PALMISTS have gevin different versions of the types of hands. Cheiro has mentioned seven types of hands, Madame Saint Germain nine and M.M. Gaffar two.

There is also a simple classification:
Crude hands : thick, hard and irregular belong to a manual worker.
Large hands (with long fingers) : This type of such hands is fond of details. He is irritable by temperament.
Broad hands(square type): This type of hand shows commonsense, broad-mindedness, activity and a practical and businesslike attitude.
Small hands : The possessor of such hands is contented but likes to plan and to manage more than he can exicute.
Large and narrow hands : The person with such hands is more imaginative and idealist than practical. If hands are long and thin, the person is selfish.

Lately, some palmists have classified the hand accordance with four homours.

The Mounts
The fleshy pads below the fingers, thumb and at the base of the palm are called mounts. All the planets mentioned in the preceding pages are represented on the hand When a mount is raised and the apex is centrally locted, or it has favourable signs on it, it is said to be strong. When flat, it is ordinary, but when depressed or has bad signs on it, it is weak and unfavourable.When a mount is overdeveloped, the qualities of the mount go to the extreme and turn adverse.For example, an underdeveloped Mount of Jupiter will make a person proud, jealous and boastful.

The Fingers
While closing the hand , if the fingers cover the whole palm, they are considered long. Another method is to measure the palm from its bottom to the first crease beneath the second finger, which is measured from its base crease to its top. If the palm is 4 1/2 (four and a half) and this finger is 3 1/4 ( three fourth ) , they are considered normal. If the length of finger is more than the length of the palm, it is long; if less than 3", it is short in relation of the palm.

Planets Associated with Fingers :
1. The little finger - Mercury - reveals health and professional ability.
2. The ring finger - Apollo - shows fame and fourune.
3. The middle finger - Saturn - indicates distinction and excellence.
4. The index finger - Jupiter - symbolises ambition and self - esteem.
5. The thumb shows power and authority.

The Nails
Nails are made of a substance called 'keratin'. It is a tough, dead form of protein or horn - like material. Finger nails grow about 50 millimetres in a year.
While examining the nails, their colour and texture should not be ignored. The nails show the state of health and disposition of person. In ancient scriptures, it is claimed that planets influence, filter into the blood through the nails and vibrations from the atmosphere are also absorbed through them.

1. Long Nails indicate a weak physique. The person is liable to suffer from chest and lung troubles.
a) Long , thin, brittle - a weak physique. b) Long , thin , curved - a violent disposition in love.
c) Long , thin, narrow - timidity and cowardice. d) Long , broad , round - sound judgement.

2. Short Nails - the possessor of short nails is aggressive in approach , impulsive in speech and action.
a) Short, flat, shell-shaped - indicates sure signs of paralysis. b) Short, moonless - poor blood circulation.
c) Short , hard -- a quarrelsome disposition. d) Short, with a soft palm -- an inborn critic.

3. Broad Nails are more broad than long and square at the base. Such nails are found on square, spatulate or philosophical hands. They indicate good mentality, practically, frankness, simplicity, self - confidence.

The Ridges

The Chinese have recognised the importance of redges and used finger-prints for hundreds of years in many forms for various purposes. The first man to discover that the redges on fingers and thumbs can be used for positive identification was Sr Henry Faulds of England in 1880. In 1892, Sir Francis Galton, who was a famous scientist in England, proved that no two finger-prints are alike. Ridges are counted between the fixed point in the pattern. These are classfied as :

Loop type : Redges run from one side to the other with an apex in the centre.It shows mental and emotional elasticity and versatility. If all the fingers bear this pattern , the person should control his feelings and diversification of Inerest.

Tented Arch : The apex is a perpendicular to the ridges dropping on the sides like the canvas of a tent. Such person are sensitive, susceptible to sound and fond of music. They should live in a peaceful environment. They have a highlystrung nervous system.

Arched : The apex flows across the finger like the lines of a little hump - backed hill. Such a pattern on fingers shows a dominating tendency and a suspicious, obstinate and hesitant nature. Digestive weakness and faulty blood conditions are also indicated.

Whorl type : Its apex is formed by a circular whorl. It shows independence of thought and action. Such persons possess originality of thought but are suspicious. They become conventional to suit their convenience. They have a secretive attitude and do not want to discus their plans with others. They may suffer from nervous digestive functioning or faulty heart action.

Composite type : This is formed by two curves or apexes running in looped formation in inverse directions. This type has a practical and material bent of mind. There is some confusion in the mind due to the slow assimilation of theoretical abstraction This type is medically predisposed to a fatty condition of the body. Signs Every human hand contains good or bad signs, which are important to the general behaviour of the lines on the palm and mounts. A star is formed by three or more lines cutting each other at a point and forming at least fine, clear radii. It is representative of the fusion of life current at a point . If it is separate and independent, it is powerful. Its position in the  hand will indicate whether it is good or bad. A star on the top of the Mount of Jupiter along with a good head line shows the acquisition of great honour and position. If the star is found without a good Line of Head, it predicts a head injury or an operation for tonsillitis or separation from wife in old age. When the star is at the base of the mount, the person has contacts with rich and eminent people. If there is a star in the left hand on the Mount of Jupiter, the native is born with a silver spoon in his mouth and will achieve a good position in life. If the Life Line is joined to the star on this mount, the native will achieve success by his intellectual ability.