CHAPTER XVI.

_A concise_ CHARACTER _of the_ INDIANS.

THE character of the Indians, like that of other uncivilized nations, is composed of a mixture of ferocity and gentleness. They are at once guided by passions and appetites, which they hold in common with the fiercest beasts that inhabit their woods, and are possessed of virtues which do honour to human nature.

In the following estimate I shall endeavour to forget on the one hand the prejudices of Europeans, who usually annex to the word Indian epithets that are disgraceful to human nature, and who view them in no other light than as savages and cannibals; whilst with equal care I avoid any partiality towards them, as some must naturally arise from the favourable reception I met with during my stay among them.

At the same time I shall confine my remarks to the nations inhabiting only the western regions, such as the Naudowessies, the Ottagaumies, the Chipéways, the Winnebagoes, and the Saukies; for as throughout that diversity of climates, the extensive continent of America is composed of, there are people of different dispositions and various characters, it would be incompatible with my present undertaking to treat of all these, and to give a general view of them as a conjunctive body.

That the Indians are of a cruel, revengeful, inexorable disposition, that they will watch whole days unmindful of the calls of nature, and make their way through pathless, and almost unbounded woods, subsisting only on the scanty produce of them, to pursue and revenge themselves of an enemy; that they hear unmoved the piercing cries of such as unhappily fall into their hands, and receive a diabolical pleasure from the tortures they inflict on their prisoners, I readily grant; but let us look on the reverse of this terrifying picture, and we shall find them temperate both in their diet and potations (it must be remembered, that I speak of those tribes who have little communication with Europeans) that they with-stand, with unexampled patience, the attacks of hunger, or the inclemency of the seasons, and esteem the gratification of their appetites but as a secondary consideration.

We shall likewise see them sociable and humane to those whom they consider as their friends, and even to their adopted enemies; and ready to partake with them of the last morsel, or to risk their lives in their defence.

In contradiction to the report of many other travellers, all of which have been tinctured with prejudice, I can assert, that notwithstanding the apparent indifference with which an Indian meets his wife and children after a long absence, an indifference proceeding rather from custom than insensibility, he is not unmindful of the claims either of connubial or parental tenderness; the little story I have introduced in the preceding chapter of the Naudowessie woman lamenting her child, and the immature death of the father, will elucidate this point, and enforce the assertion much better than the most studied arguments I can make use of.

Accustomed from their youth to innumerable hardships, they soon become superior to a sense of danger or the dread of death; and their fortitude, implanted by nature, and nurtured by example, by precept, and accident, never experiences a moment’s allay.

Though slothful and inactive whilst their store of provision remains unexhausted, and their foes are at a distance, they are indefatigable and persevering in pursuit of their game, or in circumventing their enemies.

If they are artful and designing, and ready to take every advantage, if they are cool and deliberate in their councils, and cautious in the extreme either of discovering their sentiments, or of revealing a secret, they might at the same time boast of possessing qualifications of a more animated nature, of the sagacity of a hound, the penetrating sight of a lynx, the cunning of the fox, the agility of a bounding roe, and the unconquerable fierceness of the tyger.

In their public characters, as forming part of a community, they possess an attachment for that band to which they belong, unknown to the inhabitants of any other country. They combine, as if they were actuated only by one soul, against the enemies of their nation, and banish from their minds every consideration opposed to this.

They consult without unnecessary opposition, or without giving way to the excitements of envy or ambition, on the measures necessary to be pursued for the destruction of those who have drawn on themselves their displeasure. No selfish views ever influence their advice, or obstruct their consultations. Nor is it in the power of bribes or threats to diminish the love they bear their country.

The honour of their tribe, and the welfare of their nation, is the first and most predominant emotion of their hearts; and from hence proceed in a great measure all their virtues and their vices. Actuated by this, they brave every danger, endure the most exquisite torments, and expire triumphing in their fortitude, not as a personal qualification, but as a national characteristic.

From thence also flow that insatiable revenge towards those with whom they are at war, and all the consequent horrors that disgrace their name. Their uncultivated mind, being incapable of judging of the propriety of an action, in opposition to their passions, which are totally insensible to the controuls of reason or humanity, they know not how to keep their fury within any bounds, and consequently that courage and resolution, which would otherwise do them honour, degenerates into a savage ferocity.

But this short dissertation must suffice; the limits of my work will not permit me to treat the subject more copiously, or to pursue it with a logical regularity. The observations already made by my readers on the preceding pages, will, I trust, render it unnecessary; as by them they will be enabled to form a tolerably just idea of the people I have been describing. Experience teaches, that anecdotes, and relations of particular events, however trifling they might appear, enable us to form a truer judgment of the manners and customs of a people, and are much more declaratory of their real state, than the most studied and elaborate disquisition, without these aids.

CHAP. XVII.

_Of their_ LANGUAGE, HIEROGLYPHICKS, _&c._

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!