Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-11-05
FORKS OF sALUTATION.
Greetings Used by Various Peoples
Of the Earth
What TO Do When You Meet . Sioux. .
Zuni, a Polite Jap, q Naughty Per-
{ sian. . Proud SpanIard or
Native OF Hot Orlnoco Land.

Tho North American Indians do not
have many conventional forms of salu-
tation. Their etiquette generally is to
meet in silence and smoke before speak
ing, the smoking being the real saluta.
ton. But a number of tribes-e. g., the
Sheshoni, Caddo and Arikara-use a
word or sound very similar to Howl but
in proper Iteration Hau or Hao. Most
of the Sioux use the same sound in COM
munication with the whites, from which
the error has arisen that they have
caught up and abbre Waited the "How
are your" OF the latter. But the word
is ancient, used in councils, and means
good" or satisfactory" 1t is u re-
Spouse as we'll as an address or saluta-
ton. The Navajos say, both at meeting
and parting: "Agafani," an archaic word
the etymology of which is not yet as
certained. Among the Cheroki tho
colloquy is as follows: No. 1 says:
''Siyu" (good). No. 2 responds: "Siyu;
tahigwatsu?" (good; are you in peace?).
10 this No. 1 says: 81 am in peace, and
how is it with you?" No. ends by: II
am in peace ALSO" Among the Zuni hap
piness is always asserted as we'll as i'm
plored. In the morn ing their greeting
is: GLOW have you passed the night?"
in the evening: GLOW have you come
into tho sunset?" The reply always is:
Happily" After separation of even
short durations, If more than one day,
the question is asked: GLOW have you
passed these many days?" The reply is
invariably: Happily" although the
person addressed may be in severe suf-
fering or dying. In quaint contrast with
this Zuni custom is that of the Japanese,
where the party visited asserts the pros
perity OF the visitor. The host and
hostess politely calculate "Ohayo goza-
rismasuE-"you have come quickly!''-
which welcome Is given even if tho VS.
itor has suffered delay and all kinds Of
mishapS. 1t is never contradicted. Per-
haps our expression: You have been
long in coming" as indicating longing
and waiting, is no more artificial.
The wish Of salute is often specific,
connected with circumstances Of envi-
ronment. The people of Cairo anxious
ly ask: "How do you perspire2" dry
skin being the symptom of the dreaded
fever. In hot Persia the friendly wish
is expressed: "May God cool your ageW
that Is, give you comfort in declining
years. In the same land originates the
quaint form: "May your shadow never
be less!" which docs not apply, as often
now used in Europe, to tho size and
plumpness of the body as indicating ro-
bust health, but to deprecate exposure
TO. the noon sun, when all shadows
are least.
Tho Genoese in their time Of pros
perity used the form Health and gain!"
In aR 1,o D01,x -
prayer for GOODNESS is carried into &C
tion, 1t being the highest politeness to
fling jar of water over friends head.
According to Humboldt the morning
salute on the Orinooo is: GLOW have the
mosquitoes used you?" The old religious
views OF tho Persians are found in their
wishes: Live forever!' and (stilI re-
tanned in Spain, probably ectlegacy
from the Moors). MAY you live thou
sand years! They believe only in this
life, and that through Divine favor it
might BIO unlimited.
The Chinese soiourners in Utah fell
into curious blunder in using some of
our phrases. On meeting resident at
any time OF day or night they called
out: "Good-morning" and on parting
"Good-nightP even If it were before
breakfast; A similar error in imitation
was made by the Zuni. When tho off,
GERS from Fort Wingate visited the
Pueblo they were naturally anx-
ious to reach the traders store, 80
they called out to the first person mot:
"How are you? Where's tho store9"
The Zuni caught up all the sounds as
one greeting, and in the kindness Of
their hearts shouted them to all subse-
quont visitors. Tho salu tation "How-
are-you-give-mo-a-match," has q like
explanation.
Moslems, while scrupulously saluting
the meanest Of their own communion, re-
fuse all friendly greetings to the Jews
IL inadvertently they have accosted ono