(H.) Letter from Rev. Gilbert Rockwood to Henry R. Schoolcraft.

Tuscarora Mission, August 1, 1845.

Sir:—In the following communication, you can make use of such statements as you may deem proper. If all the statements should not be necessary for your official objects, yet they may be interesting to you as an individual.

This mission was commenced about fifty years since, under the care of the “New-York Missionary Society.” It was transferred to the “United Foreign Mission Society,” in 1821, and to the “American Board of Com. for Foreign Missions,” in 1826.

The church was organized in 1805, with five persons. The whole number of native members who have united since its organization is 123. The present number of native members is 53; others 5, total 58.

Between July 1st, 1844, and July 1st, 1845, there were only three admissions, two by profession and one by letter.

About one-third of the population attend meeting on the Sabbath. Their meeting house was built by themselves, with a little assistance from abroad.

They have also a school house, the expense of which was nearly all defrayed by themselves. There is but one school among them, which is kept the year through, with the exception of the vacations. The teacher is appointed by the American Board. The number of scholars the past year, is not far from 50.

I have been among these Indians now nearly eight years. I can see that there has been an advance, both in their moral and physical condition.

It is within the memory of many now living among them, when drunkenness was almost universal; now, comparatively, few are intemperate. A majority of the chiefs, are decidedly temperance men, and exert a salutary influence. They have a temperance society, and hold frequent meetings. They utterly forbid the traffic in intoxicating drinks on their own soil.

The marriage relation is being better understood by them, and more appreciated. More of the young men and women, enter into the marriage relation, in the regular Christian way, than a few years ago. Four couple have been regularly married the past year. Number of deaths, 8; an unusual number since I have been among them.

There is besides the church, above referred to, a Baptist church, organized a few years since, the particulars of which, I am unable to give. For any information you may wish respecting it, I would refer you to James Cusick, their minister.

On the whole, there is much to encourage the philanthropist and the Christian in labors for the good and well being of the Indians here, although we meet with many obstacles and difficulties in the way.

They are becoming more and more industrious in their habits, as the appearance of their farms, and the amount of produce, and their personal appearance will testify.

With these brief statements, I subscribe myself,

Yours, truly, GILBERT ROCKWOOD.

Vocabulary of the Tuscarora, from William Chew, written out and transmitted by the Rev. Gilbert Rockwood.

Note.—In affixing Indian words, to the following vocabulary, Mr. Chew, who speaks the English very well, has promised to act as your translator and interpreter. The principal thing to be guarded against, however, is inaccuracy in the definitions, both in English and Indian.

If there is no infinitive to verbs, as I suppose, insert the simplest existing form, as He loves, &c.

Is there any participle to Tuscarora verbs!

H. R. S.

To Mr. Rockwood.

TUSCARORA.

1 God Ya wuhn ne yuh.

2 Devil Oo na sa roo nuh.

3 Man Ehn kweh.

4 Woman Hah wuhn nuh.

5 Boy Kun chu kweh’r.

6 Girl Ya te ah cha yeuh.

7 Child Kats ah.

8 Father (my) E ah kre ehn.

9 Mother (my) E a nuh.

10 Husband (my) E na yah keah wuhn te kehn rea nuhn.

11 Wife (my) (The same word as for my husband.)

12 Son (his) Trah wuhn ruh, nuh nuhn, a ne hah.

13 Daughter (his) Tra wuhn ruh, nuhn, kah-nuhn nuhn.

14 Brother (my) E ah ke ah t’keuh.

15 Sister (my) Eah keah nuhn nooh’r.

16 An Indian Reuh kweh hehn weh.

17 Head Yah reh.

18 Hair (his) Trah wuhn ruh, rah weh rah wuhn.

19 Face (his) “ rah keuh seuh keh.

20 Forehead (his) “ “ keuh neuh keh.

21 Scalp “ “ “ nuh reh.

22 Ear “ “ kunh nunh keh.

23 Eye “ “ “ kah reuh keh.

24 Nose “ “ “ cheuh seuh keh.

25 Nostril “ “ “ cheuh kah reuh.

26 Mouth “ “ “ skah reuh.

27 Tongue “ “ reuh toh neuh keh.

28 Tooth “ “ “ rah tooh tseh.

29 Beard “ “ “ sooh keh reh.

30 Neck “ “ “ hah tseh.

31 Arm “ “ “ neuh cheuh keuh.

32 Shoulder “ “ “ nunh neh.

33 Back “ “ “ reuh wunh keh.

34 Hand “ “ “ rah eh nunh keh.

35 Finger “ “ “ rooh kweh.

36 Nail “ “ “ skeuh kah reh.

37 Breast “ “ “ ah sunh keh.

38 Body “ “ “ keh s’heuh keh.

39 Leg “ “ “ reuh seuh keh.

40 “ “ “

41 Navel “ “ “ ne seuh reuh keh.

42 Thigh “ “ “ te cheuh keh.

43 Knee “ “ “ reuh kueh t’sunh keh.

44 Foot “ “ rah rah neuh keh.

45 Toe “ “ “ sooh kweh.

46 Heel “ “ “ teh heuh cheh.

47 Bone “ “ “ skeuh reh.

48 Heart “ “ “ ra re ah seh.

49 Liver “ “ “ rah t’wunh seh.

50 Windpipe “ “ “ hunh t’seh.

51 Stomach “ “ “ keh’r hah keuh.

52 Bladder “ “ “ te ah neh.

53 Blood “ “ “ t’kwah ra.

54 Vein “ “ “ } nunh yah t’seh.

55 Sinew “ “ “

56 Flesh my E kwa reh.

57 Skin “ E ka nunh keh.

58 Seat “ E ak tak.

59 Thighbone “ E k’te chunh keh skenh reh.

60 Town “ Kah tah nah yeuh.

61 Townsman “ Kah koo tah nah keuh’f hah.

62 House Yah keuh nunh.

63 Door Oo chah reh.

64 Lodge Wan k’tah nah yeuh noh’gh.

65 Smoke Oo chah reh.

66 Chief Ya koo wah nunh.

67 Warrior Roo skeuh rah keh reh.

68 Friend Enh nunh rooh.

69 Enemy Yeuh chunh t’seh.

70 Kettle Oo nunh weh.

71 Arrow Oo teh.

72 Bow Nah chreh.

73 Warclub Oo che kweh.

74 Spear Chu rets.

75 Axe No keuh.

76 Knife Oo sah keuh neh.

77 Paddle Kah weh t’chra.

78 Canoe Oo nah keh.

79 Boat Oo hunh weh.

80 Ship Oo hunh weh koo.

81 Shoe Oo che koo ra.

82 Leggin Oo re streh.

83 Coat} Oo keh r’hoo t’chreh.

84 Shirt}

85 Breachcloth Ya hah’r hooh stoh.

86 Belt or sash Oo che hah t’chra.

87 Head dress Hoh toh kweh.

88 Pipe Chah’rs hooh stoh.

89 Tobacco Chah’rs hooh.

90 Pipe stem Oo treh neh.

91 Sky Oo renh yah’rs.

92 Heaven Oo reuh yah keuhf.

93 Sun He teh.

94 Moon Ah t’seuh ye hah.

95 Star Oo ne senh reh.

96 Day A wunh neh.

97 Night A sunh neh.

98 Cloud Oo roh’ts.

99 Light Yu hooks.

100 Darkness Yah weh toah yeuh.

101 Morning Tsoo teh’r hunh.

102 Evening Yah tsa t’henh hah.

103 Spring Wah’r wooh stroh’gh.

104 Summer Oo kenh hoh keh.

105 Autumn Roh t’seh keh.

106 Winter Kooh seh r’heuh.

107 Year Ah ooh streh.

108 Wind Oo reh.

109 Lightning Woh n’woh kah reh nah reek.

110 Thunder He nunh.

111 Rain Wane too’eh.

112 Snow Oo neets reh.

113 Hail Wah t’kah ta he ts’ot.

114 Fire Oo che reh.

115 Water Ah wunh.

116 Ice Oo we seh.

117 Earth, land Ah wunh reh.

118 Sea Kahn yah ta reyu.

119 Lake Hahn yah ta reh.

120 River Ke nunh.

121 Stream Hah s’nunh yeuh tih.

122 Valley Ah wunh rah stroh kenh.

123 Hill Yu nunh t’heh.

124 Mountain Yu nunh yeuh tih.

125 Plain Wah keuh nah yeuh.

126 Forest Ooh r’hah nah keuhf.

127 Meadow Ya ha re oh toh.

128 Bog Yu teh’r enh t’sah ne reuh.

129 Island Yuh weh nooh.

130 Stone Oo reuh neh.

131 Rock Oo steuh reh.

132 Silver Kah kwis tah no reuh.

133 Copper Kwa nis nees.

134 Iron Oo wa nunh.

135 Lead Nah wah c’steh.

136 Maize Oo nunh heh.

137 Wheat Oo toos.

138 Oats O’ch.

139 Potatoe Oo nunh tseh.

140 Turnip Oo che kwah.

141 Tree Oo reuh eh.

142 Wood Oo yeuh kwe reh.

143 Pine Hoh teh.

144 Oak Rah rooh.

145 Ash Whoh’t.

146 Elm Kah rah t’kwoh.

147 Basswood Oo hoo stroh.

148 Shrub Kwe roh keuh.

149 Leaf Oo euh reh.

150 Bark Skeuh noh reh.

151 Grass Yu ha rub kweh.

152 Nettles Yah koo ha roh roh’r.

153 Thistle Oo ne keh weh.

154 Weed Chu wa kah ha rah ka.

155 Flower Oo che che streh.

156 Bread Oo tah nah reh.

157 Indian meal Oo nuh heh.

158 Flour Oo teh c’hrah.

159 Meat Wah reh.

160 Beaver Chu noh keuh.

161 Deer Ah kweh.

162 Bison or buffalo Chu ta kre yoh keuh.

163 Bear Oo che reuh.

164 Otter Che ah ka we nuh.

Grey fox red fox.

165 Fox Che chuh.—Skeuh nahx seuh.

166 Wolf Skwah re nunh.

167 Dog Chee’sr.

168 Squirrel Thah’st.

169 Hare Kwa ruh.

170 Lynx (No name.)

171 Panther T’keuh na nih.

172 Muskrat Ah nuh kwinh.

173 Polecat (No name.)

174 Hog Kwis kwis.

175 Horse Hah hahts.

176 Cow Oo na rah saht.

177 Sheep Wa rak seuh.

178 Turtle Che koo wa.

179 Toad Roo nunh skwah reuh.

180 Insect Chick euh woh’r.

181 Snake Oo skwah na.

182 Bird Che nunh.

183 Egg Ooh heuh seh.

184 Feather Oo snoo kre.

185 Claw Oo sheuh kah reh.

186 Beak Tuh cheuh seh.

187 Wing Oo yeuh we ts’neh.

188 Goose Kah tuh’ts euh.

189 Partridge Oo kwa’ts euh.

190 Duck Ts’uh yeuh.

191 Pigeon Oo re neh.

192 Plover (No name.)

193 Turkey Keuh nuh.

194 Crow Ah ah.

195 Eagle Suh kwe ah.

196 Hawk Ne yeuh ne yeuh.

197 Snipe Tah wis ta wis.

198 Owl Oo wah.

199 Woodpecker Nah rah’r.

200 Robin Roo skooh kooh.

201 Fish Keuh chink.

202 Trout Ruh te ohk teuh.

203 Bass. Keuh che ah heuh s’che.

204 Pike. Koo wahk.

205 Sturgeon Hah rah.

206 Sunfish Nah reh reh.

207 Eel Keuh neh.

208 Fin Oo too neh.

209 Scale Oo s’neh.

210 Roe Ta reh.

211 White Oo whah re ah keuh.

212 Black Kah hunh s’ehe.

213 Blue Oo tih heuh re eh.

214 Yellow Tih kah che t’kah nahyeuh.

215 Green Oo ha reh.

216 Great We yu.

217 Small Wast teuh.

218 Strong Oo te reuh.

219 Old Oo nunh hah ah.

220 Young Oo’t oh.

221 Good Wah kwast.

222 Bad Wah sunh.

223 Handsome Yu yah tah yeuh snuh.

224 Ugly Koh seuh.

225 Alive Wunh heh.

226 Dead Yah wunh ha yeuh.

227 Life Na yah wunh t’kwah.

228 Death Keuh ha yeuh.

229 Cold Ah t’huh.

230 Hot Yuh nah re hin.

231 Sour Na yuh che ra noh neh.

232 Sweet Yah wa kenh.

233 Bitter Yu che wah kenh.

234 I E.

235 Thou Ets.

236 He Trah ya nueh teh.

237 She A ya nueh teh.

238 We E ah kwah ya sunh teh.

239 You, ye Thwah ya sunh teh.

240 They Kah ya yeh sunh teh.

241 This Keh’n nuh.

242 That Ha nuh.

243 All T’wa’hn.

244 Part Wa yu rah kwuhn.

245 Many Yuh neh’r kenh hu hu.

246 Nothing Tsah wunh teh.

247 Who Koh na.

248 Near Noos keuh.

249 Far off E nuh.

250 To-day Kah wunh yuh’r heuk enh.

251 Yesterday Teh nuh.

252 To-morrow Euh yuh’r heuh.

253 Yes Euh heuh.

254 No Kwuhs.

255 Perhaps Ah reuh kweh te.

256 Above Strah kwe.

257 Under Euh toh kenh’f.

258 Within Oo nuh skeuh.

259 Without Th’ neh teh.

260 On Hoh heh’n.

261 Something Sto e keuh.

262 In the tree Ooreuh oh kenk’f.

263 On the rock Koh heh’r oo steuh roh keh.

264 By the shore Oo che ah tah’qt.

265 On the table Na kwah roh kwah keh.

266 In the book Oo yah teuh strah keuh’f.

267 Now Ka wunh.

268 Never Sa nunh.

269 By and by Ka wuh thenh ruh.

270 One Euh che.

271 Two Nak te.

272 Three Ah sunk.

273 Four Kunh toh.

274 Five Weesk.

275 Six Ooh yok.

276 Seven Che oh noh.

277 Eight Na kreuh.

278 Nine Ne reuh.

279 Ten Wah th’sunk.

280 Eleven Euh che skah hah.

281 Twelve Nah tih skah hah.

282 Thirteen Ah sunk “ “

283 Fourteen Hunh toh “ “

284 Fifteen Weesk “ “

285 Sixteen Ooh yok “ “

286 Seventeen Ohe oh noh “ “

287 Eighteen Na kreuh “ “

288 Nineteen Ne reuh “ “

289 Twenty Na wah th’sunh.

290 Thirty Ah sunh te wah th’sunk.

291 Forty Hunh toh te “ “

292 Fifty Weest te “ “

293 Sixty Ooh yok te “ “

294 Seventy Che oh noh te “ “

295 Eighty Na kreuh te “ “

296 Ninety Ne reuh te “ “

297 One hundred Hah yok stre.

298 Two hundred Nah kah ““

299 One thousand Euh che oo yoh stre.

300 Two thousand Nak tih ““ “

301 Ten thousand Wak th’sunk noh oo yoh stre.

302 Ten million Kah yoh stre te kah yoh stre nah oo. Yoh stre keuh hoh nuh.

303 To eat112 Ah reuh chu reek.

304 To drink Ah’r weh’r reuhk.

305 To run Ah kah te ah sr’hink.

306 To walk Ah reuh ra kwunk.

307 To dance Nah reuh’t t’kwunk.

308 To laugh Ah kah yeuh skwak.

309 To cry Nah reuh snah rahk.

310 To burn Ya choh roh nah re hin.

311 To love Ah kah no reuh kwunk.

312 To go Nah reut tah hah kink.

313 To strike Ah kah keuh kwah re ts’enk.

314 To kill Ah rah kwunk nahk.

315 To sing Ah reuh uwunh a renhk.

316 To sleep Ah kenht oo euhk.

317 To die Ah wunh ha yeuhk.

318 To speak Ah kah weh reuhk.

319 To see Ah kah keuhk.

320 To hear Ah kah koo hunh sh’henhk.

321 To think Ah kah kah wunh te keuhnunh te enhk.

322 To shout Ah kah koo hunh renhk.

323 To advance Ah kah koo ra kwah nunhk.

324 To retreat Ah kah yenh swah nih.

325 To give Ah kah yenh nah nunh.

326 To carry Ah kah hahk.

327 To tie Ah kah treh’nk.

328 Walking E weh, (he walks, &c.)

329 Singing Roh uwunh a renk.

330 Dancing Na nah t’kah.

331 Crying Na rats nah.

332 Man lives Euh queh, yah kenh hek ’gh.

333 God exists Ya wunh ne yuh, yah kenh hek ’gh.

334 Fishes swim Kenk chinh, keuh hoh nuk, wah nah wuhn’s.

335 Birds fly Che nunh, keuh hoh neuh, na yuh nunh hah n’yeh.

336 A fish swims Skenh che aht, wah nah wuhn’s.

337 A bird flies Skah che nunh e’shrah.

338 One man Enh che, a ne hah.

339 Twenty men Na wah th’sunh, kah ya ne hah.

340 A little man Renh thras s’tenh, a ne hah.

341 A little dog A re’s.

342 A good man Renh kweh, strah kwah’st.

343 A bad man Renh kweh, struh k’senh.

344 A good bow Wah nah kwah’st.

345 A bad bow Wah nah k’senh.

346 Good Kah re whah ya nih.

347 Evil Kah re whah k’senh.

348 Blessedness Kah yenh wah nunk.

349 Mankind Eh noo kenh’f.

350 The world Wah’f nah kwa kenh.

Note.—As the above is intended to be used merely for comparing one Iroquois dialect with another, I desire that our alphabet may be used with the common English powers. If not, and you use a particular system, please to state what sounds it expresses.

H. R. S.

There is nothing answering to the infinitive and participle. I have therefore used the present indicative in the translation. I have divided the words into syllables, whether they are simple or compound. Where two or more words occur in the translation of a phrase, I have separated them by a comma. I have used the English alphabet with natural powers so far as Tuscarora sounds could be indicated by them. It is impossible to give, in many cases, a correct sound. A alone, has the sound of a in hate. Ah, like our interjection ah. The sound I intend to indicate by sunh, keuh, heuh, would be given, very nearly, by the Seneca alphabet used by Mr. Wright, thus: sah, kah, or kah, ha. The emphasis is, almost invariably, on the penultimate. Often a slight emphasis on some others. There is also often a prolongation of sound not indicated by any mark, as I supposed you would not need it.

I have not been able to finish this translation until now, (Oct. 20,) as I was absent, or otherwise engaged for some time after you had left; and when finally I was ready, Mr. Chew was not, until recently. I hope it has not been too long delayed.

I received your letter from New-York, of Sept. 16th. Nicholas Cusick, the father of James and David, was about 82 when he died. I have not been able to learn where he was born. He died at this place October, 1840. I do not know that there was anything very peculiar about him. He never was a “priest or juggler in his earlier days,” that I can learn.

Yours, truly, GILBERT ROCKWOOD.

Inquiries.

There are several words in your vocabulary of the Tuscarora, in which the sound of F is used, always, however, as a terminal sound, as in “Eh noo keuh’f,” mankind.

Is this to be understood as denoting the ordinary sound of the letter?

Does it occur in other positions in words?

What is to be understood by the comma, which is invariably put before it?

H. R. S.

Tuscarora Mission, Dec. 6th, 1845.

Dear Sir—Your letter of December 1st is this day received. In reference to the vocabulary of Indian words we furnished you, I have further to remark, that the language having never been reduced to writing, each individual undertaking to reduce any portion of it, will have a system in part, at least, of his own. I have tried three different ways myself. It is difficult, if not impossible, to represent all the Tuscarora sounds by any combination of the English alphabet. I presume a stranger to the language would not, with the use of the vocabulary we have furnished you, give the correct sound in many instances.

The letter f terminating a word, has the sound of f in chief. I do not know as the comma before it, as in the word Eh noo keuh’f, is of any use. In common conversation, or at any time when they speak rapidly, the sound of f is not distinguished, as a general thing. Yet when they speak a word entire, there is this f sound, slowly and distinctly; it seems to be a distinct sound, or very nearly so. It appears to be a little separated from the main part of the syllable, as though another syllable was to follow immediately beginning with f; but as soon as the sound of f, as in find, is given, the person stops short. Thus instead of Eh noo keuh find, (I use the English word find, because the power of f in this word is the power of the letter intended in the Indian word given,) we say Eh noo keuhf, breaking off when you have given the sound of f, without proceeding to give the sound of ind. Perhaps if a comma is used at all, it would be more proper to place it after the f, thus: f’; or the f might join the syllable, thus: Keuhf.

I do not recollect that the sound of f is heard in any other part of a word than as a terminating sound.

Sometimes an r occurs separated, you will observe, by a comma from the rest of the syllable. It matters not much whether the r is joined to the preceding or following syllable. There is the sound of an r between them when the word is spoken. I have been puzzled to know where to place it. It seems to answer either way. Thus, in the word for to-morrow: Euh yuh’r heuh; or Euh yuh’ rheuh. If joined to the syllable yuh, without being separated by the comma, you would pronounce it very nearly like the English word your. As it is, thus, yuh’r, its sound is very nearly like the English word use, and I am not sure but that would be a preferable way of writing it, thus: Euh use heuh; yet there is a twirl or r sound you do not get as in the other mode of writing it. R terminating a word has much the same sound.

Instead of using the word find above, I might have used any other word beginning with f. It has its ordinary sound.

Any other information you may wish, if in my power to give it, you may be free to ask. Yours, truly,

G. ROCKWOOD.