The Indian Sign Language; With Brief Explanatory Notes of the Gestures Taught Deaf-Mutes in Our Institutions for Their Instruction and a Description O (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1885 edition. Excerpt: ... To become old. Make signs for Old and for Arrive There. Deaf-mutes make signs for Old and To Become. For the latter, the left hand is held, back down, in front of left breast, at height of waist, fingers pointing to front; right hand is held, back up, in front of right breast, fingers pointing to front; move the left hand to right and right to left and downwards. For murder; free-gift (to perform any act gratuitously, without hoping for or anticipating a reward or payment); faint; accident, the sign for By Itself is used, with the descriptive gesture. In the first case some one is killed, and the addition seems to convey the idea that nothing is in view but the killing; everything else is cut away; there is no cause, provocation, or justification. In the second, nothing is in sight but the gift; there is no anticipation of or looking for any return gift, as is the usual custom among them. In the third, the condition of the person is plainly that of death, though he returns to life. In the fourth, it happened by itself; there was no cause or reason for it. To win in gambling; to win a woman's affection, the sign for Kill is used. The person is killed to the extent of the amount won from him; and to win a girl's affection is also to kill her; i.e., meaning, I suppose, that all opposition is destroyed. To keep a camp together; allow no one to go beyond certain limits, is to hold or soldier it, and the men appointed for this purpose exercise their authority, even to the killing of those who resist, if necessary. First dogs will be shot, then ponies, then the men whipped, and shot if they resist. Tepees are cut up, property destroyed, to enforce the law or punish a violation of same. The sign for Hold is made. Wounded, but not fatally. The...