MALLERY.] COMPARISON WITH DEAF-MUTE SIGNS. 821 
by the Indians, who were Absaroka or Crows, Arapahos, and Cheyennes, 
than were theirs by the deaf-mutes, and that the latter greatly excelled 
in pantomimic effect. This need not be surprising when it is considered 
that what is to the Indian a mere adjunct or accomplishment is to the 
deaf-mute the natural mode of utterance, and that there is still greater 
freedom from the trammel of translating words into action—instead of 
acting the ideas themselves—when, the sound of words being unknown, 
they remain still as they originated, but another kind of sign, even 
after the art of reading is acquired, and do not become entities as with 
us. The “action, action, action,” of Demosthenes is their only oratory, 
not the mere heightening of it, however valuable. 
On March 6, 1880, the writer had an interesting experience in taking 
to the National .Deaf-Mute College at Washington seven Utes (which 
tribe, according to report, is unacquainted with sign language), among 
whom were Augustin, Alejandro, Jakonik, Severio, and Wash. By the 
kind attention of President GALLAUDET a thorough test was given, 
an equal number of deaf-mute pupils being placed in communication 
with the Indians, alternating with them both in making individual signs 
and in telling narratives in gesture, which were afterwards interpreted 
in speech by the Ute interpreter and the officers of the college. Notes 
of a few of them were taken, as follows: 
Among the signs was that for squirrel, given by a deaf-mute. The 
right hand was placed over and facing the left, and about four inches 
above the latter, to show the height of the animal; then the two hands 
were held edgewise and horizontally in front, about eight inches apart 
(showing length); then imitating the grasping of a small object and 
biting it rapidly with the incisors, the extended index was pointed 
upward and forward (in a tree). 
This was not understood, as the Utes have no sign for the tree squir- 
rel, the arboreal animal not being now found in their region. 
Deaf-mute sign for jack-rabbit: The first two fingers of each hand 
extended (the remaining fingers and thumbs closed) were placed on 
either side of the head, pointing upward; then arching the hands, palm 
down, quick, interrupted, jumping movements forward were made. 
This was readily understood. 
The signs for the following narrative were given by a deaf-mute: 
When he was a boy he mounted a horse without either bridle or saddle, 
and as the horse began to go he grasped him by the neck for support; a 
dog flew at the horse, began to bark, when the rider was thrown off and 
considerably hurt. 
In this the sign for dog was as follows: Pass the arched hand forward 
from the lower part of the face, to illustrate elongated nose and mouth, 
then with both forefingers extended, remaining fingers and thumbs 
closed, place them upon either side of the lower jaw, pointing upward, 
to show lower cunines, at the same time accompanying the gesture with 
an expression of withdrawing the lips so as to show the teeth snarling; 
