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Elevate the forearm to the height of the elbow, pointing forward, ex- 

 tend the dattened hand, pointing upward, with the ])alin forward; tlien 

 throw the hand right and left several times, the motion being rotation 

 of the forearm. (Arikara I.) "From the motion and white appearance 

 of the deer's tail in running." 



Defiance. I defy you. 



Point to the person you defy to do the act with the right index 

 (others closed), and then turn the hand, extend the fingers so that they 

 will appear as figured in (V), when the hand is drawn in to the body with 

 considerable force. This would indicate Come and do it, but the empha- 

 sis of the motion and accompanj'ing facial exjiressiou indicate some- 

 thing stronger than invitation. (Dakota I.) 



The right hand closed with the index only extended and slightly 

 crooked, palm facing front; hold about twenty inches in front of the chest 

 and wave the finger from side to side, movement being made at the 

 wrist. {Kaioira I; Comanche III; Apache II; Wichita II.) 



Italian sign. — Every tyro in Latin knows that extending the middle or 

 little finger, gestures still made every day at Kome, was a token of 

 scorn or defiance. 



Bite the forefinger, commonly with the joint nearest the end bent — a 

 gesture which throws light on "the biting the thumb at me," with which 

 Romeo and Juliet commences. 



When one would kill the hopes of a mendicant and say he will give 

 nothing with emphasis, he blows on his hand and shows it wide open to 

 the petitioner or elevates one forefinger, shaking it gently to and fro. 

 (Butler.) 



Deity; Crod ; CJreat Spirit; CJreat Fatlier; Dttaster of 



lAie. 



Blow upon the open hand, j)oint upward with the extended index- 

 finger whilst turning the closed hand hither and thither, then sweep it 

 above the earth and allow it to drop. ( Wied.) I have never seen this 

 sign. I once extracted a bullet from the leg of a deaf and dumb Indian 

 of Sioux descent who had lived long among the Arikaras. When the 

 operation was completed he made some preliminary sign (for thanks) 

 which I did not observe well, and then i)ointed to me and upward 

 to the sky. One of the best interpreters in the country, who was a by- 

 stander, told me that the Indian thanked me and the Great Spirit. I 

 say "me" first as he first i)ointed in my direction. (Matthews.) There 

 is no similarity in the sign (Oto I) and Wicd^s. (Boteler.) 



When speaking of the Gi'eat Spirit they usually make a reverential 

 or timid glance upwards, or point the forefinger perpendicularly but 

 gently to the sky. (Ojihica I.) 

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