The Lenâpé and Their Legends: With the complete text and symbols of the Walam olum, a new translation, and an inquiry into its authenticity — John Shaqi
The Lenâpé and Their Legends: With the complete text and symbols of the Walam olum, a new translation, and an inquiry into its authenticityBrinton, Daniel G. (Daniel Garrison)
History
The Lenâpé and Their Legends: With the complete text and symbols of the Walam olum, a new translation, and an inquiry into its authenticity
Brinton, Daniel G. (Daniel Garrison)
Delaware Indians; Delaware language -- Texts; Picture-writing, Indian
The existence of this class of impostors is significant for the
appreciation of such a document as the WALAM OLUM. They were partially
acquainted with the Bible history of creation; some had learned to
read and write in the mission schools; they were eager to imitate
the wisdom of the whites, while at the same time they were intent on
claiming authentic antiquity and originality for all their sayings.
_Religious Ceremonies._
The principal sacred ceremony was the dance and accompanying song.
This was called _kanti kanti_, from a verbal found in most Algonkin
dialects with the primary meaning to sing (Abnaki, _skan_, je danse et
chante en même temps, Rasles; Cree, _nikam_; Chip., _nigam_, I sing).
From this noisy rite, which seems to have formed a part of all the
native celebrations, the settlers coined the word _cantico_, which has
survived and become incorporated into the English tongue.
Zeisberger describes other festivals, some five in number. The most
interesting is that called _Machtoga_, which he translates "to sweat."
This was held in honor of "their Grandfather, the Fire." The number
twelve appears in it frequently as regulating the actions and numbers
of the performers. This had evident reference to the twelve months of
the year, but his description is too vague to allow a satisfactory
analysis of the rite.
FOOTNOTES:
[48] See his remarks in the Transactions of the _American Philological
Association_, 1872, p. 157.
[49] For instance, in Governor Patrick Gordon's Letter to the Friends,
1728, where he speaks of "Our Lenappys or Delaware Indians," in
_Penna. Archives_, Vol. I, p. 230. At the treaty of Easton, 1756,
Tedyuscung, head chief of the Delawares, is stated to have represented
the "Lenopi" Indians (_Minutes of the Council_, Phila., 1757), and in
the "Conference of Eleven Nations living West of Allegheny," held at
Philadelphia, 1759, the Delawares are included under the tribal name
"Leonopy." See _Minutes of the Provincial Council of Penna._, Vol.
VIII, p. 418.
[50] So Mr. Lewis H. Morgan says, and he obtained the facts on the
spot. "Len-ã'-pe was their former name, and is still used." _Systems of
Consanguinity and Affinity_, p. 289 (Washington, 1871).
[51] _History of the Indian Nations_, p. 401.
[52] _Transactions of the American Philological Association_, 1871, p.
144.
[53] Zeisberger's translation of Lenni Lenape as "people of the same
nation," would be more literal if it were put "men of our nation."
President Stiles, in his _Itinerary_, makes the statement: "The
Delaware tribe is called _Poh-he-gan_ or _Mo-hee-gan_ by themselves,
and _Auquitsaukon_." I have not been able to reach a satisfactory
solution of the first and third of these names.
That the Delawares did use the term Lenape as their own designation, is
shown by the refrain of one of their chants, preserved by Heckewelder.
It was--"_Husca n'lenape-win_," Truly I--a Lenape--am.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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