FEAR— WOMAN— QUANTITY. 23 



left breast just over the heart to imitate palpitation. (TitchkemdtsJci.) The 



Sioux use the same sign without closing- the fingers to represent a heart. 



(McChesney.) 



The French deaf-mutes, besides beating the heart, add a nervous back- 

 » 

 ward .shrinking with both hands. Our deaf-mutes omit the beating of the 



heart, except for excessive terror. 



4. Point forward several times with the index, followed by the remain- 

 ing fingers, each time drawing the index back (Wied), as if impossible to 

 keep the man to the front. 



5. May be signified by making the sign for a squaw, if the one in fear 

 be a man or boy. (Lemly.) 



6. Cross the arms over the breast, fists closed, bow the head over, the 

 crossed arms, but turn it a little to the left. (Dorset/.) 



Woman has four signs ; one expressing the mammae, one indicating 

 shortness as compared with man, and the two most common severally indi- 

 cating the longer hair or more flowing dress. The hair is sometimes indi- 

 cated by a motion with the right hand as though drawing a comb through 

 the entire length of the hair on that side of the head (McChesney); and 

 sometimes by turning the rigtit hand about the ear, as if putting the hair 

 behind it. (Dodge.) The deaf-mutes generally mark the line of the bon- 

 net-string down the cheek. 



Quantity, many, much. Six wholly distinct executions and several con- 

 ceptions. 



1. The flat of the right hand patting the back of the left several times, 

 proportioned in number to the quantity. (Dunbar.) Simple repetition. 



2. Clutching at the air several times with both hands. (KoM.) Same 

 idea of repetition, more objective. This sign may easily be confounded 

 with the mode of counting or enumeration by presenting the ten digits. 



3. Hands and arms passed curvilinearly outward and downward as if 

 forming a large globe, then hands closed and elevated as if something were 

 grasped in each, and held up as high as the face. (Long.) 



4. Hands held scoop-fashion, palms toward each other, about two feet 

 apart, at the height of the lower ribs, finger-ends downward; then with 

 a diving motion, as if scooping up small articles from a sack or barrel, 



