LITERATURE
OF THE
INDIAN LANGUAGES.

A collection of all translations into the Indian languages is being made in the Indian Bureau of the War Office.

The ensuing notices of elementary and other books, denote the progress which has been made in this department of inquiry. The list is necessarily incomplete, from the short time that has been devoted to the object. It is issued in this form to apprise translators who have, or may enter this field of labor, of the works received, that they may avoid sending duplicates; at the same time, that they are requested to aid in completing the plan by transmitting, under cover in all cases, to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, original or revised works, of every kind, including grammars and vocabularies, which are not embraced in this incipient catalogue.

The true history of the Indian tribes and their international relations, must rest, as a basis, upon the light obtained from their languages. To group and classify them into families on philosophical principles, will be to restore these ancient relations. Their traditions and historical affinities, so far as they reach, will generally attest the truth of the facts denoted by language. In our future policy, they should be removed or colonized in reference to this relationship, and foreign groups not be co-mingled with the cognate tribes.

The true object of investigating the languages, is thus perceived, and it is hoped that its practical, and well as historical importance, will be appreciated in ready responses from persons receiving these sheets.

H. R. S.

A

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL CATALOGUE

OF

BOOKS, TRANSLATIONS OF THE SCRIPTURES,

AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS IN THE

INDIAN TONGUES

OF THE

UNITED STATES,

WITH

BRIEF CRITICAL NOTICES.

WASHINGTON:
C. ALEXANDER, PRINTER.
1849.

SYNOPSIS.

• CHAPTER I—Iroquois.
• Sec. 1.—Mohawk, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
• Sec. 2.—Oneida, No. 10.
• Sec. 3.—Seneca, Nos. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.
• CHAPTER II—Algonquin.
• Sec. 1.—Chippewas, Nos. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44.
• Sec. 2.—Ottawa, Nos. 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55.
• Sec. 3.—Pottawattomie, Nos. 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62.
• Sec. 4.—Mohegan, No. 63.
• Sec. 5.—Montagnais, No. 64.
• Sec. 6.—Delawares, Nos. 65, 66, 67.
• Sec. 7.—Shawnees, Nos. 68, 69, 70.
• Sec. 8.—Abanakis, No. 71.
• CHAPTER III—Appalachian.
• Sec. 1.—Cherokee, Nos, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92.
• Sec. 2.—Choctaw, Nos. 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112.
• Sec. 3.—Creek, or Muscogee, Nos. 113, 114, 115, 116.
• CHAPTER IV—Dacota.
• Sec. 1.—Sioux, Nos. 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130.
• Sec. 2.—Winnebago, No. 131.
• Sec. 3.—Iowa, Nos. 132, 133, 134, 135, 136.
• Sec. 4.—Otoe, No. 137.
• Sec. 5.—Osage, No. 138.
• CHAPTER V.—Sa-aptinic.
• Sec. 1.—Nez Percie, or Sa-aptin, No. 139.

A BIBLIOGRAPHICAL CATALOGUE.

CHAPTER I.
BOOKS AND TRANSLATIONS IN THE SEVERAL DIALECTS OF THE IROQUOIS.

The Iroquois tribes had acquired the highest reputation in war and diplomacy, of all the Indian tribes of North America. At the time of the discovery, they were in the ascendant, and were rapidly consolidating their power under a system of confederacy, which had some striking traits resembling our own. Their language, viewed in its several dialects, was not so soft and flowing as that of their former rivals, the Algonquins or Adirondacks; but impressed the listener by its masculine and sonorous tone. It imparted a beauty to their geographical terminology, and helped to spread the fame of their deeds over Europe.

Translations into this groupe of languages, were commenced at an early period. A part of the Service of the English Church was executed under the late Bishop Stewart of Canada, during the reign of Queen Anne. Sixteen separate works, all of modern date, however, have been received, of which, nine are in the Mohawk dialect, one in the Oneida, and six in the Seneca. Nothing has been received or is known to exist in the Onondaga, Cayuga, or Tuscarora. Ziesberger’s Dictionary of the Onondaga in MSS., is known to be deposited in the library of the American Philosophical Society, at Philadelphia.

SECTION I.—MOHAWK.

No. 1.—Nene Karighyoston, Tsinihorighhoten ne Saint John. The Gospel according to St. John. New York: D. Fanshaw, for the American Bible Society. 1 vol. 18mo. 116 pages. A. D. 1818.

In this early version, the Greek word “Logos,” and the Hebrew “Yehovah,” are engrafted on the Mohawk dialect. The version is attributed to Norton, a Mohawk Chief. The translation is accompanied with the parallel English passages.

2.—Ne Kaorihwadegenhti. The Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ according to St. Luke. New York: McElrath, Bangs & Herbert, for the Young Men’s Bible Society, Methodist Church. 1 vol. 109 pages, 12mo. A. D. 1833.

This translation is by A. Hill; corrected by J. A. Wilkes, Jr., Grand River, C. W. This translation, like the preceding, contains the English and Mohawk in parallel passages, and like that, is thus rendered a valuable element in the study of language.

3.—Ne Ne Jinihodiyeren. The Acts of the Apostles, in the Mohawk language. New York: Howe & Bates, for the Young Men’s (Methodist) Auxiliary Bible Society. 1 vol. 12mo. 120 pages. A. D. 1835. Translated by H. A. Hill, with corrections by William Hess and John A. Wilkes, Jr. It is accompanied by a translation of the Epistle of Paul to the Romans, in 56 pages, by the same translator and revisors.

4.—The Gospel according to St. Mark. New York: McElrath & Bangs, for the New York District Bible Society. 1 vol. 239 pages, 12mo. A. D. 1829.

Of this translation, there exist earlier copies. It is from the pen of the noted Chief, Captain Joseph Brant, called Tarenyawagon, by his people. He employs the word Niyoh, for the Supreme Being. He gives the English and Mohawk in opposite pages. The volume terminates with a collection of sentences from the Scriptures, which are designed for