Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1859-09-16

bet, which consists Of e~ighty-Gvs letters, or
characters. Each syllable ends with a
vowal sound. The language is hard to learn
because il has such a number % afixes and
suffxes, and an unusual number Of lenses.
We might say, that the number Of lenses a.
incredible. The late Rev Mr.. Worcester,
Missionary Of Park Hin, Cherokee Nation,
spent a great many years IN translating The
eriptures into the Cherokee language, In
formed us that be followed one verb up TO
seventy lenses. This seems almost incredible ;
but coming from the lips Of such a man, we
had no d imeulty in believing It. The language
is harder to learn than the Chinese. As one
instance Of the impossibiliiy Of learning II,
we win mention, that John Ross, now over
sixty years Of age, having resided in the
Cherokee Nation all bis life, has to use an IN
t~erpreter when be makes a speech 10 his peo-
pie.
times ourselves, with our own eyes His
father spoke the English, and he learned that
language first, and failed when a child to learn
the Cherokee language but be speaks Il, 30
as 70 converse tolerasly well, but cannot speak
It well enough to make a speech in Il. Il IL so
with all those who speak the English first,
they seldom, II ever, acquire the Cherokee,
hence the cause Of 50 MANY Of the Cherokses
being unable to speaktheir W. language. In
FHENs NnN AurINhFN AaNEHnEr u last MNANE OUT
In the Nation. TIE English the Il becoming
tn. prevailing language, and In a few years u
will BE- a matter Of curiosity to hear a Chsro-
kee speak his own language. The present
generation Is growing up mostly Erglish schol-
ars, being educated in English schools, which
are free. and In every part Of the Nation sup
ported by a fund created By the sale Of their
lands east. The fund Is out on interest, and
is 80 disposed Of that the Interest alone can
be used.
But the manneIs AMI customs OF these poo
pie are fast passilc awav. a. the older portion
% the tribe are passing of the stage OF action.
But few u The old Indians are left, and with
them alone Is known the traditions Of the tribe,
and In fact many Of their customs have be-
come obsolete, and are forgotten.
It Il the opinion Of MANY eminent divines,
that the Indians are a part Of the lostten tribes
Of Israel. who were carried into captivity
shortly after the reign II solomon, into Assy-
ria. The reason why they are supposed TO Be
Israelites, is because manv Of the customs OF
that people are found to exist among the In
dams Of North America. Many Of these Gus
toms we're once 70 b. found among the CheTo-
KEGS, and one OF the most remarkable was the
existence among The Cherokers Of cities Of re-
fuge, where the man-slaver could fee and be
secure from the pursuit Of the kinsman Of the
slain. The Chrrokees had three Of these cities
when they Inhabited the lands known as the
eastern nation. Tellieo. (Tahlequah) as Il Is
called By the whites. in Tennessee. is one OF
the old cities Of refuge, and another place in
the sam state called Chots. is another Of the
cities Of refuge, and the other we have nc
knowledge now Of its locality. But TIE places
or cities Of refuge, have long since passed away
with the Old eoHiursrs and warriors OF the
tribe, and they are only talked OF as things
that once existed.-Ft Smith Tines.