Chap. XII. FEAR. 2S9 



he has heard that this is their usual gesture on such oc- 

 casions. Captain Speedy informs me that the Abys- 

 sinians place their right hand to the forehead, with the 

 palm outside. Lastly, Mr. Washington Matthews states 

 that the conventional sign of astonishment with, the wild 

 tribes of the western parts of the United States " is made 

 by placing the half-closed hand over the mouth; in 

 doing this, the head is often bent forwards, and words 

 or low groans are sometimes uttered." Catlin 14 makes 

 the same remark about the hand being pressed over the 

 mouth by the Mandans and other Indian tribes. 



Admiration.. — Little need be said on this head. Ad- 

 miration apparently consists of surprise associated with 

 some pleasure and a sense of approval. "When vividly 

 felt, the eyes are opened and the eyebrows raised; the 

 eyes become bright, instead of remaining blank, as under 

 simple astonishment; and the mouth, instead of gaping 

 open, expands into a smile. 



Fear, Terror. — The word ' fear ' seems to be derived 

 from what is sudden and dangerous; 15 and that of terror 

 from the trembling of the vocal organs and body. I 

 use the word ' terror ' for extreme fear; but some writers 

 think it ought to be confined to cases in which the imag- 

 ination is more particularly concerned. Fear is often 

 preceded by astonishment, and is so far akin to it, that 

 both lead to the senses of sight and hearing being in- 

 stantly aroused. In both cases the eyes and mouth are 

 widely opened, and the eyebrows raised. The frightened 



14 ' Xorth American Indians,' 3rd edit. 1842, vol. i. p. 105. 



15 H. Wedgwood, Diet, of English Etymology, vol. ii. 

 1862, p. 35. See, also, Gratiolet (' De la Physionomie,' p. 

 135) on the sources of such -words as ' terror, horror, 

 rigidus, frigidus,' &c. 



