20 DAY— TO-DAY. 



4. Simply make a circle with the forefingers of both hands. (Burton.) 

 The round disk. 



5. Place both hands at some distance in front of the breast, apart, and 

 backs downward (Wied.) 



6. Bring both hands simultaneously from a position in front of the 

 body, fingers extended and joined, palms down one above the other, fore- 

 arms horizontal, in a circularly separating manner to their respective sides, 

 palms up and forearms horizontal; i. e., "Everything is open." (Lemly.) 



7. Both hands raised in front of and a little higher than the head, 

 fingers of both hands horizontal, extended, and meeting at the tips, palms 

 of hands downward, and arms bowed; open up the hands with fingers per- 

 pendicular, and at once carry the arms out to their full extent to the sides 

 of the body, bringing the palms up. " The opening of the day from above. 

 The dispersion of darkness." (McChesney.) 



The French deaf-mutes fold the hands upon each other and the breast, 

 then raise them, palms inward, to beyond each side of the head. 



To-day, this day, has four widely discrepant signs in, at least, appear- 

 ance. In one, the nose is touched with the index tip, followed by a motion 

 of the fist toward the ground (Burton), perhaps including the idea of "now," 

 "here." In another, both hands are extended, palms outward, and swept 

 slowly forward and to each side. (Titchkemdtshi.) This may combine the 

 idea of now with openness, the first part of it resembling the general deaf- 

 mute sign for "here" or "now." 



A third observer gives as used for the idea of the present day the sign 

 also used for "hour," viz: join the tips of the thumb and forefinger of the same 

 hand, the interior outline approximating a circle, and let the hand pause at 

 the proper altitude east or west of the assumed meridian. (Lemly.) 



A fourth reports a compound sign: First make the following sign, which 

 is that for "now." Forefinger of right hand (of which the other fingers 

 are closed) extended, raise the arm perpendicularly a little above the right 

 side of the head, so that the extended finger will point to the center of the 

 heavens and then brought down on a level with the right breast, forefinger 

 still pointing up, and immediately carry it to the position required in mak- 



