CHAP. XVII. Of their Language, Hieroglyphicks, &c.
Reading edition
THE principal languages of the natives of North America may be divided into four classes, as they consist of such as are made use of by the nations of the Iroquois towards the eastern parts of it, the Chipéways or Algonkins to the north-west, the Naudowessies to the west, and the Cherokees, Chickasaws, &c. to the south. One or other of these four are used by all the Indians who inhabit the parts that lie between the coast of Labradore north, the Florida south, the Atlantic ocean east, and, as far as we can judge from the discoveries hitherto made, the Pacific Ocean on the west.
But of all these, the Chipéway tongue appears to be the most prevailing; it being held in such esteem, that the chiefs of every tribe, dwelling about the great lakes, or to the westward of these on the banks of the Mississippi, with those as far south as the Ohio, and as far north as Hudson’s Bay, consisting of more than thirty different tribes, speak this language alone in their councils, notwithstanding each has a peculiar one of their own.
It will probably in time become universal among all the Indian nations, as none of them attempt to make excursions to any great distance, or are considered as qualified to carry on any negociation with a distant band, unless they have acquired the Chipéway tongue.
At present, besides the Chipéways, to whom it is natural, the Ottawaws, the Saukies, the Ottagaumies, the Killistinoes, the Nipegons, the bands about Lake Le Pleuve, and the remains of the Algonkins or Gens de Terre, all converse in it, with some little variation of dialect; but whether it be natural to these nations, or acquired, I was not able to discover. I am however of opinion that the barbarous and uncouth dialect of the Winnebagoes, the Menomonies, and many other tribes, will become in time totally extinct, and this be adopted in its stead.
The Chipéway tongue is not incumbered with any unnecessary tones or accents, neither are there any words in it that are superfluous; it is also easy to pronounce, and much more copious than any other Indian language.
As the Indians are unacquainted with the polite arts, or with the sciences, and as they are also strangers to ceremony or compliment, they neither have nor need an infinity of words wherewith to embellish their discourse. Plain and unpolished in their manners, they only make use of such as serve to denominate the necessaries or conveniences of life, and to express their wants, which in a state of nature can be but few.
I have annexed hereto a short vocabulary of the Chipéway language, and another of that of the Naudowessies, but am not able to reduce them to the rules of grammar.
The latter is spoken in a soft accent, without any guttural sounds, so that it may be learnt with facility, and is not difficult either to be pronounced or written. It is nearly as copious and expressive as the Chipéway tongue, and is the most prevailing language of any on the Western banks of the Mississippi; being in use, according to their account, among all the nations that lie to the north of the Messorie, and extend as far west as the shores of the Pacific Ocean.
As the Indians are not acquainted with letters, it is very difficult to convey with precision the exact sound of their words; I have however endeavoured to write them as near to the manner in which they are expressed, as such an uncertain mode will admit of.
Although the Indians cannot communicate their ideas by writing, yet they form certain hieroglyphicks, which, in some measure, serve to perpetuate any extraordinary transaction, or uncommon event. Thus when they are on their excursions, and either intend to proceed, or have been, on any remarkable enterprize, they peel the bark from the trees which lie in their way, to give intelligence to those parties that happen to be at a distance, of the path they must pursue to overtake them.
The following instance will convey a more perfect idea of the methods they make use of on this occasion, than any expressions I can frame.
When I left the Mississippi, and proceeded up the Chipéway River in my way to Lake Superior, as related in my Journal, my guide, who was a chief of the Chipéways that dwell on the Ottawaw Lake, near the heads of the river we had just entered, fearing that some parties of the Naudowessies, with whom his nation are perpetually at war, might accidentally fall in with us, and before they were apprized of my being in company, do us some mischief, he took the following steps.
He peeled the bark from a large tree near the entrance of a river, and with wood-coal mixed with bear’s-grease, their usual substitute for ink, made in an uncouth but expressive manner the figure of the town of the Ottagaumies. He then formed to the left a man dressed in skins, by which he intended to represent a Naudowessie, with a line drawn from his mouth to that of a deer, the symbol of the Chipéways. After this he depictured still farther to the left a canoe as proceeding up the river, in which he placed a man sitting with a hat on; this figure was designed to represent an Englishman, or myself, and my Frenchman was drawn with a handkerchief tied round his head, and rowing the canoe; to these he added several other significant emblems, among which the Pipe of Peace appeared painted on the prow of the canoe.
The meaning he intended to convey to the Naudowessies, and which I doubt not appeared perfectly intelligible to them, was, that one of the Chipéway chiefs had received a speech from some Naudowessie chiefs at the town of the Ottagaumies, desiring him to conduct the Englishman, who had lately been among them, up the Chipéway river; and that they thereby required, that the Chipéway, notwithstanding he was an avowed enemy, should not be molested by them on his passage, as he had the care of a person whom they esteemed as one of their nation.
Some authors have pretended that the Indians have armorial bearings, which they blazon with great exactness, and which distinguish one nation from another; but I never could observe any other arms among them than the symbols already described.
A short Vocabulary of the Chipéway Language.
N. B. This people do not make use either of
the consonants F or V.
A
Above Spimink
Abandon Packiton
Admirable Pilawah
Afterwards Mipidach
All Kokinum
Always Kokali
Amiss Napitch
Arrive Takouchin
Ax Agacwet
Ashes Pingoe
Assist Mawinewáh
B
Ball Alewin
Bag, or tobacco-pouch Caspetawgan
Barrel Owentawgan
Beat Pakkite
Bear, a Mackwah
Bear, a young one Makon
Beaver Amik
Beaver’s skin Apiminiqué
Be, or to be Tapaié
Beard Mischiton
Because Mewinch
Believe Tilerimah
Belly Mishemout
Black Markaute
Blood Miskow
Body Yoe
Bottle Shishego
Brother Neconnis
Brandy, or Rum Scuttawawbah
Bread Paboushigan
Breech Miscousab
Breeches Kipokitie Kousah
Buck Wasketch
C
Canoe Cheman
Call Teshenekaw
Chief, a Okemaw
Carry Petou
Child, or Children Bobeloshin
Coat Capotewian
Cold, I am Kekatch
Come on Moppa
Come to Pemotcha
Comrade Neechee
Concerned Tallemissi
Corn Melomin
Covering, or a Blanket Wawbewion
Country Endawlawkeen
Courage Tagwawmissii
Cup Olawgan
D
Dance Nemeh
Dart Sheshikwee
Die, to Nip
Dish Mackoan
Dog Alim
Dead Neepoo
Devil, or evil Spirit Matcho-Manitou
Dog, a little one Alemon
Done, it is done Shiah
Do Toshiton
Doubtless Ontclatoubah
Dress the kettle Poutwah
Drink Minikwah
Drunken Ouisquiba
Duck Chickhip
E
Earth Aukwin
Eat Owissiné
Each Papégik
English Sagaunosh
Enough Mimilic
Equal, or alike Tawbiscouch
Esteem Nawpetelimáw
Eyes Wiskinkhie
F
Fast Waliebic
Fall Ponkisin
Far off Watsaw
Fat Pimmitee
Friend Niconnis
Father Noosah
Few, or little Maungis
Fatigued Taukwissi
Field sown Kittegaumic
Fire Scutta
Fire, to strike Scutecke
Find Nantounawaw
Fish Kickon
Fork Nassawokwot
Formerly Pirwego
Fort Wakaigon
Forward Nopawink
French Nechtegoosh
Freeze, to Kissin
Freezes hard Kissin Magat
Full Mouskinet
Fuzee or Gun Paskessigan
G
God, or the Great Spirit Kitchi Manitou
Go by water Pimmiscaw
Girl Jeckwassin
Give Millaw
Glass, a mirror Wawbemo
Good Cawlatch
Good for nothing Malatal
Govern Tibarimaw
General, or Commander in Chief Kitchi Okimaw Simáuganish
Grapes Shoamin
Great Manatou
Greedy Sawsáwkissi
Guts Oláwbish
H
Hare Wawpoos
Heart Michewah
Hate Shingaurimaw
Half Nawbal
Hair, human Lissis
Hair of beasts Pewal
Handsome Canogininne
Have Tandaulaw
Head Oustecouan
Heaven Speminkakwin
Herb Mejask
Here Aconda
Hidden Kemouch
Home Entayent
Honour Mackawalaw
Hot Akeshotta
How Tawné
How many Tawnemilik
Hunt Kewassa
Hut, or House Wig-Waum
I
Indians Ishinawbah
Iron Pewawbick
Island Minis
Immediately Webatch
Indian Corn Mittawmin
Intirely Nawpitch
Impostor Mawlawtissie
It might be so Tawneendo
K
Kettle Ackikons
King, or Chief Okemaw
Keep Ganwerimaw
Knife Mockoman
Knife that is crooked Cootawgon
Know Thickeremaw
L
Lake Kitchigawmink
Laugh Pawpi
Lazy Kittimi
Lame Kikekate
Leave Pockiton
Letter Mawsignaugon
Life Nouchimowin
Love Saukie
Long since Shawshia
Land Carriage Cappatawgon
Lose Packilaugué
Lie down Weepemaw
Little Waubesheen
M
Meat Weas
Much Nibbilaw
Man Allissinape
March, to go Pimmoussie
Marry Weewin
Medicine Maskikic
Merchandize Alokochigon
Moon Debicot
Mortar to pound in Poutawgon
Male Nape
Mistress Neremousin
N
Needle Shawbonkin
Near Pewitch
Nation Irinee
Never Cawikkaw
Night Debicot
No Kaw
Nose Yoch
Nothing Kakego
Not yet Kawmischi
Not at all Kagutch
Nought, good for nothing Malatat
O
Old Kauweshine
Otter Nikkik
Other Coutack
P
Pipe Poagan
Part, what Part Tawnapee
Play Packeigo
Powder, gun, or dust Pingo
Peace, to make Pecacotiche
Pray Tawlaimia
Proper Sawsega
Presently Webatch
Peninsula Minnissin
Q
Quick Kegotch
R
Regard Wawbemo
Red Miscow
Resolve Tibelindon
Relation Tawwemaw
Respect Tawbawmica
Rain Kimmewan
Robe Ockolaw
River Sippim
Run, to Pitchebot
S
Sad Talimissie
Sail Pemiscaw
Sack, or Bag Maskimot
Sea, or large Lake Agankitchigawmink
Shoes Maukissin
Ship, or large Canoe Kitchi Cheman
Sorry Niscottissie
Spirit Manitou
Spoon Mickwon
Star Alank
Steal Kemautin
Stockings Mittaus
Strong Mashkauwáh
Sturgeon Lawmack
Sun Kissis
Sword Simaugan
Surprizing Etwah, Etwah
See Wawbemo
Since Mapedoh
Shirt Papawkwéan
Slave Wackan
Sleep Nippee
Sit down Mintepin
T
Take Emaundah
Teeth Tibbit
That Mawbah
There Watsaudebi
This Maundah
Truly Kikit
Together Mawmawwee
Tobacco Semau
Tongue Outon
Tired Tawkonsie
Too little Osaummangis
Too much Ossauné
Thank you Megwatch
To-morrow Wawbunk
To-morrow the day after Ouswawbunk
W
Warriors Semauganaush
Water Nebbi
War Nantaubaulaw
Way Mickon
Well then! Tauneendah!
What is that? Wawwewin?
What now? Quagonie?
Whence Taunippi
Where Tah
White Waubé
Who is there? Quagonie Maubah?
Wind Loutin
Winter Pepoun
Woman Ickwee
Wood Mittic
Wolf Mawhingon
Y
Yesterday Petchilawgo
Yet Minnewatch
Young Wisconekissi
Yellow Wazzo.
The Numerical Terms of the Chipéways.
One Páshik
Two Ninch
Three Nissou
Four Neau
Five Naran
Six Ningoutwassou
Seven Ninchowassou
Eight Nissowassou
Nine Shongassou
Ten Mittaussou
Eleven Mittaussou Páshik
Twenty Ninchtawnaw
Thirty Nissou Mittawnaw
Forty Neau Mittawnaw
Fifty Naran Mittawnaw
Sixty Ningoutwassou Mittawnaw
Seventy Ninchowassou Mittawnaw
Eighty Nissowassou Mittawnaw
Ninety Shongassou Mittawnaw
Hundred Mittaussou Mittawnaw
Thousand Mittaussou Mittaussou Mittawnaw.
A Short Vocabulary of the Naudowessie Language.
A
Axe Ashpaw
B
Beaver Chawbah
Buffalo Tawtongo
Bad Shejah
Broach Muzahootoo
Bear, a Wahkonshejah
C
Canoe Waahtoh
Cold Mechuetah
Child, a Male Wechoakseh
Child, a Female Whacheekseh
Come here Accooyouiyare
D
Dead Negush
Deer Tohinjoh
Dog Shungush
E
Eat Echawmenaw
Ears Nookah
Eyes Eshtike
Evil Shejah
F
Fire Paahtah
Father Otah
Frenchman Neehteegush
Falls of Water Owah Menah
Friend Kitchiwah
G
Good Woshtah
Give Accooyeh
Go away Accoowah
God, or the Great Spirit Wakon
Gun Muzah Wakon
Great Tongo
Gold Muzaham
H
Hear Nookishon
Horse Shuetongo
Home, or domestic Shuah
House Teebee
Heaven Woshta Tebee
I
Iron Muzah
I, or me Meoh
K
King, or Chief Otah
Kill Negushtaugaw
L
Little Jestin
Long Tongoom
Lake Tongo Meneh
Love Ehwahmeah
M
Much Otah
More Otenaw
Moon Oweeh
Mouth Eeh
Medal Muzah Otah
Mine Mewah
Milk Etsawboh
N
No Heyah
Near Jeestinaw
O
Oh! Hopiniyahie!
P
Pipe Shanuapaw
Pipe of Peace Shanuapaw Wakon
R
Rain Owah Meneh
Ring Muzamchupah
Round Chupah
S
Smoke Shaweah
Salt Water Menis Queah
See, to Eshtaw
Sleep Eshteemo
Snake Omlishcaw
Sun Paahtah
Spirit Wakon
Spirituous Liquors Meneh Wakon
Snow Sinnee
Surprizing Hopiniayare
Silver Muzaham
T
Tobacco Shawsassaw
Talk Owehchin
Tree Ochaw
There Daché
W
Woman Winnokejah
Wonderful Hopiniyare
Water Meneh
What Tawgo
Who is there? Tawgodaché?
Wicked Heyahachta
Y
You Chee
Young Hawpawnaw
You are good Washtah Chee
You are a Spirit Wakon Chee
You are my good Friend Washtah Kitchiwah Chee
No Good Heyah Washtah.
The Numerical Terms of the Naudowessies.
One Wonchaw
Two Noompaw
Three Yawmonee
Four Toboh
Five Sawbuttee
Six Shawco
Seven Shawcopee
Eight Shahindohin
Nine Nebochunganong
Ten Wegochunganong
Eleven Wegochunganong Wonchaw
Twenty Wegochunganong Noompaw
Thirty Wegochunganong Yawmonee
Forty Wegochunganong Toboh
Fifty Wegochunganong Sawbuttee
Sixty Wegochunganong Shawco
Seventy Wegochunganong Shawcopee
Eighty Wegochunganong Shahindohin
Ninety Wegochunganong Nebochunganong
Hundred Opohng
Thousand Wegochunganong Opohng.
To this short vocabulary of the Naudowessie language, I shall adjoin a specimen of the manner in which they unite their words. I have chosen for this purpose a short song, which they sing, with some kind of melody, though not with any appearance of poetical measure, when they set out on their hunting expeditions: and have given as near a translation as the difference of the idioms will permit.
Meoh accoowah eshtaw paatah negushtawgaw shejah menah. Tongo Wakon meoh woshta, paatah accoowah. Hopiniyahie oweeh accooyee meoh, woshta patah otoh tohinjoh meoh teebee.
I will arise before the sun, and ascend yonder hill, to see the new light chase away the vapours, and disperse the clouds. Great Spirit give me success. And when the sun is gone, lend me, oh moon, light sufficient to guide me with safety back to my tent loaden with deer!