204 



Pray. I pray you. 



The palm of the hand is lield toward the i)er.soii or persons addressed. 

 Sometimes both hands ai-e so held. The Omaha and Ponka Indians say 

 " wi-b<llia-ha"," I pray to yon, I petition yon; or " wi-hdhistn-be," J 

 smooth you down with the hand. In praying to the sun the hand is ele- 

 vated and held with the palm n]>. Say (Long's Exped., i, 384) gives the 

 meaning, 43 : " Be qniet, or be not alarmed, or have patience." (Oma- 

 ha I ; Ponla I.) " Soothing." 



With the face inclined upward, eyes looking toward the heavens, both 

 hands are brought together froui their natural positions at the sides of 

 the body, describing a considerable sweep in front of the face or above 

 or below it, with palmar surfaces looking toward each other, upright, 

 fingers extended, thumbs inward (T) ; then the body and hands are 

 lowered toward the ground (nearly our kneeling), with eyes looking up- 

 ward. (Dakota I.) "This is much the same as with civilized people." 



The countenance placid and turned upward, the arms elevated, and 

 with opened palms the hands vibrate and diverge to and from the 

 body in imitation of an angel flying and iu execution of the sign for 

 Deity. The hand now assumes position (K), and the senn-extended 

 index-rtnger points in successive jerks from the mouth upward, a rude 

 imitation of the sign for Talk. (Ot.o and Missouri I.) "Speaking to 

 the Winged-one above." 



Deaf-mute natural sif/n. — Glasj) the hands across eacli other, shut the 

 eyes, and move the li])s ra])idly. (Ballard.) 



Prayer. 



If the flat hand is pressed to the lips, and thence moved upward to 

 the heavens, it indicates a prayer or address to Deity. [Ojibwa I.) 



Elevate one hand high toward the sky, spread hands opposite face, 

 palms up and backward (X). (ApachelW.) '' Reference to God — desire 

 to I'eceive. 



PregHaiicy. 



Pantomimically expressed by pas.sing both hands, slightly arched, 

 ])alms toward the body, from the pubis in acur\'e upward and in toward 

 the pit of the stomach. ( Ute I.) " Corresponds to the rotundity of the 

 abdomen." 



Pretty. See also (wood and HaiiilKOiiie. 



The fingers ami thumb, so opposed as to form a curve, are passed over 

 the face, nearly touching it, from the forehead to the chin ; then add the 

 sign for Cwood. (Long.) 



Another : Curve the forefinger of the right hand, and ]tlace the tip on 

 the ridge of the nose between the eyes, so as to represent a high Roman 



