Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-08-03

the Chinese many interesting facts re-
specting his nativity, his parents and
their family, his former pursuits in his |
own country; his residence in the United
States, and his notions concerning God
and future state. BY the aid OF appro
pirate signs, also, Mr.. Clerc ascertained
the meaning of about twenty Chinese
words. When the conversation began.
the stranger appeared bewildered with
Management at the novel kind of language
which was addressed to him. Soon,
however, he became deeply interested in
the very expressive and significant man
ner which Mr.. Clerc used to make hlm-
self understood and before one hour
had expired a very quick and lively In
terchanse of thought took place between
these SO lately entire strangers to each
other. The Chinese himself began to
catch the spirit of his new deaf and dumb
acquaintance, and to employ the lang
uage of the countenance and gestures
with considerable effect to make himself
understood.
[ About year afterward the principal
OF the asylum visited Cornwall, Conn,
where upward Of twenty heather youths
were at that time receiving education
under the patronage Of the American
/ Board OF Commissioners Tor Foreign
| Missions. With the consent of the prin
cipai of that institution, he gathered ar
ound him one evening several OF these
interesting strangers, from the islands
of the South sea, and from several tribes
of the North American Indians. The
object Of the interview was to ascertain
how a conversation could be conducted
with them merely by signs and gestures.
The resul. was similar t9 that Il Mr..
| Clerc's intercourse with the Chinese
Questions were proposed to them on
variety of topics relating to their own
individual history and that Of their res
pective countries, and to their early relI-
gious knowledge.
For example, Thomas Hoppoo, na-
Of Owhyhee, was asked if his parents
we're living; how many brothers and
sisters he had; when he left his native
shores; whether his countrymen worship
ped idols ard sacrificed human victims;
how the women were treated by the
men; what was the climate of his ceun-
| try; what its productions; with many in
qulries Of similar nature, all of which
he comprehended, and to many of which
be replied by signs. The meaning, too,
Of a number Of Owhyean words was as
certained by signs merely, and found to
correspond with the import which had
been for some time preparing in the
school; and, indeed, in variety Of in
stances, the most correct meaning of
such words was established, by the medl-
um Of signs, in a more satisfactory way
than had been previously attempted
Throughout this conversation the heath
Ell youths appeared to take deep inter-
est, and TO have peculiar aptitude in
comprehending the signs which were
proposed to them, and inventing such as
were necessary for reply.
On the testimony Of several Of the
South Sea Islanders, il appeared that not
few of the signs employ ed in the in
struction Of the deaf and dumb, are pre-
cisely the same which their countrymen
use to supply the deficiency Of, or to
give emphasis to their comparatively
barren language--a fact whiGh had in
deed been anticipated, from the singular
circumstance often observed by the tea
cheers of the deaf and dumb among their
pupils, that mutes who meet for the frs
time are able to understand each other
fully Oh common topics; the Author OF
nature having laid the foundation in the
very constitution Of our species, and in
structure and processes of the visible
creation, for universal expression of the
same ideas, on vast variety Of subjects
by similar signs.
Not long after this interview, Thomas
Hoppoo visited the asylum for the deal
and dumb in Hartford. He was reques
ted to attempt by the natural Ian guage OF
signs, such as his own feelings and con-
ceptions at the time dictated, to give to
circle Of pupils around him sketch OF
his history. In doing this he occupied a
half an hour or more, and secured the
fixed attention and interest of the pupils.
1t was surprising to see the ingenuity
and readiness with which he employed
this language of signs and gestures, and,
not less so, to ascertain, atterward, that
a very considerable part of what he said,
certainly more than half of it, was fully
understood by those to whom it was ad- |
dressed Sears Magazine.