who were intimately acquainted with the country through which we were travelling at the time, and consequently there is no uncertainty as to the natural features to which the names refer.
The names are in the language of the Cree Indians, unless definitely stated to be in Ojibway.
In writing the words here I have given the vowels the continental sounds. On my published maps, however, which were made largely for the use of English-speaking readers, this practice was not adhered to, but the words were spelled in such ways as would seem to suggest the correct pronunciations to English readers.
Where Indian names were too long for general use, I occasionally shortened them to about four syllables, retaining, as far as possible, the general character and sound of the words as pronounced by the Indians.
PRONUNCIATION OF THE VOWELS AND DIPHTHONGS
| a | as in far. |
| ā | as in all. |
| ai | as in aisle or y in my |
| e | as in met. |
| ē | as a in mate. |
| i | as in pin. |
| i | as ee in meet. |
| ŏ | as in not. |
| o | as in hotel. |
| ō | as in note, home, &c. |
| oi | as in soil, |
| u | as in nut. |
| ū | as in yule, or oo in loose, |
| ew | as in few. |
| ow | as in now. |
