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" Trunk aud branches, the left hand representing the earth inclosing 

 the base of the trunk." 



True, truth. 



The forefinger passed in the attitude of pointing, from the mouth for- 

 ward in a line curving a little upward, the other fingers being carefully 

 closed. [Long.) 



Lower the hand in front of the breast, then extend the index-finger, 

 raise and move it straight forward before the person. ( Wied.) I have 

 described the sign for this in much the same way. I think " lower the 

 hand " refers simply to a preparatory motion ; if the hand were hang- 

 ing by the side, " raise the hand." I have usually seen the iudex-finger 

 held horizontally, not perpendicularly, if that is what he means by 

 raised. (Mattheics.) The right arm is flexed at the elbow and the hand 

 drawn up to the mouth. The index-finger is extended palm downward 

 and made to pass steadily forward, describing an arc of a quadrant 

 downward. Though WieiVs sign is very inexplicit, there is much simi- 

 larity between it and the (Oto and Missouri I) both as to conception and 

 movement. In the former, the stress is on what comes from the mouth ; 

 in the latter what comes from the breast. (Boteler.) " That which 

 comes straight from the mouth or breast." 



If one finger is thrust forward in a straight line from the inouth, it 

 means a straight speech, or speaking the truth. {Ojibica I.) 



Thrust the forefinger from the mouth direct to the front, i. e., "straight," 

 not " crooked speech." Also, the sign for Lie, Fal!«ehood, followed 

 by that of IVe§^atioil. {Arupaho I.) 



Eight-hand fingers and thumb drooping, hold thumb inward against 

 the heart ; brought up to the level of the mouth, middle, third, and little 

 finger closed, foi-efiuger extended pointing forward, thrust suddenly, 

 with a curved motion, straight forward from the mouth. {Cheyenne I.) 



The extended forefinger of the horizontal right hand (]?I), other fin- 

 gers closed, is carried straight outward from the mouth. This is also 

 the sign for Yes. [Dalcota I.) •' One tongue ; straight-forward talking." 



Place the right hand in front of the mouth, back upward, index ex- 

 tended aud pointing forward, other tiugers half closed, thumb as you 

 please, move the hand forward about eight inches. Some point the in- 

 dex forward and upwai-d. {Dakota IV.) " One tongue." 



Touch the breast over the heart with the fingers of the right hand ; 

 then Avith the extended index-finger of the right hancl pass it forward 

 fi-om the mouth, elevate and hold it a moment. {Dakota V.) '' This 

 signifies 'one-tougued,' and coming from the heart as 'sincerity of 

 thought.'" The breast, being the initial point, the sign nearly cor- 

 responds with the French deaf-mute sign for Sincere. 

 35 



