MALLERY.] PICTURED GESTURES. 647 
torially. The human tigure in the lower division is kneeling and holds 
both hands easily extended be- 
fore the body, palms down and 
index fingers straight, parallel, 
and separated from the other 
fingers, which are flexed or 
closed. This in its essentials is 
acommon Indian gesture sign 
for ‘the same,” ‘similar,” and 
also for ‘*companion.” A sign 
nearly identical is used by the 
Neapolitans to mean ‘union” 
or “harmony.” If the two di- 
visions of the plate are supposed 
to be connected, it might be in- 
ferred through the principles of 
gesture language that the kneel- 
ing man was praying to the 
seated personage for admission 
to his favor and companionship, 
and that the latter was respond- 
ing by a dignified assent. 
Dr. S. Habel (e) thus describes 
Fig. 1010, a sculpture in Gua- 
matela: 
The upper half represents the head, 
arms, and part of the breast of a deity, 
apparently of advanced age, as indi- 
cated by the wrinkles in the face. 
The right arm is bent at the elbow, 
the finger tips of the outstretched 
hand apparently touching the region 
of the heart; the left upper arm is 
drawn up, the elbow being almost as 
high as the shoulder, and the fore 
arm and hand hanging at nearly 
right angles. From the head and 
neck issue winding staves, to which 
not only knots or nodes are attached, 
but also variously - shaped leaves, 
buds, flowers, and fruits. Appar- 
rently these are symbols of speech, 
eplacing our letters and expressing 
the mandate of the deity. 
) The lower part represents an erect 
4 human figure with the face turned up 
toward the deity imploring, and from 
the mouth emanates a staff with 
ee Se eee 
Fie. 1010.—Pictured gestures. Guatemala. 
-— ee 
