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A brief nomenclature pertaining to finger prints may here be given.  The numbers in parentheses refer to Giles' Chinese--English Dictionary (2d edition).  Lo wên (No. 7291, lit. net--pattern), “the impress of a finger, hand, or foot, dipped in ink and appended as a signature to any kind of deed or other legal instrument.”  Chi yin (No. 13282, lit. finger--seal), “seal on deeds, etc., made by dipping the finger or hand in ink and pressing it on paper.”  Hua kung (No. 6752), “to sign one's deposition, usually by dipping the thumb in ink and making an impression of it on the paper.”  Lien ki tou (No. 13133), “to verify the lines on a man's fingers, in connection with the impression on a deed, etc.”  Further, chi mo (No. 8066), “finger--pattern” and hua ya (lit. To paint, i. e., to ink and press down) are expressions in the sense of our signature; hua chi (No. 1791), “to make a finger print, as a signature”; chi jén (ibid.), “to identify.”