MALLERY.] VENERAT|ON—PRAYER—MERCY. 379 
As the Blackfeet, according to the interpreters, were the only Indians 
in the locality mentioned who constructed log houses, the drawing be- 
comes additionally interesting, as an 
attempt appears to have been made 
to illustrate the crossing of the logs 
at the corners, the gesture for which 
(log-house) will be found on page 428. 
Fig. 205 is the Egyptian character 
for veneration, to glorify (Champollion, 
Dict., 29), the author’s understand- 
=e 
=> 
ing being that the hands are raised a 
in surprise, astonishment. =— 
The Menomoni Indians now begin 
their prayers by raising their hands 
inthe same manner. They may have 
been influenced in this respect by the 
attitudes of their missionaries in 
prayerand benediction. TheApaches, 
who have received less civilized tui- 
tion, ina religious gesture correspond- 
ing with prayer spread their hands 
opposite the face, 
palms up and back- 
ward, apparently ex- 
pressing the desire to 
receive. 
Fig. 206 is a copy 
of an Egyptian tab- = 
let reproduced from 
Cooper’s Serpent 
Myths, page 28. A 
priest kneels before 
the great goddess 
Ranno, while suppli- 
eating herfavor. The 
conception of the au- 
thor is that the hands 
are raised by the sup- ; 
plicant to shield his SS 
face from the glory of 
the divinity. It may 
be compared with 
signs for asking for 
mercy and for giving mercy to another, the former being: Extend both 
forefingers, pointing upward, palms toward the breast, and hold the hands 
before the chest; then draw them inward toward their respective sides, 
and pass them upward as high as the sides of the head by either cheek. 
