PREFACKH. 
“The (legiha Language” as used in this volume refers to the speech 
of the Omaha and Ponka tribes of the Siouan linguistic family of North 
American Indians. 
The author is responsible for “(egiha,” first as the name of a group 
in the Siouan family, and, secondly, as the name of a particular language 
in that group. 
(tegiha means, “Belonging to the people of this land,” or, “Those 
dwelling here,” i. ¢., the aborigines or home people. When an Omaha was 
challenged in the dark, if on his own territory, he usually replied, “IT am a 
(legiha.” So might a Ponka answer under similar circumstances. A 
Kansas would say, “I am a Yegtha,” of which the Osage equivalent is, 
«I am a (leydha.” These answer to the Oto ‘ pofwere” and the lowa 
“ Toéyiweére.” 
The (fegiha linguistic group may be divided as follows: 
Languages. Tribes. Dialects. 
ras Omaha ..---.- -- Omaha (Uma ha"). 
fl, GGaTG) Sosesebconocsce ; zi 
Bonksaives-e== Ponka (Pan‘ka). 
®. Yepaha -----..------ «--. Kanga- -a.--- == None found. 
3. Geydha-...--. .----.----| Osage--------- Five or more. 
4. Name not yet gained....| Kwapa-------- Uncertain. 
The material in this volume consists of myths, stories, and letters 
(epistles) obtained from the Ponkas, to whom the author was missionary 
from 1871 to 1873, and from the Omahas, with whom he resided from 1878 
to1880. The letters in Part I are those sent to the Ponka reservation in 
the Indian Territory. 
