172 APPENDIX. 



nicrly 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 ; vermillion, the 

 appropriate paint of the warrior ; wampum, by which messages are 

 conveyed, aud covenants remembered. These are among the objects, 

 in themselves inanimates, which require the application of animate verbs, 

 pronouns, and adjectives, aud are thereby transferred 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 individuals are meant ; but hand, 

 foot, head, eye, ear, tongue, are inanimates. Buck, is an animate noun, 

 while his entire carcass is referred to, whether living or dead ; but 

 neck, back, heart, windpipe, take the inanimate form In like manner, 

 eagle, swan, dove, are distinguished as animates, but beak, wing, tail, 

 are arranged with inanimates. So oak, pine, ash, are animate ; branch, 

 leaf, root, inanimates. 



Reciprocal exceptions, however, exist to this rule, — the reasons for 

 which, as in the former instance, may generally be sought, either in 

 peculiar opinions of the Indians, or in the peculiar qualities or uses of 

 the objects. Thus the talons of the eagle, and the claws of the bear, 

 and of other animals, which furnish ornaments for the neck, are invari- 

 ably spoken of, under the animate form. The hoofs and horns of all 

 quadrupeds, which are applied to various economical and mystic pur- 

 poses ; the castorum of the beaver, and the nails of man, are similarly 

 situated. The vegetable creation also furnishes some exceptions of this 

 nature ; such are the names for the outer bark of all trees, (except the 

 birch,) and the branches, the roots, and the resin of the spruce, and its 

 congeners. 



In a language, which considers all nature as separated ,into two 

 classes of bodies, characterized by the presence or absence of life ; 

 neuter nouns, will scarcely be looked for, although such may exist with- 

 out my knowledge. Neuters are found amongst the verbs and the ad- 

 jectives, but it is doubtful whether they render the nouns to which they 

 are applied, neuters, in the sense we attach to that term. The subject 

 in all its bearings, is interesting, and a full and minute description of it, 



