The sun., 1896-08-23
SPEECH OF THE SIX xAr1oHs.
To Bo Studied Further By . PhuoIogist Of
the Bureau OF American EthnoIogY.


Philolog!st J. y. B. Hewitt OF the Bureau Of
American EthnoloGy will leave hero In q few
days for q novel expedition OF study. TO be made
in the Grand River Reserve, seventy miles west
OF Buffalo, on the Canadian side. In this re-
serve are combined the odd tribes known as tho
six Sations-the confederation Of Indians COM
posed Of the oneIdas. Mohawks, onondagas
Cayugas, Senecas. and Tuscaroras.
Mr.. Hewitt. by applying novel system will
make dictionaries and grammars Of these In
dian languages. and BY aid OF these data will
Bible OF the six Nations, recording their strange
pagan be'ets concerning the creation and early
than most Indians, those OF the Six Nations
have never before been studied ethnologically
chiefs aud will take elaborate notes upon ali
that they tell him. He can speak eight Indian
every language OF the Old World. He is pre-
pairing TO carry with him a photograph. which
which he will study. He will Ask the talIative
Indians to .peak very distinctly into this ma
chine. and viii stterward grind out each word
slowly and carefully. noting each syllable, ac-
cent, and infection. Reliable Interpreters will
supply the literal trans lAiions 10 every sentence.
ever had a written language. the pnilologis;
must rely eniire.y Upon his ears FOR correct ar
For recording each sound in Its original tone
OF utterance he viii use n special alphabet OF
foriy-eigni characters $. besides many dittonal
signs FOR mod fea tones For rapidly aud nc
curacy OF work ne La, made a typ.m riter which
writes Indian as clearly .. the ordinary type
writer writes English. In the places OF the krys
oueratlng the English types. are arranged other.
operating the Indian sound letters. With this
he wiz! write interviews with Indians. which
conversations when read viii mean the same 10
h!s ears a. the orIglna. Noris when spoken MIR
hewitt says that In certain !eXical Processes the
languages Of these people resemble provincial
Lat!n in a general way.
hen beginning win strange language he
VIII! commence the preparation Of the .ctiun-
Ary ana grammar oy lnscribng : many sim pie
sentences hs possible. having each WORD repeAt-
ed Gga.n and again. Lists OF a. many words as
!e can tn!nE OF Will he COlec, ed. with the Eng
iish equivalents following. They VII! atterxard
carnran dictionary which the paio!ogis; lately
prepare. contasu> about 1900 words. The III
ieren; case end ngs and other mod fed forms for
the SFaIutnaT> wul be collected by requiring Tie
person Interviewed 20 use The same word in
many different cases moods lenses SC
Of all the scattered six Nations about go per
myths @: their ancestors as deNoutly the
most orthodox Christian believes the story OF
the Bible. he Bible OF the six Nations viii
crmLlhe tEe oeteis Of al the TT! !bss. These
creed virtually CORES pond. the six tribes hay-
Ing descended from the same stock From n
previous visit among several Of the tribes he
called thrIr O.i Testament. This will be urInrc.S
as the HC,iISrt Of their Bible. The New Tesla
mcht WI! comprise the new pagan crrrd. an i'd
mixture OF mythology aud Christianity The
change in the creed brought about early in
th's century BY seneca boy, the nephew Of
Ih!ei Handsnme Lake. The outh MAS ed ucated
iGr brief vacation, proceeded To conyer, tie
oid chiet To the more credItRble story Of The
Chrlst1an Bib!e Before having made his points
sntncIent!y clear the young man died. Hand
some Lake made nse o: the smAtterinc ot t'hris
taHIty whlch he had acquired and preached il
am, among the people OF the Six Nations. The re-
Christian New Testament and coiored vitb
the myths OF the original pagan creed