18U3-94.] THE GESTURE-LANGUAGE OF THE BLACKFEET. 45 



Sarcee Indians. — The forefinger and thumb brought together at the 

 tips, then raised to the right hand corner of the mouth, and made to 

 operate as a person would do in taking a pinch of some fine powder and 

 then rubbing it between the fingers. 



Croxv Indians. — Both hands raised by the sides palms downward, and 

 raised up and down several times to represent the flapping of a bird's 

 wings. 



Gros Venttes. — Fall or Willow Indians, known amongst the Blackfeet 

 as the Atsinas. 



The tips of the fingers brought together below the chest, palms of the 

 hands open and toward the body, then pushed outward and downward 

 to represent corpulency. 



These gestures do not always correspond with the name of the tribe, 

 but in general describe some characteristic of the people. 



In the modes of reckoning time, the measurements are made by the 

 right hand. The forefinger of the right hand is bent, and held toward 

 the sun, to mark where it stood at the time indicated. Thus the hand 

 with the finger bent begins at sunrise and goes round marking each 

 distinct position, and the hour of the day is measured in this manner. 

 These Indians, like many other tribes, use the term "nights" where the 

 white people use " days ". 



In counting, both hands are used. The forefinger of the right hand is 

 brought into contact with each finger of the left hand separately in 

 counting units. 



Tens are counted by holding up the hands and opening and closing 

 them as often as tens are in the number. Another method is to run the 

 forefinger of the right hand horizontally across the fingers of the left 

 hand. Thus to reckon fifty, both hands may be opened and closed five 

 times, or the right forefinger drawn across the thumb and fingers of the 

 left hand in the manner indicated. 



In describing a hunt one set of gestures is used, applicable especially 

 to this kind of life. 



Buffalo are represented by lifting the hands to the side of the head and 

 raising the forefinger of each hand to indicate horns. 



Shooting is indicated by bringing the palms of the hands together, the 

 right hand being uppermost, and quickly striking the centre of the 

 palms, at the same time making a noise with the mouth as if a number 

 of rifles were being fired in succession. 



