490 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



Micronesians, notably in the Pelew and Caroline Islands, took up 

 either the hand or foot of the party respected and rubbed their 

 own faces with it. Some religious sects e. g., the Dunkers also 

 kiss one another's feet after washing them. 



The original concept expressed by the hand-kiss was that of 

 " good." In very early times to possess what had a good taste 

 was of the greatest importance to man, and therefore a good taste 

 was the symbol of any good thing or person. So, when practi- 

 cable, the hand of the person saluted was carried to the lips to 

 signify that he was good. This act is naturally accompanied by 

 the bowing of the head. The common gesture-sign for " good " 

 in all senses is to carry the hand to and from the lips with a 

 pleasant expression. The spontaneous expression of deaf-mutes 

 is much the same, signifying not only greeting, but satisfaction, 

 in short good. Their full sign is described as " touch lips with 

 palm or ends of fingers pointing upward, then wave the hands 

 outward to the right and downward, turning palm up." This is 

 a complete description of kissing one's own hand, but it has no 

 relation to the kiss by the pairs of lips. 



A common gesture-sign for " peace," the idea of friendship be- 

 ing more directly connected with that of " quiet," is made by 

 placing the forefinger on the lips, which sign has often been erro- 

 neously reported as a kiss. Still another Indian sign, similar in 

 motion and in conception, is that which, with variant emphasis 

 and expression, means admiration, or surprise, or a high degree 

 of content. Its essence consists in placing the hand upon or over 

 the mouth, that being sometimes closed and sometimes open, 

 though covered by the hand with rapid emphasis. In the former 

 case it is interpreted to mean that language is inadequate to ex- 

 press the sensations felt. When the mouth is open, with the 

 hand placed over it to attract notice, the sign represents surprise 

 by imitation of the familiar and instinctive action attending that 

 emotion. This sign also has been reported as a kiss of the hand. 

 Another case where the same error might readily have oc- 

 curred is also of interest, as showing a contrast with the Zuni 

 inhalation, giving an equally poetical concept. In equatorial 

 Africa the hands of the person saluted are blown upon, with the 

 words, " Let it be as smooth with you as the breath I blow on 

 your hand." 



Mr. W. T. Wyndham admires the skill with which the aborigines of Australia 

 use stone implements, and turn out work that one would hardly believe possible 

 with such rough tools. They show great ingenuity, particularly in making their 

 harpoon-heads for spearing dugong and fish ; instead of shaving the wood up and 

 down as a European workman would do, they turn it round and round, and chip 

 it off across the grain. 



