2(3 BAD— CONTEMPT— UNDERSTAND— THINK. 



thumb. This may be compared with the deaf-mute sign of flipping an imagi- 

 nary object between the thumb-nail and the forefinger, denoting something 

 small or contemptible The motion of snapping a finger either on or from 

 the thumb in disdain is not only of large modern prevalence in civilization, but 

 is at least as ancient as the contemporary statue of Sardanapalus at Anchiale. 

 Another sign is, hands open, palms turned in, move one hand toward and 

 the other from the body, then vice versa. Another less forcible but equally 

 suggestive gesture for bad is closing the hand and then opening while lower- 

 ing it, as if dropping out the contents (Wied; McChcsney) ; "not worth keep- 

 ing 1 ." It becomes again more forcible in another variant, viz : the hand closed, 

 back toward and near the breast, then as the forearm is suddenly extended 

 the hand is opened and the fingers separated from each other. {Matthews.') 

 This is the casting away of a supposed object, and the same authority con- 

 nects it with contempt by reporting that the sign for the latter is the same, 

 only still more forcibly made. Another sign for contempt, and which 

 is the highest degree of insult, is as follows : The right hand is shut or 

 clinched and held drawn in toward the chest and on a level with it, with 

 the back of the hand down, and the shut fingers and thumb up, and the 

 expression of contempt is given by extending out the hand and arm directly 

 in front of the body, at the same time opening the thumb and fingers wide 

 and apart, so that at the termination of the motion the arm is nearly 

 extended, and the thumb and fingers all radiating out as it were from the 

 center of the hand, and the palm of the hand still pointing upward. (Gil- 

 fillan.) The Neapolitans, to express contempt, blow towards the person or 

 thing referred to. The deaf-mutes preserve the connection of " bad " and 

 "taste" by brushing from the side of the mouth. 



Understand, know, is very variously expressed by manipulations in 

 which the nose, ear, chin, mouth, and breast are selected as objective 

 points, all the motions being appropriate. Think or guess is also diversely 

 indicated. Sometimes the forefinger is simply drawn sharply across the 

 breast from left to right. (Burton.) Some hit the chest with closed fist, 

 thumb over the fist. Again, the right fist is held with the thumb between 

 the eyes and propelled front and downward. We, for show of thought, rest 

 the forefinger on the forehead. There is also a less intelligible sign, in 

 which the right hand, fingers and thumb loosely closed, index crooked and 



