Literature of the Indian Languages: A Bibliographical Catalogue of Books, Translations of the Scriptures, and Other Publications in the Indian Tongues of the United States, With Brief Critical NotesSchoolcraft, Henry Rowe
History
Literature of the Indian Languages: A Bibliographical Catalogue of Books, Translations of the Scriptures, and Other Publications in the Indian Tongues of the United States, With Brief Critical Notes
Schoolcraft, Henry Rowe
Indian imprints -- United States; Indians of North America -- Languages -- Bibliography
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.
CHAPTER II.
BOOKS AND TRANSLATIONS IN THE VARIOUS DIALECTS OF THE ALGONQUIN.
Of all the groupes of the Indian language in America, the various
dialects of this stock have furnished the most inviting and best
cultivated field for the translator and philologist. The French, during
their early and long occupancy of the Canadas, gave great prominence
to the various tribes speaking dialects of this groupe. In proportion
as the principles of the languages have been investigated, the circle
of the affinities of the Algonquins has been found to be extended
wider and wider. It is to be traced from the ancient Powhatanic tribes
of Virginia, northward and eastward along the Atlantic coast to, and
beyond the Gulf of St. Lawrence, reaching to, and beyond the utmost
limits of this stream at the source of the Mississippi, and descending
its eastern or left bank to the junction of the Ohio, and thence to the
Atlantic. From this great circle of occupation, embracing the present
area of sixteen of the States, the several branches of the Iroquois,
embracing the Wyandot and the Winnebago dialect of the Dacota, are the
only exceptions of modern date.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account