Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-28
Books On the SiOunn Language,

To the Editor OF The Evening Star:
l have read with much interest the on
tertaining article in last Saturdays issue
of The Star relating to the Siouan Indians
and their literature. The writer shows a
much more intimate knowledge of his sub
ject than is usual in articles upon this and
kindred topics. and while very compn-
mentary in speaking of my work and eX-
ceptionally exact in his quotations of titles
and their TRANSACTIONS therefrom, he makes
one statement which l must correct. He
says: In Mr.. PillIngs Bibiosrapny OF
the Siouan Languages there appear
credited TO DR.. Riggs Iorty-three separate
WORKS in the DaKolan tsiouan) language.
There should De auued 10 AR. rIil-
ing's biDnograpny of Dr. Riggs works in
the Dakota over ntty volumes OF school
books. singing books and similar WORKS
used In the Indian schools
The photography referred to was pub
lished in 1881, hearty seven years ago.
w neither the writer IN The Star meats
that II omits the titles of fifty school books
by DIR. Riggs alone or by all the writers in
the Siouan tongues, whether he neaas
that the nifty volumes were published in
publication OF my work, l do not know. In
any case the statement is incorrect. OF tie
ten publications by myself on our various
Indian languages l consider that on the
tic uOSt COHlplete, ana TINS
evident reasons. To quote from the preface
of the volume in question: 1.-The author can
scarcely hope to so fortunate in dealing
with any other of the linguistic groups as
he has been with the Siouan. Many of
those who have fashioned the literature Of
the language are still living; with a number
Of them he has been in daily contact for
years, and with nearly all of those still
living he has been in correspondence during
the past eight years" With Dr.. Riggs
nod Of
Dakota missionaries, l had close relations,
visiting and being visited by him a number.
of times, and his literary material was
always accessible to me. With his sons,
his successors in missionary work, l have
had equally pleasant relations.
The literature of these people Is for the
most part comparatively modern, the first
text in any dialect of their languages hay
ing appeared In 1S'3-a prayer book in the
Winnebago dialect Add to these facts the
further one that 1 have probably the
largest collection in existence of books
in the various Siouan languages, and /
am safe | think, in venturing to question
the correctness of The Star writer's stale
ment. Instead Of fifty volumes there could
not be added three titles to those given
by me under Riggs name; instead of fifty
volumes, not half that number of titles
of works referred to. whatsoever their
list include those published before. during
and since the publication Of the Biblic-
graphy Of the Siouan Languages.
To Rev. ]. Owen Dorsey should be given
the credit of the quaint literal transla-
lions of the Siouan titles in the bibiio-
graphy mentioned.
1t may interest your readers to know
that probably the first book published
within what was then the limits of the
two states Of Dakota is Dictionary of
the Sioux Language" a little pamphlet of
seventeen leaves. prepared by Lieuts. HYDE
and Starring. at Fort Laramie in 1866.
having been set up and printed on a hand
press by the soldiers garrisoned there.
But two copies Of this have come to my
notice. one Of which l was fortunate
enough to secure.
JAMES c. PILLING