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Show HOESE- SAME- HE- SURPKISE- SUIT. 29 is to be observed that this sign has a strong resemblance to the one given above by Captain BURTON for dog, and may have reference to the girth. It is still more easily confused with Captain BURTON'S " think, guess". The French deaf- mutes add to the straddling of the index the motion of a trot The Utes have a special sign for horse- the first and little fingers of the right hand, palm down, extended forward, the balls of the remaining fingers falling down and resting upon the end of the thumb, presenting a suggestion of the animal's head and ears. Our deaf- mutes indicate the ears, followed by straddling the left hand by the fore and middle fingers of the right. Same, similar, is made not only among our tribes generally, but by those all over the world, and by deaf- mutes, by extending the two forefingers together side by side, backs upward, sometimes moved together slightly forward. When held at rest in this position, companion arid the tie of fellowship, what in days of chivalry was styled " brothers in arms," can be indicated, and, as a derivative also, husband. The French and American deaf- mutes use this sign, preceded by one showing the sex, for " brother> r or " sister." The most remarkable variant from the sign as above described which is reported to be used by our Indians, is as follows: Extend the fore and middle finger of the right hand, pointing upward, thumb crossed over the other fingers, which are closed. Move the hand downward and forward. ( Dorset/ ) An opposition to the more common sign above mentioned is given, though not generally* reported, for he} or another person, by placing one straight forefinger over the other, nearly touching, and then separated with a moderately rapid motion. ( Dunbar.) The deaf- mutes for " he" point the thumb over the right shoulder. The principal motion for surprise, wonder, consists in placing the right hand before the mouth, which is open, or supposed so to be- a gesture seemingly involuntary with us, and which also appears in the Egyptian hieroglyphs. The general sign for sun; when it is given as distinguished from day- made by forming a circle with the thumb and forefinger raised to the east or along the track of the orb- is often abbreviated by simply crooking the elevated forefinger into an arc of a circle, which would more naturally be |
