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29. In all the American languages, objects and actions. were seldom expressed apart from their relations. Nouns rarely appeared without adjectives or limiting terms, and the pronoun was incorporated with the verb. A complete sentence, which would require ten or a dozen words in English, was often expressed by a single compound embodying in itself subject, adjective, verb, and object. When any of these was changed, a new form became necessary, so that some verbs had more than five thousand variations. This mode of expression prevailed, because the Indian naturally represented an object just as it appeared to his senses, that is with all its associations.

30. Languages that combine the powers of different parts of speech in a single word are called synthetic. Such are all the Indian tongues; and in this they somewhat resemble Hebrew. Synthetic languages are difficult to learn, and do not afford the same facility of expression as those in which each object and action has a name that can be used independently of its relations. Nor are they as capable of improvement; the Indian, instead of simplifying his syntax, adds syllable to syllable, till his words become of great length, while the learner is embarrassed by the numerous changes of form required by different modifications of the idea.

31. None of the Indian languages were written; they had no letters with which their words could be represented. Since white men, however, have become acquainted with the aboriginal tongues, they have taken the letters of the English alphabet to denote their sounds, and have thus been able to write as well as speak them. The Cherokees alone have an alphabet devised by one of their own number. The name of this ingenious native was Se-quo'-yah, or, as he is generally

our words, what kind of compounds had to be formed? Illustrate this with the word kneel, 29. How were objects and actions seldom expressed? With what were nouns and verbs commonly united? How was a complete sentence often expressed? What was necessary for the least change of idea? How many variations had some verbs? Why did this mode of expression prevail? 30. What epithet is applied to the Indian languages? What is meant by a synthetic language? In this respect, what tongue do they resemble? What is said of synthetic languages? By what is the learner of an Indian tongue embarrassed? 81. Were the Indian languages originally written? How bave white men represented their sounds? What tribe have an alphabet devised by

INDIAN HIEROGLYPHICS.

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called, George Guess. Seeing the books used by the missionaries, and being told that the characters they contained represented the sounds used in speaking, he set about making an alphabet for his own tongue. Strange to say, without any knowledge of other languages, he succeeded. Instead of analyzing words into letters, he went no further than syllables, and found that by eighty-five characters every word in his language could be represented. In European tongues, so great is the variety of syllables that an alphabet of this kind would be next to useless; but in Cherokee, since there are only eighty-five syllables used, it answers the purpose better than an alphabet of letters. Printed Cherokee words are very short, for they contain only as many characters as there are syllables in each; and a few days' study will enable one to read and write the language with ease. Syllabic alphabets have since been invented for other Indian tongues.

32. The Indian could not write, but he could convey his thoughts imperfectly by hieroglyphics, like the Egyptians and other ancient nations. Certain symbols were taken to denote certain ideas; and these were drawn or painted on prepared skins or the inner bark of the white-birch, in a rude manner, but still accurately enough to be understood by those acquainted with the system. Hieroglyphics of this kind have been found chiselled on rocks in different parts of the country.

33. The plate given below will serve as a specimen of Indian picture-writing. Schoolcraft presents it as a copy of a drawing made by two Indians whom he employed as guides, when travelling from the St. Louis River to the Mississippi. The bark containing these symbols was found attached to a pole about nine feet high. It had been placed there by the guides, for the purpose of informing any of their comrades into whose hands it might fall that a party of fourteen white men and two Indians had passed the night at that place.

one of their own number? What was the inventor's name? Describe his system. Why would it not answer in European tongues? What is said of printed Cherokee words? To what has this system been extended? 82. Though he could not write, how could the Indian convey his thoughts? How were certain ideas denoted? On what were these hieroglyphics drawn? Where have they been found chiselled? 33. What does the specimen given above represent? Where was the bark containing these sym

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The eight figures with hats on, in the upper row, indicate that there were eight white soldiers; and the muskets beside them show how they were armed. In the second row, No. 1, with the sword, represents the commander of the party; No. 2, with the book, is the secretary; No. 3, with a hammer, is the geologist; 4, 5, 6, are attendants. Nos. 7 and 8 represent the two guides, who are distinguished from the white men by being drawn without hats. Figure 11 represents a prairie-hen, and 12 a tortoise, which formed their meal at the encampment. Figures 13, 14, and 15, indicate that there were three fires; one for the soldiers, another for the officers, and a third for the Indians. The inclination of the pole showed the direction in which the party was about to go.

34. With the aid of pictures like the above, the Red Men communicated with each other. They also sometimes recorded important public events for the benefit of future ages by engraving symbolic characters on rocks and trees. since, with their imperfect tools, this was a laborious process, it was seldom done; and, therefore, the Indians knew little of their past history except what was learned from oral tradition, that is, from stories handed down from father to son. In the course of years, much that was false was added to these accounts; yet, having no books by which he could test

bols found? What information was it intended to convey? Describe the figures, and tell what they represent. 34. How did the Red Men sometimes record public events? What prevented them from doing this oftener? Whence did they obtain most of their knowledge of the past? What is the character of most Indian traditions? What is the

INDIAN TRADITIONS.

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their truth, the Red Man relied implicitly on whatever he had thus received.

The Muscogee account of the Deluge may be taken as an example of the mixture of truth and error in Indian traditions. It places that event before the creation of man, and represents two pigeons as having been sent forth in search of land while most of the earth was still covered with water. At first they were unsuccessful; but, on having gone forth again, they brought back a blade of grass, and soon after the waters subsided, and land appeared. This tribe believe that their ancestors always lived in some part of North America. They deny that any nation more civilized than themselves ever occupied the country before them. According to their traditions, they conquered a people who were journeying to the south, but were never themselves conquered until their conflicts with the whites. Before the arrival of the latter, they enjoyed a greater degree of peace than ever afterwards, and were less afflicted with disease. Such traditions, it will be seen, tell us little about the history of the country before its discovery by Columbus.

35. The language of the Indian, in ordinary conversation as well as formal speeches, was highly figurative and often sublime. Familiar with nature in all her variety and majesty, the Red Man delighted in drawing his figures from the objects which she presented. If he wished to express the idea of prosperity, he would speak of a brilliant sun; adversity he would represent by lowering clouds; to proclaim war was to dig up the tomahawk; to make peace was to smoke the calumet. Many Indian chiefs were as distinguished for their eloquence as for their courage. Their delivery was animated, dignified, and forcible; their gesticulation, graceful and natural. Some of their speeches have scarcely been surpassed by the greatest efforts of civilized orators.

Muscogee tradition respecting the Deluge? What other traditions are held by this tribe? 35. What is said of the language of the Indian in conversation? From what did the Red Man draw his figures? Give examples. For what have many chiefs been distinguished?

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36. ALLUSION has been made to relics of the aborigines, found in different parts of the country. These may be divided into two classes: first, those of more recent origin, evidently the work of an uncivilized people, such as ornaments, rude weapons, and imperfect utensils; and secondly, those which, from their ingenious design and superior finish, must be attributed to a race far above the savage state. These consist chiefly of stone and metallic implements, finely wrought pottery, mounds, and the remains of walls and fortifications, all showing a high degree of mechanical skill, of which the Indian, as long as he has been known to Europeans, has never proved himself capable.

37. Most of the metallic remains are of copper, well plated, in a few instances, with silver. Bracelets, medals, arrowheads, and pipe-bowls, of the former metal, have been found at great depths below the surface of the earth. At Marietta, Ohio, in a mound which had become partly undermined by a stream, a silver cup was discovered, with a regular and polished surface, finely gilt on the inside. Isinglass mirrors have also been dug up in various places.

38. Numerous remains of ancient pottery have been brought to light, which equal the best specimens of modern manufacture. They are tastefully moulded, finely glazed, and colored in a superior manner. Entire vessels, as well as numerous fragments, have been discovered many feet beneath the surface, where they must have lain for centuries. At Nashville, Tennessee, a circular vessel was found by some workmen, resting on a rock at a depth of twenty feet. The bottom rounded upwards, and terminated at the summit in

36. Into how many and what classes may the aboriginal remains be divided? Of what do the first class consist? Of what, the second? 37. What metallic remains have been found? What was discovered at Marietta, O.? 38. What is said of the specimens of pottery that have been dug up? What was found at Nashville, Tenn.? Enumerate

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