Sign Language Among North American Indians Compared With That Among Other Peoples Part 40

The notes thus obtained contain a narrative of the two strangers, interpreted to me at the time by Chatidoolts. I shall present each sign or sentence as I noted it at the time, with only casual reference to that incomplete and frequently erroneous interpretation.

The two Indians wore the pointed hunting s.h.i.+rt of tanned moose-skin, ornamented with beads and fringes which is still common to the Kutchin tribes. They were not tattooed, but ears and noses were enc.u.mbered with pendants of dentalium and a small red gla.s.s bead. Their feet were clothed in moccasins. One of them had a rifle of English manufacture, and his companion carried two huge knives, one of them of copper evidently of native manufacture.

(1) _Kenaitze_.--Left hand raised to height of eye, palm outward, moved several times from right to left rapidly; fingers extended and closed; pointing to strangers with left hand. Right hand describes a curve from north to east--_Which of the northeastern tribes is yours?_

(2) _Tennanah_.--Right hand, hollowed, lifted to mouth, then extended and describing waving line gradually descending from right to left.

Left hand describing mountainous outline, apparently one peak rising above the other, said by Chatidoolts to mean--_Tenan-tnu-kohtana, Mountain-river-men_.

(3) _K_.--Left hand raised to height of eye, palm outward, moved from right to left, fingers extended. Left index describes curve from east to west. Outline of mountain and river as in preceding sign.--_How many days from Mountain-river?_

(4) _T_.--Right hand raised toward sky, index and thumb forming first crescent and then ring. This repeated three times--_moon, new and full three times_.

(5) Right hand raised, palm to front, index raised and lowered at regular intervals--_walked_. Both hands imitating paddling of canoe, alternately right and left--_traveled three months on foot and by canoe_.

(6) Both arms crossed over breast, simulating s.h.i.+vering--_cold, winter_.

(7) Right index pointing toward speaker--_I_. Left hand pointing to the west--_traveled westward_.

(8) Right hand lifted cup-shaped to mouth--_water_. Right hand describing waving line from right to left gradually descending, pointing to the west--_river running westward_.

(9) Right hand gradually pushed forward, palm upward, from height of breast. Left hand shading eyes; looking at great distance--_very wide_.

(10) Left and right hands put together in shape of sloping shelter--_lodge, camp_. See Fig. 259, on p. 431.

(11) Both hands lifted, height of eye, palm inward, fingers spread--_many times_.

(12) Both hands closed, palm outward, height of hips--_surprised_.

(13) Index pointing from eye forward--_see_.

(14) Right hand held up, height of shoulder, three fingers extended, left hand pointing to me--_three white men_.

(15) _K_.--Right hand pointing to me, left hand held up, three fingers extended--_three white men_.

(16) Making Russian sign of cross--_Russians. Were the three white men Russians?_

(17) _T_.--Left hand raised, palm inward, two fingers extended, sign of cross with right--_two Russians_.

(18) Right hand extended, height of eye, palm outward, moved outward a little to right--_no_.

(19) One finger of left hand raised--_one_.

(20) Sign of cross with right--_Russian_.

(21) Right hand height of eye, fingers closed and extended, palm outward a little to right--_no_.

(22) Right hand carried across chest, hand extended, palm upward, fingers and thumb closed as if holding something. Left hand in same position carried across the right, palm downward--_trade_.

(23) Left hand upholding one finger, right pointing to me--_one white man_.

(24) Right hand held horizontally, palm downward, about four feet from ground--_small_.

(25) Forming rings before eyes with index and thumb--_eye-gla.s.ses_.

(26) Right hand clinched, palm upward, in front of chest, thumb pointing inward--_gave one_.

(27) Forming cup with right hand, simulating drinking--_drink_.

(28) Right hand grasping chest repeatedly, fingers curved and spread--_strong_.

(29) Both hands pressed to temple and head moved from side to side--_drunk, headache_.

(30) Both index fingers placed together, extended, pointing forward--_together_.

(31) Fingers interlaced repeatedly--_build_.

(32) Left hand extended, fingers closed, pointing outward (vertically), right hand extended, fingers closed, placed slopingly against left--_camp_.

(33) Both wrists placed against temples, hands curved upward and outward, fingers spread--_horns_.

(34) Both hands horizontally lifted to height of shoulder, right arm extended gradually full length to the right, hand drooping a little at the end--_long back, moose_.

(35) Both hands upright, palm outward, fingers extended and spread, placing one before the other alternately--_trees, forest, dense forest_.

(36) Sign of cross--_Russian_.

(37) Motions of shooting a gun--_shot_.

(38) Sign for _moose_ (Nos. 33, 34), showing two fingers of left hand--_two_.

(39) Sign for _camp_ as before (No. 10) _camp_.

(40) Right hand describing curve from east to west, twice--_two days_.

(41) Left hand lifted height of mouth, back outward, fingers closed as if holding something; right hand simulating motion of tearing off and placing in mouth--_eating moose meat_.

(42) Right hand placed horizontally against heart, fingers closed, moved forward a little and raised a little several times--_glad at heart_.

(43) Fingers of left hand and index of right hand extended and placed together horizontally, pointing forward, height of chest. Hands separated, right pointing eastward and left westward--_three men and speaker parted, going west and east_.

(44) Pressing both arms against chest and s.h.i.+vering--_very cold_.

(45) Drawing index of each hand around corresponding legs below the knee--_deep snow_.

(46) Drawing imaginary line with index of right hand across each foot, just behind the toes--_snow shoes_.

(47) Head lowered to right side into palm of hand three times--_slept three times_.