The Traditional History and Characteristic Sketches of the Ojibway Nation"A sketch of my nation's history, describing its home, its country, and its peculiarities, and...its traditional legends," written by George Copway, (also known as Kah-Ge-Ga-Gah-Bowh, Chief of the Ojibway Nation), and first published in England, in 1850. A thorough examination of Ojibway Indian history, culture, traditions, and beliefs, by a chief who had one foot in the life of his tribe and the other in the white world. Includes discussions of Indian writing and language, along with illustrations depicting various symbols used in picture writing. Copway offers one of the earliest arguments for Indian reservations. George Copway (1818-ca.1863), was an Ojibwa Indian chief, educated in Illinois, who produced important translations into the Chippewa language. He lived and worked mostly in Michigan, but was also connected with the New York press, and he toured and lectured widely in Europe. |
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Common terms and phrases
acres American arrows Bay of Quinte birds bison Blue Earth Blue Earth river brethren called Canada west Cannon river canoes cause chief Chippeways Christianity civilized commenced Copway council Croix Dakota deer distance enemies Falls of St father favour feet fire forest fought French furs give head heard heaven Hennepin hundred hunting Indian tribes Iroquis island killed labour Lake Huron Lake Pepin Lake Simcoe Lake Superior land language live lodge ment miles Minesota mission missionary Mississippi mountains mouth night north-west northern Ojibway nation Ottaway river Owen's Sound pale face party passed peace present race resided returned Rice Lake rocks Salle Sault St seen sent settled shore of Lake shouts side Siouxs song soon Spirit spot star stories stream territory thousand tion trade tradition travelled trees village warriors waters western wigwam wild Wisconsin woods worship young
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Page 77 - Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our English dead ! In peace, there's nothing so becomes a man, As modest stillness, and humility : But when the blast of war blows in our ears, Then imitate the action of the tiger...
Page 239 - I found in this cave many Indian hieroglyphics which appeared very ancient, for time had nearly covered them with moss, so that it was with difficulty I could trace them. They were cut in a rude manner upon the inside of the walls, which were composed of a stone so extremely soft that it might be easily penetrated with a knife, a stone everywhere to be found near the Mississippi.
Page 17 - But even the slight motion of the waves, which in the most profound calm agitates these internal seas, swept through the deep caverns with the noise of distant thunder, and died upon the ear as it rolled forward in the dark recesses inaccessible to human observation : no sound more melancholy or more awful ever vibrated upon human nerves. It has left an impression, which neither time nor distance can ever efface.
Page 297 - I will go to my tent, and lie down in despair ; I will paint me with black, and will sever my hair ; I will sit on the shore where the hurricane blows, And reveal to the god of the tempest my woes ; I will weep for a season, on bitterness fed, For my kindred are gone to the hills of the dead ; But they died not by hunger, or lingering decay — The steel of the white man hath swept them away.
Page 246 - Department, and accompanied by several scientific gentlemen, started on an expedition, the object of which was to explore the river St. Peters and the country situated on the northern boundary of the United States, between the Red River of Hudson's Bay, and Lake Superior.
Page 220 - About thirty Leagues above Black River we found the Lake of Tears, which we named so because the Savages who took us, as it will be hereafter related, consulted in this Place what they should do with their Prisoners; and those who were for...
Page 45 - If the last mentioned catastrophe befall him, he is up in a trice, and sends his laugh forth as loud as the rest though it be floated at first on a tide of blood. "It is very seldom, if ever, that one is seen to be angry because he has been hurt. If he should get so, they would call him a 'coward' which proves a sufficient check to many evils which might result from many seemingly intended injuries.
Page 241 - It is not an uninterrupted plain where the eye finds no relief, but composed of many gentle ascents, which in the summer are covered with the finest verdure, and interspersed with little groves that give a pleasing variety to the prospect.
Page 236 - For it would not only disclose new sources of trade, and promote many useful discoveries, but would open a passage for conveying intelligence to China and the English settlements in the East Indies, with greater expedition than a tedious voyage by the Cape of Good Hope or the Straits of Magellan will allow of.