Sign Language Among North American Indians Compared With That Among Other Peoples Part 35

OUTAGAMI. SEE FOX.

PANI (p.a.w.nEE).

Imitate a wolf's ears with the two forefingers of the right hand extended together, upright, on the left side of the head. (_Burton._)

Place a hand on each side of the forehead, with two fingers pointing to the front to represent the narrow, sharp ears of the wolf. (_Marcy_ in _Prairie Traveler_, p. 215.)

Extend the index and second fingers of the right hand upward from the right side of the head. (_Arapaho_ II; _Cheyenne_ V; _Dakota_ VII, VIII; _Ponka_ II; _Pani_ I; _Comanche_ II.)

Right hand, as (N), is pa.s.sed from the back part of the right side of the head, forward seven or eight inches. (_Dakota_ I.) "The Pani Indians are known as the _Shaved-heads_, i.e., leaving only the scalp locks on the head."

First and second fingers of right hand, straight upward and separated, remaining fingers and thumb closed (as in N), like the ears of a small wolf. (_Dakota_ III.)

Place the closed right hand to the side of the temple, palm forward leaving the index and second fingers extended and slightly separated, pointing upward. This is ordinarily used, though, to be more explicit, both hands may be used. (_Kaiowa_ I; _Comanche_ III; _Ute_ I; _Apache_ II; _Wichita_ II.) For ill.u.s.tration see Fig. 336, facing page 531.

PEND D'OREILLE, OR CALISPEL.

Make the motion of paddling a canoe. (_Kutine_ I.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 295.]

Both fists are held as if grasping a paddle vertically downward and working a canoe. Two strokes are made on each side of the body from the side backward. (_Shoshoni_ and _Banak_ I.) Fig. 295.

PUEBLO.

Place the clinched hand back of the occiput as if grasping the queue, then place both fists in front of the right shoulder, rotating them slightly to represent a loose ma.s.s of an imaginary substance.

Represents the large ma.s.s of hair tied back of the head. (_Arapaho_ II; _Cheyenne_ V.)

REE. SEE ARIKARA.

SAC, OR SAUKI.

Pa.s.s the extended palm of the right hand over the right side of the head from front to back, and the palm of the left hand in the same manner over the left side of the head. (_Sac, Fox, and Kickapoo_ I.) "Shaved-headed Indians."

SAHAPTIN, OR NEZ PERCeS.

The right index, back outward, pa.s.sed from right to left under the nose. Piercing the nose to receive the ring. (_Creel_; _Dakota_ I.)

Place the thumb and forefinger to the nostrils. (_Kutine_ I.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 296.]

Close the right hand, leaving the index straight but flexed at right angles with the palm; pa.s.s it horizontally to the left by and under the nose. (_Comanche_ II.) "Pierced nose." Fig. 296. This sign is made by the Nez Perces for themselves, according to Major Haworth.

Information was received from Arapaho and Cheyenne Indians, who visited Washington in 1880, that this sign is also used to designate the _Caddos_, who practiced the same custom of perforating the nasal septum. The same informants also state that the _Shawnees_ are sometimes indicated by the same sign.

Pa.s.s the extended index, pointing toward the left, remaining fingers and thumb closed, in front of and across the upper lip, just below the nose. The second finger is also sometimes extended. (_Shoshoni and Banak_ I.) "From the custom of piercing the noses for the reception of ornaments."

See p. 345 for remarks upon the signs for _Sahaptin_.

SATSIKA. SEE BLACKFEET.

SELISH. SEE FLATHEAD.

SHEEPEATER. SEE UNDER SHOSHONI.

SHAWNEE. SEE REMARKS UNDER SAHAPTIN.

SHOSHONI, OR SNAKE.

The forefinger is extended horizontally and pa.s.sed along forward in a serpentine line. (_Long_.)

Right hand closed, palm down, placed in front of the right hip; extend the index and push it diagonally toward the left front, rotating it quickly from side to side in doing so. (_Absaroka_ I; _Shoshoni and Banak_ I.) "Snake." Fig. 297.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 297.]

Right hand, horizontal, flat, palm downward (W), advanced to the front by a motion to represent the crawling of a snake. (_Dakota_ III.)

With the right index pointing forward, the hand is to be moved forward about a foot in a sinuous manner, to imitate the crawling of a snake.

Also made by the Arapahos. (_Dakota_ IV.)

Place the closed right hand, palm down, in front of the right hip; extend the index, and move it forward and toward the left, rotating the hand and finger from side to side in doing so. (_Kaiowa_ I; _Comanche_ II, III; _Apache_ II; _Wichita_ II.)

Make the motion of a serpent with the right finger. (_Kutine_ I.)

Close the right hand, leaving the index only extended and pointing forward, palm to the left, then move it forward and to the left.

(_Pai-Ute_ I.) The rotary motion of the hand does not occur in this description, which in this respect differs from the other authorities.

----, Sheepeater. Tukuarikai.

Both hands, half closed, pa.s.s from the top of the ears backward, downward, and forward, in a curve, to represent a ram's horns; then, with the index only extended and curved, place the hand above and in front of the mouth, back toward the face, and pa.s.s it downward and backward several times. (_Shoshoni and Banak_ I.) "Sheep," and "to eat."

SIHASAPA. SEE UNDER DAKOTA.

SIOUX. SEE DAKOTA.

TENNANAH.

Right hand hollowed, lifted to mouth, and describing waving line gradually descending from right to left; left hand describing mountainous outline, one peak rising above the other. (_Kutchin_ I.)"

Mountain-river-men."

UTE.

"They who live on mountains" have a complicated sign which denotes "living in mountains," and is composed of the signs SIT and MOUNTAIN.

(_Burton_.)

Rub the back of the extended flat left hand with the extended fingers of the right, then touch some black object. Represents black skin.

Although the same sign is generally used to signify _negro_, an addition is sometimes made as follows: place the index and second fingers to the hair on the right side of the head, and rub them against each other to signify _curly hair_. This addition is only made when the connection would cause a confusion between the "black skin"

Indian (_Ute_) and negro. (_Arapaho_ II; _Cheyenne_ V.)