The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-02-13
THE sIGN-LANGUAGE OF THE AMERICAN


INDIANS.
The English journals praise Mr.. J. G. Kohrs new
book of American travel, "Kitchi. Gami; or, Wan
derings Round Lake Superior" Readers who have
not already perused Mr.. KohPs agreeable pages.
will be interested III his description of the sign
languages now in common use among the aborigi-
mes OF America
''When speaking, for instance, of the Great
Spirit, they usually direct a reverential or tmid
glance upwards, or point the forefnger perpendic-
ularly but gently to the sky.
"W hen aluding to the sun or to the time, which
is mHoh the same thing, as the is their clock,
and indicating the spot at which the sun stood
when the event to which they are alludng occurred
they point fxedy to that point, and hold their arm
in that position for several moments.
"When speaking ola day, they pass the finger
slowly along the entire vault of heaven, commenc-
ing at the east and terminating in the west This
is the sign for one-day
"lf shot has to be mentioned in the story. thew
usually strike the palm of the left with the back Of
the right hand so as TO produce a slight sound
"lt describing journey on horseback the two
first fingers of the right are placed astride of the
iorefnger of the left hand, and both represent the
eallopng movements of horse If it is foot
journey, they wave the two fingers several times
through the air.
''ln counting, the ten fingers are naturally used
and the number is not only hedup, but mentioned.
81 this manner, and by many hundred similar
/ gestures, they supplement and support their oral
remarks. And it will be seen, from the gestures |
have described, that the tongue can be frequently
allowed rest, and the meaning perfectly conveyed
! by the signs.
| ''Suppose an Indian wished to tell another that
| he had ridden for three days over the prairie he
first points to his worthy person; that will in
dicate r. Then he sets his fingers galoping as
! have described This perfects the idea Il trav-
! eled on horseback Next he passes his hand once
athwart the sky, which furnishes the notion of
days; and finally holds up three fingers before his
friends eyes, to show that he spent three days
"lt is curious fact that though Indian dialects
differ so greatly, this language of signs the same
for enormous distances. All travellers who have
| crossed the praries told me that there was only
| one sign-language, which all the Indians compre-
! hended, and any one who had learned it could
travel with it from end of America to the
other.
"For such signs as those of which have given
| specimens, such the sun, a day, a number a
horseman, DC, when nothing better or more natu-
raj could be chosen this is easily to be understood
But the sign-language developed itself to a fuller
extent and undertook visible representation of
abstract ideas. Hence much must naturally be-
come conventional. Thus, for instance, If desirOuS
to express the idea Of beauty this could not be
initiated like the explosion of gun. Still, some
sign to express this idea could be agreed on. Most
| curiOusly, the Indian races were unanimous in ac-
cepting the same sign. When they wish to explain
that they beautiful woman, they pass the fat
hand gently and slowly through the air, as if mi-
tating the waVene. Even the sex is described
unanimously. When speaking of a woman the In
dians pass the palm once down the face and the
whole body, as if wishing to indicate the long wa
wing dresses or the graceful contour of the female
body. This smoothing of the face universally means
"a member of the fair SEX
! ga copious grammar of this language of signs
| could be written. How rich it would be may be
drawn from the fact that Indians of two different
| tribes, who do not understand 4 word of each
others spoken language will sit for half day on
one spot, talking and chatterng, and telling each
other all sorts of stores with movements of their
| fingers, heads and feet.
ga hollow nand with the motion of drawing
water, signifies water. When the finger traces SER
pentine lines the ground, it is a river. A hand
moved up and down in the air signifies noun
tain.
"The several beasts have naturally their special
signs. Usually only some characteristic portion
| of the animal is imitated-for instance, the horns
The horns of the buffalo differ from those of the
elk, and thus the entire animal is indicated.
"The idea OF large number, or many is de-
sctibed by cutching at the air several times with
both hands. The motion greatly resembles that of
danseuses playing the castagnettes.
"'Little,' or nothing is signifed by passing
one hand over the other
every curious, but quite universal, is the sign
| for admiration among the American Indians They
| hold the hollow hand for time before the
mouth. This is, however, / suspect, a species of
| quad pro quo, and the real sign-namey, the mouth
| widely .opened in amaZement-is concealed behind
it. They carry the hand to the mouth and conceal
the face behind it because it is improper to display
| emotion or admiration"
DISTINGUISHED MECHANGcs.-One of the best edi-
tors the Westminster Revie0 could ever boast of,
and of the most brilliant writers OF the passing
hour, was an Aberdeen cooper. One of the editors
| of the London Daily Journal was an Elgin baker :;
perhaps of the best reporters of the London
| Times was an Edinburg weaver; the editor of the
Witness was Hugh Miller, stone mason. One of
the abest ministers in London was Dundee black
smith, and another was Banff Matchmaker. The
late DR.. Milne, of China, was Rhine herd boy
The principal of the London Missionary Society 5
| College, at Hong Kong, a Huntey saddler ;
and one of the best Missionaries that ever went to
| India was a Keith tailor. The leading machinist
| of the London and Birmingham Railway was a
| Glasgow mechanic; and perhaps the very richest
iron founder in England was a Moray working
man. Sir James Clark, her Maiesty's physician,
was Banf druggist. Joseph Hume was a sailor
first and then a laborer at mortar and pestle in
| Montrose. These men, however, spent their lei
sure hours in acquiring useful knowledge
MARINE DIsAsTER-.Su Suffering and Loss Of Life
The bark Ephraim w iams, Capt. Brown, of New
York, from Baltimore, bound to Washing tOn n.
c. with coal, put in this port with loss of sails,
anchors and chains, having encountered the gale
of Thursday night. The weather being exceed
ingly cold, one of the crew, colored man named
Daniel Cushman, frOze to DEATH and five of the
men were so badly frosted that it was necessary to
send them to the hospital, on the arrival of the
vessel. The captain, first mate and pilot also suf
ered severely from the effects of the intense cold.
The second mate received a severe injury to of
his legs, during the efforts that were made to save
the vessel.-NOrfOlk Day Book llh.
Lord Brougham has in the last number of the re
view.Le Crique Francaise an article in the French
language, written and signed by himself. The sub
} Senate, which Lord Brougham speaks Of in terms
OF enthusiastic praise.