Fig. 322, an illustration in the preceding address, also represents a common gesture for sit down, if made to the right of the hip, toward the locality to be occupied by the individual invited.  The latter closely corresponds to an Australian gesture described by Smyth (The Aborigines of Victoria, London, 1878, Vol.  II, p. 308, Fig. 260), as follows:  “Minnie-minnie (wait a little).  It is shaken downwards rapidly two or three times.  Done more slowly towards the ground, it means ‘Sitdown.’” This is reproduced in Fig. 325.

TSO-DI-A’-KO’S REPORT.

The following statement was made to Dr. W.J.  HOFFMAN by TSO-DI-A’-KO (Shaved-head Boy), chief of the Wichitas in Indian Territory, while on a visit to Washington, D.C., in June 1880.

The Indian being asked whether there was any timber in his part of the
Territory, replied in signs as follows: 

[Illustration:  Fig. 326.]

(1) Move the right hand, fingers loosely extended, separated and pointing upward, back to the front, upward from the height of the waist to the front of the face—­tree (for illustration see Fig. 112, p. 343); repeat this two or three times—­trees; (2) then hold the hand, fingers extended and joined, pointing upward, with the back to the front, and push it forward toward different points on a level with the face-standing at various places; (3) both hands, with spread and slightly curved fingers, are held about two feet apart, before the thighs, palms facing, then draw them toward one another horizontally and gradually upward until the wrists cross, as if grasping a bunch of grass and pulling it up—­many; (4) point to the southwest with the index, elevating it a little above the horizon—­country; (5) then throw the fist edgewise toward the surface, in that direction—­my, mine; (6) place both hands, extended, flat, edgewise before the body, the left below the right, and both edges pointing toward the ground a short distance to the left of the body, then make repeated cuts toward that direction from different points, the termination of each cut ending at nearly the same point—­cut down, Fig. 326; (7) hold the left hand with the fingers and thumb collected to a point, directed horizontally forward, and make several cutting motions with the edge of the flat right hand transversely by the tips of the left, and upon the wrist—­cut off the ends; (8) then cut upon the left hand, still held in the same position, with the right, the cuts being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the palm—­split; (9) both hands closed in front of the body, about four inches apart, with forefingers and thumbs approximating half circles, palms toward the ground, move them forward so that the back of the hand comes forward and the half circles imitate the movement of wheels—­wagon, Fig. 327; (10) hold the left flat hand before the body, pointing horizontally forward, with the palm