The Indian Sign Language: And a Description of some of the Peculiar Laws, Customs, Myths, Superstitions, Ways of Living, Code of Peace and War Signals of our Aborigines

W. P. Clark’s The Indian Sign Language: And a Description of Some of the Peculiar Laws, Customs, Myths, Superstitions, Ways of Living, Code of Peace and War Signals of Our Aborigines remains one of the most comprehensive early studies of Native American communication, culture, and social order.

Drawing on his years of service on the western frontier, Clark presents a detailed account of the gesture-based language used among tribes across the Great Plains, accompanied by descriptions of laws, traditions, warfare, spirituality, and daily life. His work captures a system of meaning developed over centuries—where a movement of the hand could signify peace, danger, or divine reverence.

Part linguistic study, part ethnographic record, The Indian Sign Language stands as a valuable primary source for understanding the intelligence, discipline, and cultural sophistication of Indigenous nations long before modern anthropology recognized their depth.

Complete and unabridged edition of W. P. Clark’s 1885 classic

Authentic 19th-century account of Native American sign systems, customs, and beliefs

A foundational text in ethnology, linguistics, and cultural anthropology

Essential reading for those interested in Indigenous studies, frontier history, and cross-cultural communication