267 



few inches with both haud.s as in (IV), with extended fingers pointing: 

 forward, carrying the hands downward for nine or ten inches with a 

 quick motion and coming to a sndden stop. {Dal-ota I.) " Legs have 

 given ont." 



The left arm is partly extended forward and is gently strnck near 

 the bend of the elbow, usually above it, with the palm of the right 

 hand ; at the same time the head is usually inclined to the left side ; 

 then, in similar manner, the right arm is extended and struck by the 

 left hand, and the head, in turn, inclined to the right. If the sign-maker 

 aims to be particularly expressive, he assumes an appearance of weari- 

 ness. {Mamhin and Hidatsa I.) 



Pass the hands down the legs, hands trembling, gather arms to side, 

 tists before chin, and settle elbows down in the lap ; facial expression 

 corroborating. {Apache III.) " Action of an exhausted man." 



Toiuahawk, ax, hatchet. 



Cross the arms, and slide the edge of the right hand, held vertically, 

 down over the left arm. ( Wied.) Still employed, at least for a small 

 hatchet, or " dress tomahawk," as I might call it. The essential point is 

 laying the extended right hand in the bend of the left elbow. The 

 sliding down over the left arm is an almost unavoidable but ([uite un- 

 necessary accompaniment to the sign. The sign indicates the way in 

 which the hatchet is usually carried This is illustrated in Catlin's 

 North American Indians by no less than fourteen portraits. In seven 

 of these portraits the hatchet is represented in different positions. In 

 one of these the position approximates that of this sign ; in others the 

 subject is so loaded down with weapons that he cannot give his ax the 

 usual position, and in others there are some evidences of "posing" by 

 the artist. Pipes, whips, bows and arrows, fans, and other dress or em- 

 blematic articles of the " buck" are seldom or never carried in the bend 

 of the left elbow as is the ax. The pipe is usually held in the left hand. 

 [Matthews.) There is not the least similarity in execution or conception 

 between Wied^s and the {Oto I) signs, the former being also very ob- 

 scure. Something with a long handle and wide blade, used for chop- 

 ping. [Boteler.) 



Is denoted by chopping the left hand with the right. [Burton.) - 



Eight hand elevated to level of chin, fingers open and flattened, 

 thumb lying close to and along the forefinger, whole hand bent in the 

 direction of the little finger and at a right angle to the wrist. ( Chey- 

 enne I.) " The motion of chopping imitated, using the forearm as the 

 handle of the ax." 



Eight hand in front of the body as though grasping the handle of a 

 tomahawk, and at the same time a slight upward and downward move- 



