81. Hill—A clenched hand held up on the side of the head, at the distance of a foot or more from it.
82. River—The hand, in the form of a scoop or ladle, is carried to the mouth, as if conveying water, and then drawn along in a horizontal line, with the edge downward, about the height of the breast.
83. Counting, or enumeration—The fingers or thumbs expanded, count ten. In order to proceed with the enumeration by tens, the hands must be {281} clenched; and if again expanded, it counts twenty, and so on, the hands being clenched between every ten. In order to indicate the digits, clench the hands, and extend the little finger of the left hand for one; extend also the ring finger for two, and so on; the thumb for five. These must remain extended, whilst the thumb of the right is extended for six, &c. Any number within five, above any number of tens, is indicated by clenching the left hand and crossing the right over it, with the requisite number of fingers extended. For the number of sixteen, exhibit the sign of ten, and then extend four fingers, and the two thumbs in the order of enumeration; for seventeen, proceed by extending the fore finger of the right hand, and so on to twenty. In this manner any sum can be denoted, always holding the backs of the hands upward. When enumerating a small number, where a considerable exertion of the memory is requisite, the Indians extend the left hand with the palm upward; whilst, with the index of the right, the fingers are successively bent into the palm, beginning as before with the little finger; and the greater difficulty in recalling to mind the numbers or events, the more apparent resistance is offered to the inflection of the finger.
84. A Chief—The fore finger of the right hand extended, pass it perpendicularly downward; then turn it upward, and raise it in a right line as high as the head.
85. Bad—Make the sign of good (No. 42.), and then that of not (No. 65.)
86. Gun—Hold out the left hand, as in the act of supporting the gun when directed horizontally, and with the right appear to cock it.
87. Gunpowder—Appear to take up a pinch of the powder, and to rub it between the finger and thumb; then turning the hand, spring the fingers from the thumb upward, so as to represent the exploding of the powder.
{282} 88. Ball, or bullet—Make the sign of the exploding of the powder; then grasp the fore finger of the hand with the remaining fingers and thumb, so that the tip of it will so extend beyond them as to represent the ball.
89. Scissors—With the fore and middle fingers, imitate the opening and shutting of the blades of the scissors.
90. Looking-glass—The palm of the hand held before the face, the fingers pointing upward.