History, Manners, and Customs of the Indian Nations Who Once Inhabited Pennsylvania and the Neighbouring States.

LETTER V.

Chapter 54116 wordsPublic domain

FROM MR. DUPONCEAU TO DR. WISTAR.

PHILADELPHIA, 14th May, 1816.

DEAR SIR.--When you write to your friend Mr. Heckewelder, I beg you will request him to answer the following questions:

1. What name did the French give to the Delaware nation?

2. I find in Zeisberger’s Vocabulary, page 11, that _Gischuch_ means the _sun_. In the Grammar, I see that the Delawares divide their year by moons, and call them _anixi gischuch_, &c. So that _gischuch_ signifies _moon_ as well as _sun_, how is it?

3. I find in the Grammar that the pronoun _nekama_ or _neka_ means _he_, but it does not appear to have any feminine. What is the proper word for _she_ in the Delaware, and how is it declined?

I am, &c.