434 SIGN LANGUAGE AMONG NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 
Draw the right hand from left to right across the body about the 
heart, the fingers all closed except the index. This is abbreviated by 
mnaking a circular sweep of the right open hand from about the left 
elbow to the front of the body, probably indicating the mane. A Pani 
sign. (Cheyenne LY.) 
Place the first two fingers of the right hand, thumb extended (N 1), 
downward, astraddle the first two joined and straight fingers of the 
left hand (T 1), sidewise to the right. Many Sioux Indians use only the 
forefinger straightened. (Dakota I.) ‘Horse mounted.” 
The first and second fingers extended and separated, remaining fingers 
and thumb closed; left forefinger extended, horizontal, remaining fingers 
and thumb closed; place the right-hand fingers astride of the forefinger 
of the left, and both hands jerked together, up and down, to represent 
the motion of a horse. (Dakota ILL.) 
The two hands being clinched and near together, palms downward, 
thumbs against the forefingers, throw them, each alternately, forward 
and backward about a foot, through an ellipsis two or three times, from 
about six inches in front of the chest, to imitate the galloping of a horse, 
or the hands may be held forward and not moved. (Dakota TV.) 
Place the extended and separated index and second fingers of the 
right hand astraddle of the ex- 
tended forefinger of the left. 
Fig. 260. Sometimes all the 
fingers of the left hand are ex- 
tended in making this sign, as 
} in Fig. 261, though this may 
be the result of carelessness. 
Fic. 260. (Dakota VI, VII, VIL; Hi- 
datsa 1; Ponka 11; Arikara 1; Pani 1.) 
The left hand is placed before the chest, back upward in the position 
of an index-hand pointing forward; then the first and second fingers 
of the right hand only being extended, separated and pointing down- 
ward, are set one on each side of the left forefinger, the interdigital 
space resting on the forefinger. The palm faces downward and back- 
ward. This represents a rider astride ofa horse. (Mandan and Hidatsa 1.) 
Close hands, except forefingers, which are curved downward; move 
them forward in rotation, imitating the fore feet of the horse, and make 
puffing sound of “Uh, uh”! (Omaha I.) “This sign represents the 
horse racing off to a safe distance, and puffing as he tosses his head.” 
The arm is flexed and with the hand extended is brought on a level 
with the mouth. The hand then assumes the position (W 1), modified 
by being held edges up and down, palm toward the chest, instead of 
