MALLERY.] ENTERING A LODGE—HOUSE. 433 
Hold the open left hand a foot or eighteen inches in front of the 
breast, palm downward or backward, fingers pointing toward the right, 
and pass the right hand, palm upward, fingers bent sidewise and 
pointing backward, from before backward underneath it, through a 
curve until near the mouth. Some at the same time move the left hand 
a little forward. (Dakota IV.) 
The left hand, palm downward, finger-tips forward, either quite ex- 
tended or with the fingers slightly bent, is held before the body. Then 
the right hand nearly or quite extended, palm downward, finger-tips 
near the left thumb, and pointing toward it, is passed transversely 
under the left hand and one to four inches belowit. The fingers of the 
right hand point slightly upward when the motion is completed. This 
sign usually, but not invariably, refers to entering a house. (Mandan 
and Hidatsa 1.) 
Place the slightly curved left hand, palm down, before the breast, 
pointing to the right, then pass the flat right hand, palm down, in a 
short curve forward, under and upward beyond the left. (Utel.) “ Evi- 
dently from the manner in which a person is obliged to stoop in enter- 
ing an ordinary Indian lodge.” 
HORSE. 
The right hand with the edge downward, the fingers joined, the 
thumb recumbent, extended forward. (Dunbar.) 
Place the index and middle finger of the right hand astraddle the 
index finger of the left. [In the original the expression “third” finger 
is used, but it is ascertained in another connection that the author counts 
the thumb as the first finger and always means what is generally styled 
middle finger when he says third. The alteration ismade to prevent con- 
fusion.| (Wéied.) Ihave described this sign in words to the same effect. 
(Matthews.) The right arm is raised, and the hand, opened edgewise, with 
fingers parallel and approximated, is drawn from left to right before the 
body at the supposed height of the animal. There is no conceivable 
identity in the execution of this sign and Wied’s, but his sign for horse is 
nearly identical with the sign for ride a horse among the Otos. (Bote- 
ler.) This sign is still used by the Cheyennes. (Dodge.) 
A hand passed across the forehead. (Jl/acgowan.) 
Left-hand thumb and forefinger straightened out, held to the level of 
and in front of the breast; right-hand forefinger separated from the 
middle finger and thrown across the left hand to imitate the act of 
bestriding. They appear to have no other conception of a horse, and 
have thus indicated that they have known it only as an animal to be 
ridden. (Creel; Cheyenne II.) 
28 AE 
