456 APPENDIX. 



to wdb indcin. Wdh^ is Here the infinitive, but the root of this 

 verb is still more remote. If the question occur, "Is it a good 

 man, or a good house," the adjective, which, in the inanimate form 

 is onishish-i^ is, in the animate onishish-inf . If the question be put, 

 "Is it this man, or this house," the pronoun this^ which is md hum, 

 in the animate, is changed to md ndun, in the inanimate. 



Nouns animate embrace the tribes of quadrupeds, birds, fishes, 

 insects, reptiles, crustacce, the sun, and moon, and stars, thunder, 

 and lightning, for these are personified ; and whatever either pos- 

 sesses animal life, or is endowed, by the peculiar opinions and 

 superstitions of the Indians, with it. In the vegetable kingdom, 

 their number is comparatively limited, being chiefly confined to 

 trees, and those only while they are referred to, as whole bodies, 

 and to the various species of fruits, and seeds, and esculents. It 

 is at the option of the speaker to employ nouns, either as animates 

 or inanimates: but it is a choice seldom resorted to, except in 

 conformity with stated exceptions. These conventional excep- 

 tions are not numerous, and the more prominent of them, may be 

 recited. The cause of the exceptions it is not always easy to per- 

 ceive. It may, however, generally be traced to a particular re- 

 spect paid to certain inanimate bodies, either from their real or 

 fancied properties — the uses to which they are applied, or the 

 ceremonies to which they are dedicated. A stone, which is the 

 altar of sacrifice to their Manitoes; a bow, formerly so necessary 

 in the chase; a feather, the honored sign of martial prowess; a 

 kettle, so valuable in the household; a pipe, by which friendships 

 are sealed and treaties ratified ; a drum, used in their sacred and 

 festive dances; a medal, the mask of authority; vermilion, the 

 appropriate paint of the warrior ; wampum, by which messages 

 are conveyed, and covenants remembered. These are among the 

 objects, in themselves inanimates, which require the application 

 of animate verbs, pronouns, and adjectives, and are thereby trans- 

 ferred to the animate class. 



It is to be remarked, however, that the names for animals, are 

 only employed as animates, while the objects are referred to as 

 whole and complete species. But the gender must be changed, 

 when it becomes necessary to speak of separate numbers. Man, 

 woman, father, mother, are separate nouns, so long as the indivi- 

 duals are meant; but hand, foot, head, eye, ear, tongue, are iuani- 



