188 



bending forward with bowed head, otherwise it may be misunderstood 

 for the freezing over of a hike or river. (Burton.) 



The sign for Day reversed. (Arapnho I.) "Everything is closed.'' 



Both hands outspread, pahns tixcing, passed in front of tlie body and 

 crossed, the right hand over tlie left. (Cheyenne I.) 



Place the tlat hands in front of and as high as the elbows, palms up, 

 then throw them inward toward the middle of the breast, the right over 

 the left, turning the palms dowjiward while making the gesture. (Absa- 

 rofca 1; Hidatsal; Kaiowa I; Ar Hear a I; Comanche III ; Shosho7ii and 

 BanaJc I; Apache II; Wichita II.) Note. — "For the plural, the sign is 

 repeated two or three times and the number indicated by elevating the 

 fingers of the left hand, and right if necessary. Time is reckoned by 

 nights, and if but two or three nights (or days) are mentioned, the sign 

 is made that number of times without elevating the fingers, the number 

 of rimes the gesture being made referring to the innnber of days, with- 

 out the accompanying numeration." 



Extend the arms to full ca])acity to the sides of the body on the level 

 of the shoulders, ])alms downward, fingei's joined, etc. (as W), and then 

 move them to the front of the body on the same level or on a slight 

 curve until they ha\e crossed each other at the wrists. (Dahttu I.) 

 " The coming of darkiiess — the closing in of night." 



Extend both hands to the front at about the height of the elbow (as in 

 W), and then slowly move both at the same time, the right hand to 

 the left and the left hand to the right, passing one above the other, 

 representing the darkness closing over the earth. (Dakota III.) 



From advanced positions, two feet apart, about eighteen inches in 

 front of the line of the body, pointing forward, palms downward, at the 

 height of the lower part of the chest, carry the opened hands inward, 

 each one describing an arc, until they point obliquely forward and out- 

 ward, the right two or tliree inches above the left. ( Dakota lY.) "Dark- 

 ness covers all." 



Place the Hat hands, ])alm down, in front of and as high as the elbows, 

 then move them horizontally toward and past each other until the fore- 

 arms cross. (Dakota YII.) 



The sign for Day is first completed; tiieu the hand, in position (1 1), 

 index more opened, describes an arc of the horizon inverted, as the sun 

 beneath us; this is followed by the sign for Sleep, the eyes closed and 

 the head iuclitiing to the right, supported in the open hand. (Oto and 

 Missouri I.) 



Both hands placed in front of the eyes, palms facing, and slowly 

 closed, the eyes being closed at the same time. ( Wyandot I.) 



