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Tso-Di-A'-Ko's Report
The following
statement was made to Dr. W.J.
Hoffman by Tso-di-a'-ko (Shaved-head
Boy), chief of the Wichitas in
Indian Territory, while on a visit
to Washington, D.C., in June 1880.
The Indian being asked whether there
was any timber in his part of the
Territory, replied in signs as
follows:(1) Move the right hand,
fingers loosely extended, separated
and pointing upward, back to the
front, upward from the height of the
waist to the front of the face—tree
(for illustration see Fig. 112, p.
343); repeat this two or three
times—trees; (2) then hold the hand,
fingers extended and joined,
pointing upward, with the back to
the front, and push it forward
toward different points on a level
with the face-standing at various
places; (3) both hands, with spread
and slightly curved fingers, are
held about two feet apart, before
the thighs, palms facing, then draw
them toward one another horizontally
and gradually upward until the
wrists cross, as if grasping a bunch
of grass and pulling it up—many;
(4) point to the southwest with the
index, elevating |
 |
it a little above
the horizon—country; (5) then
throw the fist edgewise toward the
surface, in that direction—my,
mine; (6) place both hands,
extended, flat, edgewise before the
body, the left below the right, and
both edges pointing toward the
ground a short distance to the left
of the body, then make repeated cuts
toward that direction from different
points, the termination of each cut
ending at nearly the same point—cut
down, Fig. 326; (7) hold the
left hand with the fingers and thumb |
| collected to a
point, directed horizontally
forward, and make several cutting
motions with the edge of the flat
right hand transversely by the tips
of the left, and upon the wrist—cut
off the ends; (8) then cut upon
the left hand, still held in the
same position, |
 |
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with the right, the
cuts being parallel to
the longitudinal axis of the palm—split;
(9) both hands closed in front of
the body, about four inches apart,
with forefingers and thumbs
approximating half circles, palms
toward the ground, move them forward
so that the back of the hand comes
forward |
| and the half circles imitate the
movement of wheels—wagon, Fig. 327; (10)
hold the left flat hand before the
body, pointing horizontally forward,
with the palm down, then bring the
right flat hand from the right side
and slap the palm upon the back of
the left several times—load, upon,
Fig. 328; (11) partly close the
right hand as if grasping a thick
rod, palm toward the ground, and
push it straight forward nearly to
arm's length—take; (12) hold both
hands with fingers naturally
extended and slightly separated
nearly at arm's length before the
body, palms down, the right lying
upon the left, then pass the upper
forward and downward from the left
quickly, so that the wrist of the
right is raised and the fingers
point earthward—throw off; (13) cut
the left palm repeatedly with the
outer edge of the extended right
hand—build; (14) hold both hands
edgewise before the body, palms
facing, spread the fingers and place
those of one hand into the spaces
between those of the left, so that
the tips of one protrude beyond the
backs of the fingers of the
other—log house, see Fig. 253, p.
428; (15) then place the flat right
hand, palm down and fingers pointing
to the left, against the breast and
move it forward, and slightly upward
and to the right—good. |
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Sign Language
Among North American Indians Compared with
that Among Other Peoples and Deaf-Mutes,
1881
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