§ 
Observations on the Language of Signs. 351 
Tf we examine the signs employed by the Indians, it will . 
be found that some are peculiar and arise from their sav- 
age customs, and are not so universal as sign language in 
general ; but others are natural, and universally applica- 
ble, and are the same as those employed in the schools 
for the deaf and dumb, after the method of the celebrated 
Abbé Sicard. 
In comparing a few of these signs, it will be seen where- 
in they agree. Among them is found the sign for éruth. 
Truth, in spoken language, is a representation of the real 
' state of things, or an exactness in words comformable to 
reality. | 
‘In the language of signs, truth is represented by words 
passing from the mouth in a straight line without deviation. 
This is natural and universal, it is the same as was adopted 
by the Abbé Sicard, and is used in the schools for the deaf 
and dumb inthe United States. It is thus described in 
Major Long’s expedition, as practised by the Indians. 
“ Truth.—The fore-finger passed in the attitude of poin- 
ling, from the mouth forward in a line curving a little up- 
ward, the other fingers being carefully closed.” 
A lie on the other hand is a departure from rectitude, a 
deviation from that straight course which inculcates truth. 
The Indians represent a lie by the following signs. 
“‘ Tie-—The fore and middle fingers extended, passed 
two or three times from the mouth forward, they are joined 
at the mouth, but separate as they depart from it, indicating 
that the words go in different directions.” 
This sign is true to nature, and radically correct, though 
in the instruction of deaf mutes we simplify the sign by the 
fore finger passed from the mouth obliquely or sideways, 
indicating a departure from the correct course. 
*¢ House or Lodge.—The two hands are reared together 
in the form of the roof of a house, the ends of the fingers 
upwards.” 
This s‘gn is true and natural, though we add to it, by 
placing the ends of the fingers on each other before they 
are elevated in the position of the roof, to indicate the 
stories of which a house in civilized life is composed. 
‘Entering a*house or Lodge.—The left hand is held 
with the back upward, and the right hand also with the 
back up, is passed in a curvilinear direction down under 
