Part 2

The present condition of the Abenakis is given in a report made in 1858 to the Legislative Assembly of Canada. This states that the tribe on the St. Francis has diminished to three hundred and eighty-seven persons; they live mainly by agriculture, but everything is done in so rude a way, that they gather but scanty crops. Part of them, through the exertions of one of their own number, have been induced to discard their ancient faith, and are now professed Methodists. This change has involved the tribe in continual feuds and difficulties, which will prevent any improvement, and will probably lead to a permanent division and removal of one of the parties. They often undergo much privation for want of proper food and other necessaries of life. The portion of the tribe at Beçancour presents a still more degraded condition. There remain but thirty families, in all one hundred and seventy-two individuals. They still remain Roman Catholics, have no schools, and seem to have reached the extreme of misery and destitution, and so completely have this people intermixed, that their missionary writes, "he does not know of a single pure Abenaki among them."

The vocabulary now published is copied from a small volume printed about thirty years ago, entitled "Wobanaki Kimzowi Awighigan," i.e. Abenaki Spelling Book. It was procured by the writer with much difficulty, as it was the only copy that could be obtained among them. It is supposed by those qualified to judge, to be a fair specimen of the dialect formerly spoken on the Androscoggin and Kennebec, although there are in it many words originally borrowed from the French and English. From a memorandum made when with them a few years since, the name of their tribe, as near as can be written and pronounced in English, is W'Banankee, accenting the last syllable.

The treaties, now for the first time printed, are copied from the original in the possession of the writer; they will be perused with pleasure by those interested in antiquarian researches. But at the present day it is difficult to realize the interest which these proceedings and documents excited; they were often considered almost a matter of life or death to the frontier settlers. It is apparent that every chief had then his peculiar totem, or symbol. At a later period this system was abandoned, and they used only a simple cross. Among the chiefs who signed, is to be found the totem of Bombazeen and some others, whose names are perpetuated in history for their bloody exploits. The autographs annexed show the names of men then prominent in both provinces, and some of them afterwards attained the highest positions in political life.

The vocabularies and treaties are now submitted for publication by request of the Maine Historical Society.

BOSTON, AUGUST, 1859.

EXTRACTS FROM A SPELLING-BOOK IN THE ABENAKI LANGUAGE.

PUBLISHED IN BOSTON IN 1830, AND CALLED "KIMZOWI AWIGHIGAN," THE LAST WORD BEING THE TERM FOR BOOK.

The sounds of the vowels are represented in English according to the following scheme.

_Vowels._ _Sounded._

A a as _a_ in father, psalm. E e as _e_ in met, or in accident. I i as _ee_ in seen, or _i_ in machine. O o as _o_ in note. U u as _u_ in tube, cube; also used after _g_, as in language. [)u] as [)u] in cup, sun.

_Nasal._

[O=] [o=]

_Dipthongs._

Ai ai as _i_ in pine, nine. Au au as _ow_ or _ou_ in how, thou.

_Consonants._ _Names._

B b bi D d di G g gi H h hi J j ji K k ki L l li M m mi N n ni P p pi S s si T t ti W w wi Z z zi CH ch chi

Ch[o=]ls--cricket kots--goat kask--cap pots--boot mskakw--swamp nbes--lake mskask--spruce paks--box mke zen--shoe sop--soap sen--stone tlaps--trap win--marrow wchat--sinew wli--good ne bi--water cha kwa--this morning chi ga--when chbi wi--apart chig naz--thorn plum cho wi--must be, certain pa skwa--noon pla nikw--flying squirrel pi han--rope psig ia--half kokw--kettle k[o=]gw--porcupine pins--pin skog--snake piz--pea nbis--little water pigs--hog moz--moose kwat--cup swip--jew sips--a fowl wins--black birch wskan--bone a sokw--cloud wk[o=]t--leg cha kwat--daylight cha ga--now then chi bai--ghost chog l[)u]skw--black bird chan naps--turnip chbo sa--walks apart pne k[o=]kw--sandy hill p[o=] bakw--a bog pe guis--a gnat psi gaskw--board psan ta--full to s[o=]n--a shed ta lin--earthen basin sko tam--trout ski ia--raw o-kwa--maggot ska mon--corn ska kwam--green stick mski ko--grass psa na wi--full of ab [o=]n--cake as ma--not yet a ses--horse akw bi--rum a wip--pith a la--or ap les--apple ak ikw--seal as ban--raccoon al wa--almost ki k[o=]n--field ko wa--pine tree ki zos--sun kda hla--it sinks ka ia--thick milk kchim li--chimney kchin bes--great lake psan ba--full psa nikw--black squirrel sig wit--widower ska hla--raw hide te go--wave ski bakw--green leaf ska wakw--fresh meat mska ta--lily root msko da--prairie kzab da--hot ab on--bed as kan--horn al akws--star al ikws--pismire am kw[o=]n--spoon ag askw--woodchuck a zip--sheep ak sen--ox a kwan--bitter, acrid kas ko--crane pe laz--pigeon kas ta--how many times ka oz--cow ka akw--gull k[o=] jo--vein kchi t[)u]kw--great river ki zokw--day w[o=] wan--an egg wa bi--buttock wi bit--tooth wdel li--shoulder w[)u]ch [o=]l--nose wig bi--stringy bark wle guan--wing wa japkw--root wcha too--sinewy wskat gua--forehead wli gen--good wi noz--onion w[o=] bi--white wa guan--heel w[)u]t tep--head wta wakw--ear wsi s[)u]kw--eye wdo lo--kidney wig w[o=]m--house, camp wa dap--root to sew with Wd[o=] w[o=]--Autawa Indian w[)u]t t[)u]n--mouth wji ia--belonging to wlo gas--leather string wla nikw--fisher wikw kwa--thigh wa chil--oak nut wha gakw--a scalp wha ga--body wpa nak--lights wa laskw--husk w[o=]l kaa--hollow place wz[)u]kw na--tail wi zi--gall, bile w[o=] boz--elk w[o=]kw ses--fox wi os--flesh ma wia--better s[o=]g m[o=]--chief a wan--air ki zi--already msi wi--largely wski a--new sikw hla--hail kwa nak--length ta bat--enough mat guas--rabbit mkwi gen--red tau b[o=] gan--large trough tlap s[o=] bi--trap chain ska h[o=] gan--a forked post wlag zi--bowels wa jo--mountain wji g[o=]n--desolate camp wdol ka--breast, stomach wi ka--fat wl[o=] da--hot weather w[o=] lakw--hole wja kwam--but end wl[o=]m ka--fine grainy wski gen--young vegetable wzi dakw--handle wne kikw--otter wa gin--wagon pil tal--lead kchi ia--aged person pa g[o=]n--nut a chi--also ng[o=]n ia--old m[o=] gis--monkey wd[)u]p kwan--hair wa ji--for, to s[o=] ga--lobster piz wat--good for nothing kl[o=] gan--door tip wa bel--pepper ska w[o=] gan--standing skip w[o=] gan--eating raw chi t[o=] ba hi gan--a wedge chi ba gi n[o=] guat--looks very bad chi ba i skwet ta--ignis fatuus chi git wa hi gan--razor p[i=] mi zig ni gan--withe pok ja na hwi ka--stumpy psakw dam ni mo zi--blackberry bush tb[o=] bak hi gan--pair of scales, steelyard ska mon ta hi gan--corn meal skas kwat si gan--green dye a lo ka w[o=] gan--a work, labor al n[o=] ba w[o=] gan--human nature, birth sa n[o=] ba w[o=] gan--manhood a za wa skwi gen--square a ba kwa w[o=] gan--act of covering with a roof a ses si ga mikw--stable am kw[o=] ni no da--spoon basket a ses w[o=] bi al--harness a za t[o=] i wi--backwards kin ja mes w[o=] gan--majesty ka dos mo w[o=] gan--act of drinking, a drink kba hod wi ga mikw--jail ki wi tam w[o=] gan--hint ki ta das w[o=] gan--act of sharpening by grinding ki no ho ma sin--preaching kin ja mes sis kwa--queen ka o zi ga mikw--barn ka wzo wah di gan--sleigh ka sij wa hi gan--dish towel po da wa w[o=] gan--act of blowing p[o=] l[o=] ba w[o=] gan--pride piz wa gi zo--he reads for nothing pi da hla gu[o=] gan--scabbard pkwes sa ga hi gan--key p[o=] ba tam w[o=] gan--religion p[o=] ba tam win no--religious person pa pa hwij wi ia--tin pa pa hwij wi jo--tin basin pa pi tom k[o=] gan--a plaything nkes k[o=]g w[o=] gan--nightmare ni mat gua hi gan--a fork no da hla go kat--blacksmith no ji m[o=] ni kat--silversmith no ji pak si kat--box maker no da wig hi gat--notary, writer no ji na mas kat--fisher no da ma gu[o=] gan--spear o l[o=] wat si gan--blue dye [o=] do lib i[o=] gan--oar po da woz win no--counsellor po da waz w[o=] gan--council mos kwal dam w[o=] gan--anger mi ga ka w[o=] gan--act of fighting mka za wat si gan--copperas si gua na hi gan--skim-milk tmo kwa ta hi gan--sword les sa ga hi gan--trunk wi la wig win no--rich person

INDIAN TREATIES.

At Portsmouth, in her Maj^ty's Province of New Hampshire, in New England, the thirteenth day of July, in the twelfth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lady Anne, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the faith, &c. [1713]

THE SUBMISSION AND AGREEMENT OF THE EASTERN INDIANS.

Whereas for some years last past We have made a breach of our Fidelity and Loyalty to the Crowns of Great Britain, and have made open Rebellion against her Maj^ty's Subjects, the English inhabitants in the Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and other of her Maj^ty's Territories in New England, and being now sensible of the miseryes which We & our people are reduced thereunto thereby, We whose names are here subscribed, being Delegates of all the Indians belonging to Norrigawake, Narrakamegock, Amasacontoog, Pigwocket, Penecook, & to all other Indian Plantations situated on the Rivers of St. Johns, Penobscot, Kenybeck, Amascogon, Saco, & Merimack, & all other Indian Plantations lying between the s^d Rivers of St. Johns and Merimack, Parts of her Maj^ty's Provinces of the Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire, within her Maj^ty's Sovereignty, having made application to his Excellency, Joseph Dudley, Esq^re, Captain General & Govern^r in Chief in and over the s^d Provinces, That the Troubles which we have unhappily raised or occasioned against her Maj^ty's subjects, the English, & ourselves, may cease & have an end, & that we may enjoy her Maj^ty's Grace & Favor, and each of us Respectively, for ourselves & in the name & with the free consent of all the Indians belonging to the several Rivers and places aforesaid, & all other Indians within the s^d Provinces of the Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire, hereby acknowledging ourselves the lawfull subjects of our Sovereign Lady, Queen Anne, and promising our hearty Subjection & Obediance unto the Crown of Great Britain, doe solemnly Covenant, promise, & agree to & with the s^d Joseph Dudley, Esq., Govern^r, and all such as shall hereafter be in the place of Capt. General and Govern^r in Chief of the aforesaid Provinces or territories on her Maj^ty's behalf, in manner following. That is to say:

That at all times forever, from and after the date of these presents, we will cease and forbear all acts of hostility toward all the subjects of the crown of Great Britain, and not to offer the least hurt or violence to them or any of them in their persons or estates, but will honor, forward, hold, & maintain a firm & constant amity & friendship with all the English, and will not entertain any Treasonable Conspiracy with any other Nation to their Disturbance.

That her Maj^ty's Subjects, the English, shall & may peaceably & quietly enter upon, improve, & forever enjoy, all and singular their Rights of Land & former Settlements, Properties, & possesions, within the Eastern Parts of the s^d Provinces of the Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire, together with all the Islands, Islets, Shoars, Beaches, & Fisheries within the same, without any molestation or claims by us or any other Indians, And be in no wais molested, interrupted, or disturbed therein. Saving unto the s^d Indians their own Grounds, & free liberty for Hunting, Fishing, Fowling, and all other their Lawful Liberties & Privileges, as on the Eleventh day of August, in the year of our Lord God One thousand six hundred & ninety-three.

That for mutual Safety & Benefit, all Trade & Comerce which hereafter may be allowed betwixt the English & Indians shall be in such places & under such management & regulations as shall be stated by her Maj^ty's Governments of the s^d Provinces respectively. And to prevent mischiefs & inconveniencies the Indians shall not be allowed, for the present, & until they have liberty from the respective Governments, to come near to any English Plantations or Settlements on this side of Saco River.

That if any Controversy or Difference at any time hereafter happen to arise betwixt any of the English or Indians, for any real or supposed wrong or injury done on the one side or the other, no Private Revenge shall be taken by the Indians for the same, but proper application shall be made to her Maj^ty's Government, upon the place, for remedy thereof, in our Course of Justice, We hereby submitting ourselves to be ruled & Governed by her Maj^ty's Laws, & desire to have the protection & benefit of the same.

We confess that we have, contrary to all faith and justice, broken our articles with S^r William Phipps, Governour, made in the year of our Lord God 1693, and with the Earl of Bellemont, Govern^r, made in the year of our Lord God 1699, And the assurance we gave to his Excellency, Joseph Dudley, Esq^re, Governor, in the years of our Lord God 1702, in the month of August, and 1703, in the month of July, notwithstanding we have been well treated by the s^d Governors; and we resolve for the future not to be drawn into any perfidious Treaty or Correspondence, to the hurt of any of the subjects of her Maj^ty the Queen of Great Britain, and if we know of any such we will seasonably reveal it to the English.

Wherefore, we whose names are hereunto subscribed, Delegates for the several tribes of the Indians, belonging unto the River of Kenybeck, Amarascogen, St. Johns, Saco, & Merrimac, & parts adjacent, being sensible of our great offence & folly in not complying with the afores^d Submission & agreements, and also of the sufferings & mischiefs that we have thereby exposed ourselves unto, do, in all humble & submisive manner, cast ourselves upon her Maj^ty's mercy for the pardon of all our past rebellions, hostilities, and Violations of our promises, praying to be received unto her Maj^ty's Grace & Protection. And for & on behalfe of ourselves, and of all other the Indians belonging to the several Rivers and places afores^d, within the Sovereignty of her Maj^ty of Great Britain, do again acknowledge & profess our hearty and sinceer obedience unto the Crown of Great Britain, and do solemnly renew, ratify, and confirm all & every of the articles & agreements contained in the former and present submission.

This Treaty to be humbly laid before her Maj^ty, for her ratification and farther orders. In Witness whereof, We, the Delegates afore^sd, by name, Kireberuit, Iteansis, and Jackoit, for Penobscot, Joseph and Eneas, for St. Johns, Waracansit, Wedaranaquin, and Bomoseen, for Kennebeck, have hereunto set our hands & seals, the day and year first above written.

SIGNED, SEALED, & DELIVERED IN THE PRESENCE OF

Signatures: J Rev Knap Geo. Vaughan Sha^d Walton W Dudley Edmund Quinsey Spencer Phips J Widger. Sam A Moody Samu S Lynde Richard Saltonstal Josiah Willard Henry Somorby Thos Leihmesel Joseph Hiller Jun. Jos: Lloyd James Alford Jon^a. Roining'lon John Gillman

Signum (Signature) QUALEBEENEWES.

Signum (Signature) WARRAKANSIT.

Signum (Signature) BOMOSEEN.

Signum (Signature) EDARANAQUIN.]

Signatures: Stephan Minot Jonathan Pollard Geo. Jalfrey A. Wilbury John Leighton Peter Martin John Yoo (unclear) Goessth? Robert Carson Jonathan Kling Steph^n Eastwick (unclear) Nalle^a Rogers? Jn^o Nowmarch Henry Flynt]

Signum (Signature) ENEAS.

Signum (Signature) ITEANSIS.

Signatures: Jabez Hitch Sam^ll Moodey Jer^a. Wise John Karnard Nicholas Sever (unclear) Sam^ll. Fiske Cha. Story, Sec^y. of N.H. James Lusmore Richard Waldron Ths: Sheppard John Penhallow Geo: Huntington (unclear) Sam^ll: Pluisted? John Newman (unclear Jr.?) James Joffry

Signum (Signature) JACKOIT.

Signum (Signature) JOSEP.

At Portsmouth, in her Maj^tie's Province of New Hampshire, in New England, the 28th Day of July, in the thirteenth year of our Sovereign Lady Anne, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, &c. [1714]

The several Articles of the foregoing sheet, after a long Conference with the Delegates of the Eastern Indians, were read to them, & the sense & meaning thereof explained by two faithful, sworn Interpreters, and accordingly signed by every of the Sachems and Delegates that were not present & had not signed the last year.

In the Presence of his Excellency the Governour, and his Excellency General Nicholson, & the Gentlemen of Her Maj^tie's Councills for the Provinces of the Massachusetts Bay & New Hampshire, & other Gentlemen.

SIGNED, SEALED, & DELIVERED IN THE PRESENCE OF US,

Signatures: John White Tho^s. (unclear) Burnster? Edm^d Goff Habijah Savage J Widger.

PEQUARET (Signature) Signum.

WEEBENOOSE (Signature) Signum.

CATERRAMOGGUS (Signature) Signum.

Signatures: (unclear) John Rogors John Denison Rich^d (unclear) Miller? John Lambton

NUCTUNGUS (Signature) Signum.

QUINNAWUS (Signature) Signum.

QUIREBOOSET (Signature) Signum.

JOSEPH (Signature) Signum.

Signatures: M: Berckfield John Jekyll Edward Hacketh Tho. Plaisted Marcaveni S Jenning Wentworth

NEGUSCAWIT (Signature) Signum.

PIERRE ABINNAWAY. (Signature) Signum.

SCAWWEASE (Signature) Signum.

Signatures: W^m Cooper Estes Plateh Tho: Legard Charles (unclear) Hrosh?

ADDEAWANDO. (Signature) Signum.

SEGUNCEWICK (Signature) Signum.

KISSURAGUNNIT (Signature) Signum.

PITTAURISQUANNE (Signature) Signum.

CÆSAR MOXUSSON (Signature) Signum.

ERIXIS (Signature) Signum.

ESTIEN (Signature) Signum.

WENEMOET (Signature) Signum.

WOHONUMBAMET (Signature) Signum.

SANBODDIES (Signature) Signum.

TREATY OF 1717.

Georgetown, on Arrowsick Island, in his Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, the 12th Day of August 1717, in the fourth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c.

We, the Subscribers, being Sachems and Chief men of the several Tribes of Indians belonging to Kennebeck, Penobscut, Pegwackit, Saco, and other, the Eastern Parts of his Majesty's Province afores^d, having had the several Articles of the foregoing Treaty distinctly read and Interpreted to us by a Sworn Interpreter at this time, do Approve of, Recognize, Ratify, and Confirm all and every the said Articles, (excepting only the _fourth_ and _fifth_ articles, which relate to the restraint and limitation of Trade and Commerce, which is now otherwise managed.)

And whereas, some rash and inconsiderate Persons amongst us, have molested some of our good fellow Subjects, the English, in the Possession of their Lands, and otherwise illtreated them;--We do disapprove & condemn the same,--and freely consent that our English friends shall possess, enjoy & improve all the Lands which they have formerly possessed, and all which they have obtained a right & title unto, Hoping it will prove of mutual and reciprocal benefit and advantage to them & us, that they Cohabit with us.

In testimony and perpetual memory whereof, We have hereunto set our hands & seals, in behalf of ourselves and of the several Tribes of Indians that have delegated us to appear for, & represent them the day and year aforementioned.

NUDGGUMBOIT X Sign. } ABISSANEHRAW X Sign. } _Kennebeck._ UMGUINNAWAS X Sign. }

AWOHAWAY X Sign. } PAQUAHARET X Sign. } _Kennebeck._ CÆSAR X Sign. }

LEREBENUIT X Sign. } OHANUMBAMES X Sign. } _Penobscut._ SEGUNKI X Sign. }

ADEAWANDO X Sign. } _Pegwackit._ SCAWESO X Sign. }

MOXUS X Sign. } BOMMAZEEN X Sign. } CAPT. SAM X Sign. } NAGUCAWEN X Sign. } _Kennebeck._ SUMMEHAWIS X Sign. } WEGWARUMENET X Sign. } TERRAMUGGUS. X Sign. }

SABADIS X Sign. } _Ammarascoggin._ SAM HUMPHRIES X Sign. }

SIGNED, SEALED, & DELIVERED, IN PRESENCE OF

Signatures: W Dudley G Dyer (unclear) Jr? William Little Fran^s (unclear)

AUGUSTIN MOXUS SON (Signature) Sign.

SAROME. (Signature) Sign.

Signatures: Joseph Miller Jun. James Parsons John (unclear) Joshua Winslow Peres Bradford Sam. (unclear) Theodore Atkinson Jn Gray John Penhallow John Denison

FRANCOIS XAVIER (Signature) Sign.

MEGONUMBA (Signature) Sign.

TOTEMS.

The figures or emblems connected with the signatures of the Indians are called, in the language of the Algonquins, _Totems_; and are the distinguishing marks or signs of the clans or tribes into which the various nations are divided. They are not the personal emblems of the chiefs, although in signing treaties they employ them as their sign manual. Each tribe or clan had its emblem, consisting of the figure of some bird, beast, or reptile, and is distinguished by the name of the animal which it has assumed as a device, as Wolf, Hawk, Tortoise. To different totems, says Parkman in his "Conspiracy of Pontiac," attach different degrees of rank and dignity; and those of the Bear, the Tortoise, and the Wolf are among the first in honor. Each man is proud of his badge, jealously asserting its claim to respect. The use of the totem prevailed among the southern, as well as the northern tribes; Mr. Parkman says that Mr. Gallatin informed him, that he was told by the chief of a Choctaw deputation at Washington, that in their tribe were eight totemic clans, divided into two classes of four each.

Mr. Parkman says again, in the work above cited, page 9, "But the main stay of the Iroquois polity was the system of _totemship_. It was this which gave the structure its elastic strength; and but for this, a mere confederacy of jealous and warlike tribes must soon have been rent asunder by shocks from without, or discord from within. At some early period the Iroquois must have formed an individual nation; for the whole people, irrespective of their separation into tribes, consisted of eight totemic clans; and the members of each clan, to what nation soever they belonged, were mutually bound to one another by those close ties of fraternity which mark this singular institution. Thus the five nations of the confederacy were bound together by an eight-fold band; and to this hour their slender remnants cling to one another with invincible tenacity."