276 SIGNS OF AFFIRMATION Chap. XI. 



index being flexed) a curve downwards and outwards 

 from the bod}', whilst negation is expressed by moving 

 the open hand outwards, with the palm facing inwards." 

 Other observers state that the sign of affirmation with 

 these Indians is the forefinger being raised, and then 

 lowered and pointed to the ground, or the hand is waved 

 straight forward from the face; and that the sign of 

 negation is the finger or whole hand shaken from side 

 to side. 26 This latter movement probably represents in 

 all cases the lateral shaking of the head. The Italians 

 are said in like manner to move the lifted finger from 

 right to left in negation, as indeed we English some- 

 times do. 



On the whole we find considerable diversity in the 

 signs of affirmation and negation in the different races 

 of man. With respect to negation, if we admit that the 

 shaking of the finger or hand from side to side is sym- 

 bolic of the lateral movement of the head; and if we 

 admit that the sudden backward movement of the head 

 represents one of the actions often practised by young 

 children in refusing food, then there is much uniformity 

 throughout the world in the signs of negation, and we 

 can see how they originated. The most marked excep- 

 tions are presented by the Arabs, Esquimaux, some Aus- 

 tralian tribes, and Dyaks. With the latter a frown is 

 the sign of negation, and with us frowning often accom- 

 panies a lateral shake of the head. 



"With respect to nodding in affirmation, the excep- 

 tions are rather more numerous, namely with some of 

 the Hindoos, with the Turks, Abyssinians, Dyaks, 

 Tagals, and New Zealanders. The eyebrows are some- 

 times raised in affirmation, and as a person in bending 



r — . — — . . - . — —  > 



26 Lubbock, 'The Origin of Civilization,' 1870, p. 277. 

 Tylor, ibid. p. 38. Lieber (ibid. p. 11) remarks on the nega- 

 tive of the Italians. 



