The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-03-12
INDIAN SIGN LANGUAGE.
How They Talk with Their Hands-Th'
Meaning of Blanket Signals.

All Indians arc able TO understand
each other and TO converse freely by
means of their sign-lauguage. The
signs differ materially among different
tribes, but are ali so significant as to
permit of no doubt as to their meaning.
The sign-language is the easiest of all
languages TO learn, rs almost ever
symbol is fouaded upon reason.
Suppose an ludian and white man,
riding together on the prairie. meet
another Indian. The latter is sus-
picious. He raises his hand, palm
outwards. This means stop" He
then points TO the white man. The
other Indian understands him to mean
that he is suspicious of his companion.
Pointing with the right forelinger
several times indicates. Who are you?"
If Crow, the Indians raises both his
hands to his ears and flaps them like
wings. If 4 BIachfoot he raises his
foot and strokes the sole. If ii Sioux.
he draws his hand across his throat.
Pointing toward the white man the
Indian is understood to ask: "Who is
he?n The first Indian by crooking his
two fore fingers together. informs the
stranger that he is Il friend. Suppose
he pats each breast with his fore
| finger and points to the white man and
then to himself, he means that the
| white-man is Il very dear friend or a
brother. This sign signifies that they
both uurSed the same mother.
Now suppose the Indian wishes to
indicate to the one who is the compan-
ion of the white man that he knows
differently anLconsiders the latter TO
be bad man, he raises his right hand
to a level with his right ear, extends
the first two fingers and passes his
hand in a straight line across his chest
toward his left shoulder. This means,
Your last statement is not true III
he then throws his right hand outward,
scattering his fingers, he means. He
is bad man.
A brave man would be indicated
among the Sioux by clinching the fist
and humping the breast once.
The signs for death are graphic. To
say ''he is dead IN Indian would raise
his foreiinger and drop it back down
ward to a horizontal position. Dying
is indicated by moving the foreiinger
slowly downward toward the earth.
For nearly dead, but recovered, an
Indian will use the last sign. but will
slowly raise the finger again. For
.killed" sort of stabbing motion with
the right haud is used.
The clements are indicated in Just
the manner one would expect. A cir
Gle formed by the foretinger and thumb
of one hand in some tribes, and of both
in others means 1.-The sun" A semi
circle formed by the forefnger and
thumb of one hand means 1.-THE MOON
The hands raised with the fingers
hanging downward and then dropped
several times as if shaking water off
means 'rain."
A tree is indicated by holding the
hand palm upward and the fingers
raised, then moving at once upward.
Growing or to grow is raised several
times with a jerky motion. The same
sign is used TO signify smoke, only the
hand is slowly raised without the jerky
motion.
For nothing, none, | have nona etc.
the Sioux pass the palm of the right
hand over the palm of the left from the
wrist to the tips Of the fingers. Silence
is indicated by holding the finger upon
the lips. Holding blanket out with
the hands far apart meaus, I'VE have
discovered buffalo, or used TO when
there were any. Raising Il blanket on
pole means, We are going into
camp" Waving blanket toward the
legs means You may approach"
Riding around in a circle means
There is game" If several Indians
do this in opposite directions passing
and rcpassing one another, they mean
There are enemirS.n
Signalling at a distance with pillars
of smoke or !ust and shooting Il baz-
ing arrow far into the sky ut night, are
other methods of couversng with, or
giving warning to friends at dis
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