Ha-u | na-wa'-[.h]o[n] | tka | wa[n]-mla'-ke | ['s]ni
(1) | (2) | | (3) | (4)
Yes, | I heard | (but) | I saw it. | not.
_DIALOGUE BETWEEN ALASKAN INDIANS._
The following introductory notes are furnished by MR. IVAN PETROFF,
who contributes the Dialogue:
It has been repeatedly stated that among the natives of Alaska no
trace of gesture or sign language can be found. The universal spread
of the Russian language in former times as a medium of trade and
general intercourse has certainly prevented observations of this
primitive linguistic feature in all the vast regions visited by the
Russians. On the other hand, the homogeneous elements of the Innuit
tongue, spoken along the whole seacoast from the Arctic to the Alaskan
Peninsula, and the Island of Kadiak, has, to a great extent, abolished
all causes for the employment of sign language between tribes in their
mutual intercourse. Basing their opinions upon what they saw while
touching upon the coast here and there, even the acknowledged
authorities on Alaskan matters have declared that sign language did
not and could not exist in all that country. Without entering into
any lengthened dispute upon this question, I venture to present in the
subjoined pages a succinct account of at least one instance where I
saw natives of different tribes converse with each other only by means
of signs and gestures within the boundaries of Alaska.
In the month of September, 1866, there arrived on the Lower Kinnik
River, a stream emptying its waters into Cook's Inlet, two Indians
from a distant region, who did not speak the Kenaitze language. The
people of the settlement at which the strangers made their first
appearance were equally at a loss to understand the visitors. At last
a chief of great age, bearing the name of Chatidoolts (mentioned by
Vancouver as a youth), was found to be able to interpret some of the
signs made by the strangers, and after a little practice he entered
into a continued conversation with them in rather a roundabout way,
being himself blind. He informed me that it was the second or third
time within his recollection that strangers like those then present
had come to Kinnik from the northeast, but that in his youth he had
frequently "talked with his hands" to their visitors from the west and
east. He also told me that he had acquired this art from his father,
who, as the old man expressed himself, had "seen every country, and
spoken to all the tribes of the earth." The conversation was carried
on with the help of the old man's sons, who described to their blind
parent the gestures of the strangers, and were instructed in turn by
him with what gestures to reply.
This being an entirely new experience to me I at once proceeded to
carefully make notes of the desultory talk, extending over several
days. My object, primarily, was to make use of the signs for purposes
of trade in the future.
The notes thus obtained contain a narrative of the two strangers,
interpreted to me at the time by Chatidoolts. I shall present each
sign or sentence as I noted it at the time, with only casual reference
to that incomplete and frequently erroneous interpretation.
The two Indians wore the pointed hunting shirt of tanned moose-skin,
ornamented with beads and fringes which is still common to the Kutchin
tribes. They were not tattooed, but ears and noses were encumbered
with pendants of dentalium and a small red glass bead. Their feet were
clothed in moccasins. One of them had a rifle of English manufacture,
and his companion carried two huge knives, one of them of copper
evidently of native manufacture.
(1) _Kenaitze_.--Left hand raised to height of eye, palm outward,
moved several times from right to left rapidly; fingers extended and
closed; pointing to strangers with left hand. Right hand describes a
curve from north to east--_Which of the northeastern tribes is yours?_
(2) _Tennanah_.--Right hand, hollowed, lifted to mouth, then extended
and describing waving line gradually descending from right to left.
Left hand describing mountainous outline, apparently one peak rising
above the other, said by Chatidoolts to mean--_Tenan-tnu-kohtana,
Mountain-river-men_.
(3) _K_.--Left hand raised to height of eye, palm outward, moved from
right to left, fingers extended. Left index describes curve from east
to west. Outline of mountain and river as in preceding sign.--_How
many days from Mountain-river?_
(4) _T_.--Right hand raised toward sky, index and thumb forming first
crescent and then ring. This repeated three times--_moon, new and full
three times_.
(5) Right hand raised, palm to front, index raised and lowered at
regular intervals--_walked_. Both hands imitating paddling of canoe,
alternately right and left--_traveled three months on foot and by
canoe_.
(6) Both arms crossed over breast, simulating shivering--_cold,
winter_.
(7) Right index pointing toward speaker--_I_. Left hand pointing to
the west--_traveled westward_.
(8) Right hand lifted cup-shaped to mouth--_water_. Right hand
describing waving line from right to left gradually descending,
pointing to the west--_river running westward_.
(9) Right hand gradually pushed forward, palm upward, from height
of breast. Left hand shading eyes; looking at great distance--_very
wide_.
(10) Left and right hands put together in shape of sloping
shelter--_lodge, camp_. See Fig. 259, on p. 431.
(11) Both hands lifted, height of eye, palm inward, fingers
spread--_many times_.
(12) Both hands closed, palm outward, height of hips--_surprised_.
(13) Index pointing from eye forward--_see_.
(14) Right hand held up, height of shoulder, three fingers extended,
left hand pointing to me--_three white men_.
(15) _K_.--Right hand pointing to me, left hand held up, three fingers
extended--_three white men_.
(16) Making Russian sign of cross--_Russians. Were the three white men
Russians?_
(17) _T_.--Left hand raised, palm inward, two fingers extended, sign
of cross with right--_two Russians_.
(18) Right hand extended, height of eye, palm outward, moved outward a
little to right--_no_.
(19) One finger of left hand raised--_one_.
(20) Sign of cross with right--_Russian_.
(21) Right hand height of eye, fingers closed and extended, palm
outward a little to right--_no_.
(22) Right hand carried across chest, hand extended, palm upward,
fingers and thumb closed as if holding something. Left hand in same
position carried across the right, palm downward--_trade_.
(23) Left hand upholding one finger, right pointing to me--_one white
man_.
(24) Right hand held horizontally, palm downward, about four feet from
ground--_small_.
(25) Forming rings before eyes with index and thumb--_eye-glasses_.
(26) Right hand clinched, palm upward, in front of chest, thumb
pointing inward--_gave one_.
(27) Forming cup with right hand, simulating drinking--_drink_.
(28) Right hand grasping chest repeatedly, fingers curved and
spread--_strong_.
(29) Both hands pressed to temple and head moved from side to
side--_drunk, headache_.
(30) Both index fingers placed together, extended, pointing
forward--_together_.
(31) Fingers interlaced repeatedly--_build_.
(32) Left hand extended, fingers closed, pointing outward
(vertically), right hand extended, fingers closed, placed slopingly
against left--_camp_.
(33) Both wrists placed against temples, hands curved upward and
outward, fingers spread--_horns_.
(34) Both hands horizontally lifted to height of shoulder, right arm
extended gradually full length to the right, hand drooping a little at
the end--_long back, moose_.
(35) Both hands upright, palm outward, fingers extended and spread,
placing one before the other alternately--_trees, forest, dense
forest_.
(36) Sign of cross--_Russian_.
(37) Motions of shooting a gun--_shot_.
(38) Sign for _moose_ (Nos. 33, 34), showing two fingers of left
hand--_two_.
(39) Sign for _camp_ as before (No. 10) _camp_.
(40) Right hand describing curve from east to west, twice--_two days_.
(41) Left hand lifted height of mouth, back outward, fingers closed as
if holding something; right hand simulating motion of tearing off and
placing in mouth--_eating moose meat_.
(42) Right hand placed horizontally against heart, fingers closed,
moved forward a little and raised a little several times--_glad at
heart_.
(43) Fingers of left hand and index of right hand extended and placed
together horizontally, pointing forward, height of chest. Hands
separated, right pointing eastward and left westward--_three men and
speaker parted, going west and east_.
(44) Pressing both arms against chest and shivering--_very cold_.
(45) Drawing index of each hand around corresponding legs below the
knee--_deep snow_.
(46) Drawing imaginary line with index of right hand across each foot,
just behind the toes--_snow shoes_.
(47) Head lowered to right side into palm of hand three times--_slept
three times_.
(48) Sign for _camp_, as before (No. 10)--_camp_.
(49) Pointing to speaker--_I_.
(50) Fingers of right hand extended and joined and pointed forward
from mouth, left hand lowered horizontally to a foot from the
ground--_fox_.
(51) Left hand raised height of eye, back to the left, fingers closed,
with exception of middle finger held upright; then middle finger
suddenly closed--_trap_.
(52) Both hands lifted height of eye, palm inward, fingers
spread--_many_.
(53) Right hand pointing to speaker--_I_.
(54) Sign for _trap_ (No. 51), as above--_trap_.
(55) Right hand lowered to within a few inches of the ground and moved
from left to right about two feet. Motions of both hands descriptive
of playful jumping of marten around a tree or stump--_marten_.
(56) Holding up the fingers of both hands three times until
aggregating thirty--_thirty_.
(57) Left forearm held up vertically, palm to front, fingers
spread--_tree_.
(58) Motion of chopping with hatchet--_cut_.
(59) Driving invisible wedge around small circle--_peeling birch
bark_.
(60) Right hand, fingers extended and joined, moved slowly from left
to right horizontally while blowing upon it with mouth--_pitching
seams of canoe_.
(61) Motions of using paddle very vigorously--_paddle up stream_.
(62) Lifting both arms above head on respective sides, hands closed as
if grasping something and lifting the body--_poling canoe_.
(63) Sign for _moon_ (No. 4), (crescent and ring) once--_one month_.
(64) Right hand vertically, height of chest, palm to left, fingers
extended, closed. Left hand horizontally, palm downward, pushed
against right--_stopped_.
(65) Right hand, index extended, drawing outline of mountains, one
above other--_high mountains_.
(66) Left hand lifted to left shoulder, back to front, fingers bent
and closed. Right hand, fingers bent and closed, placed over left and
then slowly drawn across chest to right shoulder. Motion with both
hands as if adjusting pack--_pack, knapsack_.
(67) Sign for _water_ as before (No. 8). Both hands brought forward,
palms down, arms passed outward horizontally to respective sides,
palms down--_lake_. Both hands describing circular line backward until
touching collar bone--_big and deep_.
(68) Left hand raised slightly about height of nipple, three fingers
closed; index and thumb holding tip of index of right hand. Both hands
moved across chest from left to right--_beaver_.[1]
(69) Previous sign for _many_ (No. 52) repeated several times--_very
plentiful_.
(70) Both hands held up with fingers spread, palm forward, twice and
left hand once--height of eye--_twenty-five_.
(71) Pointing to himself--_I_.
(72) Sign for _trap_ as before (No. 51)--_trapped_.
(73) Sign for temporary _shelter_ (No. 10)--_camped_.
(74) Sign for new and full moon (No. 4), once--_one month_.
(75) Right hand passed slowly over the hair and chin. Left hand
touching a pendant of white beads--_old man_.
(76) Index of right hand held up--_one_.
(77) Both hands partially closed and placed against breast, back of
hands to front, a few inches apart--_women_.
(78) Index and middle finger of right hand held up, palm forward; eyes
directed as if counting--_two_.
(79) Sign for _trap_ as before (No. 51)--_trapping_.
(80) Left forearm vertically in front of chest, palm of hand to front,
fingers spread, elbow resting upon the back of the right hand--_tree_.
(81) Arms and hands spanning imaginary tree of some size--_big_.
(82) Sign for _tree_ as before (No. 57), left forearm suddenly brought
down across extended right hand--_fell_.
(83) Right hand laid on top of head, then passed over the hair and
chin, left hand touching white beads--_on the head of the old man_.
(84) Sign for _old man_ as before (No. 75)--_old man_.
(85) Closing both eyes with fore and middle finger of right hand;
both hands placed side by side, horizontally, palms downward, fingers
extended and united, hands separated by slow horizontal movement to
right and left--_dead_.
(86) Sign for women as before (No. 77)--women.
(87) Fingers of both hands interlaced at right angles several
times--_built_.
(88) Sign for _lodge_ as before (No. 10)--_lodge_.[2]
(89) Right index describing circle around the head, height of eye
(cutting hair). Right hand passed over forehead and face. Left index
pointing to black scabbard (blacking faces)--_mourning_.
(90) Index and middle finger of right hand passed from eyes downward
across cheeks--_weeping_.
(91) Pointing to himself--_I_.
(92) Make the signs for _shoot_ (Nos. 33, 34), and _moose_ (No.
37)--_shot a moose_.
(93) Left hand extended horizontally, palm upward, right hand placed
across left vertically, about the middle--_divided in two_.
(94) Right hand closed, palm downward, moved forward from right breast
the length of the arm and then opened--_I gave_.
(95) Sign for _women_, (No. 77)--_to women_.
(96) Right hand, palm down, pointing to left, placed horizontally
before heart and slightly raised several times--_good and glad_.
(97) Pointing to his companion--_he_.
(98) Motion of _paddling--in canoe_.
(99) Right arm and hand extended in N.E. direction, gradually curved
back until index touches speaker--_came to me from the northeast_.
(100) Sign for _together_ as above (No. 30)--_together_.
(101) Motion of _paddling--paddled_.
(102) Pointing to ground--_to this place_.
(103) _K_. Motion of drinking water out of hand--_water_.
(104) Describing circle with right index on palm of left hand extended
horizontally--_lake_.
(105) Left hand raised to height of eye, palm to front,
fingers leaning slightly backward. Fingers of left hand closed
alternately--_how many?_
(106) _T_. Holding up right hand back to front, showing four fingers,
eyes looking at them as if counting--_four_.
(107) Sign for packing with wooden breast-brace as above; three
fingers of right hand shown as above--_three portages_.
(108) _K_. Right hand pointing to gun of stranger--_gun_. Left hand
raised height of eye, palm to front, and moved rapidly several times
to right and left--_interrogation_.
(109) Sign for _trade_ as before (No. 22)--_trade_; i.e., _where did
you buy the gun?_
(110) _T_. Sign for _Mountain-river_ as above (No. 2). Pointing
eastward--_from the eastward_.
(111) Pointing to sun and then raising both hands, backs to front,
fingers spread--_ten days_.
(112) Pointing to me--_white man_.
(113) Left hand held up vertically, palm outward, fingers joined.
Right index placed horizontally across fingers of left hand in front,
about the middle joint--_pallisaded_.
(114) Describing square with right index on flat palm of left
hand--_building_.
(115) Pointing to his gun, powder-horn, blanket, and beads--_trading
goods_.
(116) Both hands horizontal, brought forward and upward from chest and
then downward--_plenty_.
In giving this narrative I have observed the original sequence, but
there were frequent interruptions, caused by consultation between
Chatidoolts and his sons, and before the strangers departed again they
had obtained a knowledge of some words of the Kenaitze language.
[Footnote 1: Chatidoolts explained this to his sons as well as to me,
saying that the mountain men had a peculiar mode of catching beavers
with long sticks.]
[Footnote 2: They never occupy a house in which one of the other
Indians died.]
_OJIBWA DIALOGUE._
[COMMUNICATED BY THE VERY REV. EDWARD JACKER.]
The following short dialogue forms part of the scanty tradition the
civilized Ojibwas possess regarding their ancestors' sign language:
Two Indians of different tongue meet on a journey. First Indian points
to second Indian with the outstretched forefinger of the right hand,
bringing it within a few inches of his breast; next he extends both
forearms horizontally, clinches all but the forefingers, and bends
the hands inward; then he brings them slowly and in a straight line
together, until the tips of the outstretched forefingers meet. This
gesture is accompanied with a look of inquiry--_You met somebody?_
Second Indian, facing the south, points to the east, and with the
outstretched hand forms a half-circle from east to west (corresponding
to the daily course of the sun); then he raises the arm and
points to a certain height above the southern horizon. Then the sign
for _meeting_ (as above) may be made, or omitted. After this he
bends the right hand downward, and repeatedly moves the outstretched
forefinger and middle finger in opposite directions (in imitation of
the motion of the legs in the act of walking). Finally he raises
the right hand and stretches up the forefinger (or several fingers).
_To-day, when the sun stood at such a height, I met one (or several)
persons traveling on foot_. If the travelers met were on horseback
he makes the sign for _horse_ as described by (_Dakota_ III), see
EXTRACTS FROM DICTIONARY, or the identical one for _going_ given by
(_Ojibwa_ I), which is as follows: To describe a journey on horseback
the first two fingers of the right hand are placed astride of the
forefinger of the left hand, and both represent the galloping movement
of a horse. If it is a foot journey, wave the two fingers several
times through the air.