THE MOHAWK LANGUAGE. 183 



done than merely to give a brief introduction to the subject in hand, 

 trusting that future opportunities may be afforded to further prose- 

 cute the work. While it is my design to direct your attention mainly 

 to the Language, it may not be amiss to give at the outset a general 

 outline of the history of the Mohawks. 



They are the head Tribe of the Confederacy of the Six Nations, 

 and, like the other Indian tribes of this continent, their origin is in- 

 volved in mystery. 



The only source which has not been exhausted, from which we can 

 derive any information, at present within reach, is the Indian tra- 

 ditions. They are, however, so mythical in their character, as touch- 

 ing the origin of the Indian, that but little, if any, reliance can be 

 placed on them. I may say, however, that they all teach that the 

 Red Man was created upon this continent ; and were I to weigh the 

 evidence given by these traditions, and that derived from the various 

 theories of scientific writers upon the subject, I should be inclined, 

 after making all allowances for the legendary character of Indian 

 History, to decide in favour of the evidence of tradition. For I am 

 disposed to attach but little weight to theories founded upon supposed 

 similarity in manners and customs, or accidental resemblance in words 

 of the language. I do think, however, that there is every reason to 

 hope that we shall find, if not a solution of this difficulty, at least great 

 assistance from the science of language. 



I know that the traditions of the Mohawks assume a rational and 

 reliable character with the formation of the Confederacy of the Five 

 Nations by the Mohawk Chief De-ka-na-wi-dah. Yet, the Tuscaro- 

 ras are completely lost sight of in all the earlier traditions of the Five 

 Nations, and are represented to have first met the Mohawks when 

 they joined the Confederacy at a comparatively recent date. An ex- 

 amination, however, of the two languages leaves no room to doubt that 

 at some remote period these two nations were one. 



Here, therefore, we have a case v/here we are enabled, by a know- 

 ledge of, and an examination into the languages, to pronounce judge- 

 ment, with absolute certainty, upon a point which goes farther back 

 than tradition. I should be placing a low estimate to say that the 

 confederacy is 500 years old. Philology, therefore, immediately solves 

 ;a question for us in relation to events from 600 to 1000 years old. Leav- 

 ing, however, this question of our origin for discussion till we are in a 

 tion to bring the science of language to bear upon it, we will 



