I have seen their symbols, or signatures, in a heraldry way, to count or distinguish their tribes, done with what may be called wild exactness. The Choktah use the like in the dormitories of their dead; which seems to argue, that the ancienter and thicker-settled countries of Peru and Mexico had formerly, at least, the use of hieroglyphic characters; and that they painted the real, or figurative images of things, to convey their ideas. The present American Aborigines seem to be as skilful Pantomimi, as ever were those of ancient Greece or Rome, or the modern Turkish mutes, who describe the meanest things spoken, by gesture, action, and the passions of the face. Two far-distant Indian nations, who understand not a word of each other’s language, will intelligibly converse together, and contract engagements, without any interpreter, in such a surprizing manner, as is scarcely credible. As their dialects are guttural, the indications they use, with the hand or {79} fingers, in common discourse, to accompany their speech, is the reason that strangers imagine they make only a gaggling noise, like what we are told of the Hottentots, without any articulate sound; whereas it is an ancient custom of the eastern countries, which probably the first emigrants brought with them to America, and still retain over the far-extended continent[XIX]. Footnote XIX: The first numbering was by their fingers; to which custom Solomon alludes, _Prov._ iii. 16. “length of days is in her right hand.” The Greeks called this, Αποπεμπομαζειv, because they numbered on their five fingers: and Ovid says, _Seu, quia tot digitis, per quos numeráre solemus_; likewise Juvenal, _Sua dextrâ computat annos_. Others numbered on their ten fingers, as we may see in Bede de ratione temporum. And the ancients not only counted, but are said to speak with their fingers, _Prov._ vi. 13, “The wicked man he teacheth with his fingers.” And Nævius, in Tarentilla, says, _dat digito literas_. (A). Lord Kingsborough says the statement in the text is confirmed by Francisco Vazquez de Coronado. (W). ARGUMENT VII. In conformity to, or after the manner of the Jews, the Indian Americans have their PROPHETS, HIGH-PRIESTS,[31] and others of a religious order. As the Jews had a _sanctum sanctorum_, or most holy place, so have all the Indian nations; particularly, the Muskohge. It is partitioned off by a mud-wall about breast-high, behind the white seat, which always stands to the left hand of the red-painted war-seat; there they deposit their consecrated vessels, and supposed holy utensils, none of the laity daring to approach that sacred place, for fear of particular damage to themselves, and general hurt to the people, from the supposed divinity of the place.