294 THE MENOMINI INDIANS [eth.anh.14 



stern, though apparently similar, are still sufficiently unlike for the 

 Indian to note which is the bow, for that end of the canoe, as in the dug- 

 out, is usually a little broader across the shoulders. The bottom of 

 the canoe is lined with thin slats or shingles to protect the delicate 

 bark from being broken. The seams, small punctures, and knot holes 

 are then sealed with pine resin. 



Although the women have many duties to perform iu connection 

 with the building of a canoe — such as cord-spinning, the stitching 

 together of the pieces of bark, and the final lashing of the long pieces 

 forming the gunwale — the men are generally the ones to use the paddle 

 when traveling. 



The paddle is made of cedar or some other light wood. It measures 

 about 4 feet in length, of which nearly one-half is devoted to the blade, 

 which varies from 4 to 6 inches in width. Generally the top of the 

 handle has two projecting pieces resembling the letter T, giving the 

 oarsman an easy and effective means of holding and using the paddle. 



When not in use the cauoe is always pulled ashore and turned over 

 iu order to allow the bottom to dry. 



VOCABULARY 

 INTRODUCTORY 



In reviewing the subject of Menomini linguistics, it may be stated 

 that two printed works, a vocabulary of about four hundred words 

 (which has supplied the material for nearly all comparative purposes to 

 which reference is made in bibliographies) and the Lord's prayer (which 

 has been reprinted in a number of works), comprise all the published 

 material in the Menomini language. 



The two works mentioned are a Catholic prayer-book and a catechism, 

 both by Father Zephyrin, O. S. F., formerly missionary at Keshena, 

 Wisconsin, the editions of which are exhausted. A few hymns also 

 were printed by Father Zephyrin, on a small hand-press, the entire num- 

 ber covering only twelve unpaged, unstitched leaves, some of them 

 being printed on the backs of picture cards. 



Pere Flavien J. Bonduel 1 published the Lord's prayer in Menomini, 

 which has been reprinted by Bergholtz, Shea, Trumbull, and other 

 students of Indian linguistics. 



The Menomini vocabulary referred to is that compiled by W. H. Bruce 

 and published by Henry B. Schoolcraft. 2 The copy in the library of 

 the Bureau of Ethnology bears many corrections by some unknown 

 person, indicating, apparently, that numerous errors in phonetics 

 existed. This vocabulary has been used by many writers from which 

 to select numerals and other words for comparison with various Indian 

 languages. 



1 Souvenir religieux d'uiie mission Indienne, Tournai, imprimerie de Malo et Levasseur, 1855. 

 'Indian Tribes, vol. ii, Philadelphia, 1852, pp. 470-481. 



