Chapter XIV: Introduction (4)

=Wolf=, (gray), schánton-son (_an_ and _on_ French).

=Wolf= (prairie), mikkasseh.

FOOTNOTES:

[262] Written from the pronunciation of Major Dougherty, who understood this language perfectly. The Omáhas belong to the Dacóta linguistic group, and form with the Osages, Konzas, Ayowäs (Joways), Missouris, Otos, and Puncas, Mr. Gallatin's southern Sioux. Among the nations named there are several different dialects, of which the Osages and Konzas speak one; the Otos, Ayowäs, and Missouris another; and the Omahas and Puncas a third. On these peoples, see Gallatin (_ibid._, pp. 126-28). There it is noted that a vocabulary of the Ayowäs (Jówäs) is lacking; a gap which I can claim to have filled, since I was assured by Major Dougherty that the Ayowäs speak the Oto language, whose words are given below.--MAXIMILIAN.

OTO[263]

=Abyss=, moksché; iro-moksché, steep cliff.

=Air=, ta-djä̍ (_j_ French).

=All= (all together), brogä̍; the whole mass (or multitude),
akiwoasan (_woa_ like _voi_ in French; _an_ French).

=Alone=, asch-nå (_sch_ like _j_ French).

I myself alone, mij-nå (_j_ French here and below).
You (thou) alone, dij-nå.
He alone, ij-nå.
We alone, guj-nå.
You alone, dij-nå.

=Always=, eiiåhma (_ei_ together).

=American= (an), Måhi-hónn-ie (_ie_ short; _e_ audible); i.e.,
Long Knife.

=Another=, i-tan-dö (_an_ French).

=Answer= (v), i-hä̍.

=Anxiety= (fear), nongguä̍ (_gua_ short).

=Approach stealthily= (v; stalk), sridje-monnä̍ (_j_ French).

=Arm=, asché.

=Arrow=, mi̍to.

=Ashes=, må-chudjé (_ch_ guttural).

=Awake= (v, intr), uatá-nayé (run together).

=Awake= (v, tr), ih-ki-reh.

=Axe=, i̍suä (_sua_ short).

=Back= (adverb), hatá.

=Back= (n), nåh-kan (_an_ French).

=Bad= (malicious), tsichogä̍ (_ch_ guttural).

=Bald=, nantó-rusch-ra (_an_ French).

=Ball= (bullet), måh-seh-måh; same word as for lead.

=Bathe= (v), ni-uah (_uah_ nasal).

=Beard=, ndä-hi (_n_ only a fore-tone).

=Beautiful=, ocompih (French).

=Before= (ahead), på-gran (_an_ French).

=Behind= (behind us), a-rúcha-gä (_ch_ guttural).

=Belly=, ni-cha (_ch_ guttural).

=Beside= (near), oh-kang-äh.

=Best=, pi-tånra, (_an_ French).

=Bird=, wåe-ing-ä (_e_ barely audible; the whole together).

=Bite= (v), rochtagä.

=Bitter=, sehko-schkunä̍; i.e., not sweet, they do not have a
direct expression.

=Black=, seuä̍ (_e_ and _u_ separated).

=Bladder=, nächä̍ (_ch_ guttural).

=Blind=, ich-tåch-hidje (_j_ French; final _e_ short).

=Blood=, wåpågä̍-oyú.

=Bloom= (v), pahüson (_on_ French).

=Blow= (v; blow out), a-bi-chä (_ch_ guttural).

=Blue=, tóh.

=Blush= (v), schudjö (_j_ French).

=Boil= (v; cook), oh-hon (_on_ French).

=Bone= (bones), uah-hi̍ (_uah_ nasal).

=Bough=, nå-ing-ä (run together).

=Bow=, måndehi̍ (_an_ French).

=Break= (v), to-ié.

=Break open= (v; force open), wå-gre-ue.

=Breast= (female), påsä (_sa_ short).

=Breast= (the whole breast), mong-ä.

=Breath=, hi̍; same word as for mouth and tooth.

=Bridge=, ohä̍.

=Broad=, brå-ské (final syllable short).

=Brook=, nischna-ing-ä (run together).

=Brother=, song-ä̍; my brother, mi-song-ä̍.

=Brown=, chudje (_ch_ guttural; _e_ distinctly pronounced); i.e.,
dark, smoky, they have no word for brown.

=Burn= (v), todjé (_j_ French).

=Bury= (v; inter), ochä (_ch_ guttural).

=Buy= (v), wå-ru-mäh; same word means to trade.

=Calm= (n), oh-bra-gä̍.

=Canoe=, på-djé (_j_ French).

=Carrion= (a dead animal), uå-hu-mä̍ (_ua_ short and together).

=Catch= (v; capture), rusä̍.

=Caught= (v; captured), ua-ni-hih (_u_ and _a_ separated).

=Cave=, i̍ro-chrogä̍; i.e., a hollow rock.

=Chew= (v), same word as for meal, or to eat.

=Child=, tchitching-ä (_ch_ like _tgi_, with the point of the
tongue).

=Choke= (v; press to death, smother), o-nong-ä̍.

=Clear= (bright), o-haun-uäh (_n_ French; _uah_ nasal).

=Clear= (water), ni-bréjé (French); they give this name to the
Mississippi.

=Cloud= (masses of cloud), moͣch-pih (_ch_ guttural).

=Coal=, åchudjeh (_ach_ guttural).

=Coals= (glowing), pedjé-sih (_j_ French).

=Cold= (adj), sni̍h.

=Comb= (n), härusäh, i.e., louse-catcher; from hä, louse, and
rusäh, catch.

=Community= (company, many men), manksché-gerohan (_an_ French;
_ge_ German).

=Compel= (v; force), a-u-scheh-geh (run together).

=Convenient= (comfortable), pi̍; same word as for good.

=Cough= (v), hogh-pä̍.

=Count= (v; number), uårauä (_au_ together).

=Cowardly=, same word as for lazy, or rotten.

=Crooked=, rutan-schkunäh (_an_ French).

=Crow= (way of dressing hair), nantó (_an_ French).

=Cure= (v; heal), ginih.

=Curly= (hair), påhi̍-riberin (_in_ nasal, like i̍).

=Cut= (v), gron-tschéh (_on_ French).

=Cut down= (v; fell), gron-tsché (_on_ French).

=Cut down= (v; fell), grontsché (_on_ French).

=Cut into= (v; incise, carve), grontsché (_on_ French).

=Dance= (n), woͣtschí.

=Dark=, ohånsä̍ (_an_ French).

=Daughter=, ih-wung-ä.

=Day=, han-uä (_an_ French, the whole short and run together).

=Dead=, tsä̍h.

=Deaf=, nå-cho-dje-ning-e (_j_ French; _ch_ guttural; _e_ short).

=Dear= (costly), tschä-chäh (_ch_ guttural).

=Deceive= (v; cheat), gistoncha (_ch_ guttural).

=Decoy= (v; decoy an animal), tah-sching-ä-on (_sching_ and _a_
pronounced together; _on_ French).

=Devastate= (v), schéh-na.

=Devil= (evil spirit), wåhkondapisch-kunnä̍h.

=Die= (v), tsä̍h.

=Dirty=, måh-chrih (_ch_ with the point of the tongue).

=Dirty= (v), måchré (_ch_ guttural).

=Dive=(v), ni̍h-rotata. [MS. note in Library of Congress copy by
J. O. Dorsey, says that this is not a verb but ni, water, and
rótata, under.--TRANS.]

=Divide= (v; share), ikirutan (_an_ French).

=Door=, tschi-okä̍ (run together).

=Double=, nouä̍; same word as for two.

=Drag= (v; drag a load), påhi̍-on-reh (_on_ French).

=Draw= (v; draw water), nih-ru-seh.

=Dream= (v), ombrä̍; ira-ombrá, you dreamed (plural).

=Drink= (v), ratan (_an_ French).

=Dry= (adj), buh-sä.

=Dumb=, i-tiä-ru-scha-gä.

=Dung=, ming-grä.

=Dust=, månschuh-schudje (_an_ French; likewise _j_; _e_ short).

=Dwelling place= (hunting stand), irappä (final _a_ between _e_
and _a_ umlaut).

=Ear=, nan-toa (French).

=Ear-ornament=, uåhnon-pin (_non_ French; _pin_ nasal, like _pi_).

=Early=, heruh-tach-tsché (_ach_ guttural); early in the day.

=Empty= (adj), chroschkä (_ch_ guttural).

=Enclose= (v; shut up), uå-nåssé.

=Enemy=, okitsché.

=Englishman=, Sanganasch.

=Enough=, kahä̍na (_na_ short).

=Entertain= (v), nontutan (_on_ and _an_ French).

=Even= (equal, flat), bra-ské, or bras-ké; same word as for
broad, or great.

=Evening=, pi̍-kuiä̍, or pi̍kuiä̍; from pi, sun, and kuiä̍, low.

=Everywhere=, mayon-brughä (_on_ French); i.e., over the whole
land.

=Expectorate=(v), grä-uä.

=Eye=, ichtá (_ich_ German and not guttural; nearly the same as
with the Dacota, Omahas, Osages, and Puncas).

=Eyelid=, ichtá-hi.

=Face= (sight), indéh.

=Fall= (v), o-chua-nä (_ch_ guttural).

=Far= (distant), ha-rä.

=Far= (distant), hah-reh.

=Fat=, uå-schi.

=Father=, ing-koh.

=Feast=, same as meal, or eat; they say, give to eat; also gi-ko.

=Feather=, manschon (_on_ French).

=Female= (of animals), ming-eh.

=Festival=, så-gä.

=Fever=, okisché-gétachran (_ch_ guttural; _an_ French).

=Find= (v), ikiré.

=Finger=, nau-ue (_ue_ short).

=Fire=, pedjé (first _e_ distinctly pronounced; _j_ French).

=Fish= (n), hó.

=Fish= (v), ho-rusä̍.

=Fish= (v; catch fish), same word as for fish-hook.

=Fish-hook=, horusé.

=Fist=, nauä̍-sogä.

=Flame= (n), pedjé-takan (_j_ and _an_ French).

=Flat= (level), braskä̍.

=Flee= (v; escape), hå-sä.

=Flesh=, tåh.

=Flint=, ju-tsché-ogran (_an_ French).

=Flood= (v; overflow), nih-ton (_on_ French).

=Flow= (v), kahi̍ra (_ra_ short).

=Fog=, schuschudjä (_j_ French).

=Foot=, si̍.

=Foot-path=, nong-ä̍.

=Forehead=, pä̍h.

=Forest=, chrå-uäh (_ch_ guttural).

=Forget= (v), giksuh-schkúnnä.

=Freeze= (v; chill), o-snih.

=Freeze= (v; congeal), nih-tåh.

=Frenchman=, Måsongkä-okannä (_a_ umlaut, also pronounced like
_e_).

=Friend=, ntará.

=Full=, oh-yuh.

=Fully= (of cooking, done), ni-djä̍ (_j_ French).

=Gall= (bile), grä-ue-sih.

=Gay-colored= (variegated), gréjé (_j_ French).

=Go= (v), monnih.

=God= (creator), wåhkonda.

=Good=, pi̍h.

=Grandson=, intaqúa.

=Grape-vine=, hå-seh-hih.

=Grave=, óh-chä (_ch_ guttural).

=Gray=, cho-djé (_j_ French; _ch_ guttural).

=Gray-haired=, pahi-son (French).

=Great= (tall), grón-rä (_n_ French).

=Green=, tohch-djä̍ (_ch_ guttural; _j_ French).

=Ground= (earth), måhå.

=Gun=, jútschä (_tscha_ short); rifle, jútschä-ki̍h-berúh-berúh
(the whole short, and run together).

=Gut= (intestines), schiuä̍.

=Gut= (v; gut an animal), nicha-gi-na-sché (_ch_ guttural).

=Hair=, på-hi̍.

=Half=, oskisserä (_e_ short); så-ning-ä̍, the second part.

=Hand=, nau-uä.

=Hard=, sågeh.

=Hate= (v), hasch-ing-äh.

=Head=, på.

=Headache=, nan-soh-nih-djä (_an_ French; _dja_ likewise).

=Healthy=, ogischegä-schkúnnä (_e_ short).

=Hear= (v), nåkon (_on_ French).

=Heart=, mon-tchä (_on_ French; _ch_ with the point of the
tongue).

=Heat= (v; inflame), tåcherang (_ch_ guttural); i.e., warm; they
also say monschtiö (_on_ French).

=Heavy= (difficult), tscháh-tan (_an_ French).

=Hide= (v), nåh-chron (_ch_ guttural; _on_ French).

=High=, mock-scheh.

=Hole=, chro-gä̍ (_ch_ guttural).

=Hollow= (adj), chro-gä̍ (_ch_ with the point of the tongue).

=Horn=, hä̍h.

=Horns= (antlers), häh.

=Horse= (young horse), schangtóing-ä.

=Hot=, moschtä.

=House= (lodge), tschi̍h.

=Hunger=, chråni̍ (_ch_ guttural).

=Hunt= (n), kinángra.

=Hunt= (v), kinángra.

=Hunter=, kinángra-uarupeh.

=Hurricane= (storm), tåh-såggä-uayhäh-häh (the whole run
together).

=I=, mi̍h.

=Ice=, nóchä (_ch_ guttural; _a_ short).

=Incurable=, ginih-schkúnnä.

=Indistinct=, tahi̍-schkúnnä.

=Internal= (within), róhtata.

=Intoxicate= (v), tå-ningé (_ninge_ nasal).

=Iron=, mǻ-sä (first syllable longer; first _a_ almost like _an_
French).

=Island=, rú-mi-tschi̍ (_rumitschi_, or _rumaetschi_).

=Jar= (vessel), däh-chä (_ch_ guttural).

=Joy= (enjoyment, mirth), gi̍ro (German throughout).

=Knife=, måh-hi.

=Know= (v), ju̍a-hamg-äh.

=Know= (v; be acquainted with), hah-pang-äh.

=Lame=, uåh-hi̍ragä.

=Lance= (spear; sword-lance), uåh-yaueh (letters in _yaueh_ are
separated).

=Land=, mayón (French).

=Laugh= (v, or n), ick-scháh.

=Lay= (v; lay down), jan (_an_ French).

=Leader= (chief), uong-gé-gi-hi (first syllable almost like
_wong_; _g_ guttural).

=Leaf= (of a tree), nǻchpä (_nach_ long).

=Left= (direction), aratscheh.

=Leg=, rägä.

=Lie= (v; deceive), tohshäh.

=Light= (v; illuminate), hån-ue-on-re (_an_ and _on_ French; _ue_
nasal, likewise _han_).

=Light= (v; kindle), ohan-ue (_an_ French; _u_ and _e_ separated).

=Lightning=, wáhkonda-gron (_gron_ French).

=Like= (v; be fond of), ooch-thá (_ch_ guttural).

=Lip=, ih-hå.

=Little=, tscho-kerá.

=Long=, sreh-djeh (_j_ French).

=Loose= (of clothes), grån-reh (_an_ French).

=Maiden=, tschichmi-ing-ä (_ich_ guttural).

=Maize=, wå-dud-djé (_j_ French).

=Man=, uong-gä, or uong-äh; same word as for human being.

=Man= (human being), uong-äh.

=Marry= (v; of a man), grong-äh.

=Marry= (v; of a woman), uåruchä̍.

=Meal= (or to eat?), uåårudjé (_j_ French).

=Messenger=, ikomónne (_ne_ short).

=Milk= (n), teh-på-seh-nih (run together).

=Mirror=, måse-angitan (_e_ short; _an_ French).

=Money=, må-ses-kå (all syllables even); i.e., white metal.

=Moon=, pi̍h: they add a limiting word; the words for sun and
moon are the same, but they believe the two to be distinct.

=Morning=, hån-uä.

=Mother=, ináh.

=Mountain=, hämokschä̍.

=Mouth=, hi̍.

=Much= (many), roh-han (_an_ French).

=Murder= (v; kill), tsä̍h.

=Music=, uå-yanuäh (_yan_ French).

=My=, mih-te-uäh.

=Nail= (on the feet), si̍ha-schágä.

=Nail= (on fingers), naue-ue-schágä.

=Nail= (on the hands), nombä-schágä (_nom_ French).

=Naked=, tåh-huh.

=Name= (n), rahjä (_j_ German).

=Narrow=, broͣskäsch-schkúnä (_na_ short).

=Necklace= (neck ornament), wånon-peh (_on_ French).

=Needle=, måh-sickan (_an_ French).

=Negro=, mååk-schi-säuäh.

=Night=, haǻn-hä.

=Noon=, pi̍oh-cons-ská (_cons_ French).

=Nose=, påso.

=Not= (no), niäkóh.

=Old=, isch-ágä.

=Old man=, uánscha (_an_ French).

=Old woman=, inahak-schingä (German throughout).

=Oldest=, inó.

=On the other side= (of a river), ni̍agreck.

=Once=, jóng-kä.

=Over=, mok-schüátta (_atta_ short).

=Over= (above), mååk-schäh.

=Pain= (n), nih-djé (_j_ French).

=Paint= (v), okompé (French throughout).

=Palate=, räsä̍.

=Pale= (v; grow pale, fade), indéhska; i.e., white or pale face.

=Peace=, mayon-pi̍h (_on_ French).

=Pipe= (tobacco), rå-no-uä̍.

=Plant= (v), o-yú (together); i.e., put something in the earth.

=Play= (v). schkåh-djé (_j_ French).

=Pluck= (v; feathers), hi-snudjä (_j_ French).

=Pointed=, påh-hi.

=Pond= (pool), same word as for swamp.

=Pouch= (sack), osché (_e_ somewhat like _a_ umlaut).

=Powder= (gun-powder), åh-chudjäh (_ch_ guttural; _j_ French).

=Pray= (v; to the lord of life), wahkonda-åchagä (_ch_ guttural).

=Pregnant=, nichta-chontjä (_ch_ guttural; _j_ French).

=Press= (v), bri̍chä-onongä.

=Press out= (v; express?), sagéonang-ä (the whole run together;
_ge_ German, as in _geben_).

=Pretty=, oh-com-pih (French).

=Prick= (v; sting), wå-yah-uä (_ua_ short).

=Prisoner=, same word as for caught, or captured.

=Proud= (haughty), tan-ra-gon-da (_an_ and _on_ French).

=Pulse=, ahk-kan (first _a_ barely audible; _an_ French).

=Punish= (v; whip), utschi̍.

=Push= (v; thrust), nih-djé (_j_ French).

=Quick=, ho-che-rä (_ch_ guttural).

=Rain= (n), ni-o-iu (run together).

=Reconcile= (v; appease), mayonpih (_on_ French).

=Red=, schu-djä̍ (_j_ French).

=Resistance= (self-defence), ankirragä̍ (_an_ French).

=Rib=, roh-toh.

=Ripe= (of fruits), si̍h-da (_da_ short).

=River=, nisch-nong-ä.

=Rock= (cliff), i̍ro.

=Rot= (v), obrån-pesch-kunä̍ (_an_ French).

=Rotten= (lazy?), chritagä̍ (_ch_ guttural).

=Round=, schnåh-schnåh.

=Run= (v), nong-ä.

=Salt down= (v; pickle, corn), nischko-oiú.

=Scalp=, nantó (_an_ French).

=Sea=, nih-chonn-djé (_dje_ French); the Ayowas say, nih-chon-je
(_je_ German).

=Secret=, nå-chron (_ch_ palatal; _on_ French).

=See= (v), uatah (_u_ and _a_ follow closely).

=Sexual organs= (female), uieh (_u_ separated).

=Sexual organs= (male), reh.

=Shade= (shadow), oh-uan-seh (_an_ French).

=Shallow= (water), nichä-uäh (_ch_ guttural).

=Sharp= (pointed), på-hih.

=Shave= (v), chru-scherá (_ch_ guttural).

=Shoot= (v; with an arrow), måhkudjeh.

=Shoot= (v; with a gun), jutjehkudjeh (_j_ French).

=Shore= (bank), nih-må-åh.

=Short=, süït-tscheh.

=Shout= (v; call), sih-uan (_uan_ short, like _wan_ nasal; _an_
French).

=Shout= (v; give the warhoop), graah (_r_ with the point of the
tongue).

=Sick=, okischegä.

=Side=, såh-ning-ä.

=Sing= (v), yan-uah (_an_ French).

=Sister=, tång-äh.

=Sit= (v), ah-mi-nåh.

=Skin= (hide), hå.

=Sleep= (v), iyán (_i_ and _y_ slightly separated; _an_ French).

=Sleepy=, yon-gondah (_on_ French).

=Slowly=, srih-djeh (_j_ French).

=Small=, ing-äh.

=Smell= (v; sniff at, scent), obran (_an_ French); smell
(something), obranré.

=Smoke= (n), scho-djä (_j_ French).

=Smoke= (v; tobacco), rah-nehi.

=Snow= (n), påh; same word as for head and nose.

=Sole= (of the foot), si-ro-ta-tá (_sirotata_).

=Son=, hih-ing-äh.

=Speak= (v), id-djé (_j_ French).

=Spirits= (distilled), pedjé-ni (_j_ French); i.e., fire-water.

=Spot= (v; stain), måchré (_ch_ guttural).

=Spring= (source), nih-hong-ä.

=Spring= (the season), päh-käh.

=Spring= (v; leap, jump), attåunuah (nasal; _aun_ nasal; _n_
French).

=Spy= (v; listen), ånoch-ron-no-kron (_on_ French).

=Star=, piká.

=Start= (v; start an animal), hå-sé.

=Stick=, nan-ing-ä (_an_ French).

=Still= (silent), echan-schkunäh (_ch_ guttural; _an_ French).

=Stinginess=, (greediness), gi-tschächä (_cha_ palatal).

=Stomach=, mong-ä (_a_ short).

=Stone=, i̍ro, or i̍h-roh.

=Stop= (v; hold fast, arrest), o-nongä (run together).

=Storm= (thunder-storm), tájä-soggä̍ (_j_ French).

=Straight= (direct), ruh-tan (_an_ French).

=Strangle= (v), gi-to-dje (_j_ French).

=Strike= (v; beat), uh-tschin (_tschin_ nasal; _in_ like _i_).

=Strong=, brih-chäh (_r_ with the point of the tongue; _ch_
guttural).

=Stump=, påhi̍-schkunäh.

=Stupid=, bréjé-schkunä̍ (_j_ French).

=Summer=, tohk-äh.

=Sun=, pi̍h.

=Sunrise=, pi̍h-gri̍h.

=Sunset=, pi̍h-hi̍h.

=Swamp=, tschérauä (_ua_ short).

=Sweet=, skóh.

=Swelling= (boil), ouä̍ (short and together).

=Swim= (v), nih-uan (_an_ French).

=Tail= (of an animal), sinn-djä (_j_ French).

=Teach= (v), wå-kon-seh (_on_ French).

=Tear out= (v; pull out), gi-na-sché.

=Tears= (n), ischtá-ni̍h; i.e. eye-water.

=Teeth=, ihi̍.

=There= (of place), tschekä̍, or kö̍ta.

=Thick= (large), chonje chonje (_j_ French).

=Thin=, brékä.

=Thumb=, nau-uä-chonje (_ch_ short); i.e., thick, or big finger.

=Thunder= (n), gron-gron (_on_ French); wahkonda-gron-gron.

=Tie= (v; bind, fasten), ru-ski-djä (_j_ French).

=Tinder-box=, pedjé-on (_j_ and _on_ French).

=Tobacco=, rah-nih.

=Toe=, sihasch-schángä.

=Tomahawk=, i-sua-ing-ä (run together).

=To-morrow=, härúh-tata.

=Tongue=, redseh.

=Toothache=, ihi̍-nidjeh (_j_ French).

=Trace= (track of an animal), sih-grä̍ (last syllable short).

=Trade=, uå-ru-ma.

=Trader=, same word as for buy.

=Trap= (snare), månse-råch-tagä (_ach_ guttural).

=Tree=, grå-uéh (_gr_ guttural).

=True=, mikä̍.

=Ugly=, püsch-schkunnä.

=Undress= (v; strip), unaie-gistrüdje (_j_ French).

=Unmarried=, ming-grong-äschkunnä; of a woman, uåruch-äschkunnä.

=Unripe=, sidah-schkúnnä.

=Until= (unto), ätchån (_ch_ guttural; _an_ French).

=Urine=, däjä̍ (_j_ French).

=Vein= (artery), kán (French).

=War=, mayón-peschkuni̍h (_on_ French); literally, bad land.

=War-club= (with the iron point), uehrutschin (_tschin_ nasal;
_n_ French).

=Warm=, mosch-tschä̍.

=Warmth= (of weather, or water), tåh-chran (_ch_ guttural).

=Warrior= (brave man), wå-schúscheh.

=Wash= (v), uå-ruh-jäh.

=Water=, ni̍h.

=Wax=, uagriska-minggräh.

=Weep= (v), cha-gä (_ch_ guttural; _ga_ short).

=Wet= (adj), tohkä.

=What? how?= tå-ku-rä̍.

=Whistle= (v; pipe), suh-dä̍.

=White=, skáh.

=White man=, må-song-kä; i.e., he works in iron.

=Whole= (very), brughä̍ (_gh_ guttural).

=Widow=, aegran-ning-ä (_an_ French).

=Wind= (n), tad-djé (_j_ French).

=Wing=, ahú.

=Winter=, påh-nih.

=Within= (come in), gúh.

=Woman= (wife), ina-hakä (final _a_ barely audible).

=Wood=, nä̍h.

=Work= (v), uå-on (_on_ French).

=Wound= (v), òh.

=Wound= (v; shoot), òh.

=Wrap up= (v), ruberin (_in_ like _i_ nasal).

=Year= (winter), páhni (_ni_ short).

=Yellow=, si̍h.

=Yes=, hontiö̍ (_an_ French).

=Young= (not old or little), schiniä̍ (_nia_ nasal).

_Numerals_

=One=, jon-kä̍.

=Two=, noh-uä.

=Three=, tåh-ni.

=Four=, toh-uä.

=Five=, såh-tan (_an_ French).

=Six=, schåh-kuä (_kua_ short).

=Seven=, schåh-cheman (second _ch_ guttural; _e_ short; _an_
French).

=Eight=, kräh-råbbeneh (first _e_ short).

=Nine=, schonkä̍.

=Ten=, kräh-bran (_an_ French).

=Twenty=, krän-bran-noh-uä.

=Thirty=, kräh-bran-tåh-ni.

=Forty=, kräh-bran-toh-uä.

_Animals_

=Bear= (black), montchä̍ (_cha_ almost like _tia_).

=Bear= (grizzly), måntó (_an_ French).

=Beaver=, rauä̍ (_a_ and _u_ somewhat separated).

=Buffalo=, tjä̍ (_j_ French).

=Deer= (common, or Virginian), tahg-tsche, or simply thá.

=Dog=, schonk-okännäh.

=Duck=, michä-iniä (_ch_ guttural).

=Elk= (great deer), hóma (_ma_ short).

=Fox= (black), mischnäkä-sä-uä.

=Fox= (gray), mischnäkä.

=Fox= (red), mischnäkä-schudjä (_j_ French).

=Hare=, misch-tsching-gä̍ (run together).

=Horse=, schong-äh.

=Mule=, noͣn-tua-chonjä (_ch_ guttural).

=Opossum=, ik-scha-mina (run together); i.e., the one which lies
down, or sleeps with laughter.

=Otter=, tohsch-nong-ä (all syllables even).

=Ox=, tschehs-kah.

=Skunk=, mong-äh.

=Snake=, wå-kån (_an_ French).

=Turkey= (wild), wåe-ink-chontjeh (first _e_ barely audible; _ch_
guttural; _j_ French).

=Turtle=, keth-han (_an_ French).

=Wolf= (black), schanton-sä-uä.

=Wolf= (gray), schanton-schkáh (_anton_ French).

=Wolf= (prairie), schah-monnikassi̍h.

FOOTNOTES:

[263] Written from the pronunciation of Major Dougherty, Indian agent for this nation, who understands the language thoroughly. This language, with only slight variations, is spoken by the Otos, Ayowäs, and Missouris.--MAXIMILIAN.

PAHNI[264]

=All= (the whole), tsche-túh (_e_ short).

=Bad=, hå-ku-na-heh.

=Buffalo=, taraháh.

=Child=, pi̍h-rau (_rau_ together and German).

=Cold= (adj), te-pe-tseh.

=Come= (v), ueh-ta.

=Father=, attiasch (_i_ and _a_ separated).

=Gone= (gone away), ueh-tiet.

=Good=, tunaheh.

=Goods= (wares), låh-pion (_pion_ French).

=Great= (tall), ti-réh-hu.

=His=, ku-tá.

=Horse=, arúhsch.

=Kill= (v), uetekut (_ue_ separated).

=Love= (v; prize), tirǻh-pire-huh (_e_ audible).

=Maize=, lå-khé-schu.

=Man=, så̍hnisch.

=Meal= (or to eat?), tih-uáh-uah (run together).

=Mule=, kit-kehåh-keh (first _e_ short).

=My=, ku-ta-tih.

=Not= (no), kåh-kih.

=Pipe= (tobacco), lah-uisch.

=Quick=, uisch-ke-tiuh (_ke_ short).

=Sleep= (v), titkah.

=Slow=, påhith.

=Small=, kakiréhhu.

=Sun=, sok-kóh-ro (_ro_ half short).

=Trade= (n), tiråh-poh.

=What?= tire-kéhro (first _e_ distinctly pronounced but somewhat
short).

=White=, tå̍ h-kåh.

=White man=, sáhnisch-tå̍h-kåh.

=Woman= (wife), tsoppat.

=Your= (plural), ku-ta-schih.

FOOTNOTES:

[264] Written from the pronunciation of an American; I, therefore, cannot guarantee the correctness of these words.--MAXIMILIAN.

PUNCA, Pons of the Canadians

=Arm=, adn (_d_ and _n_ barely audible).

=Arrow=, mán (French).

=Bow=, mandéh (_an_ French).

=Child=, schi̍nga-schi̍nga.

=Earth=, tån-dä.

=Eye=, ischtá.

=Fire=, pä̍hd.

=God= (creator), wåhkonda.

=Hair=, nanschiha (_an_ French; _ha_ short).

=Hand=, nombä̍ (_om_ French).

=Head=, nanschti (_an_ French).

=Man=, nů́h (_u_ between _o_ and _u_).

=Moon=, mi̍h-om-báh (_om_ French), or mih-ombáh.

=Mouth=, hi̍h.

=Pipe= (tobacco), nīnibá.

=Star=, mi̍hka.

=Sun=, mi̍h.

=Tomahawk=, manse-päschingá (_an_ French; _se_ short).

=Water=, ni̍h.

=Woman=, wáh-uh.[265]

FOOTNOTES:

[265] From the words given above it appears that the Puncas are descended from the Omáhas; for their language is the same with only very slight variations, a fact which they, themselves, admit.--MAXIMILIAN.

SAUKIS, SAKIS; Sacs of the French[266]

=Arrow=, annó.

=Beautiful=, uatchitá.

=Beaver=, améhk.

=Black=, makåtä̍.

=Bow=, matä̍.

=Buffalo=, nannosó.

=Child=, nänitschonés (_es_ with emphasis).

=Devil= (evil spirit), mdji̍-mnitó (_j_ French), or
motschi-manito.

=Elk= (great deer), mäschauáh.

=Eye=, ski̍schick.

=Fire=, skotäw (_aw_ short; _w_ barely audible).

=Foot=, nasset.

=God= (good spirit), bakéhmánito.

=Green=, skepok-kuaiuah, or spe pokiä̍.

=Hair=, minesai (_ai_ together).

=Hand=, nanätsch (second _a_ between _a_ and _a_ umlaut; _ch_
soft).

=Head=, utab.

=Horse=, naketóhsh-kescháh (first _e_ and _ke_ short).

=House= (lodge), uïkiahb (_ui_ short).

=Leader= (chief), tapáne-táke (_e_ barely audible).

=Leg= (whole leg), nekáht.

=Maiden=, schaskesé (first _e_ short).

=Man=, nänni̍.

=Mirror=, woapamúhn.

=Morning=, uapåk.

=Mouth=, tätóhn.

=Night=, anaquick.

=Nose=, machkiuonn.

=One-eyed=, po-ke-kua.

=Otter=, kittä̍h.

=Pipe= (tobacco), poakan.

=Red=, máschkue-wiauáh.

=Tobacco=, saëmon (_on_ French).

=Tomahawk= (battle axe), papake-hüit (_huit_ short); the real
tomahawk is, popokiä̍.

=Turkey= (wild), pänáh (first _a_ umlaut).

=Ugly=, mianåt.

=War=, nitscheschkuá.

=Warrior=, uätåsäͦ̈ (final _a_ between _a_ umlaut and _o_ umlaut).

=Water=, nä̍pe (short; _e_ barely audible, almost like _i_).

=White= (the color), uapeschekann.

=Woman= (wife), i̍kua.

=Wood=, massahan (_h_ barely audible).

=Yellow=, u̍ssuah, or assáuah (_aua_ separated).

FOOTNOTES:

[266] Written from the pronunciation of a Sauki Indian.--MAXIMILIAN.

SNAKE INDIANS; Shoshones, in the Rocky Mountains[267]

=Arrow=, tóhietsitta (_iet_ together; _sitta_ distinctly
pronounced).

=Bow=, náhmeack.

=Earth=, a̍hsche (_ah_ long; _e_ ½).

=Far= (distant), máhnarko.

=Fire=, kohn-ne (_e_ ½).

=God=, tiwitsim-pohhacante (_e_ distinctly pronounced); i.e., the
lord of life.

=Hair= (hair of head), uchkannea (second _a_ barely audible).

=Head=, ochkanneh (_ch_ guttural).

=Horse=, punko.

=Horse= (race horse), punko-emáhhi-mia (_mi_ separated from _a_;
_a_ distinctly pronounced).

=Love= (I love), tiwitsin-kamahk.

=Love= (I love all white men), oyette-tabebo-kamangkä.[268]

=Man=, han-aht-se (_an_ French; _e_ ½ and short).

=Meal= (or to eat?), máhrichkia (_ich_ with the point of the
tongue).

=Moon=, ohtse-táhbe (_e_ ½); i.e., the night sun.

=Pity= (have pity, ayez pitié), tiwitsch-naschuntita.

=Sun=, táhbe (_e_ distinctly pronounced).

=Water=, ohksche (_e_ ½).

=Woman= (wife), uáh-ai-pe (_ai_ together; _e_ ½).

FOOTNOTES:

[267] Written from the pronunciation of the Spanish interpreter, Isidor Sandoval. On the Snake Indians, or Shoshonés, see the reports of the missionary Parker (_ibid._, p. 300), _Astoria_, p. 163, and Captain Bonneville, p. 159, etc.--MAXIMILIAN.

_Comment by Ed._ For Sandoval, see our volume xxiii, p. 132, note 109.

[268] The Snake Indians (les Serpens) call themselves Shoshonés. They are allies of the Flatheads, and enemies of the Blackfeet and Crows. They dwell in the Rocky mountains and beyond, on the Columbia; they fall into two divisions--the true Shoshonés, and the so-called Gens de Pitié, or Radiqeurs (Root-diggers)--the Maradiços of the Spaniards. The former keep a great number of dogs, which they do not use as pack animals, but for food. They do not have as many horses as the Blackfeet; but employ them for carrying burdens. They live in leather tents. They are generally not so well formed as the Blackfeet; still there are many tall, well developed men among them. Their tribe is said to be very numerous, more so than the Dacotas. They carry on trade with the Spaniards, who exchange beaver and other furs for leather shirts and similar articles. They are not hostile to the whites. The Root-diggers, on the other hand, are a wretched people. They do not have leather tents; but merely set poles together which they cover with boughs, hay, and grass. Their physiognomy is said to be distinguished by rather flat noses. They are very poor and barbarous, go nearly naked, live chiefly on roots, and possess no weapons. They eat ants in quantities; scooping up a whole hill of these, they wash them, knead them into balls, bake these between coals, pulverize them, and then make a soup. Mr. Campbell of Fort William, who has often visited them, gave me the following account of them. They were so barbarous and so indifferent to their environment, that everything about him seemed new and ridiculous to them. At that time they did not know the value of the beaver skins, which they singed. Some of their huts, which he visited, had remained for a long time in the same place without their ever having looked about for a better region. He found a large number of mountain goat skins among them; and, as they were so little acquainted with the whites, it was possible to carry on a very profitable trade with them. The Comanches, who call themselves Jamparicka, are said to speak practically the same language as the Snake Indians. They live at the sources of the Rio Colorado (Rivière rouge). They decorate one arm of their shirts with tufts of hair, the other with feathers.--MAXIMILIAN.

_Comment by Ed._ For Robert Campbell and Fort William, see our volume xxiii, p. 198, notes 154, 155, respectively.

WASAJI, or Osage[269]

=American= (an), Manhi̍-tánga (_an_ French).

=Arm=, ischtó.

=Arrow=, uan (_an_ French).

=Autumn=, tandje (_an_ and _j_ French).

=Avenge= (v), gráschupä.

=Beard=, putain (_tain_ French), or indjähin (_j_ French; _in_
nasal, like _i_).

=Bird=, uaschi̍nga.

=Black=, sábä.

=Blind=, ischtá-uä̍rabaje (_j_ French; _e_ distinctly
pronounced).

=Blood=, uahpi̍h.

=Blue=, tóh.

=Bone= (bones), uah-huh.

=Bow=, minn-djä (_j_ French).

=Brave=, uanompasche (_sche_ German; distinctly pronounced).

=Brave man=, uassissigä (guttural).

=Brook=, uatschi̍ska.

=Brother= (older), uischiniäh.

=Brother= (younger), uissonga.

=Child=, schi̍nga-schinga.

=Cold= (adj), sni̍h; very cold, sni̍h-uatschä.

=Copper= (metal), mansä̍-sih.

=Dance= (v), uatschi̍.

=Day=, hambá (French).

=Deaf=, nihü̍tsche-ning-kä (_e_ ½; the whole run together).

=Devil= (evil spirit), uakán-pi̍hschä (_a_ short and ½).

=Die= (v), ts-ä̍h (_ts_ is merely a fore tone).

=Dish= (of wood), i̍ntschipä (German throughout).

=Dog=, schong-gä (German).

=Door=, tischúpä.

=Dream= (v), hombra (German throughout).

=Drink= (v), latan (French).

=Dumb=, i̍ha-baje (_j_ French; _e_ distinctly pronounced).

=Ear=, natáh: hence mule, natáh-tánga; i.e., big ears.

=Earth=, makáh, or maniga (guttural, indistinct).

=Enemy=, okitsche (_e_ ½).

=Englishman=, Sanganásch.

=Evening=, pah-set-tan (_an_ French).

=Eye=, ischtá.

=Father=, indadjä (_j_ French).

=Feather=, manschon (_on_ French).

=Fire=, pedje (_j_ French; _e_ distinctly pronounced).

=Flesh=, táh-tóhka.

=Forest=, schán.

=Frenchman=, Ischtáchä (_ch_ German, guttural).

=Friend=, korá.

=Go= (v), grih-grah (German throughout; _r_ with the point of the
tongue).

=God=, uakán-tánga (first _an_ French) or uakoͣ́nda.

=Good=, tanhä (_an_ French); it tastes good, láhgenih.

=Great= (tall), tánga (German, guttural).

=Gun=, uahóta; rifle, minh-gi̍ng-graha.

=Hair=, pah-hah.

=Hand=, nompé (_om_ French).

=Head=, páh.

=Healthy=, ansi̍ri.

=Heart=, nonn-je (_j_ French; _e_ distinctly pronounced).

=Heat=, (n), man-schtä (_an_ French; _schta_ German).

=Horse=, kawa; plural is the same.

=House= (lodge), ti̍h.

=Hunger=, nompä-anhin (_om_ French likewise _an_ and final _in._
nasal, like _i_).

=Hunt= (v), tábreh.

=I=, uïe (_e_ ½).

=Ice=, tschácha (_ch_ guttural).

=Iron=, mansä̍ (_an_ French); yellow iron.

=Kettle= (iron), tschäckä̍.

=Knife=, manhi (_an_ French).

=Lame=, ih-rá-ha.

=Lance=, uä̍h-schap-schäh (the whole run together).

=Lead= (n), mansä-man (_an_ French).

=Leader= (chief), kahigä̍.

=Leg=, schä̍ga (German throughout).

=Life=, ani̍h.

=Lightning=, uakin-ala (_in_ nasal, almost like _i_; the whole
run together).

=Man=, niká; nika-schiga, several men, people.

=Meal= (or to eat?), uanúmbra (German throughout).

=Medicine-feast=, opä̍han-uakan (_an_ French); or medicine-day,
hámba-uakan (_am_ and _an_ French).

=Medicine-lodge=, kih-uakándagä.

=Medicine-man=, uakándagä (German throughout; _g_ guttural).

=Medicine-pouch=, uahhóbä.

=Moon=, mi̍h, or mi̍h-ómba (_om_ French).

=Morning=, han-bach-tschä (_han_ French; _bach_ German guttural).

=Mother=, ni̍h-tánga.

=Mountain=, pahha.

=Mountain= (great), pahha-tánga.

=Mountain= (small), pahha-schi̍nga.

=Mourning= (n), nanschischon.

=Mouth=, i-há.

=Much= (many), hühe (_e_ ½).

=Negro=, ni̍ka-sabä.

=Night=, hán-dje (_an_ and _j_ French; _e_ short).

=Nose=, pah-schu.

=Pipe= (tobacco), naniómba.

=Powder= (gun-powder), nichotsche (_ch_ guttural; _e_ distinct).

=Quick=, uasch-kan (_kan_ French).

=Quiver=, uáh-onju (_n_ and _j_ French); this, as well as bow and
arrow, no longer occurs among them.

=Red=, schúdja (_j_ French).

=Red= (to paint red), schudja-gáhcha (_ch_ guttural).

=River=, uatschi̍ska-tánga; i.e., great brook, or river; they
call the Missouri, Nih-schodje (_j_ French; _e_ ½), i.e., the
muddy water.

=Sand=, tschansemon (French).

=Scalp= (n), pahá.

=Scalp= (v; scalp an enemy), pahá-rüsá.

=Scalp-dance= (war-dance), tután-uatschi.

=Shield= (n), uágrä (short; _r_ with the point of the tongue); to
carry a shield, tschehá-uágrä.

=Sick=, itüh-häga (run together).

=Silver=, mansaskan (_an_ French); i.e., white iron.

=Small=, uah-hohstia, or uah-hohta.

=Smoke= (n), schódiä.

=Snow= (n), wáh.

=Speak= (v), i̍hha-uaska.

=Spirits= (distilled), pädjini̍h.

=Spring= (the season), päädje (_aa_ separated; _j_ French).

=Star=, uïtscháchpe (_ch_ German, guttural).

=Stingy= (greedy), uah-chrih (_ch_ with the point of the tongue).

=Stone=, in (_in_ somewhat nasal, like _i_).

=Strong=, uaschkan-gran-rä (_an_ and _gran_ French).

=Summer=, bellokellan (_an_ French).

=Sun=, uin (_u_ and _i_ separated; _in_ nasal, like _i_).

=Teeth=, hi̍h.

=Thunder= (n), gronhóta.

=Tobacco= (smoking tobacco), nanähü.

=Tomahawk= (with the pipe), manhispä-nani̍omba (_an_ French).

=Tongue=, lähja (_j_ French).

=Toothache=, hi̍h-hi̍h.

=Trail=, ohschángä (German).

=Ugly=, pih-sche (_e_ ½).

=Village=, taman (_an_ French).

=War=, tu-tan (_an_ French).

=War-club= (casse tête, tomahawk), manhispä-schi̍nga.

=Warmth=, manschtä (_an_ French).

=Wash= (v), gruschá.

=Water=, ni̍h.

=Weep= (v), hagä̍.

=White= (color), skáh.

=Widow=, ni̍hka-tombaschä (_om_ French).

=Wind= (n), tadjä (_j_ French).

=Winter=, páhletan (_e_ short; _an_ French).

=Woman= (wife), uakó (_ua_ separated).

=Wood=, tschán (_an_ French).

=Yellow=, si̍h.

=Yes=, hóh-uä.

_Articles of Dress_

=Blanket= (woolen), hahi̍n (_in_ nasal, like _i_).

=Deer's-tail= (hair ornament), táhsinnja (_j_ French).

=Leggings=, hü̍hninggä (German).

=Moccasins=, hómpä (_om_ French).

=Shirt=, o̍ch-kiüera (_ch_ guttural; _e_ ½); i.e., white man's
shirt, for they wear none, not even of leather.

_Numerals_

=One=, uïnchtschä (_uinch_ nasal; _u_ and _i_ separated; _n_
French; _ch_ guttural).

=Two=, nombá (_om_ French).

=Three=, lahbeni (_e_ ½; _ni_ short).

=Four=, toh-bá.

=Five=, sah-tá (_s_ soft; _ta_ short).

=Six=, schah-pé.

=Seven=, peh-umbá (German).

=Eight=, kih-atóba.

=Nine=, grä̍bena-tscheh-uïningkä̍ (the whole run together); i.e.,
ten less one; they also say, schangká.

=Ten=, grä̍bena (_e_ ½; _na_ short).

=Eleven=, grä̍bena-ahgenä-uächze (_uach_ nasal; _ach_ guttural;
_ze_ short).

=Twelve=, grä̍bena-agenih-nombá.

=Thirteen=, grä̍bena-lahbeni.

=Twenty=, grä̍bena-nombá; and so on.

=Hundred=, grä̍bena-hütanga.

=Thousand=, grä̍bena-itó-grabë̍na-hütanga.

* * * * *

=I eat=, uaranombra-tatsch, or uanumbra-minktsch.

=You= (thou) =eat=, uaranumbra.

=He eats=, same as I eat.

=We eat=, there is no plural form, the plural is expressed by
using "many."

=Eat= (imper singular and plural), uanumbra.

=I shall eat=, nomp-eh-anhin-uaranumbra-tatsch (_an_ and _n_
French); i.e., I am hungry and shall eat.

_Names of Other Tribes_

=Ayowas=, Páhodjä.

=Comanches=, Baschtá.

=Crows=, Kahchä̍ (_ch_ guttural).

=Dacotas=, Schauánn (_a_ and _u_ separated).

=Foxes=, given same name as Sahkis.

=Konzas=, Kansä̍ (_an_ French).

=Missouris=, Waschóra.

=Omáhas=, Omahá.

=Otos=, Wadochtáta (_och_ guttural).

=Pahnis=, Pani̍.

=Sakis=, Sáhki.

_Animals_

=Antelope=, tatóhka.

=Badger=, hogá (_ga_ German, guttural).

=Bear= (black), uassábä.

=Bear= (grizzly), mantó (_an_ French).

=Beaver=, tscháhbä.

=Buffalo= (bull), tschetoga.

=Buffalo= (calf), tschéh-schínga.

=Buffalo= (cow), tschéh.

=Cat=, mi̍hka.

=Cat= (European), ing-grong-grä̍scha (German).

=Elk= (general name), opán (_an_ French).

=Elk= (calf), opán-schinga.

=Elk= (doe), opán-mi̍nga (second word German).

=Elk= (stag), opán-tánga, or hächága (_ch_ guttural).

=Fox=, schongréscha (German).

=Fox= (prairie), schongréscha-schi̍nga.

=Hare= (white), manschtin-skah.

=Lynx= (felix rufa), mih-ká.

=Muskrat=, táh-si.

=Opossum=, sindiäschtá.

=Otter=, tochenángä (_ch_ German, guttural).

=Panther=, ingróng-ga (German throughout; run together).

=Panther-skin=, ingrónggaha.

=Rabbit= (hare), manschtin-schi̍nga (_an_ French; _in_ nasal,
like _i_).

=Skunk=, mang-gá.

=Snake=, uets-ah (_u_ and _e_ separated; the whole run together).

=Snake= (rattle snake), sin-diä̍-chala (_ch_ guttural).

=Spider=, tschä̍büka.

=Turkey= (wild), súhka.

=Wolf=, schomikásse (_e_ distinct).

_The Months_

=July and August=, tschetoga-ki̍rucha; i.e., the moon when the
buffalo is in heat.

=September, October and November=, tah-kiruchä, i.e., the time
when the deer is in heat.

=December=, tah-habrähka; i.e., moon of the thin hides.

=January and February=, mi̍hka-kiruchä; i.e., the time when the
lynx is in heat.

=March and April=, oh-uä-gachä (_ch_ guttural); i.e., the time of
the maize.

FOOTNOTES:

[269] Written from the pronunciation of Mr. Chardon, who had lived a long time among the Osages and understood the language perfectly. They call their people Wasaji. Formerly they were a powerful tribe, and were always at war with the neighboring Indians, even with the Konsas who speak the same dialect. They were originally divided into the Great and Little Osages; but about forty years ago a part of them, known under the name of the Chaneer's, or Clermont's band, separated from the rest and moved to the Arkansa. On the present dwelling place of the Osages, see Gallatin (_ibid._, p. 126). They regard themselves as autochthonous.--MAXIMILIAN.

_Comment by Ed._ For F. A. Chardon, see our volume xxiii, p. 188, note 144. For Clermont's band and its separation from the Osage, consult our volume v, pp. 191, 192.

INDIAN SIGN LANGUAGE[270]

This sign language has been treated in various works. Say has given noteworthy vocabularies in Edward James's _Account of the Expedition of Major Long to the Rocky Mountains_. The Arikkaras, Mandans, Minnitarris, Crows, Chayennes, Snakes, and Blackfeet all understand a system of signs, which, as we were told, are unintelligible to the Dacotas, Assiniboins, Ojibuas, Krihs, and other nations. The following vocabulary is taken from the first group.[271]

* * * * *

[From Colonel Garrick Mallery's "Sign Language of the Indians
of the Upper Missouri in 1832."]

Although nearly every book of travels among the Indians found between the Alleghenies and the western slope of the Rocky Mountains, refers to their frequent and convenient use of sign language, there are only three useful collections of described signs of any early date, either printed, or, so far as ascertained, in manuscript. These are as follows:[272]

* * * * *

The one collected by Prince Maximilian von Wied-Neu-Wied, in 1832-34, from the Cheyenne, Shoshoni, Arikara, Satsika, and the Absaroki, the Mandans, Hidatsa, and other Northern Dakotas.[273] This list is not published in the English edition, but appears in the German, Coblenz, 1839, and in the French, Paris, 1840. Bibliographic reference is often made to this distinguished explorer as "Prince Maximilian," as if there were but one possessor of that christian name among princely families. No translation of this list into English appears to have been printed in any shape, while the German and French editions are costly and difficult of access, so the collection cannot readily be compared by observers with the signs now made by the same tribes. The translation now presented is intended to facilitate such comparison. It is based upon the German original, but in a few cases where the language was so curt as not to give a clear idea, was collated with the French edition of the succeeding year, which, from some internal evidence, appears to have been published with the assistance or supervision of the author. Many of the descriptions are, however, so brief and indefinite in both their German and French forms, that they necessarily remain so in the present translation. The princely explorer, with the keen discrimination shown in all his work, doubtless observed what has escaped many recent reporters of aboriginal signs, that the latter depend much more upon motion than mere position--and are generally large and free--seldom minute. His object was to express the general effect of the motion, rather than to describe it so as to allow of its accurate reproduction by a reader who had never seen it. For the latter purpose, now very desirable, a more elaborate description would have been necessary, and even that would not in all cases have been sufficient without pictorial illustration. In a few instances the present writer has added explanations preceded by a dash--. Remarks on the signs might be indefinitely extended, but the present object is to assist present observers in making their own comparisons and suggestions, which, it is hoped, they will contribute to the final work on Sign Language, now in preparation by the Bureau of Ethnology of the Smithsonian Institution, of which notice has been given in a preliminary pamphlet lately issued.

It is worthy of note that the distinguished explorer, who was the earliest to publish a comprehensive and scientific account of the tribes of the upper Missouri, is the only printed authority agreeing with the present writer in denying the existence of a universal sign language among the several tribes, in the sense of a common code, the report of which has generally been accepted without question. He states that the signs described, gathered by him from the tribes above mentioned, are unintelligible to the Dakotas (probably Sioux), Assiniboins, Ojibwas, Krees, and other nations. He undoubtedly means, however, that different signs prevailed among the two bodies of Indians, so divided by himself, and that the individuals who had only learned by rote one set of those signs, would not understand the other set which they had never seen, unless they were accomplished in the gesture speech as an art, and not as a mere memorized list of arbitrary motions. It has been clearly ascertained that two Indians of different tribes who have neither oral language nor previously adopted signs in common, can, after a short trial, communicate through familiarity with the principles of gesture speech, signs being mutually invented and accepted.

* * * * *

The philosophic prince also was one of the first to correct another common error, in attributing the use of signs to the poverty of the aboriginal tongues.

_List of the Prince of Wied-Neu-Wied_

=1. Good=: Place the right hand horizontally in front of the
breast, and move it forward.--This gesture is more fully
described by a recent observer, as follows: "Place the right
hand horizontally in front of the breast, and touching it,
fingers and thumbs closed and extended, back of hand up,
move rather sharply to the front until the forearm is nearly
extended." It may convey the suggestion of "level," "no
difficulty," and resembles some signs for "content." Many
Indians and deaf mutes use gestures to express a pleasant
taste in the mouth, for "good" even in a moral sense. (G. S.
124; S. L. 25.)

=2. Bad=: Close the hand and open it whilst passing it
downwards.--This sign is still frequent, the idea of dropping
out the supposed contents of the hand as not worth keeping,
being obvious. (G. S. 27; S. L. 26.)

=3. See=: Pass the extended index-finger forward from the eye.
(G. S. 229.)

=4. Come=: Elevate the index-finger near the face, extend the
hand and return it with a number of gentle jerks.--In the
prevalent sign noticed now for "come," in the sense of "come
here," the index, after the forearm (not hand alone) is
extended, is crooked slightly as if hooking on to an object,
and drawn sharply toward the person. The degree of motion is,
however, proportioned to the occasion, and the successive
"gentle jerks" of the author indicate less urgency than one
sharp redrawal. (G. S. 68.)

=5. Arrive=: Clap the hands, elevating the index-finger of the
right hand.--To express arrival at a place indicated by
previous gestures, some of the upper Missouri tribes now
hold the left hand fingers extended and closed, well out in
front of the body, palm toward it, forearm horizontal, right
hand between left and body, index extended vertically, other
fingers and thumb closed, nails outward, then the right hand
is carried sharply out until it strikes the left. The same
sign is used in a direction to go to a place indicated, and
that for returning from a place is the same with reversed
position of hands. It is conjectured that the clapping of
the hands mentioned by the author as commencing the sign
refers to the accomplishment of the motion, as southern
negroes say "done come." (G. S. 70.)

=6. Go, depart=: Like _come_; but begin near the face and extend
the hand with a number of gentle jerks. (G. S. 120.)

=7. Speak=: Place the flat hand back downward before the mouth
and move it forward two or three times. (G. S. 245.)

=8. Another speaks=: Place the hand in the same position,
beginning farther from the mouth, drawing it nearer and
nearer. (G. S. 246.)

=9. Man=: Elevate the index-finger and turn the hand hither
and thither.--The "turning of the hand hither and thither"
probably signifies more than the simple idea of man, and
is used for "only one man" or "a man who is alone." The
finger represents the male organ of generation, and among
some tribes the finger is held erect or crooked downward, to
indicate mature or declining age. (G. S. 176.)

=10. Woman=: Pass the palm of the extended hand downward over the
hair on the side of the head, or downward over the cheeks.
(G. S. 287.)

=11. Child=: Push the index-finger rapidly into the air then
draw the hand back downward.--The distance of the hand from
the ground when the motion ceases, indicates the height of
the child referred to. Indians often indicate the height of
human beings by the hand placed at the proper elevation, back
downward, and that of inanimate objects or animals not human
by the hand held back upward. (G. S. 54.)

=12. Kill=: Clinch the hand and strike from above downward.--This
motion, which may be more clearly expressed as the downward
thrust of a knife held in the clinched hand, is still used by
many tribes for the general idea of "kill," and illustrates
the antiquity of the knife as a weapon. The actual employment
of arrow, gun, or club in taking life, is, however, often
specified by appropriate gesture. (G. S. 158.)

=13. Arrow, To shoot an=: Place the tips of the fingers downward
upon the thumb, then snap them forward. (G. S. 25.)

=14. Gun, Discharge of a=: Place both hands as in No. 13, extend
the left arm, contract the right before the face, then snap
the ends of the fingers forward. (G. S. 130.)

=15. Arrow, To hit with an=: After the fingers have been
snapped, strike the hands together and elevate the
index-finger of the right hand. (G. S. 24.)

=16. Gunshot, To hit with a=: After the fingers have been
snapped, strike the hands together as in No. 15. (G. S. 131.)

=17. God, great spirit=: Blow upon the open hand, point upward
with the extended index-finger whilst turning the closed hand
hither and thither, then sweep it above the earth and allow
it to drop. (G. S. 89.)

=18. Medicine=: Stir with the right hand into the left, and
afterwards blow into the latter.--All persons familiar with
Indians will understand that the term "medicine" foolishly
enough adopted by both the French and English to express the
aboriginal magic arts, has no therapeutic significance. Very
few even pretended remedies were administered to the natives,
and probably never by the professional shaman, who worked
by incantation, often pulverizing and mixing the substances
mystically used, to prevent their detection. The same
mixtures were employed in divination. The author particularly
mentions Mandan ceremonies, in which a white "medicine"
stone, as hard as pyrites, was produced by rubbing in the
hand snow, or the white feathers of a bird. The blowing away
of the disease, considered to be a malign power foreign to
the body, was a common part of the juggling performance. (G.
S. 179.)

=19. Gun=: Close the fingers against the thumb, elevate the hand
and open the fingers with a quick snap. (G. S. 129.)

=20. Bow=: Draw the right arm back completely, as if drawing the
bowstring, whilst the left arm is extended with clinched
hand. (G. S. 43.)

=21. Arrow=: Pass the index-finger of the right hand several
times across the left arm. (G. S. 23.)

=22. Arrowhead, Iron=: With the index-finger of the right hand,
touch the tip of the extended forefinger of the left hand
several times. (G. S. 25.)

=23. Gunflint=: With the index-finger of the right hand cut off
a piece of the extended thumb, so that the finger is laid
across the thumbnail. (G. S. 131.)

=24. Gun-screw=: Elevate the hand to indicate a gun, and twist
the fingers spirally around the thumb. (G. S. 131.)

=25. Question=: Extend the open hand perpendicularly with the
palm outward, and move it from side to side several times.
(G. S. 210.)

=26. Gunpowder=: Rub the thumb and index-finger together
repeatedly. (G. S. 131.)

=27. Coat=: Separate the thumb and index-finger of each hand and
pass them downward over the sides of the body. (G. S. 61.)

=28. Leggings=: Open the fingers as before and draw them upward
along both legs. (G. S. 166.)

=29. Moccasins, shoes=: Raise the foot and stroke it from front
to back with the index-finger of the hand on the same side.
(G. S. 232.)

=30. Breechcloth=: Pass the flat hand from between the legs
upward toward the belly. (G. S. 48.) = 31. Hat=: Pass the
parted thumb and index-finger about both sides of the head
where the hat rests upon it. (G. S. 135.)

=32. True, It is=: Lower the hand in front of the breast, then
extend the index-finger, raise and move it straight forward
before the person. (G. S. 273.)

=33. Lie=: Pass the second and third finger of the right
hand toward the left side in front of the mouth.--By the
expression "second and third" finger the author means, as
appears in other connections, the index and middle finger.
The idea of double tongued, two kinds of talk, prevails now
among all Indian tribes, though it is sometimes made by one
finger, the index, moved successively from the mouth in two
different directions. (G. S. 166.)

=34. Know=: Spread the thumb and index-finger of the right hand,
sweep toward the breast, moving them forward and outward so
that the palm turns up. (G. S. 161.)

=35. Do not know=: First place the fingers in the preceding
position, then turn the right hand upward with spread fingers
so that they point outward toward the right side. (G. S. 162.)

=36. Much=: Move both hands toward one another and slightly
upward.--This is the formation of a "heap." (G. S. 208; S.
L. 24.) = 37. Little=: Pass the nearly closed hands several
times by jerks over one another, the right hand above. (G. S.
238.)

=38. Trade=: Strike the extended index-finger of the right hand
several times upon that of the left. (G. S. 268.)

=39. Exchange=: Pass both hands with extended forefingers
across each other before the breast.--In the author's mind
"exchange" was probably intended for one transaction, in
which each of two articles took the place before occupied by
the other, and "trade" was intended for a more general and
systematic barter, indicated by the repetition of strokes, in
which the index-fingers mutually changed positions. (G. S.
105.)

=40. Horse=: Place the index and third fingers of the right hand
astraddle the index-finger of the left.--By the "third" the
author means the middle finger. He counts the thumb as the
first. (G. S. 144.)

=41. Horse, To ride a=: As before stated, but with this
difference, that the right hand extends farther and the
gesture is made quickly. (G. S. 147.)

=42. Dog=: Pass the flat hand from above downward, stopping at
the height of a dog's back. (G. S. 96; S. L. 28.)

=43. Beaver=: With the back of the open right hand, strike the
palm of the left several times. (G. S. 32.)

=44. Otter=: Draw the nose slightly upward with the first two
fingers of the right hand. (G. S. 194.)

=45. Bison, female=: Curve the two forefingers, place them on the
sides of the head, and move them several times. (G. S. 40.)

=46. Bison, male=: Place the tightly closed hands on both sides
of the head with the fingers forward. (G. S. 40.)

=47. Antelope=: Pass the open right hand outward from the small
of the back.--This, as explained by Indians examined by the
present writer, indicates the lighter coloration upon the
animal's flanks. A Ute who could speak Spanish accompanied it
with the word _blanco_, as if recognizing that it required
explanation. (G. S. 22.)

=48. Sheep, bighorn= (_Ovis montana_): Move the hands in the
direction of the horns on the side of the head by passing
them backward and forward in the form of a half-circle. (G.
S. 231.)

=49. Mule=: Hold the open hands high beside the head, and move
them from back to front several times like wings. (G. S. 186.)

=50. Elk= (_Cervus can._): Stretch the arms above and along side
of the head. (G. S. 103.)

=51. Deer=: Pass the uplifted hand to and fro several times in
front of the face. (G. S. 86; S. L. 27.)

=52. Deer, black tail=: First make the preceding gesture, then
indicate a tail. (G. S. 88; S. L. 27.)

=53. Buffalo-robe=: Pass both fists crossing in front of the
breast, as if wrapping one's self up. (G. S. 59.)

=54. Day=: Place both hands at some distance in front of the
breast, apart and back downward, elevate the index-finger and
move it forward to indicate one, twice for two days, etc.
When counting on the fingers begin at the left hand. (G. S.
77; S. L. 20.)

=55. Night=: Move both hands open and flat, that is horizontal,
the backs up and in small curves in front of the breast
and over one another.--The conception is _covering_, and
consequently obscurity. In the foregoing sign for _day_ the
author probably meant that the hands, palms up, were _moved_
apart, to denote openness. (G. S. 187.)

=56. Sun=: Form a small circle with the forefingers and hold them
toward heaven. (G. S. 256.)

=57. Moon=: Make the same sign, after having made that for night.
(G. S. 183.)

=58. River=: Open the right hand and pass it before the mouth
from above downward. (G. S. 222.)

=59. Forest=: Slightly spread and raise the ten fingers bringing
the hands together in front of the face, then separate
them.--The numerous trees and their branches are indicated.
(G. S. 112.)

=60. Mountain=: Raise the arm from the elbow without moving the
latter, the back of the clinched hand directed toward the
front. (G. S. 141.)

=61. Prairie, plain=: Lay the hands flat upon their backs and
move them straight from one another in a horizontal line. (G.
S. 198.)

=62. Village=: Place the opened thumb and forefinger of each hand
opposite to each other, as if to make a circle, but leaving
between them a small interval, afterward move them from
above downward simultaneously.--The villages of the tribes
with which the author was longest resident, particularly the
Mandans and Arikaras, were surrounded by a strong, circular
stockade, spaces or breaks in the circle being left for
entrance and exit. (G. S. 277.)

=63. Kettle=: Same sign as for _village_, but is made closer to
the earth.--Singularly enough, the configuration of a common
kettle (the utensil obtained from the whites in trade being,
of course, the one referred to) is the same as that of the
stockaded villages, the intervals left between the hands
representing in this case the interruption in the circle
made by the handles. The differentiation is effected by the
position closer to the earth. (G. S. 157.)

=64. Lodge=: The same, with the addition that the finger is
elevated to indicate the number, one. (G. S. 170.)

=65. Lodge, Entering a=: Pass the right hand in short curves
under the left, which is held a short distance forward.--The
conception is of the stooping to pass through the low
entrance, which is often covered by a common flap, and the
subsequent rising when the entrance has been accomplished.
In the same tribes now, if the intention is to speak of a
person entering the gesturer's own lodge, the right hand
is passed under the left and toward the body, near which
the left hand is held; if of a person entering the lodge of
another, the left hand is held further from the body and the
right is passed under it and outward. In both cases both
hands are slightly curved and compressed. (G. S. 172.)

=66. Robe, Red=: First indicate the wrapping about the shoulders,
then rub the right cheek to indicate the red color.--The red
refers to the paint habitually used on the cheeks, not to
the natural skin. The Indians know better than to designate
between each other their natural color as red, and have been
known to give the designation _red man_ to the visiting
Caucasian, whose blistered skin often better deserves the
epithet, which they only apply to themselves in converse with
the conquering race that insisted upon it. (G. S. 59, 66.)

=67. Robe, Green=: Indicate the wrapping about the shoulders, and
with the back of the left hand make the gesture of stroking
grass upon the earth. (G. S. 59, 66.)

=68. Robe, Blue=: Indicate the wrapping, then with two fingers of
the right hand rub the back of the left.--It is conjectured
that the veins on the back of the hand are indicated. (G. S.
59, 66.)

=69. Ax=: Cross the arms and slide the edge of the right hand
held vertically, down over the left arm. (G. S. 267.)

=70. Beads, Glass=: Stroke the fingers of the right hand over the
upper arm of the left. (G. S. 31.)

=71. Vermillion, cinnabar=: Rub the right cheek with the fingers
of the right hand.--The chief use of this pigment was to
paint the cheeks. (G. S. 67.)

=72. Knife=: Cut past the mouth with the raised right hand.--This
clearly refers to the general practice of cutting off food,
as much being crammed into the mouth as can be managed and
then separated by a stroke of a knife from the remaining
mass. This is specially the case with fat entrails, the
aboriginal delicacies. (G. S. 160.)

=73. Fire=: Hold the fingers of the right hand slightly opened
and upward, and elevate the hand several times.--This
portrays the forked tongues of the flames rising. (G. S. 109.)

=74. Water=: Same as "river."

=75. Smoke=: Snuffle the nose and raise the fingers of both hands
several times, rubbing the fingers against each other.--The
rubbing may indicate the former mode of obtaining fire by
friction, accompanied with smoke, which is further indicated
by the wrinkled nose. (G. S. 240.)

=76. Partisan=: First make the sign of the pipe, then open the
thumb and index-finger of the right hand, back of the hand
outward, move it forward and upward in a curve.--By the
title of "partisan" the author meant, as indeed was the
common expression of the Canadian voyageurs, a leader of an
occasional or volunteer war party. The sign is explained
by his account in a different connection, that to become
recognized as a leader of such a war party, the first act
among the tribes using the sign was the consecration, by
fasting succeeded by feasting, of a medicine pipe without
ornament, which the leader of the expedition afterward
bore with him as his badge of authority, and it therefore
naturally became an emblematic sign. There may be interest in
noting that the "Calendar of the Dakota Nation" (Bulletin U.
S. G. and G. Survey, vol. iii, No. 1) gives a figure (No. 43,
A. D. 1842) showing "One Feather," a Sioux chief, who raised
in that year a large war party against the Crows, which fact
is simply denoted by his holding out, demonstratively, an
unornamented pipe. (G. S. 53.)

=77. Chief=: Raise the index-finger of the right hand, holding
it straight upward, then turn it in a circle, and bring it
straight down a little toward the earth.--If this gesture
is accurately described by the author, its conception may
be "elevated in the midst of surrounding inferiors." In
view, however, of the fact that Indians now make a forward
curve instead of a horizontal circle, the former instead of
the latter may have been intended in the curt expression.
The prevailing delineation of the superior authority of the
chiefs is by superior height, one form of which is reported
as follows: Right forearm nearly vertical, index extended,
thumb and other fingers closed, nails toward cheek and about
eight inches from it. Extend right arm vertically about eight
inches; turn index as an arrow turns in the air and bring
down in front of face between the eyes until about opposite
the chin. (G. S. 51; S. L. 19.)

=78. White man, American=: Place the open index-finger and thumb
of the right hand toward the face, then pass it to the right
in front of the forehead to indicate the hat. The fist can
also be used in same way. (G. S. 283.)

=79. Negro=: First make the sign for white man, then rub the
hair on the right side of the head with the flat hand.--The
present common sign for "black" is to rub or touch the hair,
which, among Indians, is almost universally of that color.
(G. S. 186.)

=80. Fool=: Place the hand in front of the head, back outward,
then turn it round in a circle several times. (G. S. 112.)

=81. Scalp=: Grasp the hair with the left hand, and with the
right one flattened cut away over the left. (G. S. 228.)

=82. Content, satisfied=: With the raised right hand, pass with a
serpentine movement upward from the breast and face above the
head. (G. S. 119; S. L. 35.)