on the Language of Signs. 35k 
If we examine the signs employed by the Indians, it will 
be found that some are peculiar and arise from their sav- _ 
age customs, and are not so universal as sign Seite; in 
general ; but others are natural, and universally applica- 
ble, and are the same as those employed in the schools 
for the deaf and dumb, after the method of the celebrated 
Abbé Sicard. a 
In comparing a few of these signs, it will be seen where- _ 
in they agree. Among them is found the sign for truth. 
‘Truth, in spoken language, is a representation of the real 
state of things, or an exactness in words comformable to 
reality. a% 
In the language of signs, truth is represented by words 
passing from the mouth in a straight line without deviation. 
his 1 is Naas and universal, it is the same as was ado 
x 
Major Long’s expedition, as practised te the Indians. 
“ Truth.—The fore-finger passed in the attitude of poin- 
ting, a the mouth forward in a line curving a little up- 
ward, the other fingers being carefully closed.” 
A lie on the other hand is a departure from rectitude, a 
deviation from that straight course which inculcates truth. 
The Indians represent a lie by the following signs. 
‘“‘ [ie~~The fore and middle fingers extended, passed 
two or three times from the mouth forward, they are joined 
at the mouth, but separate as they gent from it, indicating 
that the words go in different directions.” 
This sign is true to nature, and radically correct, Gootigh 
in the instruction of deaf mutes we simplify the sign by the 
fore finger passed from the mouth obliquely or cde vaso 
indicating a departure from the correct course. 
__ “ House or Lodge.—The two hands are reared tog 
in the aca of the roof of a house, the ends of 
upwards,’ 
: his sign is true and natural, though we ad 
3 _ placing the ends of the fingers on each other be 
are elevated in the position of the roof, to indicate the 
ahkics of which a ea in civilized life is composed. 
“Entering a house or Lodge.—The left hand is held 
with the back peer, al ae right hand also with the 
back up, is poet in a curvilinear direction down under 
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