884? Communication by Signals , 
front of flie arms, and facing the person to whom you are 
to jmpart your intentions. 
The best place for showing signals from a ship is in 
the chains, or on a lower deck port, as the white hand- 
kerchief exhibits a greater contrast with the black sides, 
and is of course better discerned. When on shore, they 
should be made from the side of a green hill, or in front 
of some thick foliage, or hedge, or dark wall. 
The positions intended to compose the number of sig- 
nals should be made in succession. The person, to whom 
a signal is made, should wave his handkerchief horizon- 
tally, to convince you that it is understood. 
When the positions which compose the number of your 
signals are finished, you are to wave your handkerchief 
in like manner. For example, persons who make use of 
the homograph should arrange in their separate books, or 
from a telegraphic dictionary, every question and an- 
swer, which may occur to them on any subject, as there 
is no limitation to the numbers. If the number affixed to 
your communication be 1000, you are first to make posi- 
tion No. 1, and keep it so until your consort answers it 
by waving his handkerchief, which informs you that it is 
understood ; then you are to make the 0 three times dis- 
tinctly, as shown at figure A, each 0 to be kept up until 
answered as before. Now your signal being made, wave 
your handkerchief, which informs your consort, that he 
is to refer to his book for the purport of the signal No. 
1000, which may either refer to a distinct word in dic- 
tionaries numbered alike, or to a whole senctenee in con- 
versations, premeditated and inserted in books formed 
for the purpose. 
When you wish to commence a communication by sig- 
nals, you are to display the handkerchief in the manner 
shown at fig. B, which is called the signal of attention, 
and your consort is to display his in return. The per 
