MALLERY.] ALASKAN AND OJIBWA DIALOGUES. 499 
OJIBWA DIALOGUE. 
[Communicated by the Very Rey. EDWARD JACKER. ] 
The following short dialogue forms part of the scanty tradition the 
civilized Ojibwas possess regarding their ancestors’ sign language: 
Two Indians of different tongue meet on a journey. First Indian 
points to second Indian with the outstretched forefinger of the right 
hand, bringing it within a few inches of his breast; next he extends 
both forearms horizontally, clinches all but the forefingers, and bends 
the hands inward; then he brings them slowly and in a straight line 
together, until the tips of the outstretched forefingers meet. This gest- 
ure is accompanied with a look of inquiry— You met somebody ? 
Second Indian, facing the south, points to the east, and with the out- 
stretched hand forms a half-circle from east to west (corresponding to the 
the daily course of thesun ); thenheraises the arm and points to a certain 
height above the southern horizon. Then the sign for meeting (as above) 
may be made, or omitted. After this he bends the right hand downward, 
and repeatedly moves the outstretched forefinger and middle finger in op- 
posite directions (in imitation of the motion of the legsin the act of walking). 
Finally he raises the right hand and stretches up the forefinger (or sev- 
eral fingers). To-day, when the sun stood at such a height, I met one (or 
several) persons traveling on foot. If the travelers met were on horseback 
he makes the sign for horse as described by (Dakota III), see EXTRACTS 
FROM DICTIONARY, or the identical one for going given by (Ojibwa I), 
which is as follows: To describe a journey on horsebaék the first two 
fingers of the right hand are placed astride of the forefinger of the left 
hand, and both represent the galloping movement of a horse. If it is a 
foot journey, wave the two fingers several times through the air. 
