POSSESSION— STEAL— TRADE. 33 



only one authority, viz : Place the hand bowl-shaped over the right breast, 

 as if grasping a pap. (Dodge.) It is not understood how this can be distin- 

 guished from one of the signs above mentioned for "woman." 



Possession, mine, my property. The essential of this common sign is 

 clinching the right hand held at the level of the head and moving it gently 

 forward, clearly the grasping and display of property. None of the deaf- 

 mute signs to express "possession, ownership," known to the writer, resem- 

 ble this or are as graphic. Our deaf-mutes press an imaginary object to 

 the breast with the right hand. 



Steal The prevalent delineation is by holding the left arm horizontally 

 across the body and seizing from under the left fist an imaginary object 

 with the right hand (Burton), implying concealment and the transportation 

 that forms part of the legal definition of larceny. This sign is also made 

 by our deaf-mutes. Sometimes the fingers of the right hand are hooked, 

 as if grabbing or tearing. (TitchJcemdtski.) Another sign is reported in 

 which the left arm is partly extended and held horizontally so that the left 

 hand will be palm downward, a foot or so in front of the chest. Then, 

 with the right hand in front, a motion is made as if something were grasped 

 deftly in the fingers and carried rapidly along under the left arm to the 

 axilla. (Matthews.) The specialty of horse-theft is indicated by the panto- 

 mime of cutting a lariat. (Burton. ) 



Trade, barter, exchange, is very commonly denoted by a sign the root 

 of which is the movement of the two flat hands or the two forefingers past 

 each other, so that one takes the place before held by the other, the exact 

 conceit of exchange. One description is as follows: The hands, backs for- 

 ward, are held as index-hands pointing upward, the elbows being fully 

 bent. Each hand is then simultaneously with the other, moved to the 

 opposite shoulder, so that the forearms cross one another almost at light 

 angles. (Mattheivs.) Another: Pass the hands in front of the body at the 

 height of the waist, all fingers closed except the index-fingers. (Deffcn- 

 baugh.) This is also made by the Comanches (Haworth), Bannocks, and 

 Umatillas. (Ndtshes.) Another instance is reported where the first two fin- 

 gers of the right hand cross those of the left, both being slightly spread. 

 (noffman.) Our deaf-mutes use the same gesture as first above mentioned 



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