down, then bring the right flat hand from the right side and slap the palm upon the back of the left several times—­load, upon, Fig. 328; (11) partly close the right hand as if grasping a thick rod, palm toward the ground, and push it straight forward nearly to arm’s length—­take; (12) hold both hands with fingers naturally extended and slightly separated nearly at arm’s length before the body, palms down, the right lying upon the left, then pass the upper forward and downward from the left quickly, so that the wrist of the right is raised and the fingers point earthward—­throw off; (13) cut the left palm repeatedly with the outer edge of the extended right hand—­build; (14) hold both hands edgewise before the body, palms facing, spread the fingers and place those of one hand into the spaces between those of the left, so that the tips of one protrude beyond the backs of the fingers of the other—­log house, see Fig. 253, p. 428; (15) then place the flat right hand, palm down and fingers pointing to the left, against the breast and move it forward, and slightly upward and to the right—­good.

[Illustration:  Fig. 327.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 328.]

ANALYSIS OF THE FOREGOING.

[There is] much | timber | [in] | my | country | [of which I] cut down [some],|
(3)    (1,2)          (5)    (4)                    (6)

trimmed, | split, | loaded it upon | a wagon [and] | took it away, |
(7)       (8)           (10)          (9)             (11)

[where I] threw [it] off | [and] built | [a] good | house |.
(12) (13) (15) (14)

NOTES.—­As will be seen, the word timber is composed of signs No. 1 and 2, signifying trees standing.  Sign No. 3, for many, in this instance, as in similar other examples, becomes much.  The word “in,” in connection with country and my, is expressed by the gesture of pointing (passing the hand less quickly than in ordinary sign language) before making sign No. 5.  That sign commonly given for possession, would, without the prefix of indication, imply my country, and with that prefix signifies in my country.  Sign No. 7, trimmed, is indicated by chopping off the ends, and facial expression denoting satisfaction.  In sign Nos. 11 and 12 the gestures were continuous, but at the termination of the latter the narrator straightened himself somewhat, denoting that he had overcome the greater part of the labor.  Sign No. 14 denotes log-house, from the manner of interlacing the finger-ends, thus representing the corner of a log-house, and the arrangement of the ends of the same. Indian lodge would be indicated by another sign, although the latter is often used as an abbreviation for the former, when the subject of conversation is known to all present.

LEAN WOLF’S COMPLAINT

The following remarks were obtained by Dr. W.J.  HOFFMAN from TCE-CAQ-A-DAQ-A-QIC (Lean Wolf), chief of the Hidatsa Indians of Dakota Territory, who visited Washington in 1880: