GREETING BY GESTURE. 4 8 9 



would prevent the approximation requisite. If such use be not 

 admitted as a causa sufficiens, it at least affords evidence that the 

 kiss was not customary among the people by whom nose-rings and 

 labrets were worn. Indeed, Prof. Dall gives instances where 

 labrets being common and the kiss unknown, the tongues are 

 protruded in affectionate salutes. 



The kiss of the hand is undoubtedly ancient, and therefore 

 is not derived from that of the lips, but probably the converse is 

 true. The hand-kiss is loosely asserted to be developed from 

 servile obeisances in which the earth, the foot, and the garments 

 were kissed, the hand and cheek succeeding in order of time and 

 approach to equality of rank. But it is doubtful if that was the 

 actual order, and it is certain that at the time when hand-kissing 

 began there were less numerous gradations of rank than at a later 

 stage. Kissing of the hands between men is mentioned in the Old 

 Testament, also by Homer, Pliny, and Lucian. The kiss was ap- 

 plied reverentially to sacred objects, such as statues of the gods, 

 as is shown by ancient works of art, and also, among numer- 

 ous etymologies, by that of the Latin word adoro ; and it was also 

 metaphorically applied by the inferior or worshiper kissing his 

 own hand and throwing the salute to the superior or statue. In 

 republican Rome kissing the hands of superiors was common, but 

 the greeting was more energetic than the emperors could endure, 

 and soon courtiers of even important station were compelled to 

 kneel and with the right hand carry the hem of the emperor's 

 robe to their lips. Even this became a too precious, or, through 

 proximity, a too dangerous privilege, and they were only allowed 

 to salute at a distance by kissing their own hands, as when they 

 adored the gods. This sign of Rome's decadence has survived in 

 the locality. The mouth kissing the hand, by which Job described 

 a species of idolatry, is a species of adulation practiced by every 

 cringing servant in Italy. When the actual practice has ceased, 

 it survives in phrases. Austrian men habitually say to one 

 another, " Kilss cVHand ! " and Spaniards "Beso a Vd. los manos ! " 

 A variant form was found among the Algonkins and Iroquois, as 

 Champlain related, in 1G22, that "they kissed each his own hand 

 and then placed it in mine." 



Affection, together with respect, is sometimes shown in the 

 Orient when a servant salutes a master, a son his father, or a 

 wife her husband, by kissing the other's hand either on back or 

 palm or both and then carrying it to the kisser's forehead. 

 Among the- Malays the visitor approaches the 'man he wishes to 

 salute with his hands joined as if in supplication, while the other 

 touches them lightly with his own on either side, and afterward 

 raises his hands to his lips or forehead. These motions are similar 

 to the ceremonies in the feudal acts of homage and fealty. The 



