200 SYSTEMS OF CONSANGUINITY AND AFFINITY 



CHAPTER IV. 



SYSTEM OF RELATIONSHIP OF THE GANOWANIAN FAMILY.— Continued. 



Algonlcin Nations. 



Area occupied by the Algonkin Nations— Nearness of their Dialects— Classification of these Nations into Groups— 



I. Gichigamiau Nations— Their Area and Dialects— 1. Ojibwas— Their System of Consanguinity- Indicative 

 Relationships— Identical with the Seneca and Yankton— 2. Otawas— 3. Potawattamies— Their System agrees 

 with the Ojibwa — i. Crees— Their Dialects— Their System— Indicative Relationships— Agree with the Ojibwa. 



II. Mississippi Nations— Their Area and Dialects— 1. Miamis— 2. Illinois (Weaws, Piankeshaws, Kaskaskias, and 

 Peorias)— Miami System taken as the Standard Form of these Nations— Indicative Relationships— Deviation 

 from Uniformity— Identical with Ojibwa in Radical Characteristics— 3. Sawks and Foxes— Their Area and Dia- 

 lect—Agricultural Habits — 1. Kikapoos— Their Area and Dialect— 5. Menominees— Their Area and Dialect— The 

 System of these Nations agrees with the Miami— 6. Shiyans— Their former Area and Dialect— Their System of 

 Consanguinity— Indicative Relationships— Agree with the Miami— 7. Shawnees— Original Area— Migrations- 

 Improved State of Dialect— Indicative Relationships— Agree with the Miami. III. Atlantic Nations— Their Area 

 and Dialects— 1. Delawares— One of the Oldest of Algonkin Nations— Their System of Consanguinity— Indicative 

 Relationships— Deviation from Uniformity- Their System in Radical Agreement with the Ojibwa— 2. Munsees — 

 Indicative Relationships— Agree with the Delaware— 3. Mohegans— Indicative Relationships— 4. Etchemins— 

 Indicative Relationships— 5. Micmacs— Indicative Relationships— System of these Nations in Radical Agreement 

 with the Delaware and Ojibwa. IV. Rocky Mountain Nations— 1. Blackfeet— Their Area and Dialect— Piegau 

 System— Indicative Relationships— Agree with the Ojibwa— 2. Ahahnelins— Former Area, and Dialect— Indica- 

 tive Relationships— Agree with the Blackfoot— Concluding Observations— Unity of the System of Relationship 

 of the Algonkin Nations— Systems of the Algonkin and Dakotan Nations Identical. 



The limits of the Algonkiu speech have been definitely ascertained. Its nume- 

 rous dialects are nearer to each other than those of any other Indian stock language 

 of equal spread. This stem of the Ganowtinian family contains but a single stock 

 language, which will be seen, as well as the nearness of its dialects, by consulting 

 the Table (Table II). To such an extent is this nearness still preserved, that it 

 suggests the probability that the Algonkins are comparatively modern upon the 

 eastern side of the continent. The area occupied by these nations was immense 

 in its territorial extent. At the period of European discovery they were found 

 thinly scattered along the Atlantic seaboard from Labrador to the southern limits 

 of North Carolina ; and as the interior was subsequently explored, they were found 

 continuously along the St. Lawrence, north of the chain of lakes, along the Red 

 River of the North, and the Siskatchewun,^ quite to the foot of the Rocky Mountain 

 chain. All of Canada was Algonkin, except a narrow fringe upon the north, held 

 by the Eskimo ; and the peninsvda between Lakes Huron, Erie, and Ontario, occu^ 

 pied by the Hurons and Neutral Nation. The southern portion of the Hudson's 



' The orthography of the word is taken from the original name in the Cree language, Ela-siti 

 katch' -e-wun, "Swift Water." 



