The extended hands, with finger tips upward and touching, the palms facing one another, and the wrists about two inches apart, are held before the chest. (Mandan and Hidatsa I.)

Place the tip of the index against the tip of the forefinger of the left hand, the remaining fingers and thumbs closed, before the chest, leaving the wrists about six inches apart. (Kaiowa I; Comanche III; Apache II; Wichita II.) “Outline of lodge.”  This is an abbreviated sign, and care must be taken to distinguish it from to meet, in which the fingers are brought from their respective sides instead of upward to form the gesture.

Another:  Place the tips of the fingers of the flat extended hands together before the breast, leaving the wrists about six inches apart. (Kaiowa I; Comanche III; Apache II; Wichita II.)

[Illustration:  Fig. 255.]

Another:  Both hands flat and extended, fingers slightly separated; then place the fingers of the right hand between the fingers of the left as far as the second joints, so that the fingers of one hand protrude about an inch beyond those of the other; the wrists must be held about six inches apart. (Kaiowa I; Comanche III; Apache II; Wichita II.) “Outline of Indian lodge and crossing of tent-poles above the covering.”  Fig. 255.

Fig. 256 represents a Sahaptin sign given to the writer by a gentleman long familiar with the northwestern tribes of Indians.  The conception is the same union of the lodge poles at the top, shown in several other signs, differently executed.

[Illustration:  Fig. 256.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 257.]

Place the tips of the spread fingers of both hands against one another pointing upward before the body, leaving a space of from four to six inches between the wrists.  Fig. 257.  The fingers are sometimes bent so as to more nearly represent the outline of a house and roof.  Fig. 258.  This, however, is accidental. (Pai-Ute I.) “Represents the boughs and branches used in the construction of a Pai-Ute ‘wik-i-up.’”

[Illustration:  Fig. 258.]

Place the tips of the two flat hands together before the body, leaving a space of about six inches between the wrists. (Ute I.) “Outline of the shape of the lodge.”

[Illustration:  Fig. 259.]

Left hand and right hand put together in shape of sloping shelter (Kutchin I.) Fig. 259.

——­ Great Council House.

Place both flat and extended hands in front of the shoulders, pointing forward, palms facing; then pass them straight upward and slightly inward near the termination of the gesture.  This appears to combine the gestures for much, large, and lodge. (Arikara I.)

——­, Coming or going out of a.

Same as the sign for entering a lodge, only the fingers of the right hand point obliquely upward after passing under the left hand. (Dakota I.) “Coming out from under cover.”