44 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [YOL. Y. 



THE GESTURE-LANGUAGE OF THE BLACKFEET. 



By Rev. John Maclean, Ph.D. 



[Read jrd March, /^p^.] 



The gesture-language of the Blood Indians is the same as that belong- 

 ing to the Piegan and Blackfoot Indians, the whole comprising the- Con- 

 federacy. My first observations among the tribes of the Canadian North- 

 West induced me to conclude that the gesture-language was similar 

 amongst all the tribes, but later studies among the Crees, Stonies and 

 Sioux have compelled me to change my opinion. I found during visits 

 made to the camps of these people that I could talk with them about 

 time-measurements, and was able to count by signs, but I was unable 

 to converse with them of matters relating to daily life. Distinct from 

 the gesture-language proper, there exist several methods of communi- 

 cation, as by the arrangement of fires on the prairies in times of 

 war or when travelling, the various modes of the curling smoke being 

 used to convey different messages, and piles of stones on the prairie 

 marking distances or indicating some notable event. The Indians' 

 system of telegraphy includes different modes of riding on horseback, 

 motions of blankets and the use of looking-glasses. 



The gesture-language is spoken in general by means of the hands. 

 The gestures representing the various tribes are as follows : 



Blood Indians. — ^The forefinger and second finger of the right hand 

 are brought together and held open, while the hand is closed. These 

 are pushed forward under the lower lip, horizontally across the chin. 



Piegan Indians. — The right hand closed, and placed against the right 

 cheek at the top of the cheek bone, with closed thumb touching the cheek. 

 The fist is made to rotate rapidly and outward upon the cheek. 



Blackfoot Bidians.—T\\& two forefingers of the right hand erect and 

 apart in the shape of a V and the rest of the hand closed. Holding the 

 body erect, the fingers are pushed downward and outward over the right 

 foot, as if in the act of scooping mud off the foot. 



White Men. — The forefinger of the right hand drawn horizontally 

 across the forehead, in the centre of the brow. 



Sioux Indians. — The forefinger of the right hand drawn across the 

 throat, as if in the act of cutting the throat. 



