CHAPTER IV.

BOOKS, TRACTS AND TRANSLATIONS IN THE DACOTA.

But one member of this groupe had crossed the Mississippi, in their ancient migrations, and fixed themselves in the area east of it. This tribe was the Winnebagoes, who formerly maintained an independent position in central Wisconsin. They went into Iowa, a few years since, and have just completed their second removal into the country of the Chippewas, on the west banks of the Upper Mississippi. There is thus left no portion of this stock east of that stream, save, perhaps, a small band of the Sioux, who are yet located on its east bank, between the Falls of St. Anthony and the mouth of the St. Croix river. The great body of the Dacota groupe extend westward (north of Iowa) to and beyond the Missouri, stretching southwardly below the Rocky Mountains across the waters of the Platte. The Iowas, the Otoes, Omahaws, Osages, &c., are elder branches of this groupe, who appear as a body, inclined to fall back, in that direction.

The principal missionary efforts have been among the Sioux proper, in which there have been published, so far as known, thirteen separate translations; at the same time there have been five translations in the Iowa, and a single work, in each of the dialects of the Winnebago, Otoe, and Osage.

SECTION I.—SIOUX, OR DACOTA PROPER.

117.—Wicoicage Wowapi qa odowan Wakan, &c.—The Book of Genesis, and a part of the Psalms. 1 vol. 12mo. p. 295. Cincinnati, Ohio: Kendall & Barnard, for the A. B. C. F. Missions, A. D. 1842.

This is a version of the Book of Genesis and a part of the Psalms from the original Hebrew into the Dakota, by the missionaries of the American Board and Mr. Joseph Renville, Sr.

118.—Jesus Ohnihde Wicaye cin oranyanpi Qon: qa Palos Wowapi Kage ciqon, &c. 1 vol. 12mo. p. 228. Cincinnati, Ohio: Kendall & Barnard, for the American Bible Society, A. D. 1843.

This volume contains the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistles and the Revelation of John, in the Dakota language, translated from the Greek by Stephen R. Riggs, A. M.

119.—Old Testament Extracts. 1 vol. 18mo. aggregate pages 216. Cincinnati, Ohio, A. D. 1839. Printed by Kendall & Henry, for the A. B. C. F. Missions.

This volume contains extracts from Genesis and the Psalms, the third chapter of Proverbs, and the third chapter of Daniel, translated from the French version of the Bible by Joseph Renville, Sr., and prepared for the press by Dr. Thomas S. Williamson.

120.—Wowapi Mitawa, tamakece Kaga—My own Book. 1 vol. 18 mo. 64 pages, A. D. 1842. Boston: Crocker & Brewster, for the A. B. C. F. M.

Prepared from Rev. T. H. Gallaudet’s “Mother’s Primer” and “Child’s Picture Defining and Reading Book,” by S. R. Riggs, A. M.

121.—Dakota Dowanpi Kin—Sioux Hymns. 1 vol. 18mo. 71 pages, A. D. 1842. Boston: Crocker & Brewster, for the A. B. C. F. Missions.

These hymns are composed in the Dacota language by Mr. Joseph Renville and Sons.

122.—The Dakota First Reading Book. 1 vol. 18mo. 50 pages. Cincinnati, Ohio, A. D. 1839: Kendall & Henry, for the A. B. C. F. M. Prepared by Stephen R. Riggs and Gideon H. Pond.

123.—Dakota Wiwangapiwowapi—Sioux Catechism. 1 vol. 12mo. 12 pages, A. D. 1844. New Haven, Conn: Hitchcock & Stafford, for the A. B. C. F. M. By Rev. S. W. Pond.

124.—Eliza Marpicokawin, Raratonwan oyate en wapige Sa; qa Sara war panica qon, &c. 12 pages, 12mo. Boston: Crocker & Brewster, for the A. B. C. F. M., A. D. 1842.

A narrative of a pious native female.

125. Wowapi Inonpa—The Second Dacota Reading Book. Boston: Crocker & Brewster, for the A. B. C. F. M., 1 vol. 12mo. 54 pages, A. D. 1842. By Rev. S. W. Pond. Consists of Bible stories from the Old Testament.

126.—Wiconi Owihanke Wannin Taninkin. Boston: Crocker & Brewster, for the A. B. C. F. M., 23 pages 12mo. A. D. 1837.

This volume contains Dr. Watts’ Second Catechism for children, translated into the Dacota by Joseph Renville, Sr.

127.—Sioux Spelling Book, designed for the use of native learners. Boston: Crocker & Brewster, for the A. B. C. F. M., 22 pages 12mo. A. D. 1836.

This useful little elementary volume is accompanied with a Key of the vowel sounds.

128.—Josep Oyakapi Kin—The History of Joseph and his Brethren. Cincinnati: Kendall & Henry, for the A. B. C. F. M., 1 vol. 40 p. 18mo. A. D. 1839.

This is a translation of the narration, of the events, on this subject, recorded in Genesis, by Samuel W. and Gideon H. Pond, educated natives.

129.—Woahope Wikcemna Kin, (sheet.)

We have here, the Ten Commandments, and the Lord’s Prayer, in the Dakota. _No imprint._

130.—Wotanin Waxte Markus owa Kin Dee. Cincinnati: Kendall & Henry, for the A. B. C. F. Missions. 1 vol. 18mo. 96 pages, A. D. 1839.

The Gospel of Mark in this translation is put into Sioux orally by Jos. Renville, Sr., and was written and prepared for the press by Dr. Thomas L. Williamson.

SECTION II.—WINNEBAGO.

131.—Ocangra Aramee Wa wa Ka Ka ra—Ocangra Prayer Book. Detroit: George L. Whitney, printer. Published for the Catholic Church, A. D. 1833, 18 pages, 12mo.

This appears to be the first attempt at translation into the Winnebago dialect. It is a translation of part of the Ottawa prayer book, containing 203 pages (_vide_ No. 45,) 2d edition, used by the Ottawa Indians of L’arbre Croche.

SECTION III.

BOOKS AND TRANSLATIONS IN THE IOWA LANGUAGE.

132.—Original Hymns in the Iowa language. 1 vol. 62 pages, 18mo. with forms of Prayer, 24 pages, and an introduction to the shorter Catechisms, 29 pages.

This volume is prepared by the missionaries of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church, and printed at their press at the Iowa and Sac Mission, Indian Territory. A. D. 1843.

133.—An Iowa Grammar, in part.

Of this work, 111 pages, 18mo., from page 9 to 100 inclusive, have been received from Messrs. Irvin & Hamilton, missionaries among the Iowas, on the Missouri, in the service of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church of the United States. Its completion is looked for with interest.

134.—Iowa Primer, in part.

There are but 8 pages of this publication, extending from pages 17 to 24 inclusive, which was transmitted by Walter Lowry, Esq., Secretary Board Foreign Missions Presbyterian Church, United States. These sheets contain tables of Iowa dyssyllables and trysyllables, carefully accented, with their equivalents in English, and constitute fragmentary elements of value.

135.—Iowa Hymns, a fragment.

This consists of 16 pages of translation, No. 132, of the same date and edition.

136.—St. Matthew in Iowa, in part.

But five Chapters (32 pages,) of this Gospel, have been received from the translators, Messrs. Irvin & Hamilton, who are the same gentlemen engaged on the Grammar, No. 133.

SECTION IV.—OTOE.

137.—Otoe Hymn Book, by Moses Merrill. Shawanoe Mission. J. Meeker, printer, A. D. 1834.

This appears to be the only translation of any kind which has been made into Otoe. The sound of k following f, as in lra-ke-kofk, reminds the observer of a common sound in the Tuscarora, which appears wanting in all the dialects which are geographically located between them. It has also, the final tl, a termination so common to the Aztecs.

SECTION V.—OSAGE: WASHASHE.

138.—Washashe Wageressa Pahugreh Tse. The Osage First Book. Boston: Crocker & Brewster, for the A. B. C. F. Missions. 1 vol. 18mo. 126 pages. A. D. 1834.

The broad sound of the letter a, as heard in fall, is represented in this compilation, by a peculiar enlargement of the letter. The word Wacondah, the family name of this groupe, for the Great Spirit, is dropped, and its place supplied by “Chihova,” (Jehovah.)