22 KILL— PEAK. 



conveys the idea of "night," perhaps as the falling over, the going to rest, 

 or the death, of the day. The term for "leaf" (of a tree or plant), which 

 is anihish, may spring from the same root, leaves being the leaning or down- 

 hanging parts of the plant. With this may be compared the Chahta term 

 for "leaves," literally translated "tree hair". 



The French deaf-mute conception is that of gently falling or sinking, 

 the right index falling from the height of the right shoulder upon the left 

 forefinger toward which the head is inclined. 



Kill. In one sign the hands are held with the edges upward, and the 

 right strikes the left trans versety, as in the act of chopping. This seems to 

 convey particularly the notion of a stroke with a tomahawk or war-club. 

 (Long.) It is more definitely expressed as follows: The left hand, thumb 

 up, back forwards, not very rigidly extended, is held before the chest and 

 struck in the palm with the outer edge of the right hand. (Matthews.) 

 Another sign: Smite the sinister palm earthward with the dexter fist sharply, 

 in suggestion of going down. (Burton.) Another : Strike out with the dex- 

 ter fist toward the ground, meaning to shut down. (Burton; McChesney.) 

 This same sign is made by the Utes, with the statement that it means "to 

 kill" or "stab" with a knife, having reference to the time when that was 

 the most common weapon. A fourth : Pass the right under the left fore- 

 finger (Burton), "make go under." The threat, "I will kill you," appears 

 in one case as directing the right hand toward the offender and springing 

 the finger from the thumb as in the act of sprinkling water (Long), the idea 

 being perhaps causing blood to flow, or perhaps sputtering away the life, 

 though this part of the sign is nearly the same as that sometimes used for 

 the discharge of a gun or arrow. 



Fear, coward. 



1. Both hands, with fingers turned inward opposite the lower ribs, then 

 brought upward with a tremulous motion, as if to represent the common 

 idea of the heart rising up to the throat. (Dunbar.) 



2. Head stooped down, and arm thrown up quickly as if to protect it. 

 (Long.) 



3. Fingers and thumb of right hand, which droops downward, closed 

 to a point to represent a heart, violently and repeatedly beaten against the 



