{275} 30. It is so—The motion is somewhat like 28., but the finger is held rather more upright, and is passed nearly straight forward from opposite the breast; and when at the end of its course, it seems gently to strike something, though with a rather slow and not suddenly accelerated motion.
31. Sit down—The fist is clenched, and the motion of it is then the same as if it held a staff, and gently stamped it upon the earth two or three times.
32. Travelling with great rapidity—The hands are held edge up, extended forward and a little sideways, one in advance of the other, though parallel; they then are agitated a little in the manner of a fan, though with a much more rapid and not so wide a motion, the arms being at rest.
33. Running—The arm nearly doubled upon itself, and then the elbow thrown forward and backward, as in the act of running.
34. Riding on horseback—The index and middle finger of the right hand are straddled over the left index finger, representing the rider and the horse; these are then jolted forward, to represent the trotting motion of the horse.
35. Knife—Hold the left hand clenched near the mouth, as if it held one end of a strip of meat, the other end of which was between the teeth; then pass the edge of the right hand, as in the act of cutting, obliquing a little upwards from right to left between the other hand and mouth, so as to appear to divide the supposed meat.
36. Awl—The left fore finger is extended, and the right, also extended, is placed across it, and is then turned on its axis, so as to imitate the action of the awl in making a hole.
37. My offspring—If an Indian wishes to tell you that an individual present is his offspring, he points to the person; and then, with the finger still extended, {276} passes it forward from his loins in a line curving downwards; then slightly upwards; sometimes saying, "That is my child, illum minxi." Dashinga-shinga-we-weet-tah-ohn-na-je.
38. Strength—The hands are clenched; the left fore arm is held almost perpendicularly near the breast, so that the fist is nearly opposite to the throat; the right arm is then carried up between the left and the breast, and continued on over the left fist to the outside of the latter; the right arm is then brought down so as to have the same direction with the other, and the fists rest opposite to each other, in a line with the breast. This motion resembles the act of wringing a thick towel. If he would say, "I am strong," he strikes himself upon the breast two or three times with his fist, previously to the motion above described. If he would say, "You are strong," he previously points to you, &c.
39. Fire—The act of striking fire with the flint and steel is represented; after which the ascent of the smoke is indicated, by closing the fingers and thumb of the right hand, holding them in a vertical position, with the hand as low as convenient; the hand is then gradually elevated, and the fingers and thumb a little expanded, to show the ascent and expansion of the volume of smoke.