HORSE— SAME— HE— SURPRISE— SUN. 29 



is to be observed that this sign has a strong resemblance to the one given 

 above by Captain Burton for dor/, and may have reference to the girth. It 

 is still more easily confused with Captain Burton's "think, guess". The 

 French deaf-mutes add to the straddling of the index the motion of a trot. 

 The Utes have a special sign for horse — the first and little fingers of the 

 right hand, palm down, extended forward, the balls of the remaining fingers 

 falling down and resting upon the end of the thumb, presenting a sugges- 

 tion of the animal's head and ears. Our deaf-mutes indicate the ears, fol- 

 lowed by straddling the left hand by the fore and middle fingers of the right. 



Same, similar, is made not only among our tribes generally, but by those 

 all over the world, and by deaf-mutes, by extending the two forefingers 

 together side by side, backs upward, sometimes moved together slightly 

 forward. When held at rest in this position, companion and the tie of fel- 

 lowship, what in days of chivalry was styled " brothers in arms," can be 

 indicated, and, as a derivative also, husband. The French and American 

 deaf-mutes use this sign, preceded by one showing the sex, for " brother" 

 or "sister." 



The most remarkable variant from the sign as above described which is 

 reported to be used by our Indians, is as follows: Extend the fore and mid- 

 dle finger of the right hand, pointing upward, thumb crossed over the other 

 fingers, which are closed. Move the hand downward and forward. (Dorset/ ) 



An opposition to the more common sign above mentioned is given, 

 though not generally reported, for he, or another person, by placing one 

 straight forefinger over the other, nearly touching, and then separated 

 with a moderately rapid motion. (Dunhar.) The deaf-mutes for "he" point 

 the thumb over the right shoulder. 



The principal motion for surprise, wonder, consists in placing the right 

 hand before the mouth, which is open, or supposed so to be — a gesture 

 seemingly involuntary with us, and which also appears in the Egyptian 

 hieroglyphs. 



The general sign for sun, when it is given as distinguished from day — 

 made by forming a circle with the thumb and forefinger raised to the east 

 or along the track of the orb — is often abbreviated by simply crooking the 

 elevated forefinger into an arc of a circle, which would more naturally be 



