2. Bad: Close the hand and open it whilst passing it downwards.—This sign is still frequent, the idea of dropping out the supposed contents of the hand as not worth keeping, being obvious. (G. S. 27; S. L. 26.)
3. See: Pass the extended index-finger forward from the eye. (G. S. 229.)
4. Come: Elevate the index-finger near the face, extend the hand and return it with a number of gentle jerks.—In the prevalent sign noticed now for "come," in the sense of "come here," the index, after the forearm (not hand alone) is extended, is crooked slightly as if hooking on to an object, and drawn sharply toward the person. The degree of motion is, however, proportioned to the occasion, and the successive "gentle jerks" of the author indicate less urgency than one sharp redrawal. (G. S. 68.)
5. Arrive: Clap the hands, elevating the index-finger of the right hand.—To express arrival at a place indicated by previous gestures, some of the upper Missouri tribes now hold the left hand fingers extended and closed, well out in front of the body, palm toward it, forearm horizontal, right hand between left and body, index extended vertically, other fingers and thumb closed, nails outward, then the right hand is carried sharply out until it strikes the left. The same sign is used in a direction to go to a place indicated, and that for returning from a place is the same with reversed position of hands. It is conjectured that the clapping of the hands mentioned by the author as commencing the sign refers to the accomplishment of the motion, as southern negroes say "done come." (G. S. 70.)
6. Go, depart: Like come; but begin near the face and extend the hand with a number of gentle jerks. (G. S. 120.)
7. Speak: Place the flat hand back downward before the mouth and move it forward two or three times. (G. S. 245.)
8. Another speaks: Place the hand in the same position, beginning farther from the mouth, drawing it nearer and nearer. (G. S. 246.)
9. Man: Elevate the index-finger and turn the hand hither and thither.—The "turning of the hand hither and thither" probably signifies more than the simple idea of man, and is used for "only one man" or "a man who is alone." The finger represents the male organ of generation, and among some tribes the finger is held erect or crooked downward, to indicate mature or declining age. (G. S. 176.)
10. Woman: Pass the palm of the extended hand downward over the hair on the side of the head, or downward over the cheeks. (G. S. 287.)
11. Child: Push the index-finger rapidly into the air then draw the hand back downward.—The distance of the hand from the ground when the motion ceases, indicates the height of the child referred to. Indians often indicate the height of human beings by the hand placed at the proper elevation, back downward, and that of inanimate objects or animals not human by the hand held back upward. (G. S. 54.)