Mountain Men and Life in the Rocky
Subject Guide
Mountain West
Malachite’s Big Hole
Indian Sign Language:
Rudolph Kurz writes in his journal "My intercourse with these Mountaineers [Mountain Men] was very pleasant. Those with whom I talked were half-breeds who gave me much information and taught me, besides, the Indian language of signs which, however much their dialects may differ, is the same throughout all tribes on the Missouri. This knowledge of sign language was of utmost importance to me, even in St. Joseph, for I came in contact there with Indians from so many different tribes that I was at first hopelessly confused by their various dialects."
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