VOCABULARIES OF THE SHAWANOESE AND WYANDOTT LANGUAGES, ETC.
(from Henry Howe's History of Ohio, Shelby County, 1889. Pages 600-605)
[The following article was communicated for our first edition by the venerable Col. John Johnston, of Upper Piqua, Ohio, who, for about half a century, had been an agent of the United States over the Indians of the West.]
The Wyandotts had resided on the soil of Ohio long before the French or English visited the country. Forty-six years ago, I took a census of them, when they numbered 2300 souls. In 1841 and 1842, I was, as the commissioner of the United States, negotiating with them a treaty of cession and emigration, when it was found by actual and accurate count, that, in a little less than 50 years, they had been reduced to the number of 800; none had emigrated--all that was left were the subjects of my negotiation. I had been their agent a great part of my life; and after being separated from them for 11 years by the power of the Executive, it fell to my lot, under the appointment of my honored and lamented friend and chief, President Harrison, to sign and seal the compact with their chiefs for their final removal from their cherished homes and graves of their ancestors, to which, of all their race I had ever known, they were the most tenderly attached, to the country southwest of Missouri.
The Shawanoese came into Ohio not long anterior to Braddock's campaign of 1754. They occupied the country contiguous to the Wyandotts, on the Scioto, Mad river, the Great Miami, and the upper waters of the Maumee of the lake, being in the light of tenants at will under the Wyandotts. They were their devoted friends and allies in all their wars with the white people--these two tribes having been the last of the natives who have left us, for there is not an Indian now in Ohio, nor an acre owned by one of their race within its limits.
I have thought that a specimen of the respective languages of these tribes might form a proper item in the history of a state so lately owned and occupied by the primitive inhabitants. The vocabulary, as far as it goes, is accurate, and may be relied upon. The reader will at once observe the great dissimilarity in the two languages, not one word in the whole being common to both. In all their large councils, composed of both tribes, interpreters were as necessary between the parties as it was between the Indians and the United States officers. Not so with the Shawanoese, Delawares, Miamies, Putawatimies, Chippeways, Ottawas, Wee,as, Kickapoos and Piankeshawas--all of whom had many words in common, and clearly establishing a common origin. Almost all the tribes I have known, had tradition that their forefathers, at some remote period, came from the west; and this would seem to strengthen the commonly received opinion of Asiatic descent. Many of the Indian customs, even at this day, are strictly Jewish: instance the purification of their women, the year of Jubilee, the purchase of wives, etc.
All the Indians have some sort of religion, and allege that it was given to their forefathers, and that it would be offensive to the Great Spirit to throw it away and take up with any other. They all believe that after this life is ended, they will exist in another state of being; but most of their sacrifices and petitions to their Maker are done with a view to the procuring of temporal benefits, and not for the health of the immortal part.
Death has no terrors to an Indian; he meets it like a stoic. The fate of the soul does not appear to give him the smallest uneasiness. I have seen many die, and some in full confidence of a happy immortality; such were not taught of the Christian missionaries. In innumerable instances I have confided my life and property to Indians, and never, in time of peace, was my confidence misplaced. I was, on one occasion, upwards of a week, in a time of high waters, alone, in the month of March, with a Delaware Indian in the woods, whom I ascertained afterwards to be a notorious murderer and robber; and having every thing about my person to tempt a man of his kind--a good horse, equipments, arms, clothing, etc.--and yet no one could be more provident, kind and tender over me than he was. When the chiefs heard that I had taken this otherwise bad man for a guide, they were alarmed until informed of my safety. I have had large sums of public money, and public dispatches of the greatest importance, conveyed by the Indians, without in any case suffering loss.
VOCABULARY OF THE SHAWANOESE
| One--Negate Two--Neshwa Three--Nithese Four--Newe Five--Nialinwe Six--Negotewathe Seven--Neshwathe Eight--Sashekswa Nine--Chakatswa Ten--Metathwe Eleven--Metath, we, Kit,en,e,gate Twelve--Metathwe, Kiteneshwa Thirteen--Metathwe, Kitenithwa Fourteen--Metathwe, Kitenewa Fifteen--Metathwe, Kitenealinwe Sixteen--Metathwe, Kitenegotewathe Seventeen--Metathwe, Kiteneshwathe Eighteen--Metathwe, Kitensashekswa Nineteen--Metathwe, Kitenchakatswe Twenty--Neesh,wa,tee,tuck,e Thirty--Nithwabetucke Forty--Newabetucke Fifty--Nialinwabetucke Sixty--Negotewashe Seventy--Neshwashe Eighty--Swashe Ninety--Chaka One hundred--Te,pa,wa Two hundred--Neshwatepawa Three hundred--Nithwatepawa Four hundred--Newe-tepawa Five hundred--Nialinwe-tepawa Six hundred--Negotewathe-tepawa Seven hundred--Neshwethe-tepawa Eight hundred--Sashekswa-tepawa Nine hundred--Chakatswe-tepawa One thousand--Metathwe-tepawa Two thousand--Neshina,metathwe,tepawa Three thousand--Nethina,metathwe,tepawa Four thousand--Newena,metathwe, tepawa Five thousand--Nealinwa metathwe tepawa Old man--Pashetotha Young man--Meaneleneh Chief--Okema Dog--Weshe Horse--Meshewa Cow--Methothe Sheep--Meketha Hog--Kosko Cat--Posetha Turkey--Pelewa Deer--Peshikthe Raccoon--Ethepate Bear--Mugwa Otter--Kitate Mink--Chaquiwashe Wild cat--Peshewa Panther--Meshepeshe Buffalo--Methoto Elk--Wabete Fox--Wawakotchethe Musk rat--Oshasqua Beaver--Amaghqua Swan--Wabethe Goose--Neeake Duck--Sheshepuk Fish--Amatha Tobacco--Siamo Canoe--Olagashe Big vessel or ship--Misheologashe Paddle--Shumaghtee Saddle--Appapewee Bridle--Shaketonebetcheka Man--Elene Woman--Equiwa Boy--Skillewaythetha Girl--Squithetna Child--Apetotha My wife--Neewa Your wife--Keewa My husband--Wysheana Your husband--Washetche My father--Notha Your father--Kotha My mother--Neegah Grandmother--Cocumtha My sister--Neeshematha My brother--Neethetha My daughter--Neetanetha Great chief--Kitchokema Soldier--Shemagana Great soldier as Gen. Wayne--Kitcho, great, and Shemagna, soldier Hired man, or servant--Alolagatha Englishman--by the Ottawas, Sagona Englishman--by the Putawatimies and Chippeways, the same Englishman--by the Shawanoese, Englishmanake Frenchman--Tota American--Shemanose, or big knives, first applied to the Virginians. The lake--Kitchecame The sun--Kesathwa |
The sun--by the Putawatimies, Chippeways and Ottawas, Keesas The moon--Tepeth,ka,kesath,wa The stars--Alagwa The sky--Men,quat,we Clouds--Pasquawke The rainbow--Quaghcunnega Thunder--Unemake Lightning--Papapanawe Rain--Gimewane Snow--Conee Wind--Wishekuanwe Water--Nip,pe Water--by the Putawatimies, Ottawas and Chippeways, Na,bish Fire--Scoate Cold--We,pe Cold--by the Putawatimies, Sin,e,a Warm--Aquettata Ice--M'Quama The earth--Ake The trees, or the woods--Me,to,quegh,ke The hills--Mavueghke Bottom ground--Alwamake Prairie--Tawaskota Friend--Ne,can,a Friend--in Delaware, N'tschee Friend--in Putawatimie, Ottawa and Chippeway, Nitche River--Sepe Pond--Miskeque Wet ground, or swamp--Miskekope Good land--Wesheasiske Small stream--The,bo,with,e Poor land--Mel,che,a,sis,ke House--Wig,wa Council house, or great house--Takatchemaka wigwa The great God, or good spirit--Mishememetoc The bad spirit, or the devil--Watchememetoc Dead--Nep,wa Alive--Lenawawe Sick--Aghqueloge Well--Weshelashamama Corn--Da,me Corn--by the Putawatimie, M'tame Wheat--Cawasque Beans--Miscoochethake Potatoes--Meash,e,tha,ke Potatoes--by the Putawatimies, Peng,aca Turnips--Openeake Pumpkins--Wabegs Melons--Usketomake Onions--Shekagosheke Apples--Me,she,me,na,ke Nuts--Pacanee Nut--Pacan Gum--Metequa Axe--Te,ca,ca Tomahawk--Cheketecaca Knife--Manese Knife--by the Putawatimies, Comong Powder--Macate Flints--Shakeka Trap--Naquaga Hat--Petacowa Shirt--Peleneca Blanket--Aquewa Blanket--by the Putawatimies, Wapyan, or wabscat, wapyan, i.e. white blanket Handkerchief--Pethewa Pair of leggings--Me, tetawawa Eggs--Wa,wa,le Fresh meat--Weothe Fresh meat--by the Putawatimies, We,as Salt--Nepepimme Salt--by the Putawatimies, Su,ta,gin Bread--Ta,quan,e Bread--by the Putawatimies, Quasp, kin--a Shawanoese would say, Meet,a,lasqw I have got no bread--Taquana Kettle--A,coh,qua Sugar--Me,las,sa Tea--Shis,ke,wapo Medicine--Cho,beka I am very sick--Olame,ne,taghque,lo,ge I am very well--Ne,wes,he,la,shama,mo A fine day--Wash,he,kee,she,ke A cloudy day--Mes,quet,wee My friend--Ne,can,a My enemy--Matche,le,ne,tha,tha The Great Spirit is the friend of the Indians--Ne,we,can,e,tepa,we,sphe,ma,mi,too Let us always do good-- We,sha,cat,we,lo,ke,we,la,wapa Bell--To,ta,gin Plenty--Ma,la,ke Cut,e,we,ka,sa, or Blackfoot, the head chief of the Shawanoese, died at Wapoghkonetta in 1831, aged about 105 years She,me,ne,too, or the Snake, another aged chief, emigrated with the nation west. Fort, or garrison--Wa,kargin |
SPECIMEN OF THE WYANDOTT, OR HURON LANGUAGE
| One--Seat Two--Tin,dee Three--Shaight Four--An,daght Five--Wee,ish Six--Wa,shaw Seven--Soo,ta,re Eight--Ace,tarai Nine--Ain,tru Ten--Augh,sagh Twenty--ten,deit,a,waugh,sa Thirty--Shaigh,ka,waugh,sa Forty--An,dagh,ka,waugh,sa Fifty--Wee,ish,awaugh, sa Sixty--Waw,shaw,wagh,sa Seventy--Soo,ta,re,waugh,sa Eighty--Au,tarai,waugh,sa Ninety--Ain,tru,waugh,sa One hundred--Scu,te,main,gar,we The great God, or good spirit--Ta,main,de,zue Good--Ye,waugh,ste Bad--Waugh,she Devil, or bad spirit--Deghshee,re,noh Heaven--Ya,roh,nia Hell--Degh,shunt Sun--Ya,an,des,hra Moon--Waugh,sunt,ya,an,des,hra Stars--Tegh,she Sky--Cagh,ro,ni,ate Clouds--Oght,se,rah Wind--Iru,quas It rains--Ina,un,du,se Thunder--Heno Lightning--Tim,mendi,quas Earth--Umait,sagh Deer--Ough,scan,oto Bear--Anu,e Raccoon--Ha,in,te,roh Fox--Th,na,in,ton,to Beaver--Soo,taie Mink--So,hoh,main,dia Turkey--Daigh,ton,tah Squirrel--Ogh,ta,eh Otter--Ta,wen,deh Dog--Yun,ye,nah Cow--Kin,ton,squa,ront Horse--Ugh,shut,te or man carrier Goose--Yah,hounk Duck--Yu,in,geh Man--Air,ga,hon Woman--Uteh,ke Girl--Ya,weet,sen,tho Boy--Oma,int,sent,e,hah Child--Che,ah,ha Old man--Ha,o,tong Old woman--Ut,sindag,sa My wife--Azut,tun,oh,oh Corn--Nay,hah Beans--Yah,re,sah Potatoes--Da,ween,dah Melons, or pumpkins--O,nugh,sa Grass--E,ru,ta Weed--Ha,en,tan Trees--Ye,aron,ta Wood--O,tagh,ta House--Ye,anogh,sha Gun--Who,ra,min,ta Powder--T'egh,sta Lead--Ye,at,ara Flints--Ta,wegh,ske,ra Knife--We,ne,ash,ra Axe--Otto,ya,ye Blanket--Deengh,tat,sea Kettle--Ya,yan,e,tith Rum--We,at,se,wie River--Ye,an,da,wa Bread--Da,ta,rah Dollar--Sogh,ques,tut Shirt--Ca,tu, reesh Leggings--Ya,ree Bell--Te,ques,ti,egh,tas,ta Saddle--Quagh,she,ta Bridle--Cong,shu,ree Fire--Sees,ta Flour--Ta,ish,rah Hog--Quis,quesh Big house--Ye,a,nogh,shu,wan,a Corn field--Ya,yan,quagh,ke Musk rat--Se,he,ash,i,ya,hah Cat--Dush,rat Wild cat--Skaink,qua,hagh Mole--Ca,in,dia,he,nugh,qua Snake--To,en,gen,seek |
Frog--Sun,day,wa,shu,ka Americans--Sa,ray,u,migh or big knives Englishmen--Qu,han,stro,no Frenchmen--Tu,hugh,car,o,no My brother--Ha,en,ye,ha My sister--A,en,ya,ha Father--Ha,yes,ta Mother--Ane,heh Sick--Shat,wu,ra Well--Su,we,regh,he Cold--Ture,a Warm--Ote,re,a,ute Snow--De,neh,ta Ice--Deesh,ra Water--Sa,un,dus,tee,the, the origin of Sandusky, the bay, river and county of that name Friend--Ne,at,a,rugh Enemy--Ne,mat,re,zue War--Tre,zue Peace--Scan,o,nie Are you married--Scan,dai,ye I am not married yet--Augh,sogh,a,sante,te,sandai,ge Come here--Owa,he Go away--Sa,cati,arin,ga You trouble me--Ska,in,gen,tagh,qua I am afraid--I,agh,ka,ron,se I love you--Yu,now,moi,e I hate you--Yung,squa,his I go to war--A,yagh,kee I love peace--Eno,moigh,an,dogh,sken,onie I love all men--Away,tee,ken,omie I have conquered my enemy--O,negh,e,ke,wishe,noo I don't like white men--Icar,tri,zue,egh,har,taken,ome,enu,mah Indians--I,om,when Negro--Ahon,e,see Prisoner--Yan,dah,squa He is a thief--Run,neh,squa,hoon Good man--Room,wae,ta,wagh,stee Fish--Ye,ent,so Plums--At,su,meghst Apples--Sow,se,wat Fruit--Ya,heeghk Sugar--Se,ke,ta Honey--Se,ke,ta Bees--Un,dagh,quont Salt--Anu,magh,ke,he,one or the white people's sugar Moccasin--Aragh,shee How do you do--Tu,ough,qua,no,u I am sorry--I,ye,et,sa,tigh I am hungry--Yat,o,regh,shas,ta You will be filled--E,sagh,ta,hah I am dying--E,hye,ha,honz God forgive me--Ho,ma,yen,de,zuit,et,te,rang Auglaize river--Qus,quas,run,dee or the falling timber on the river Blanchard's fork of the Auglaize--Quegh,tu,wa or claw in the water Sandusky--Sa,un,dos,tee or water within water-pools Muskingum--Da,righ,quay or a town or place of residence Cuyahoga--Ya,sha,hia or the place at the wing Miami of the lake--Cagh,a,ren,du,te or standing rock. At the head of the rapids of this river there is in the middle of the stream a large elevated rock, which, at a distance, very much resembles a house. The place was named by the French Roche de Boef, and hence the Standing rock river. The sea of salt water--Yung,ta,rez,ue The lakes--Yung,ta,rah Detroit--Yon,do,tia or great town Defiance, now the county seat of Defiance county, at the junction of the Auglaize and Miami of the lake--Tu,enda,wie or the junction of two rivers. After defeating the Indians in 1794, Gen. Wayne, on his return, built Fort Defiance, thereby proclaiming defiance to the enemy. Chillicothe town--Tat,a,ra,ra or leaning bank. Chillicothe is Shawanoese, and is the name of one of their tribes. Cincinnati--Tu,ent,a,hah,e,wagh,ta a landing place, where the road leaves the river. Ohio river--O,he,zuh,ye,an,da,wa or something great. Mississippi--Yan,da,we,zue or the great river |
NAMES OF RIVERS BY THE SHAWANOESE--SPOKEN SHA,WA,NO
Ohio, i. e. Eagle river.
Ken,a,wa--meaning having whirlpools, or swallowing up. Some have it that an evil spirit lived in the water, which drew substances to the bottom of the river.
Sci,o,to was named by the Wyandotts, who formerly resided upon it. A large town was at Columbus, having their cornfields on the bottom grounds opposite that city. The Wyandotts pronounce the word Sci,on,to, signification unknown.
Great Miamie--Shi,me,a,mee,sepe or Big Miamie.
Little Miamie--Che,ke,me,a,mee,sepe or Little Miamie.
Mus,king,um is a Delaware word, and means a town on the river side. The Shawanoses call it Wa,ka,ta,mo,sepe which has the same signification.
Hock,hock,ing is Delaware and means a bottle. The Shawanoese have it Wea,tha,kagh,qua,sepe -- Bottle river.
Auglaize river--Cow,the,na,ke,sepe or falling timber river.
Saint Mary's river--Ca,ko,the,ke,sepe or kettle river--cako,the,ke, a kettle.
Miamie of the lake--Ot,ta,wa,sepe or Ottawa river. The Ottawas had several towns on this river as late as 1811, an down to within 10 years. They occupied the coutnry about the lake shore, Maumee bay and the rapids above Perrysburgh.
Blanchard's fork of the Auglaize--Sha,po,qua,te,sepe or Tailor's river.
Sandusky river--called by the Shawanoese Po,ta,ke,sepe, a rapid river.
Detroit strait, or river--Ke,ca,me,ge, the narrow passage, or strait.
Kentucky is a Shawanoese word, and signifies at the head of a river.
Licking river, which enters the Ohio opposite the city of Cincinnati--the Shawanoese have it, Ne,pe,pim,me,sepe, from Ne,pe,pim,me, salt, and sepe, river, i. e. salt river.
Mad river--by the Shawanoese, Athe,ne,sepe,athe,ne, a flat or smooth stone, and sepe, river, i. e. a flat or smooth stone river.
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