December, tah-habrähka; i.e., moon of the thin hides.
January and February, mi̍hka-kiruchä; i.e., the time when the lynx is in heat.
March and April, oh-uä-gachä (ch guttural); i.e., the time of the maize.
FOOTNOTES:
[269] Written from the pronunciation of Mr. Chardon, who had lived a long time among the Osages and understood the language perfectly. They call their people Wasaji. Formerly they were a powerful tribe, and were always at war with the neighboring Indians, even with the Konsas who speak the same dialect. They were originally divided into the Great and Little Osages; but about forty years ago a part of them, known under the name of the Chaneer's, or Clermont's band, separated from the rest and moved to the Arkansa. On the present dwelling place of the Osages, see Gallatin (ibid., p. 126). They regard themselves as autochthonous.—Maximilian.
Comment by Ed. For F. A. Chardon, see our volume xxiii, p. 188, note 144. For Clermont's band and its separation from the Osage, consult our volume v, pp. 191, 192.
INDIAN SIGN LANGUAGE[270]
This sign language has been treated in various works. Say has given noteworthy vocabularies in Edward James's Account of the Expedition of Major Long to the Rocky Mountains. The Arikkaras, Mandans, Minnitarris, Crows, Chayennes, Snakes, and Blackfeet all understand a system of signs, which, as we were told, are unintelligible to the Dacotas, Assiniboins, Ojibuas, Krihs, and other nations. The following vocabulary is taken from the first group.[271]