Adair's History of the American IndiansAdair, James
History
Adair's History of the American Indians
Adair, James
Indians -- Origin; Indians of North America -- Southern States
They who have a desire to see the genuine oratory of the Indians, may
find it partly exhibited to the public, by the laborious Mr. Colden,
mostly in the manner, as I am told, he found it in the
_council-books_. As that gentleman is an utter stranger to the
language and customs of the Indians, it was out of his power to do
justice to the original. Their speech, in general, abounds with bolder
tropes and figures than illiterate interpreters can well comprehend,
or explain. In the most essential part of his copied work, he
committed a very material blunder, by writing in the first edition,
the Indian solemn invocation, YO HA HAN. I was well assured by the
intelligent Sir William Johnson, and the skilful, benevolent, pious,
and reverend Mr. John Ogilvie, that the northern Indians always
pronounce it YO HE A `AH; and so it is inserted in the second edition.
In justice to this valuable luminary of the church, and the worthy
laity of the city of New-York, I must observe, that, while the rest of
his sacerdotal brethren were much blamed for neglecting their office
of teaching, and instead thereof, were militating for an _episcopate_,
that gentleman was universally beloved by all ranks of people. He
spent his time, like a true servant of God, in performing the various
duties of his sacred office; and had the utmost pleasure in healing
breaches, both in public society, and in private families. Great
numbers of the poor negroe slaves, were instructed by him in the
principles of Christianity, while the other clergymen were earnestly
employed in disturbing the quiet of the public, for the sake of their
favourite Peter’s pence.
I shall hereafter, under another argument, shew, that the Indians
variously transpose, shorten, and lengthen, each syllable of the great
divine name, YO HE WAH, in a very extraordinary manner, when they are
singing and dancing to, and before, the divine essence: and that they
commonly derive such words as convey a virtuous idea, from, or compound
them with that divine, essential name.
I shall now shew a farther parity, between the Hebrew language, and the
Aboriginal American dialects.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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