(19) One finger of left hand raised—one.
(20) Sign of cross with right—Russian.
(21) Right hand height of eye, fingers closed and extended, palm outward a little to right—no.
(22) Right hand carried across chest, hand extended, palm upward, fingers and thumb closed as if holding something. Left hand in same position carried across the right, palm downward—trade.
(23) Left hand upholding one finger, right pointing to me—one white man.
(24) Right hand held horizontally, palm downward, about four feet from ground—small.
(25) Forming rings before eyes with index and thumb—eye-glasses.
(26) Right hand clinched, palm upward, in front of chest, thumb pointing inward—gave one.
(27) Forming cup with right hand, simulating drinking—drink.
(28) Right hand grasping chest repeatedly, fingers curved and spread—strong.
(29) Both hands pressed to temple and head moved from side to side—drunk, headache.
(30) Both index fingers placed together, extended, pointing forward—together.
(31) Fingers interlaced repeatedly—build.
(32) Left hand extended, fingers closed, pointing outward (vertically), right hand extended, fingers closed, placed slopingly against left—camp.
(33) Both wrists placed against temples, hands curved upward and outward, fingers spread—horns.
(34) Both hands horizontally lifted to height of shoulder, right arm extended gradually full length to the right, hand drooping a little at the end—long back, moose.
(35) Both hands upright, palm outward, fingers extended and spread, placing one before the other alternately—trees, forest, dense forest.
(36) Sign of cross—Russian.
(37) Motions of shooting a gun—shot.
(38) Sign formoose(Nos. 33, 34), showing two fingers of left hand—two.
(39) Sign forcampas before (No. 10)camp.
(40) Right hand describing curve from east to west, twice—two days.
(41) Left hand lifted height of mouth, back outward, fingers closed as if holding something; right hand simulating motion of tearing off and placing in mouth—eating moose meat.
(42) Right hand placed horizontally against heart, fingers closed, moved forward a little and raised a little several times—glad at heart.
(43) Fingers of left hand and index of right hand extended and placed together horizontally, pointing forward, height of chest. Hands separated, right pointing eastward and left westward—three men and speaker parted, going west and east.
(44) Pressing both arms against chest and shivering—very cold.
(45) Drawing index of each hand around corresponding legs below the knee—deep snow.
(46) Drawing imaginary line with index of right hand across each foot, just behind the toes—snow shoes.
(47) Head lowered to right side into palm of hand three times—slept three times.
(48) Sign forcamp, as before (No. 10)—camp.
(49) Pointing to speaker—I.
(50) Fingers of right hand extended and joined and pointed forward from mouth, left hand lowered horizontally to a foot from the ground—fox.
(51) Left hand raised height of eye, back to the left, fingers closed, with exception of middle finger held upright; then middle finger suddenly closed—trap.
(52) Both hands lifted height of eye, palm inward, fingers spread—many.
(53) Right hand pointing to speaker—I.
(54) Sign fortrap(No. 51), as above—trap.
(55) Right hand lowered to within a few inches of the ground and moved from left to right about two feet. Motions of both hands descriptive of playful jumping of marten around a tree or stump—marten.
(56) Holding up the fingers of both hands three times until aggregating thirty—thirty.
(57) Left forearm held up vertically, palm to front, fingers spread—tree.
(58) Motion of chopping with hatchet—cut.
(59) Driving invisible wedge around small circle—peeling birch bark.
(60) Right hand, fingers extended and joined, moved slowly from left to right horizontally while blowing upon it with mouth—pitching seams of canoe.
(61) Motions of using paddle very vigorously—paddle up stream.
(62) Lifting both arms above head on respective sides, hands closed as if grasping something and lifting the body—poling canoe.
(63) Sign formoon(No. 4), (crescent and ring) once—one month.
(64) Right hand vertically, height of chest, palm to left, fingers extended, closed. Left hand horizontally, palm downward, pushed against right—stopped.
(65) Right hand, index extended, drawing outline of mountains, one above other—high mountains.
(66) Left hand lifted to left shoulder, back to front, fingers bent and closed. Right hand, fingers bent and closed, placed over left and then slowly drawn across chest to right shoulder. Motion with both hands as if adjusting pack—pack, knapsack.
(67) Sign forwateras before (No. 8). Both hands brought forward, palms down, arms passed outward horizontally to respective sides, palms down—lake. Both hands describing circular line backward until touching collar bone—big and deep.
(68) Left hand raised slightly about height of nipple, three fingers closed; index and thumb holding tip of index of right hand. Both hands moved across chest from left to right—beaver.1
(69) Previous sign formany(No. 52) repeated several times—very plentiful.
(70) Both hands held up with fingers spread, palm forward, twice and left hand once—height of eye—twenty-five.
(71) Pointing to himself—I.
(72) Sign fortrapas before (No. 51)—trapped.
(73) Sign for temporaryshelter(No. 10)—camped.
(74) Sign for new and full moon (No. 4), once—one month.
(75) Right hand passed slowly over the hair and chin. Left hand touching a pendant of white beads—old man.
(76) Index of right hand held up—one.
(77) Both hands partially closed and placed against breast, back of hands to front, a few inches apart—women.
(78) Index and middle finger of right hand held up, palm forward; eyes directed as if counting—two.
(79) Sign fortrapas before (No. 51)—trapping.
(80) Left forearm vertically in front of chest, palm of hand to front, fingers spread, elbow resting upon the back of the right hand—tree.
(81) Arms and hands spanning imaginary tree of some size—big.
(82) Sign fortreeas before (No. 57), left forearm suddenly brought down across extended right hand—fell.
(83) Right hand laid on top of head, then passed over the hair and chin, left hand touching white beads—on the head of the old man.
(84) Sign forold manas before (No. 75)—old man.
(85) Closing both eyes with fore and middle finger of right hand; both hands placed side by side, horizontally, palms downward, fingers extended and united, hands separated by slow horizontal movement to right and left—dead.
(86) Sign for women as before (No. 77)—women.
(87) Fingers of both hands interlaced at right angles several times—built.
(88) Sign forlodgeas before (No. 10)—lodge.2
(89) Right index describing circle around the head, height of eye (cutting hair). Right hand passed over forehead and face. Left index pointing to black scabbard (blacking faces)—mourning.
(90) Index and middle finger of right hand passed from eyes downward across cheeks—weeping.
(91) Pointing to himself—I.
(92) Make the signs forshoot(Nos. 33, 34), andmoose(No. 37)—shot a moose.
(93) Left hand extended horizontally, palm upward, right hand placed across left vertically, about the middle—divided in two.
(94) Right hand closed, palm downward, moved forward from right breast the length of the arm and then opened—I gave.
(95) Sign forwomen, (No. 77)—to women.
(96) Right hand, palm down, pointing to left, placed horizontally before heart and slightly raised several times—good and glad.
(97) Pointing to his companion—he.
(98) Motion ofpaddling—in canoe.
(99) Right arm and hand extended in N.E. direction, gradually curved back until index touches speaker—came to me from the northeast.
(100) Sign fortogetheras above (No. 30)—together.
(101) Motion ofpaddling—paddled.
(102) Pointing to ground—to this place.
(103)K. Motion of drinking water out of hand—water.
(104) Describing circle with right index on palm of left hand extended horizontally—lake.
(105) Left hand raised to height of eye, palm to front, fingers leaning slightly backward. Fingers of left hand closed alternately—how many?
(106)T. Holding up right hand back to front, showing four fingers, eyes looking at them as if counting—four.
(107) Sign for packing with wooden breast-brace as above; three fingers of right hand shown as above—three portages.
(108)K. Right hand pointing to gun of stranger—gun. Left hand raised height of eye, palm to front, and moved rapidly several times to right and left—interrogation.
(109) Sign fortradeas before (No. 22)—trade;i.e.,where did you buy the gun?
(110)T. Sign forMountain-riveras above (No. 2). Pointing eastward—from the eastward.
(111) Pointing to sun and then raising both hands, backs to front, fingers spread—ten days.
(112) Pointing to me—white man.
(113) Left hand held up vertically, palm outward, fingers joined. Right index placed horizontally across fingers of left hand in front, about the middle joint—pallisaded.
(114) Describing square with right index on flat palm of left hand—building.
(115) Pointing to his gun, powder-horn, blanket, and beads—trading goods.
(116) Both hands horizontal, brought forward and upward from chest and then downward—plenty.
In giving this narrative I have observed the original sequence, but there were frequent interruptions, caused by consultation between Chatidoolts and his sons, and before the strangers departed again they had obtained a knowledge of some words of the Kenaitze language.
Footnote 1:(return)Chatidoolts explained this to his sons as well as to me, saying that the mountain men had a peculiar mode of catching beavers with long sticks.
Chatidoolts explained this to his sons as well as to me, saying that the mountain men had a peculiar mode of catching beavers with long sticks.
Footnote 2:(return)They never occupy a house in which one of the other Indians died.
They never occupy a house in which one of the other Indians died.
The following short dialogue forms part of the scanty tradition the civilized Ojibwas possess regarding their ancestors' sign language:
Two Indians of different tongue meet on a journey. First Indian points to second Indian with the outstretched forefinger of the right hand, bringing it within a few inches of his breast; next he extends both forearms horizontally, clinches all but the forefingers, and bends the hands inward; then he brings them slowly and in a straight line together, until the tips of the outstretched forefingers meet. This gesture is accompanied with a look of inquiry—You met somebody?
Second Indian, facing the south, points to the east, and with the outstretched hand forms a half-circle from east to west (corresponding to the daily course of the sun); then he raises the arm and points to a certain height above the southern horizon. Then the sign formeeting(as above) may be made, or omitted. After this he bends the right hand downward, and repeatedly moves the outstretched forefinger and middle finger in opposite directions (in imitation of the motion of the legs in the act of walking). Finally he raises the right hand and stretches up the forefinger (or several fingers).To-day, when the sun stood at such a height, I met one (or several) persons traveling on foot. If the travelers met were on horseback he makes the sign forhorseas described by (DakotaIII), seeExtracts from Dictionary, or the identical one forgoinggiven by (OjibwaI), which is as follows: To describe a journey on horseback the first two fingers of the right hand are placed astride of the forefinger of the left hand, and both represent the galloping movement of a horse. If it is a foot journey, wave the two fingers several times through the air.
The following, which is presented as a good descriptive model, was obtained by Dr.W.J. Hoffman, of the Bureau of Ethnology, from Natci, a Pai-Ute chief connected with the delegation of that tribe to Washington in January, 1880, and refers to an expedition made by him by direction of his father, Winnimukka, Head Chief of the Pai-Utes, to the northern camp of his tribe, partly for the purpose of preventing the hostile outbreak of the Banaks which occurred in 1878, and more particularly to prevent those Pai-Utes from being drawn into any difficulty with the United States by being leagued with the Banaks.
(1) Close the right hand, leaving the index extended, pointed westward at arm's length a little above the horizon, head thrown back with the eyes partly closed and following the direction—Away to the west, (2) indicate a large circle on the ground with the forefinger of the right hand pointing downward—place(locative), (3) the tips of the spread fingers of both hands placed against one another, pointing upward before the body, leaving a space of four or five inches between the wrists—house(brush tent or wik'-i-up), see Fig. 257, p.431, (4) with the right hand closed, index extended or slightly bent, tap the breast several times—mine. (5) Draw an imaginary line, with the right index toward the ground, from some distance in front of the body to a position nearer to it—from there I came, (6) indicate a spot on the ground by quickly raising and depressing the right hand with the index pointing downward—to a stopping place, (7) grasp the forelock with the right hand, palm to the forehead, and raise it about six inches, still holding the hair upward—the chief of the tribe(Winnimukka), see Fig. 245, p.418, (8) touch the breast with the index—me, (9) the right hand held forward from the hip at the level of the elbow, closed, palm downward, with the middle finger extended and quickly moved up and down a short distance—telegraphed, (10) head inclined toward the right, at the same time making movement toward and from the ear with the extended index pointing toward it—I heard,i.e., understood.
(11) An imaginary line indicated with the extended and inverted index from a short distance before the body to a place on the right—I went, (12) repeat gesture No. 6—a stopping place, (13) inclining the head, with eyes closed, toward the right, bring the extended right hand, palm up, to within six inches of the right ear—where I slept. (14) Place the spread and extended index and thumb of the right hand, palm downward, across the right side of the forehead—white man(American), (15)elevating both hands before the breast, palms forward, thumbs touching, the little finger of the right hand closed—nine, (16) touch the breast with the right forefinger suddenly—and myself, (17) lowering the hand, and pointing downward and forward with the index still extended (the remaining fingers and thumb being loosely closed) indicate an imaginary line along the ground toward the extreme right—went, (18) extend the forefinger of the closed left hand, and place the separated fore and second fingers of the right astraddle the forefinger of the left, and make a series of arched or curved movements toward the right—rode horseback, (19) keeping the hands in their relative position, place them a short distance below the right ear, the head being inclined toward that side—sleep, (20) repeat the signs forriding(No. 18) andsleeping(No. 19) three times—four days and nights, (21) make sign No. 18, and stopping suddenly point toward the east with the extended index-finger of the right (others being closed) and follow the course of the sun until it reaches the zenith—arrived at noon of the fifth day.
(22) Indicate a circle as in No. 2—a camp, (23) the hands then placed together as in No. 3, and in this position, both moved in short irregular upward and downward jerks from side to side—many wik'-i-ups, (24) then indicate the chief of the tribe as in No. 7—meaning thatit was one of the camps of the chief of the tribe. (25) Make a peculiar whistling sound of "phew" and draw the extended index of the right hand across the throat from left to right—Banak, (26) draw an imaginary line with the same extended index, pointing toward the ground, from the right to the body—came from the north, (27) again make gesture No. 2—camp, (28) and follow it twice by sign given as No. 18 (forward from the body, but a short distance)—two rode. (29) Rub the back of the right hand with the extended index of the left—Indian,i.e., the narrator's own tribe, Pai-Ute, (30) elevate both hands side by side before the breast, palms forward, thumbs touching, then, after a short pause, close all the fingers and thumbs except the two outer fingers of the right hand—twelve, (31) again place the hands side by side with fingers all spread or separated, and move them in a horizontal curve toward the right—went out of camp, (32) and make the sign given as No. 25—Banak, (33) that of No. 2—camp, (34) then join the hands as in No. 31, from the right toward the front—Pai-Utes returned, (35) close the right hand, leaving the index only extended, move it forward and downward from the mouth three or four times, pointing forward, each time ending the movement at a different point—I talked to them, (36) both hands pointing upward, fingers and thumbs separated, palms facing and about four inches apart, held in front of the body as far as possible in that position—the men in council, (37) point toward the east with the index apparently curving downward over the horizon, then gradually elevate it to an altitude of 45°—talked all night and until nine o'clock next morning, (38) bring the closed hands, with forefingers extended, upward and forward from their respective sides, and place them side by side, palms forward, infront—my brother, Fig. 317, (39) (see also pp. 385, 386) followed by the gesture, No. 18, directed toward the left and front—rode, (40) by No. 7—the head chief, (41) and No. 2—camp.
Brother. Pai-UteFig. 317.
(42) Continue by placing the hands, slightly curved, palm to palm, holding them about six inches below the right ear, the head being inclined considerably in that direction—one sleep (night), (43) make sign No. 14—white man, (44) raise the left hand to the level of the elbow forward from the left hip, fingers pointing upward, thumb and forefinger closed—three, (45) and in this position draw them toward the body and slightly to the right—came, (46) then make gesture So. 42—sleep; (47) point with the right index to the eastern horizon—in the morning, (48) make sign No. 14—white man, (49) hold the left hand nearly at arm's length before the body, back up, thumb and forefinger closed, the remaining fingers pointing downward—three, (50) with the right index finger make gesture No. 35, the movement being directed towards the left hand—talked to them, (51) motion along the ground with the left hand, from the body toward the left and front, retaining the position of the fingers just stated (in No. 49)—they went, (52) tap toward the ground, as in gesture No. 6, with the left hand nearly at arm's length—to their camp.
(53) Make gesture No. 18 toward the front—I rode, (54) extend the right hand to the left and front, and tap towards the earth several times as in sign No. 6, having the fingers and thumb collected to a point—camp of the white men. (55) Close both hands, with the forefingers of each partly extended and crooked, and place one on either side of the forehead, palms forward—cattle(a steer), (56) hold the left hand loosely extended, back forward, about twenty inches before the breast, and strike the back of the partly extended right hand into the left—shot, (57) make a short upward curved movement with both hands, their position unchanged, over and downward toward the right—fell over, killed, (58) then hold the left hand a short distance before the body at the height of the elbow, palm downward, fingers closed, with the thumb lying over the second joint of the forefinger, extend the flattened right hand, edge down, before the body, just by the knuckles of the left, and draw the hand towards the body, repeating the movement—skinned, (59) make the sign given in No. 25—Banak, (60) place both hands with spread fingers upward and palms forward, thumb to thumb, before the right shoulder, moving them with a tremulous motion toward the left and front—came in, (61) make three short movements toward the ground in front, with the left hand, fingers loosely curved, and pointing downward—camp of the three white men, (62) then with the right hand open and flattened, edge down, cut towards the body as well as to the right and left—cut up the meat, (63) and make the pantomimic gesture ofhanding it around to the visitors.
(64) Make sign No. 35, the movement being directed to the left hand,as held in No. 49—told the white men, (65) grasping the hair on the right side of the head with the left hand, and drawing the extended right hand with the edge towards and across the side of the head from behind forward—to scalp; (66) close the right hand, leaving the index partly extended, and wave it several times quickly from side to side a short distance before the face, slightly shaking the head at the same time—no, Fig. 318, (67) make gesture No. 4—me, (68) repeat No. 65—scalp, (69) and raising the forelock high with the left hand, straighten the whole frame with a triumphant air—make me a great chief. (70) Close the right hand with the index fully extended, place the tip to the mouth and direct it firmly forward and downward toward the ground—stop, (71) then placing the hands, pointing upward, side by side, thumbs touching, and all the fingers separated, move them from near the breast outward toward the right, palms facing that direction at termination of movement—the Banaks went to one side, (72) with the right hand closed, index curved, palm downward, point toward the western horizon, and at arm's length dip the finger downward—after sunset, (73) make the gesture given as No. 14—white men, (74) pointing to the heart as in No. 4—and I, (75) conclude by making gesture No. 18 from near body toward the left, four times, at the end of each movement the hands remaining in the same position, thrown slightly upward—we four escaped on horseback.
No, negation. Pai-UteFig. 318.
The above was paraphrased orally by the narrator as follows: "Hearing of the trouble in the north, I started eastward from my camp in Western Nevada, when, upon arriving at Winnemucca Station, I received telegraphic orders from the head chief to go north to induce our bands in that region to escape the approaching difficulties with the Banaks. I started for Camp McDermit, where I remained one night. Leaving next morning in company with nine others, we rode on for four days and a half. Soon after our arrival at the Pai-Ute camp, two Banaks came in, when I sent twelve Pai-Utes to their camp to ask them all to come in to hold council. These messengers soon returned, when I collected all the Pai-Utes ands talked to them all night regarding the dangers of an alliance with the Banaks and of their continuance in that locality. Next morning I sent my brother to the chief, Winnimukka, with a report of proceedings.
"On the following day three white men rode into camp, who had come up to aid in persuading the Pai-Utes to move away from the border. Next morning I consulted with them respecting future operations, after which they went away a short distance to their camp. I then followed them, where I shot and killed a steer, and while skinning it the Banaks came in, when the meat was distributed. The Banaks being disposed to become violent at any moment, the white men became alarmed, whenI told them that rather than allow them to be scalped I would be scalped myself in defending them, for which action I would be considered as great a chief as Winnemukka by my people. When I told the Banaks to cease threatening the white men they all moved to one side a short distance to hold a war council, and after the sun went down the white men and I mounted our horses and fled toward the south, whence we came."
Some of the above signs seem to require explanation. Natci was facing the west during the whole of this narration, and by the right he signified the north; this will explain the significance of his gesture to the right in Nos. 11 and 17, and to the left in No. 75.
No. 2 (repeated in Nos. 22,27,33, and 41) designates an Indian brush lodge, and although Natci has not occupied one for some years, the gesture illustrates the original conception in the round form of the foundation of poles, branches, and brush, the interlacing of which in the construction of thewik'-i-uphas survived in gestures Nos. 3 and 23 (the latter referring to more than one,i.e., an encampment).
The sign for Banak, No. 25 (also 32 and 59), has its origin from the tradition among the Pai-Utes that the Banaks were in the habit of cutting the throats of their victims. This sign is made with the index instead of the similar gesture with the flat hand, which among several tribes denotes the Sioux, but the Pai-Utes examined had no specific sign for that body of Indians, not having been in sufficient contact with them.
"A stopping place," referred to in Nos. 6, 12, 52, and 54, represents the temporary station, or camp of white men, and is contradistinguished from a village, or perhaps from any permanent encampment of a number of persons, by merely dotting toward the ground instead of indicating a circle.
It will also be seen that in several instances, after indicating the nationality, the fingers previously used in representing the number were repeated without its previously accompanying specific gesture, as in No. 61, where the three fingers of the left hand represented the men (white), and the three movements toward the ground signified the camp or tents of the three (white) men.
This also occurs in the gesture (Nos. 59, 60, and 71) employed for the Banaks, which, having been once specified, is used subsequently without its specific preceding sign for the tribe represented.
The rapid connection of the signs Nos. 57 and 58 and of Nos. 74 and 75 indicates the conjunction, so that they are severally readily understood as "shotandkilled," and "the white menandI." The same remark applies to Nos. 15 and 16, "the nineandI."
This narrative was obtained in July, 1880, by Dr.Francis H. Atkins, acting assistant surgeon, United States Army, at South Fork, New Mexico, fromTi-pe-bes-tlel(Sheepskin-leggings), habitually called Patricio, an intelligent young Mescalero Apache. It gives an account of what is locally termed the "April Round-up," which was the disarming and imprisoning by a cavalry command of the United States Army, of the small Apache subtribe to which the narrator belonged.
(1) Left hand on edge, curved, palm, forward, extended backward length of arm toward the West (far westward).
(2) Arm same, turned hand, tips down, and moved it from north to south (river).
(3) Dipped same hand several times above and beyond last line (beyond).
(4) Hand curved (Y, more flexed) and laid on its back on top of his foot (moccasins much curved up at toe); then drew hands up legs to near knee, and cut off with edges of hands (boot tops), (Warm Spring Apaches, who wear booted moccasins with turn-up toes.)
(5) Hands held before him, tips near together, fingers gathered (U); then alternately opened and gathered fingers of both hands (P to U, U to P), and thrusting them toward each other a few times (shot or killed many).
(6) Held hands six inches from side of head, thumbs and forefingers widely separated (Mexican,i.e., wears a broad hat).
(7) Held right hand on edge, palm toward him, threw it on its back forward and downward sharply toward earth (T on edge to X), (dead, so many dead).
(8) Put thumbs to temples and indexes forward, meeting in front, other fingers closed (soldiers,i.e., cap-visor).
(9) Repeated No. 5 and No. 7 (were also shot dead).
(10) Placed first and second fingers of right hand, others closed, astride of left index, held horizontally (horses).
(11) Held hands on edge and forward (T on edge forward), pushed them forward, waving vertically (marching,i.e.,ran off with soldiers' horses or others). N.B.—Using both hands indicates double ranks of troops marching also.
(12) Struck right fist across in front of chin from right to left sharply (bad).
(13) Repeated No. 4 (Warm Spring Apache).
(14) Moved fist, thumb to head, from center of forehead to right temple and a little backward (fool).
(15) Repeated No. 8 and No. 11 (soldiers riding in double column).
(16) Thrust right hand down over and beyond left, both palms down (W) (came here).
(17) Repeated No. 8 (soldier).
(18) Touched hair (hair).
(19) Touched tent (quite white).
(20) Touched top of shoulder (commissioned officer,i.e., shoulder-straps).
(21) Thrust both hands up high (high rank).
(22) Right forefinger to forehead; waved it about in front of face and rolled head about (primarilyfool, but qualified in this case by the interpreter asno sabe much).
(23) Drew hands up his thighs and body and pointed to himself (Mescalero Indian).
(24) Approximated hands before him, palms down, with thumbs and indexes widely separated, as if inclosing a circle (captured,i.e.,corralled, surrounded).
(25) Placed tips of hands together, wrists apart, held them erect (T, both hands inclined), (house; in this casethe agency).
(26) Threw both hands, palms back, forward and downward, moving from knuckles (metacarpo-phalangeal joint) only, several times (issuing rations).
(27) Thrust two fingers (N) toward mouth and downward (food).
(28) Repeated No. 25 (house); outlined a hemispherical object (wik-i-up); repeated these several times, bringing the hands with emphasis several times down toward the earth (village permanently here).
(29) Repeated No. 25 several times and pointed to a neighboring hillside (village over there).
(30) Repeated Nos. 17 to 21, inclusive (General X).
(31) Thrust two fingers forward from his eyes (primarilyI see; alsoI saw, orthere were).
(32) Repeated No. 11 (toward said hillside), (troops went over there with General X).
(33) Repeated No. 4, adding, swept indexes around head and touched red paper on a tobacco wrapper (San Carlos Apaches, scouts especially distinguished by wearing a red fillet about the head); also added, drew indexes across each cheek from nose outward (were much painted).
(34) Repeated No. 24 and No. 23 (to capture the Mescalero Indians).
(35) Repeated No. 31 (there were).
(36) Repeated No. 33 (San Carlos scouts).
(37) Repeated No. 8 (and soldiers).
(38) Clasped his hands effusively before his breast (so many!i.e.,a great many).
(39) Repeated No. 31 (I saw).
(40) Repeated No. 23 (my people).
(41) Brought fists together under chin, and hugged his arms close to his breast, with a shrinking motion of body (afraid).
(42) Struck off half of left index with right index (half, ora portion).
(43) Waved off laterally and upward with both hands briskly (fled).
(44) Projected circled right thumb and index to eastern horizon, thence to zenith (next morning,i.e., sunrise to noon).
(45) Repeated No. 23 (the Mescaleros).
(46) Held hands in position of aiming a gun—left oblique—(shoot).
(47) Waved right index briskly before right shoulder (no, did not; negation).
(48) Swept his hand from behind forward, palm up (Y) (the others came).
(49) Repeated No. 5 (and shot).
(50) Repeated No. 23 (the Mescaleros).
(51) Repeated No. 7 (many dead).
(52) Repeated No. 8 (soldiers).
(53) Repeated No. 10 (horse, mounted).
(54) Hand forward, palm down (W) moved forward and up and down (walking,i.e.,infantry).
(55) Beckoned with right hand, two fingers curved (N horizontal and curved) (came).
(56) Repeated No. 11 (marching).
(57) Repeated No. 28 (to this camp, or village).
(58) Repeated No. 23 (with Mescaleros).
(59) Repeated No. 24 (as prisoners, surrounded).
(60) Repeated No. 33 (San Carlos scouts).
(61) Placed hands, spread out (R inverted), tips down, about waist (many cartridges).
(62) Repeated No. 46 (and guns).
(63) Repeated No. 5 (shot many).
(64) Repeated No. 4 (Warm Spring Apaches).
(65) Repeated No. 23 (and Mescaleros).
(66) Moved fist—thumb to head—across his forehead from right to left, and cast it toward earth over left shoulder (brave,i.e.,the San Carlos scouts are brave).
Far westward beyond the Rio Grande are the Warm Spring Apaches, who killed many Mexicans and soldiers and stole their horses. They (the Warm Spring Apaches) are bad and fools.
Some cavalry came here under an aged officer of high rank, but of inferior intelligence, to capture the Mescalero Indians.
The Mescaleros wished to have their village permanently here by the agency, and to receive their rations,i.e., were peacefully inclined.
Our village was over there. I saw the general come with troops and San Carlos scouts to surround (or capture) the Mescalero Indians. There were a great many San Carlos scouts and soldiers.
I saw that my people were afraid, and half of them fled.
Next morning the Mescaleros did not shoot (were not hostile). Theothers came and killed many Mescaleros. The cavalry and infantry brought us (the Mescaleros) to this camp as prisoners.
The San Carlos scouts were well supplied with ammunition and guns, and shot many Warm Spring Indians and Mescaleros.
The San Carlos scouts are brave men.
The following is contributed by Mr.Francis Jacker:
This narrative was related to me byJohn Na-wa-gi-jig(literally "noon-day sky"), an aged Ojibwa, with whom I have been intimately connected for a long period of years. He delivered his story, referring to one of the many incidents in his perilous life, orally, but with pantomimes so graphic and vivid that it may be presented truly as a specimen of gesture language. Indeed, to any one familiar with Indian mimicry, the story might have been intelligible without the expedient of verbal language, while the oral exposition, incoherent as it was, could hardly be styled anything better than the subordinate part of the delivery. I have endeavored to reproduce these gestures in their original connections from memory, omitting the verbal accompaniment as far as practicable. In order to facilitate a clear understanding it is stated that the gesturer was in a sitting posture before a camp fire by the lake shore, and facing the locality where the event referred to had actually occurred, viz, a portion of Keweenaw Bay, Lake Superior, in the neighborhood of Portage Entry, as seen by the annexed diagram, Fig. 319. The time of the relation (latter part of April) also coincided with theactualtime. In speaking of "arm," "hand," "finger," &c., the "right" is understood if not otherwise specified. "Finger" stands for "forefinger."
(1) With the exclamation "me-wi-ja" (a long time ago), uttered in a slow and peculiarly emphatic manner, he elevated the arm above and toward the right at the head, accompanying the motion with an upward wave of the hand and held it thus suspended a moment—a long time ago. (This gesture resembles sign fortime, a long, of which it seems to be an abbreviation, and it is not sufficiently clear without the accompanying exclamation.) Withdrawing it slowly, he placed the hand back upon his knee.
(2) He then brought up the left hand toward the temple and tapped his hair, which was gray, with the finger—hair gray.
(3) From thence he carried it down upon the thigh, placing the extended finger perpendicularly upon a fold of his trousers, which the thumb and finger of the right held grasped in such a manner as to advantageously present the smooth black surface of the cloth—of that color,i.e.,black.
Fig. 319—Scene of Na-wa-gi-jig's story.
(4) Next, with a powerful strain of the muscles, he slowly stretched out the right arm and fist and grasping the arm about the elbow withthe left, he raised the forearm perpendicularly upward, then brought it down with force, tightening the grasp in doing so (fingers pressing upon knuckle, thumb against pit of elbow)—strength.
(5) Pointing first at me—you.
(6) He next held out the hand horizontally and flat, palm downward, about four feet above the ground, correcting the measure a moment afterward by elevating hand a few inches higher, and estimated the height thus indicated with a telling look, leaning the head toward the side—about that height,i.e.,a youth of about that size.
(7) He then rapidly extended the arm about two-thirds of its length forward and toward the right, terminating the motion with a jerk of the hand upward, palm turned outward, and accompanied the motion with a nod of the head, the hand in its downfall closing and dropping upon knee—very well.
(8) Musing a few moments, he next slowly extended the arm and pointed with the fingers toward and along the surface of the frozen bay—out there.
(9) In an easterly direction—eastward.
(10) Thence turning the arm to the right he nodded the finger toward a projection of land southward at a distance of about two miles—following in each case the direction of the finger with the eyes—and immediately after placed the hand again eastward, indicating the spot with the same emphatic nod of the finger as though carrying the visible distance to a spot upon the expanse of the bay, which, bearing no object, could not be marked otherwise—two miles out there.
(11) Carrying the finger toward the body, he touched his breast—I myself.
(12) Thence erected the hand, turning its palm forward, forefinger perpendicularly extended, others slightly closed, and nodded it downward in an explanatory manner, all in an uninterrupted movement—one, meaning in connection with the preceding gesture—I for one.
(13) Again, with an emphatic movement, he turned the hand upward, slightly erecting the index, thumb pointing forward, remaining fingers partially and naturally opened and more or less separated—furthermore.
(14) Then quickly and after a moment's stop brought down the hand to a horizontal position, first and second fingers joining and fully extending during the movement, and pointing forward—another,i.e.,joined by another. Repeating this motion, he at the same time called out the nameGa-bi-wa-bi-ko-ke.
(15) Following the exclamation with a repetition of No. 2—gray hair—repeatedly touching the hair, meaning in this case—an old man.
(16) Pointed with the finger toward the right, directing it obliquely toward the ground—at a short distance toward my right.
(17) Repeated No. 13—furthermore.
(18) Repeated No. 14, adding the third finger to joined fore and middlefingers, thumb resting upon tip of fourth—another,i.e.,joined by a third, and pronounced the words "o-gwis-san Sa-ba-dis" (this is a corruption of the French "Jean Baptiste," a favorite name among Christianized Indians)—John Baptist, his son, while repeating the movement.
(19) Held up the three separated fingers perpendicularly in front of the face, pushing the hand forward a little—three in all.
(20) Presently lowered the hand, fingers relaxing, and carried it a short distance toward the left, thence back to the right, fingers pointing obliquely toward the ground in each case—placed to the right and left of me at a short distance.
(21) He then brought the hand—back toward the right, index horizontally extended, remaining fingers closed, thumb placed against second finger—in front of abdomen, and moved it slowly up and down two or three times, giving it a slight jerk at the upward motion, and raising the arm partially in doing so. At the same time he inclined the body forward a little, eyes looking down—fishing. This refers to fishing on the ice, and, as may be inferred from it, to the use of hook and line. A short stick to which the line is attached serves as a rod and is moved up and down in the manner described.
(22) After a short pause he elevated the hand, directing the index toward that point of the meridian which the sun passes at about the tenth hour of the day, and following the direction with, the eye—about ten o'clock.
(23) Turning his face toward the southwest and holding up the flat and extended hand some distance in front of it, back outward, he waved it briskly and several times toward the face—fresh breeze from the southwest.
(24) Repeated No. 21 (fishing), playing the imaginary fish-line up and down regularly for a while, till all at once he changed the movement by raising the hand in an oblique course, which movement he repeated several times, each time increasing the divergence and the length of the motion—the fish-hook don't sink perpendicularly any longer,i.e.,it is moving.
(25) Quickly erecting his body he looked around him with surprise—looking with surprise.
(26) Shading his eyes with the hand, gazed intensively toward the south—fixedly gazing toward the south.
(27) Threw up his arm almost perpendicularly the next moment—greatly astonished.
(28) Extended and slowly moved the arm from southeast to northwest as far as he could reach, at the same time exclaiming "mig-wam" "ice"—the ice from shore to shore.
(29) Approximated the flat and horizontally extended hands, backs upward, with their inner edges touching, whereupon, suddenly turning the edges downward, he withdrew them laterally, backs nearly opposed to each other—parting.