The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-09-18
FORMS OF SALUTATlON.
Greetings Used by Various Peoples of the
Earth.

Earth.
The North Americans Indians do not have
many conventional forms Of salutation
Their etiquette generally is to meet in 81
lence and smoke before speaking the
smoking being the real saluta;iOn. Bat a
number of tribes-e. T.. the ShOshoni, Caddo
and Arkara-use a word or sound very
similar TO How but in proper liberation llau
or llaO. Most OF the Sioux use the same
sound i'm communication with the white,
from which the error has arisen
that they have caught mp and abbre-
waited the " How are YOU Of the latter
But the word L. ancient. used in councils,
and means GOOD or satisfactory II
is "a response as well a. an address or salu-
tatiOn. The Nayajos say. both at meeting
and parting. "Agalani." an archaic word
the ctymolOgy of which is not yet asccr-
tanned. Among the Cheroki the c0lloquy is
as f0llOwG: No. ! says " Niyu good.
No. 2responds: "Siyu; tahigwatsuE' GOOD
are You in peaccO. To this No. | says "
am in peace. and how is it with yOu?' No.
ends by: ~ ann i'm peace also Among
the /uni happiness is always asserted a.
well as implorod. I'm the morning their
greeting j., " How have You passed the
night i'm the evening. How have
you come into the sunset" The
reply always is: Happily Aficr
a separation of even short dura-
tion, if more than one day, the question Is
asked: "liow have you passed these many
days. The reply is invariably, "llappily."
although the person addressed may Dee in
severe suffering or dying. In quaint con-
irast with this /uni custom is that Of the
japanese. where the party visited asserts
the prosperity Of the visitor. The host and
hostess politely calculate, "Ohay0 g0za-
rismasu. You have come quickly!'-
which welcome is given if the visitor has
suffered delay and all kinds Of mishaps. II
is never cJntradicted Perhaps our expires
sion, "lou have been long in coming" a.
indicating longing and waiting, is no more
artificial.
The wish or salute is often specific. con-
nected with the circumstances of environ
ment. The people Of Cairo anXiously ask :
How do YOU perspire - dry skin being
the symptom Of the dreaded fever. In hot
Persia the friendly wish is expressed :
" May God cool your age that is, give
YOU comfort i'm declining years. LIN the
same land originates the quaint form !:
" MAY your shadow never be less - which
does not apply. a. often now used in Eu-
rope. to the size and plumpness Of the body
as Indicating robust health, but to depre-
cate exposure to the noon sun, when all
shadows are least.
The Gencose, in their time Of prosperity.
used the form Health and gain" In
some Of the P0ynesian isles the prayer for
cOOlness is carried into action. il being the
highest politencss TO fling a Jar of water
over "a friends head. According 10 Hum
bDldt the morning salute on the OrinOcO is:
How have the mosquitoes used you:" The
old religious views OF the Persians are found
in their wishes: Live forever" and (still
retained in Spain. probably a direct legacy
from the MOOrs) MAY YOU live "A ihOus nd
years." They believe only in this life, and
that through divine favor it might be I'M
limited.
The Chinese soiOurners in Utah fell into
a curious blunder in using some Of our
phrases. ON meeting Il resident at any
time of day or night they called out, GOOD
and on parting, Good nightr'
sven if it Were before breakfast. \ similar
error in imitation was made by the /uni.
W hen the officers from Fort Wingate visited
he Pueblo, they were naturally anxious to
reach the traders store, 50 they called out
10 the first person met: GLOW are YOU?
W here's the store:' The Zuni caught up
all the sounds at one greeting, and in the
.indness of their hearts shouted them 10 all
visitors. The salutation "lIOw-
ire-you- giyo-me-a-matchr has Il like expla-
nation.
MOslems, while scrupulously saluting
he meanest Of their own communion, re-
use all friendly greetings to the Jews. III
they have accosted one OF that
'eople with - Peace be unto you" or the
ike, they will hastily add Death TO YOU -
o which the jew may respond, pretending
o have heard only the beginning, by "Tne
anne 10 you ~ in IA spirit somewhat differ
mt from that in which the same words are
lsed by us in the answer to Many happy
eturns ~ on birthday and other anniyersa. |
les. IL may be mentioned that where the |
ews are In power they give no salute what. |
ser TO one Of the Goim.-Boston Herald.