408 SCIE
svlvniiia university. Kentucky. After Uis death in 1«4(), the niaiuiscnpt or tile Delaware record came for a lime into the tianils of the distin- guished archeologist, Sir. J. L. Sqiiicr, who in 1848 read before the New- York hislorical so- cielj" an incomplete summary of its contents, giving only a [loriion of its ludiau test ami of the sj'mbola. This was published soon after, iti the American review, and has been since re- printed ill otiier publications. Thus enough has been known of this singular composition to excite the curiosity of students ol Indian archeology, who have long regretted the dis- apfwarance and supposed loss of llie original manuscript. By persistent inquiry, Dr. Brin- ton has succeerlcd in recovering il. and has now published the work in full, with all the mnemonic signs, the Delaware lest, a new and exact translation, an ample introduction, and many useful notes.
RaQnesquc's peculiarities, and some other cii'c urns tan CCS have caused a doubt to be cast on i!ic Bulhenlicity of tbe Walam oluwi. The evidence adduced by Dr. Brinlon, however, seems quite sufflcicni to show that it is a genu- ine Indiau production. Ibongh its date and authorship are uncertain. Any one who will compare the symbols, or picture-signs, in this work, with those given by the native histoiian, Copway, in his ' Tra<litional history of the Ojibway nation,' will be satisfied that they be- long to the same system of notation. In fact, of the fifty symbols depicted in Copway's book, about hair appear in the Walam olum, cither precisely the same, or with just such variations as might be expected in an independent work. These symbols are, in part, rude representa- tions of natural objects. — sun, moon, and stars, man, snake, flsh, river, canoe, and the like. — bearing, as might be expected, a certain re- semblance to the curt pictorial outlines from which the Chinese characters were developed. Besides these, there arc some purely conven- tional symbols, which are found both in Cop- way's book and in the present work, and which show that Indian inventiveness had already imssed into the liigher stage, in which ideas as well as objects are represented. A hollow square or parallelogram signifies 'great.' A circle with a point in the centre is tise sign for 'Spirit,' and. when made of unusual size, indi- cates 'the great spirit.' Four angular points jutting from it in ojiposite directions represent the cardinal (loints, and convey the meaning of 'the great spirit everywhere." Thus the Lenilii^ and the Ojibways were on the very vci^jc of that Egyptian metliod of word-pictures which preceded l\w. iuveinioii of the alphabet.
��yCE. [Vol. v., No. lift.
Each symbol of the IFu^am olum recalled to the mind of the record -kee|)er the verse or strophe of a chant. Thus, when he drew forth from his bundle of "painted sticks' the one on which this symljol of the great spirit was depicted, he recc^nized it as indicating a well- knowu verae of Ave I^napi? words, which are here given opposite the symbol, and which Dr. Biinlon's veraiop. renders, " At first, for- ever, lost in space, everywhere the great Man- itowas." In about two hundred such strophea, indicated hy as many symbols, we have the Len&p^ cosmt^ony set forth, followed by & history of the early wanderings of their people, and a list of ninety chiefs who successively held the headship of the tribe. Many interesting questions are raised by lliis history, which Dr. Brintou has not undertaken to answer; but be has supplied abundant materials and aids for students who desire, as doubtless many will, to pursue this attractive investigation.
His inti-odnctory chapters furnish a succinct account of the tribes of the Algoukin stock, and of their neighbora the Iroquois, whose history is closely connected with their own. The iMlilieal constitution of the Lonnp6 septs, their mode of life, their religious belief and ceremonies, their moral and mental character, are concisely but clearly delineated. Their language is carefully anslyzeil; and the exist- ing sources, in print and mauuscri[)t, from which a knowledge of it may be obtained, are more fully recorded than has ever before been done. Ceilain disputed iwints in the later his- tory of the nation are well discussed, though in some of these the author must expect to en> counter op^Kising views. Throughout this in- troduction, and iiideed in the whole work, the marks of great lalwr and of conscientious care are apparent. Evidence also is seen of the in- sight derived from long- con tinned study of the Indiau character, customs, and langnagcs. The volume will not merely itc in itself a most valuable acquisition to all students of Ameri- can archeology, but might well ser* e as a model for future inquirera who may havi undertake similar researches.
��W'k once hcaril an eminent actor describe Charlotte Cushmau as ■■ a magnificent example of a style of acting now happily passed by."
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