344 SIGN LANGUAGE AMONG NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 
in grow) is thrown upward several times from the same place instead 
of continuing the whole motion upward. Frequently the fingers are 
thrown forward from under the thumb with each successive upward 
motion. For fire, the hand is employed as in the gesture for smoke, but 
the motion is frequently more waving, and in other cases made higher 
from the ground. 
The sign for rain, made by the Shoshoni, Apache, and other Indians, 
is by holding the hand (or hands) at 
the height of and before the shoulder, 
fingers pendent, palm down, then 
pushing it downward a short dis- 
tance, Fig. 114. That for heat is the 
same, with the difference that the 
hand is held above the head and 
thrust downward toward the fore- 
head; that for to weep is made by 
holding the hand as in rain, and the 
gesture made from the eye down- 
ward over the cheek, back of the 
fingers nearly touching the face. 
The common sign for sun is made 
by bringing the tips of the thumb and index together so as to form a 
circle; remaining fingers closed. The hand is then held toward the sky, 
Fig. 115. The motion with the same circular position of index and 
thumb is for want, by bringing the hand backward toward the mouth, 
in a curve forming a short arch between the origin and tern;- 
ination of the gesture. 
For drink the gesture by several tribes is the same as for 
want, with the slight difference in the position of the last 
three fingers, which are not so tightly clinched, forming 
somewhat the shape of a cup; and that for money is made by 
holding out the hand with the same arrangement of fingers Fie. u5. 
in front of the hips, at a distance of about twelve or fifteen inches. 
Another sign for sun, made by the Cheyennes, is by placing the tips 
of the partly SERENE: d thumb and index of one hand against those of 
; the other, approximating a circle, and 
holding them toward the sky, Fig. 116, 
and that for various things, observed 
among the Brulé Sioux with the same 
position of the hands, is made by placing 
the circle horizontal, and moving it in- 
BIG. 16. terruptedly toward the right side, each 
movement forming a short arch. Compare also the sign for village, de- 
scribed on page 386. 
The Arikara sign for soldier is by placing the clinched hands together 
before the breast, thumbs touching, then drawing them horizontally out- 
ward toward their respective eaaee Fig. 117. That for done, made by 
