CHIEF.

The forefinger of the right hand extended, pass it perpendicularly

downward, then turn it upward, and raise it in a right line as high as

the head. (_Long_.) "Rising above others."

Raise the index finger of the right hand, holding it straight upward,

then turn it in a circle and bring it straight down, a little toward

the earth. (_Wied_.) The right hand is raised, and in position (J)

describes a semicircle as in beginning the act of throwing. The arm

is elevated perfectly erect aside of the head, the palm of the index

and hand should be outward. There is an evident similarity in both

execution and conception of this sign and _Wied's_; the little

variation may be the result of different interpretation. The idea of

superiority is most prominent in both. (_Boteler_.) "A prominent one

before whom all succumb." The Arikaras understood this sign, and they

afterwards used it in talking to me. (_Creel_.) _Wied's_ air-picture

reminds of the royal scepter with its sphere.

Raise the forefinger, pointed upwards, in a vertical direction, and

then reverse both finger and motion; the greater the elevation the

"bigger" the chief. (_Arapaho_ I.)

Place the closed hand, with the index extended and pointing upward,

near the right cheek, pass it upward as high as the head, then turn

it forward and downward toward the ground, the movement terminating

a little below the initial point. See Fig. 306 in TENDOY-HUERITO

DIALOGUE, p. 487. (_Arapaho_ II; _Cheyenne_ V; _Ponka_ II; _Shoshoni_

I.)

(1) Sign for MAN, as follows: Right hand, palm inward, elevated to

about the level of the breast, index carelessly pointing upward,

suddenly pointed straight upward, and the whole hand moved a little

forward, at the same time taking care to keep the back of the hand

toward the person addressed; (2) middle, third, little finger, and

thumb slightly closed together, forefinger pointing forward and

downward; (3) curved motion made forward, outward, and downward.

(_Cheyenne_ II.) "He who stands still and commands," as shown by

similarity of signs to _sit here_ or _stand here_.

Extend the index, remaining fingers closed, and raise it to the right

side of the head and above it as far as the arm can reach. Have also

seen the sign given by _Wyandot_ I. (_Ojibwa_ V.)

The extended forefinger of the right hand (J), of which the other

fingers are closed, is raised to the right side of the head and above

it as far as the arm can be extended, and then the hand is brought

down in front of the body with the wrist bent, the back of hand in

front and the extended forefinger pointing downward. (_Dakota_ I.)

"Raised above others."

Move the upright and extended right index, palm forward, from the

shoulder upward as high, as the top of the head, then forward six

inches through a curve, and move it forward six inches, and then

downward, its palm backward, to the height of the shoulder. An Arapaho

sign, Above all others. He looks over or after us. (_Dakota_ IV.)

Elevate the extended index before the shoulder, palm forward, pass it

upward as high as the head, and forming a short curve to the front,

then downward again slightly to the front to before the breast and

about fifteen inches from it. (_Dakota_ VI, VII, VIII; _Hidatsa_ I;

_Arikara_ I.)

Right hand closed, forefinger pointing up, raise the hand from the

waist in front of the body till it passes above the head. (_Omaha_ I.)

Another: Bring the closed right hand, forefinger pointing up, on a

level with the face; then bring the palm of the left hand with force

against the right forefinger; next send up the right hand above the

head, leaving the left as it is. (_Omaha_ I.)

The right arm is extended by side of head, with the hand in position

(J). The arm and hand then descend, the finger describing a semicircle

with the arm as a radius. The sign stops with arm hanging at full

length. (_Oto_ I.) "The arm of authority before whom all must fall."

Both hands elevated to a position in front of and as high as the

shoulders, palms facing, fingers and thumbs spread and slightly

curved; the hands are then drawn outward a short distance towards

their respective sides and gently elevated as high as the top of the

head. (_Wyandot_ I.) "One who is elevated by others."

Elevate the closed hand--index only extended and pointing upward--to

the front of the right side of the face or neck or shoulder; pass it

quickly upward, and when as high as the top of the head, direct it

forward and downward again toward the ground. (_Kaiowa_ I; _Comanche_

III; _Apache_ II; _Wichita_ II.) Close the right hand, index raised,

extended, and placed before the breast, then move it forward from the

mouth, pointing forward, until at arm's length. (_Ute_ I.)

----, Head, of tribe.

Place the extended index, pointing upward, at some distance before

the right shoulder, then place the left hand, with fingers and thumb

extended and separated, just back of the index; then in passing the

index upward as high as the head, draw the left hand downward a short

distance, as in Fig. 244. Superior to others. (_Absaroka_ I; _Arikara_

I.)

Place both flat hands before the body, palms down, and pass them

horizontally outward toward their respective sides, then make the sign

for CHIEF. (_Arikara_ I.) "Chief of the wide region and those upon

it."

[Illustration: Fig. 244.]

After pointing out the man, point to the ground, all fingers closed

except first (J 1, pointing downward in stead of upward), then point

upward with same hand (J 2), then move hand to a point in front

of body, fingers extended, palm downward (W 1), and move around

horizontally. (_Sahaptin_ I.) "In this place he is head over all."

[Illustration: Fig. 245.]

Grasp the forelock with the right hand, palm backward, pass the

hand upward about six inches and hold it in that position a moment.

(_Pai-Ute_ I.) Fig 245.

Elevate the extended index vertically above and in front of the head,

holding the left hand, forefinger pointing upward, from one to two

feet below and underneath the right, the position of the left, either

elevated or depressed, also denoting the relative position of the

second individual to that of the chief. (_Apache_ I.)

----, War. Head of a war party; Partisan.

First make the sign of the _pipe_; then open the thumb and index

finger of the right hand, back of the hand outward, moving it forward

and upward in a curve. (_Wied_.) For remarks upon this sign see page

384.

Place the right hand, index only extended and pointing forward and

upward, before the right side of the breast nearly at arm's length,

then place the left hand, palm forward with fingers spread and

extended, midway between the breast and the right hand. (_Arapaho_ II;

_Cheyenne_ V; _Ponka_ II; _Pani_ I.)

First make the sign for BATTLE, viz: Both hands (A 1) brought to the

median line of the body on a level with the breast and close together;

describe with both hands at the same time a series of circular

movements of small circumference; and then add the sign for CHIEF,

(_Dakota_ I.) "First in battle."

---- of a band.

Point toward the left and front with the extended forefinger of the

left hand, palm down; then place the extended index about twelve

inches behind the left hand, pointing in the same direction.

(_Arapaho_ II; _Cheyenne_ V; _Ponka_ II; _Pani_ I.)

[Illustration: Fig. 246.]

Place the extended index at some distance before the right shoulder,

pointing forward and slightly upward, then place the left hand with

fingers and thumb extended and separated over the index, and while

pushing the index to the front, draw the left hand backward toward

body and to the left. Ahead of others. (_Absaroka_ I; _Arikara_ I.)

Fig. 246.

Point the extended index forward and upward before the chest, then

place the spread fingers of the left hand around the index, but at a

short distance behind it, all pointing the same direction. Ahead of

the remainder. (_Arikara_ I.)

[Illustration: Fig. 247.]

Grasp the forelock with the right hand, palm backward, and pretend to

lay the hair down over the right side of the head by passing the hand

in that direction. (_Pai-Ute_ I.) Fig. 247.

The French deaf-mute sign for _order, command_, maybe compared with

several of the above signs. In it the index tip first touches the

lower lip, then is raised above the head and brought down with

violence. (_L'enseignment primaire des sourds-muets; par M. Pelissier.

Paris, 1856_.)

Not only in Naples, but, according to De Jorio, in Italy generally the

conception of _authority_ in gesture is by pressing the right hand

on the flank, accompanied by an erect and squared posture of the bust

with the head slightly inclined to the right. The idea of _substance_

is conveyed.

[Illustration: Fig. 248.]

----, Warrior lower than actual, but distinguished for bravery.

Place the left forefinger, pointing toward the left and front, before

the left side of the chest, then place the extended index near (or

against) the forefinger, and, while passing the latter outward toward

the left, draw the index toward the right. (_Absaroka_ I; _Arikara_ I;

_Shoshoni_ I.) Fig. 248.