CHAPTER I.

BOOKS AND TRANSLATIONS IN THE SEVERAL DIALECTS OF THE IROQUOIS.

The Iroquois tribes had acquired the highest reputation in war and diplomacy, of all the Indian tribes of North America. At the time of the discovery, they were in the ascendant, and were rapidly consolidating their power under a system of confederacy, which had some striking traits resembling our own. Their language, viewed in its several dialects, was not so soft and flowing as that of their former rivals, the Algonquins or Adirondacks; but impressed the listener by its masculine and sonorous tone. It imparted a beauty to their geographical terminology, and helped to spread the fame of their deeds over Europe.

Translations into this groupe of languages, were commenced at an early period. A part of the Service of the English Church was executed under the late Bishop Stewart of Canada, during the reign of Queen Anne. Sixteen separate works, all of modern date, however, have been received, of which, nine are in the Mohawk dialect, one in the Oneida, and six in the Seneca. Nothing has been received or is known to exist in the Onondaga, Cayuga, or Tuscarora. Ziesberger’s Dictionary of the Onondaga in MSS., is known to be deposited in the library of the American Philosophical Society, at Philadelphia.

SECTION I.—MOHAWK.

No. 1.—NENE KARIGHYOSTON, Tsinihorighhoten ne Saint John. The Gospel according to St. John. New York: D. Fanshaw, for the American Bible Society. 1 vol. 18mo. 116 pages. A. D. 1818.

In this early version, the Greek word “Logos,” and the Hebrew “Yehovah,” are engrafted on the Mohawk dialect. The version is attributed to Norton, a Mohawk Chief. The translation is accompanied with the parallel English passages.

2.—Ne Kaorihwadegenhti. The Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ according to St. Luke. New York: McElrath, Bangs & Herbert, for the Young Men’s Bible Society, Methodist Church. 1 vol. 109 pages, 12mo. A. D. 1833.

This translation is by A. Hill; corrected by J. A. Wilkes, Jr., Grand River, C. W. This translation, like the preceding, contains the English and Mohawk in parallel passages, and like that, is thus rendered a valuable element in the study of language.

3.—Ne Ne Jinihodiyeren. The Acts of the Apostles, in the Mohawk language. New York: Howe & Bates, for the Young Men’s (Methodist) Auxiliary Bible Society. 1 vol. 12mo. 120 pages. A. D. 1835. Translated by H. A. Hill, with corrections by William Hess and John A. Wilkes, Jr. It is accompanied by a translation of the Epistle of Paul to the Romans, in 56 pages, by the same translator and revisors.

4.—The Gospel according to St. Mark. New York: McElrath & Bangs, for the New York District Bible Society. 1 vol. 239 pages, 12mo. A. D. 1829.

Of this translation, there exist earlier copies. It is from the pen of the noted Chief, Captain Joseph Brant, called Tarenyawagon, by his people. He employs the word Niyoh, for the Supreme Being. He gives the English and Mohawk in opposite pages. The volume terminates with a collection of sentences from the Scriptures, which are designed for practical instruction. These are curious and valuable exemplifications of the power of the two languages. In point of brevity and conciseness, the English exceeds the Mohawk, as 25 to 38, (vide p. 192, et seq.) The mind of that Chief would appear to have been well indoctrinated in leading Scriptural truths, and exhibits no little power of appropriate selection in these passages. If he became a savage in battle, and exhibited the peculiar subtlety, cruelty, and power of Indian deception while on the war path, he had the power to sink into a philosophic calm, in his study. This translation is indeed, a better apology for the alleged cruelty of his life, than the rather labored vindication in the volumes of his ardent biographer, the late Colonel W. L. Stone.

5.—The Epistle of Paul to the Galatians, in the Mohawk language. New York: Howe & Bates, for the Young Men’s Bible Society. 1 vol. 18 double pages, 12mo., with the Epistle to the Ephesians, 18 double pages, 12mo. A. D. 1835. Translated by H. A. Hill, with corrections by William Hess and J. A. Wilkes, Jr.

6.—THE EPISTLES OF PAUL, in Mohawk, namely: To the Phillipians, p. 17; To the Colossians, p. 16; To the Thessalonians, p. 22; To Timothy, p. 31; To Titus, p. 11; To Philemon, p. 7. These six Epistles of the Apostle, which are comprehended in 104 12mo. pages, are the translation of William Hess, an educated Mohawk, with corrections by J. A. Wilkes, jun. New York: Howe & Bates, for the Young Men’s auxiliary Bible Society, Method. Epis. Church, A. D. 1836.

7.—Ne Yeriwanontonthæ ne ne Wesleyan Methodists. Lynn, Mass: Newhall & Hathorne. 12 p. 18mo. A. D. 1834.

This is a translation of the Catechism of the Wesleyan Methodists, published at New York in 1836 by Waugh & Mason, at the Conference Office, 200 Mulberry street.

8.—Catechism of the Wesleyan Methodists, for children of tender years. New York: Waugh & Mason. 16 p. 18mo. A. D. 1836. Compiled and published by order of the British Conference.

9.—A collection of Hymns for the use of Native Christians, in the Mohawk language. New York: D. Fanshaw. A. D. 1835. 147 p. 18mo.

SECTION II.—ONEIDA.

10.—A Prayer Book, comprising the morning and evening service, and other forms used in the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States. New York: Swords, Stanford & Co: D. Fanshaw, printer. A. D. 1837. 1 vol. 12mo. 168 pages.

This is a compilation made from several sources, by Rev. Solomon Davis, missionary to the Oneidas, at Duck Creek, Wisconsin. It is not without some inaccuracy that it is set forth as being in the language of the Six Nations, nor can it be strictly asserted to be in the Oneida dialect, although understood by that nation. The vocabularies that have been taken denote very considerable differences in the languages of the several Iroquois cantons, greater indeed, by far, than might have been expected, when it is known that these tribes understand each other. The question is one, rather of philology, than practical teaching, which we are informed is sufficiently well advanced by the present work. It is here arranged under the head of the Oneida dialect, from the known fact that Mr. Davis labors, and has long labored with that people, and the observed prevalence of the Oneida dialect, in portions of the work.

SECTION III.—SENECA.

11.—Diahsawahgwah Gayadoshah—Reading lessons. Boston: Crocker & Brewster. 1 vol. 42 p. 8vo. A. D. 1836.

The clear and neat type and white paper of this little volume, and the exact system of notation in which the Seneca tongue appears, denote the careful labors, in this branch, of Rev. A. Wright, who has been for many years a missionary of the American Board at the Buffalo Reservation, in Western New York. There is a vocabulary of 16 pages, of concrete terms and conversational forms, at its close, which adds to its practical and philosophical value.

12.—Ne Iaguhnigoagesgwathah—The mental Elevator. Nos. 11, 12, 13, 14. 8 pages each. Cattaraugus Reservation, Mission Press. A. D. 1846. 32 p.

13.—The Mental Elevator, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. 8 pages 8vo. each.

This miscellany, being the first and only thing of the kind, which has, so far as is known, ever been attempted in a native tongue in America, was commenced by the Rev. A. Wright, missionary of the A. B. C. F. Missions among the Senecas of Western New York, at Buffalo Reservation, Nov. 30th, 1841, and continued, after the removal of the Band to Cattaraugus, in the same State, to the 31st December, 1846, which is the last number received. It embraces in 112 closely-printed pages, an amount of useful and instructive matter, which must be invaluable to those of the Senecas who can read. Besides biblical reading, and pieces of moral instruction, it embraces some matters relating to their government and business, obituary notices, statistics, &c. It appears from it that the total population of all the Senecas of New York, in 1845, was 2,630; in 1846, 2,720, denoting an increase of births over deaths in one year of 90 souls.

14.—The Gospel according to St. Luke, translated into the Seneca tongue. By T. S. Harris. New York: Printed for the American Bible Society, D. Fanshaw. A. D. 1829. 1 vol. 18mo. 149 pages.

15.—Gaa nah shoh ne Deowaahsaonyohgwah Na wen ni yuh. Hymns in the Seneca. Dosyowa, (Buffalo Creek,) Mission Press. 1 vol. 136 pages, 18mo. A. D. 1843. This translation is prefaced with Mr. Wright’s system of writing the Seneca, and terminates with a descriptive index.

16.—Sheet Ordinances, Seneca Chiefs, 4th December, 1847.