DEATH, DEAD. 21 



ing the sign for day as above {McChesney), which is used to complete the 

 sign for to-day. {McChesney.) 

 Death, dead. Seven signs. 



1. Right hand, fingers front at height of stomach, then, with a sort of 

 flop, throw the hand over with the palm up, finger pointing a little to the 

 right and front, hand held horizontal. (Brisbin.) " Upset, keeled over." 



2. Left hand flattened and held, back upward, thumb inward, in front 

 of and a few inches from the breast; right hand slightly clasped, forefinger 

 more extended than the others, and passed suddenly under the left hand, 

 the latter being at the same time gently moved toward the breast. (Titchke- 

 mdtski.) "Gone under." 



3. Hold the left hand flat against the face, back outward ; then pass 

 the right hand, held in the same manner, under the left, striking and touch- 

 ing it lightly. ( Wied.) The same idea of "under"or" burial," cpiite differently 

 executed. Dr. McChesney, however, conjectures this sign to be that of won- 

 der or surprise at hearing of a death, but not a distinct sign for the latter. 



4. Throw the forefinger from the perpendicular into a horizontal posi- 

 tion toward the earth with the back downward. {Long.) 



5. Place the left forefinger and thumb against the heart, act as if tak- 

 ing a hair from the thumb and forefinger of the left hand with the forefinger 

 and thumb of the right and slowly cast it from you, only letting the left 

 hand remain at the heart, and let the index-finger of the right hand point 

 outward toward the distant horizon. {Holt.) 



6. Palm of hand upward, then a wave like motion toward the ground. 



{my.) 



7. Place the palm of the hand at a short distance from the side of the 

 head, then withdraw it gently in an oblique downward direction, inclining 

 the head and upper part of the body in the same direction. (Jacker.) 



The last authority notes that there is an apparent connection between 

 this conception and execution and the etymology of the corresponding 

 terms in Ojibwa: "he dies," is nibo; "he sleeps," is niba. The common idea 

 expressed by the gesture is a sinking to rest The original significance of 

 the root nib seems to be " leaning;" anibeia, " it is leaning;" anibekiveni, " he 

 inclines the head sidewards." The word niba or nibe (only in compounds) 



