger.

84. A Chief—The fore finger of the right hand extended, pass it perpendicularly downward; then turn it upward, and raise it in a right line as high as the head.

85. Bad—Make the sign of good (No. 42.), and then that of not (No. 65.)

86. Gun—Hold out the left hand, as in the act of supporting the gun when directed horizontally, and with the right appear to cock it.

87. Gunpowder—Appear to take up a pinch of the powder, and to rub it between the finger and thumb; then turning the hand, spring the fingers from the thumb upward, so as to represent the exploding of the powder.

{282} 88. Ball, or bullet—Make the sign of the exploding of the powder; then grasp the fore finger of the hand with the remaining fingers and thumb, so that the tip of it will so extend beyond them as to represent the ball.

89. Scissors—With the fore and middle fingers, imitate the opening and shutting of the blades of the scissors.

90. Looking-glass—The palm of the hand held before the face, the fingers pointing upward.

91. Writing—The act of writing is imitated by the finger, in the palm of the opposite hand.

92. Brother—The sign for a man (No. 6.), succeeded by placing the ends of the fore and middle fingers of one hand together in the mouth.

93. Sister—The sign for a squaw (No. 16.); after which place the fingers in the mouth, as in No. 92.

94. Cold—The arms, with clenched hands, held up before the breast, thrown into a tremulous motion as if shivering with cold.

95. Cowardice—The head stooped down, and the arm thrown up to protect it; a quick motion.

96. Marching, or travelling moderately—The hand held vertically as high as the neck, with slightly divided fingers, and rocked edgewise forward and backward upon the wrist, extending the arm a little forwards. This sign resembles that for inquiry (No. 27.), but differs in the direction of the motion of the hand.

97. The return of a party through fear—Begin with the preceding motion; then draw the tips of the fingers and thumb together, and retreat the hand to the body.

98. Hunting shirt—The fore finger and thumb, so opposed as to form a curve, are passed near the surface of the body, from the forehead to the abdomen.

99. Surprise or astonishment—Is indicated by placing the hand upon the mouth, to show that {283} language is inadequate to communicate their sensations.

100. Calumet dance—The hand extended with the edge upward, and with the arm waved sideways, with a motion like that of a swing.

101. Beaver trap—The two fore fingers brought suddenly together, in a parallel manner, so as to represent the snapping of the steel trap.

102. Stone—Close the right hand, and strike the palm of the left hand two or three times with it.

103. Give it to me—The hand extended in a pointing position towards the object in request; then brought towards the body with the finger raised vertically, and laid against the breast.

104. Mountains—When speaking of the Rocky Mountains, Tarrarecawaho held up the fingers of his left hand, a little diverging from each other; and to convey the idea of the streams flowing from them, he placed the index finger of his right hand alternately between each two of them, and drew it away in a serpentine manner.

The following signs are extracted from an essay by William Dunbar, Esq., published in the sixth volume of the Transactions of the American Philosophical Society. It will be observed that some of them differ essentially from those which we obtained, and that we have omitted ten of them which correspond with those we have given.

White—With the under side of the fingers of the right hand rub gently upon that part of the left hand which corresponds with the knitting of the bones of the fore finger and thumb.

Egg—The right hand held up with the fingers and thumb extended, and approaching each other as if holding an egg within.

The same, or similar to what went before—Place the two fore fingers parallel to each other, and push them forward a little.

{284} Snow—Begin with the sign of rain, then the sign of air or cold, and conclude with the sign of white.

Ice—Begin with the sign of water, then of cold, then the earth; and, lastly, a stone, with the sign of sameness or similarity.

Hail—Begin with the sign of water, then the sign of cold, next the sign of a stone, then the same, then the sign of white; and, lastly, conclude, with the sign of an egg; all which, combined, give the idea of hail.

Frost—Begin with the sign of water, then the sign of night or darkness, then the sign of cold, then the sign of white; and, lastly, the earth.

Cloud—Begin with the sign of water; then raise the two hands as high as the forehead, and placing them with an inclination of 15°, let them gently cross one another.

Fire—The two hands brought near the breast, touching or approaching each other, and half shut; then moved outwards moderately quick, the fingers being extended, and the hands a little separated at the same time, as if to imitate the appearance of flame.

Bring, fetch, or give me—The hand half shut, with the thumbs pressing against the fore finger, being first moderately extended either to the right or left, is brought with a moderate jerk to the opposite side, as if something was pulled along by the hand. Consequently, the sign of water preceding this, would convey the expression, "Give me water."

Earth—The two hands open and extended, brought horizontally near each other opposite to either knee, then carried to the opposite side, and raised in a curve movement, until brought round and opposite to the face.

Cold, or Air—The right hand held perpendicularly upwards, and brought forwards with a tremulous or vibratory motion, until it passes beyond the face.

Big, great, or large—The two hands open, placed {285} wide apart on each side of the body, and moved forwards.

Fear, to be afraid, to cause fear—The two hands, with the fingers turned inwards, opposite to the lower ribs; then brought upwards with a tremulous movement, as if to represent the common idea of the heart rising up to the throat: the three last signs, placed in the order given, would convey the idea of a violent hurricane.

Moon—The thumb and finger open are elevated towards the right ear; this last sign is generally preceded by the sign of the night, or darkness.

Heat—The two hands raised as high as the head, and bending forwards horizontally, with the points of the fingers curving a little downwards.

Clear—The hands are uplifted, and spread both ways from the head.

Thunder—The sign of rain, accompanied by the voice imitating the rumbling sound of thunder.

Lightning—First, the sign of thunder; then open or separate the hands; and, lastly, bring the right hand down towards the earth, in the centre of the opening just made.

Male and female—Note: to distinguish between the male and female, in all cases add for the male a fillip with the fore finger of the right hand on the cheek; and, for the female, bring the two hands open towards the breast, the fingers approaching, and then move them outwards.

Dunghill fowl—Bring the thumb and fingers of the right hand together; and holding the hand moderately elevated, move it across, imitating the motion of the head of a cock in walking.

Turkey—The open hands brought up opposite to the shoulders, and imitating slowly the motion of the wings of a bird; to which add the last sign.

{286} Duck—The last sign; then the sign of water; and, lastly, the sign of swimming; which last is performed by the fore finger of the right hand extended outwards, and moved to and fro.

Horse—The right hand, with the edge downwards, the fingers joined, the thumb recumbent, extended forwards.

Deer—The right hand extended upwards by the right ear, with a quick puff from the mouth.

Man—With the fore finger of the right hand extended, and the hand shut, describe a line, beginning at the pit of the stomach, and passing down the middle of the body as far as the hand conveniently reaches, holding the hand a moment between the lower extremities.

Woman—The finger and thumb of the right hand partly open, and placed as if laying hold of the breast.

Child—Bring the fingers and thumb of the right hand, and place them against the lips; then draw them away, and bring the right hand against the fore of the left, as if holding an infant. Should the child be male, prefix the sign of a man before the last sign; and, if a female, do so by the sign of the woman.

Boy—Bring the fingers and thumb of the right hand to touch the lips; then extend the hands and make the sign of man; then raise the hand, with the fingers upwards, placed at the height of a boy.

Girl—Begin with the above sign, and make the sign of woman; and then raise the hand to the height of the girl.

You—The hand held upwards obliquely, and pointing forward.

He, or another—The fore fingers extended, and the hands shut, and fingers brought over one another, or nearly touching, and then separated moderately quick.

{287} Many, or much—The flat of the right hand patting on the back of the left hand; which is repeated in proportion to the greater or lesser quantity.

Know—The fore finger of the right hand held up nearly opposite to the nose, and brought with a half-turn to the right, and carried a little outwards. Place any of the articles before the last sign, which will then signify, "I know, you know, he knows;"—both hands being made use of in the manner described, implies, "to know much."

Now, or at present—The two hands forming each a hollow, and brought near each other, and put in a tremulous motion upwards and downwards.

Come here—The hand stretched outwards, with the palm under, and brought back with a curve motion downwards, and inclining to the body.

Go—The back of the hand stretched out and upwards.

What say you—The palm of the hand upwards, and carried circularly outwards and depressed.

No, nothing, I have none—The hand held up before the face, with the palm outward, and vibrated to and fro.

From whence come you? say—First, the sign of you; then the hand extended, open, and drawn to the breast; and, lastly, the sign of, "what say you?"

Come—The fore-finger moved from right to left, with an interrupted motion, as if imitating the alternate movement of stepping.

Mine—The hand shut, and held up to the view.

House—The hand half open, and the fore finger extended and separated; then raise the hand upwards, and give it a half turn, as if screwing something.

Done, or finished—The hands placed edge up and down, parallel to each other; the right hand without; which latter is drawn back, as if cutting something.

Spring season—The sign of cold, to which add the last sign of being done or finished.

Body—The hands with the fingers pointed to the lower part of the body, and then drawn upwards.

Hair—The movement of combing.