A Description of some of the Signs used by the Prairie Indians, as an International Language.

BY. I. J. COOPER.

A white man or American.—Most of the Prairie Indians designate him, by drawing their hand across their brow, — showing that he wears a hat. The Sioux however, make the same motion but clench their hands instead of having them open.

A Frenchman.-The Sioux denote him by passing the hand in front of the mouth, as if cutting with a knife.

Spaniard or Mexican. Use the hands as if brushing up

whiskers.

A Snake or Comanche. - Shaking the extended forefinger, pointing to the earth, in front, to designate the serpentine course of a snake.

Arapahoe.-Tapping the breast with the ends of the fingers of the right hand, a spotted breast.

Cheyenne.-Making 3 marks on the left arm close to shoulder with 3 fingers of the right hand-this being the badge or token of this tribe.

Pawnee or Wolf.-The two first fingers of each hand elevated and the hands placed close to the head, to denote erect ears. Sioux. Draw the hand quickly across the throat, to show a cut-throat.

Sioux brulés.-Rubbing the hips as if burnt.

Sioux casse de flèche. Make the gesture of pulling back a bowstring, and then with clenched hands as if breaking in two an

arrow.

Crows. Spread both hands and with the fingers upwards slightly agitate them opposite each shoulder, to represent the wings and flight of a bird.

Blackfoot.-Rubbing the instep of the foot with one hand.

A chief or headman.-Extend forefinger of right hand slightly curved and with the palm from you, make a semicircular motion with the same, leaving the point of the finger downwards, showing high and low-giving one to understand that he has authority as regards him.

Brave man.

Forefinger of right hand extended and pushed forward, to denote one who goes ahead.

Coward.- Drawing the right hand curved inwards close to the right side of the body, denoting a drawing back.

A person who can hear and will not. - Move forefinger of

NOTE. These are some of the signs used by the Prairie Indians as a language; and tho I may have failed to describe them with that minuteness and clearness which a curious reader might desire, he may at least have the consolation that they are faithful as far as they go; for to my own experience among the Arapahoes, Chiennes, Apaches, Kioways and Camanches I have not scrupled to add the valuable memoranda of Maj. Solomon P. Sublette. I. J. C.

right hand to the right ear, and draw point of forefinger of left hand from opposite ear, as much as to say: what went in one ear came out at the other.

An old man. - Hand clenched, palm forward, and circular motion near the head, to denote that time has rolled over his head. A Fool. Placing the knuckles against the forehead, palm inwards. Hard head.

Friends. Clasping both hands tightly together-showing a

union.

Poor or Destitute.-Rubbing down perpendicular forefinger of the left, with the forefinger of the right, as much as to say: "he is stripped.

Poor in flesh. - Placing hands curved against the chest, and throw them outwards, as if taking the flesh therefrom.

Woman or Squaw. Stroke down with both hands on each side of the head, to denote long hair.

Whiskey or Strong Water. --Holding up right hand, tightly clenched, agitating it as if holding something firmly that was hard to beat or hold.

Tobacco. Hold the right hand as though a long pipe were in it, bringing them towards you and back again with a slight sound of the nose as though emitting the smoke-this being the Indian mode of enjoying the weed.

A Pipe.-Motion as above but keep the hand stationary.

A Gun. Place the hands in the position of holding a gun ready for shooting.

Powder or Flour. Hold the fingers of the right hand as if containing a pinch of either and then make the motion of sprinkling it showing its value and nature.

Salt. Place the forefingers of the right hand to the tip of the tongue.

Vermillion.-Rub the cheek to denote it-this being the Indian rouge.

Beads.-Make a sign with the fingers as if encircling the neck, for large beads, and place the finger at the base of the ear for others-as the former are worn as ornaments for the one,

whilst the latter adorn the other.

Dried Meat.-Use the open right hand with the palm upwards like a knife between the thumb and fingers of the left hand, the palm of which should likewise be upwards, as if splitting a piece of meat, as the Indian women do that of the buffalo in the process of curing it.

Trading. Cross two forefingers-an interchange.

Swapping.-Make a pass with forefinger of each hand at right angles to each other.

Rolling up. -Make a corresponding motion to that of rolling up a piece of cloth.

Packing up.-Slap both hands together-showing the position of the packs upon a mule.

Saddling up.- Place palm of open right hand upon the edge of the left hand, held vertically-showing the position of a saddle.

Starting. Holding left arm out, slightly crooked at the elbow with closed hand, and draw back the right from it, as though taking something from beneath.

A Dog. Make the sign of a wolf, but use the right hand af. terwards, as though stroking his back.

The Sun.-Make a circle with forefinger and thumb—i. e. touch the ends of these fingers.

Time of day.-Make the sign of the sun, but with the hand in the same position, move from the East to that point in the heaven you wish to designate, as the position the sun occupied at the time. Night. Arms outspread, hands also, palms downwards and moved over each other to denote a covering.

Time of night. The same as the time of day with addition of the above sign, as the sign of the moon is the same as that of the

sun.

-

Mountain or steep ascent. Left arm standing out from the body, bent at right angles, hand clenched tight. The Cumanches however, hold up their clenched hands before them to make this sign, and if the mountain be a very steep one, or a rugged rocky one, the right hand is brought down edgewise, by the other, as if cutting an edge from the same.

Dead or death.- Hold left arm out with closed hand, pass the right beneath it and from you, to denote a going under the earth.

Strong or strength. Hold both arms bent at the elbow, the hands compressed tightly before you, as if holding the reins of a fiery horse.

Walking.-Hold out the extended hands before you, the palms down and make a motion up and down like the movements of feet. Surprise or wonder.- Place the palm of the right hand over the mouth and press tightly, as if holding your breath.

Snow and rain. Hold the right arm high above the head, with the fingers hanging downwards, and move gently or forcibly, as the case may be, up and down, to denote the strength of the

fall.

Cold. Clench the hands and hold them closely to the breast, with a trembling motion.

Love.--Press the clenched hands close to the breast.

Killing. Clench the right hand, and move as if striking forward.

Bad. Clench the right hand as above, but open suddenly downwards with a corresponding motion.

Large. Hold out arms, with open hands, fingers meeting at the tips in the form of a circle-showing as much as you can

hold.

Far.- Retain left hand to the breast and move the right from it and you.

Near.--Hands as above, but bring right hand back to the left. Pretty or handsome. Make a pass with open right hand, palm towards you, past the face downwards and outwards.

Good.-Hold the hand level, fingers straight and together, palm downwards and move it from the chin directly from you.

N.--Make a pass from you with open palm outwards.

Yes or affirmation.-Extend forefinger of the right hand, and with the palm from you make a circular motion upwards and outwards from you.

A long time.-- Extend right arm with hand closed, and bring your left from the wrist of the right, along down the arm to your shoulder.

To see. Point with two first fingers of right hand directly from the eyes.

To talk.-Make a movement from the mouth of two first fingers of right hand.

To lie.-Pass forefinger of right hand by the mouth to the left shoulder, showing that he speaks crooked, or speaks the truth over the left; among the Kanzas however, two fingers are sometimes crossed at the mouth, to show he speaks forked.

To tell the truth.-Bring the forefinger of the right hand down past the mouth and make a curve downwards and then upwards. To hear.-Move the forefinger to the ear several times.

Not to hear or to be deaf.- Same motion as above, but then open the hand and throw it from the ear.

To know. Bring the open right hand, with the palm upwards, from the chin outwards.

The system of counting, or the Indian's Arithmetic. For 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, the 1st, 2d, 3rd, 4th and 5th finger of the right hand, commencing at the thumb. For 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, the fingers of the left hand. For 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90, the hands outspread and closed, alternately marking tens. However for 50 the hand is sometimes opened and then clenched tightly. For 100, both hands are opened and clenched tightly. Also for 90, you may open both hands, except the thumb of the right,

and then compress tightly. For 80, do the same with the thumb and forefinger of the right hand. For 70 and 60, the 2d and 3rd fingers of the right hand closed likewise and same motion.

Wife. - Placing two first fingers of right hand alongside with points from you and palm down-denoting the same course in life.

Brother or Sister. Place the two fingers as above in the mouth, and for the female, add the above gesture-denoting the same parents.

Child. Hand with palm downward, directed in a slanting direction from the loins, and then show size of same by holding the hand a certain height from the earth-denoting its height.

Buffalo Bull.-Place thumb against the head and extend forefinger upwards slightly crooked in form of a horn; for a buffalo cow, lengthen the forefinger to show a longer horn.

A Horse. Place two first fingers of right hand astraddle of the two first fingers of the left, making a movement with the same, for gallopping.

A Mule.--Spread both hands, fingers close together and move the same, with hands upwards, close to the head, backwards and forwards, to show the long ears.

A Beaver.

Rubbing back of left hand with the palm of the right, showing that the fur on its back is smooth.

A Fort. Place the palms of the hands slightly extended, opposite each other, and curve them inwards with the fingers' ends touching so as to form a circle-this being the usual shape of Indian forts.

A Lodge. Place the palms opposite, but have the fingers elevated and touching at the top in form of a cone.

A Camp.-Hold right hand in form of a circle, and motion up and down, to denote a sitting down.

Waggons.--Make a circular pass from you, with hands slightly curved inwards and forefinger extended slightly, denoting the rolling motion of the wheels.

Fire.-Hand scolloped upwards, fingers apart, and motion upwards several times, showing the flames.

Grass.-Motion as above but hand close to the ground to show the springing up or out of the earth.

Water or River.-Use right hand quickly, as if pouring into the mouth.