Brinton.l oZO [Xov. 3, 



Mulberiy, said to be the widow of the last chief of the Xanti- 

 cokes. She at that time resided at Locust Neck town, Goose 

 creek, Choctank river, Dorchester county, Mar3'land. ThG cir- 

 cumstances connected with obtaining the vocabulary are re- 

 counted in a letter from Mr. Murray to Mr. Jefferson, which is 

 as follows : 



IjEtter from Mr. Murray to ]Mr. Jefeerson. 



Dea7- Sir : — The enclosed little attempt to make a vocabulary of the lan- 

 guage of the Natiticokes, may remind yon of a circumstance, and promise 

 of mine, which probably liave escaped your memory. You gave me the 

 printed list of words last spring. On the reverse of the printed side which 

 is filled up, is added a number of words which occurred to me. Tlie tribe 

 Las dwindled almost into extinction. It is still, however, possessed of five 

 thousand acres of land which, were reserved to them by the Assembly of 

 Maryland in the first settlement of the Province. The little town where 

 they live consists but of four genuine old wigwams, thatched over with 

 the bark of the Cedar — very old — and two framed houses — in one of which 

 lives the queen, Mrs. Mulberry, relict of the Colonel who was the last 

 Chief. They are not more than nine in number : The others of the tribe, 

 which in this century was at least Five hundred in number, having died 

 or removed towards the Frontiers, generally to the Six nations — perhaps 

 by a comparison of the languages of them and of those a correspondence 

 may be discovered. They went to the Senecas often — you will find they 

 have no word for the personals he and she. They were much at a loss for 

 all terms to express abstract ideas. It is a little surprising they had a word 

 for Truth. They speak tlieir language exclusively among themselves. A 

 few years must totally extinguish the remains of this Tribe and it will be 

 owing to you. Sir, if a trace is left of their language. 



I have preferred the very list which I filled in a Wigwam to any neater 

 copy — and therefore have chosen that to transmit to you. 

 I have the honour to be 



Dear Sir with great 

 respect and attachment 



yr. mo. obt., 



W. V. Murray. 

 Cambridge Dorset, E. S. Maryland, 

 18 September, 1793. 



The Honble Mr. .Ieffersox. 



Mr. Albert Gallatin has made use of this vocabulary in his 

 Synopsis of the Indian Tribes of the United States, and from 

 time to time others have borrowed from it ; but no effort has 

 been made to publish it in full. 



