COPPER QUOTES
Algonkian
Algonquin.
Use.
I. General History. B. 1584
In the latitude of Roanoke Island, and during the month of July, the Indians were nearly nude.
The men of most note wore moccasins and leggins, the azean, shell necklaces, copper ear-rings,
and a head-dress of some sort. A robe of skins, the muttatos of the Algonquins, was thrown
about the chiefs. The women are drawn without moccasins or leggins, and depicted with a not
ungraceful leather-fringed kirtle or matchicota which reaches half-thigh. The hair is left to flow
untied down the neck, (a doubtful point) with a head-band around the forehead, and a necklace of
shells (Schoolcraft 1860, v.2:23).
Blackfoot.
Meaning.
MISCELLANEOUS VOCABULARIES.
J.B. Moncrovie (correspondent)
Copper
Mics quim (Schoolcraft 1860, v.2:498).
Delaware.
Meaning.
VOCABULARIES.
I. ALGONQUIN GROUP.
MR. CUMMINGS, U. S. AGENT
Copper
Màhxk ah sun (Schoolcraft 1860, v.2:474).
Delaware.
Use.
Chapter II. -- Discovery of the Hudson River. Manhattans, Mohicans, and Mohawks.
These shores were occupied by the Navisinks, Sanhikins, and other bands of the Mississa totem,
of the Lenno Lenapi Algonquin family. The northern shores of the bay, and Manhattan Island,
were occupied by the Mohicans, or Wolf totem, of the same subgenus, to use a phrase of natural
history, of the original stock. The Metoacs of Long Island were of the same type. Between these
two totemic types, there existed either smothered hostility or open war. They kept Hudson in a
state of perpetual perplexity and suspicion; for, regarding all red men with equal mistrust, he was
ever on "his guard against treachery. Of all the bands, however, he found that of Hell Gate, or the
Manhattans, to be the fiercest. On the third day after sailing up the bay, he sent out a boat in
charge of his mate, Colman, to examine the East river. An open sea was found beyond. While
returning to the vessel, the Manhattans attacked the exploring party, and killed the mate, who
received an arrow in his throat. These Indians possessed implements of copper, and earthen
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cooking utensils, the art of making which was, at this period, common to all the coast tribes; but
the use of the brass kettle having been introduced among them by Europeans, they very soon
ceased to manufacture earthenware. They offered Hudson green tobacco, as the most valuable
present, and had an abundance of the zea maize, which he called Indian wheat. They also
brought him oysters, beans, and [page 101] some dried fruits (Schoolcraft 1860, v.6:100-101).
Massachusetts.
Use.
III.H.5. Skeleton in Armor.
And lastly, the use of copper for arrow-heads among the Indians at the arrival of the Puritans, is
well authenticated. Mention is made of them by Mourt, in his Journal of Plymouth Plantation, in
1620, printed in the eighth volume of Massachusetts Historical Collections, pages 219-20; in
Higgeson's New England Plantation, first volume of Massachusetts Historical Collections, page
123, and in various other places. They are also found in many of the tumuli of the West. Those of
the New England Indians may have been obtained from the people of French Acadie, who traded
with them long before the Plymouth settlement (Schoolcraft 1860, v.1:133).
Menominee.
Meaning.
VOCABULARIES.
I. ALGONQUIN GROUP.
MR. BRUCE, U. S. A. GREEN BAY (correspondent).
Copper
Oh shah wah pah (Schoolcraft 1860, v.2:474).
Miami.
Meaning.
VOCABULARIES.
I. ALGONQUIN GROUP.
CHARLES N. HANDY, INDIAN AGENT (correspondent)
Copper
O zaw ke kwa (Schoolcraft 1860, v.2:474).
Micmac.
Meaning.
Indian Languages.
(g) Vocabularies of the Apachee and Micmac Languages.
Copper
Soomalkee (Schoolcraft 1860, v.5:581).
Mohican.
Use.
Chapter 3. First European Acquaintance.
France Enters the Field of Discovery.
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Verrazani, An Italian in Her Service, Discovers the Coast from the Latitude of Tropical Plants to
New York and New England.
He Lands in the Great Bay of Manhattan.
With the natives, who were, as we now know, of the Mohican family of the Algonquins, be had
frequent intercourse, and he speaks of them with kindness. They were uniformly friendly, (5) and
always accompanied his parties, in more or less numbers, ashore. He describes them as of a
russet color, with large black eyes, black hair, of a good stature, well favored, of a cheerful look,
quick witted, nimble and athletic. He compared them to Saracens and Chinese. The women wore
ornaments of wrought copper; wood only was used in the construction of their wigwams, which
were covered with coarse matting, called by him "straw" (Schoolcraft 1860, v.6:42).
Footenote:
5. Verrazani's letter to Francis I [John De Verrazani 1524].
Ojibwa.
Use.
Oral Traditions Respecting the History of the Ojibwa Nation.
WILLIAM W. WARREN (correspondent).
It is a fact worthy of record, that copper, though abounding in their country on the lake shore,
they never used or formed into implements for use. They considered it, and still do, at the
present day, in the light of a sacred article, and never used it but as ornaments to their medicinebags (Schoolcraft 1860, v.2:138).
Ojibwa.
Use.
IX.III. Grammatical Structure of Algonquin.
§3. Further Remarks on the Substantive.
7. Compound substantives.
When the introduction of the metals took place, it became necessary to distinguish the clay from
the iron pot, and the iron from the copper kettle. The original compound, AKKEEK, retained its
first meaning, admitting the adjective noun piwaubik (itself a compound) iron, when applied to a
vessel of that kind, making piwaubik akkeek, iron kettle. But a new combination took place to
designate the copper kettle, MISKWAUKEEK, red-metal kettle; and another expression to
denote the brass kettle, OZAWAUBIK AKKEEK, yellow-metal kettle. The former is made up
from miskowaubik, copper (literally RED-METAL -- from miskwa, red, and AUBIK, the
generic above mentioned) and AKKEEK, kettle. Ozawaubik, brass, is from OZAWAU, yellow,
and the generic AUBIK -- the term akkeek being added in its separate form. It may, however, be
used in its connected form of wukkeek, making the compound expression OZAWAUBIK
WUKKEEK (Schoolcraft 1860, v.2:389).
Ojibwa.
Meaning.
Vocabularies. I. ALGONQUIN GROUP. -- OJIBWA Dialects
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ENGLISH.
OJIBWA OF ST. MARY'S. OJIBWA OF GRAND
OJIBWA OF SAGANAW. OJIBWA OF
TRAVERSE BAY,
MICHILIMACKINAC.
BY G. JOHNSTON.
BY REV. P. DOUGHERTY. BY O. MORAN.
BY W. JOHNSTON.
Copper
Misk' wau bik
Mis co pe wah bik
O saw waw pick
(yellow metal.--S.)
Mis co wau bik
(red metal.--S.)
(Schoolcraft 1860, v.2:463)
Ojibwa.
Meaning.
IX.C. 1. Observations on the Manner of Compounding Words in the Indian Languages.
Not only verbs and substantives are thus compounded and lengthened out in their syllabical
structure, but adjectives admit of similar forms. Thus, from the adjective radix misk, there is
formed a variety of dual and trial compounds, which are in daily vocal use (Schoolcraft 1860,
v.4:376).
Misquee
Blood. From misk, red, and nebee, water.
Misqueewon Bloody.
""
won, a substance.
Misqueengua A blush.
""
equa, a female.
Misquagin
Red cloth.
""
wagin, a dressed skin.
Misquon
A red plume. " "
miquon, a feather.
Miscogaud
A red sash or belt.
""
gaud, a strip.
Misquabikedaa.
Red-hot.
""
wabidea, hot.
Misquossin A red stone. " "
ossin, a stone.
Miseowazhinegun. Red paint.
""
wazhinegon, color.
Misquawauk Red cedar.
""
auk, a tree.
Miscodeed
The spring beauty; the C. virginica, " "
ojeed, anal duct.
Miscopewabik.
Copper.
""
pewabik, iron.
Misquakeek A copper kettle.
""
akeek, kettle.
Misquanakwud
A red cloud. " "
anaquod, a cloud.
Miscopenasee A red bird.
""
penaisee, a bird.
Misquataince A land-tortoise.
""
since, little, & etc.
Ojibwa.
Use, Ritual, Social Category, Meaning.
Daemonology, Witchcraft, and Magic. A.
A. Evidences of Unity of Belief in the Necromancy and Daemon Worship of the Ancient
Population of Asia, and the Present Indian Tribes in America. 1.
No custom of this kind is known to exist among the Indian tribes of North America. A sacred
respect appears to be entertained by them for human bones. They are figured on their
pictographic scrolls, as will be observed in the examples of Part I. But in the tribes from Florida
to the Arctic Ocean, human bones have been generally interred, and not, in any reported
instance, subjected to superstitious, or magic uses. The magic bones exhibited by their
jossakeeds have, wherever examined, been found referable to a species of deer, bear, or other
animal or bird believed to be invested with necromantic power. This power is often found to be
ascribed to sea-shells; and no small part of the paraphernalia of the conjuror's art is confided to
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conchology. Effigies of birds, or quadrupeds, are often exhibited. Metallic copper, which is
found in a virgin state, is sometimes employed by their Meda [Mide'] and medicine-men; but
generally, it is considered as a remedial agent (Schoolcraft 1860, v.4:490).
Ojibwa.
Meaning.
Indian Languages.
Etymology.
The process of word-building, in this language, denotes its principles of accretion. We may take
the radix Misk, red. Hence are formed (Schoolcraft 1860, v.5:595):
Misk-wee,
Blood.
Misk-waigin,
Red cloth.
Misk-wassin,
Red stone.
Misk-weewe,
To blush.
Misk-ogaud,
A red sash.
Misk-waubik,
Copper.
Misk-waukeek,
A copper kettle.
Misk-wauwauk,
Red cedar.
Misk-waubikeda,
Red hot metal.
Misk-owaizhineegun, Red paint.
Misk-obubeensikowagun,
A red coat.
Misk-odesimin,
Red bean blossom.
Ojibwa.
Meaning.
Indian Languages.
Etymology.
Words of Five Syllables.
Ap pe quá she mun Pillow.
As sub be kach' e
Spider.
As sus' sow way min' Choke Cherry.
Bish' e gain' daw gwod
Beautiful.
Jee shud dï' e gun
Broom.
Kaun dah ké e gen
Pole.
Maw' nish taw' nish aincé. Lamb.
Mee jee keé gwon á Kingfisher.
Min ne quaw' je gun Tumbler.
Mis ko bé waw bick Copper.
Mis sah jee dah mó Black Squirrel.
Mit tig' o naw' gun Wooden Bowl.
Muc ko day' nay gow Iron Sand.
Nay gwá gon na awb' Rainbow.
No kó miss o geen' Gt. grandmother.
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O shaw shaú ken ug' Tripe de Roche.
O skin é gee quay
Young Woman.
Op waw' gen os sin' Pipe Stone.
Pah dus' kaw un' zhe Snipe.
Paw bé ko dain' day Speckled Toad.
Pee mis kood de zeaneé
Snail.
Pee peé ge way zaincéHawk.
Pud rink kï' e gun
Fork.
She shé ge may winz Sugar Tree.
Shing goú ba was sin Granite.
Shong gus kaun' dab way
Flying Squirrel.
Sug a squaw' je ma Leech.
Waw be ning' gö sé Snow-bird.
Waw be zhö' ne ah Silver.
Waw we yá naw gun Bowl.
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(Schoolcraft 1860, v.5:588)
Shawnee.
Meaning.
VOCABULARIES.
I. ALGONQUIN GROUP.
MR. CUMMINGS, U. S. AGENT I. TER. W. (correspondent).
Copper
O thah wàhk wah (Schoolcraft 1860, v.2:474)
Caddoan
Washita.
Meaning.
Literature of the Indian Language.
33. Specimens of the Caddo and Witchita Languages.
February 26, 1855. R. B. MARCY (correspondent).
Copper
Wick ashe' e os (Schoolcraft 1860, v.5:710).
Iroquoian
Iroquois.
Meaning.
VOCABULARIES. II. IROQUOIS GROUP.
ENGLISH
Copper
MOHAWK.
ONEIDA.
CAYUGA.
ONONDAGA.
REV. ADAM ELLIOT,
CANADA.
YOUNG SKENANDO
ONEIDA CASTLE.
REV. ADAM ELLIOT.
ABRAHAM LE FORT
O gin ig war kar is ta ji
Kwe nis
O gwen i da
Ok wa neet
(Schoolcraft 1860, v.2:486)
Muskohegan
Creek.
Use.
5. Notices of Some Metallic Plates Exhibited In Annual Dances Among the Muscogees.
The earliest notice of these plates appears to be in the work of Adair,(6) who had passed many
years as a trader among the Appalachian tribes. We are informed that on the 27th of July, 1759,
a Mr. Balsover, a British trader in the Creek country, was told of the existence of these ancient
relics by a very aged Muscogee chief. They consisted of seven pieces of copper and two of
brass. They were regarded with [page 89] superstitious awe, guarded with great care, and
exhibited but once a year. This was at the green-corn dance, which is celebrated as a sort of
thanksgiving. This feast is called the bask, an Indian term peculiar to that tribe.
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Le Clerk Milfort, who published his work at Paris, 1802,(1) describes them as rare and cherished
relics, to which the Indians attached a high value. Mr. Pickett(2) affirms that there are eleven
pieces. Two of these are articles of brass, eighteen inches in diameter, about the thickness of a
dollar, and stamped with the Roman letters AE with two dots. They are too large to justify the
conjecture that they were cymbals, the only musical instrument to which they can be assimilated;
and they were probably taken by the Indians from some of the early European marauders who
landed on the Florida coasts. The other nine plates of copper(3) may suggest some ancient form
of breastplate used in similar forays; for the early adventurers stood in a hostile attitude to the
tribes, held no terms with them, and only aimed to capture them to work the mines. The Bahama
Isles were in a short time entirely cleared of the native inhabitants by the plundering expeditions
to enslave Indians for this purpose. From the description and personal notices of Walter Lowrie,
Esq., President of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, who examined these relics in the
Choctaw country in 1852, compared with the figures in Pickett's History of Alabama, the
following figures of these antique objects, as they now exist in the country west of the Arkansas,
are drawn.
Muscogee tradition affirms that there were more of these plates possessed by them at former
periods, of different kinds, some of which had letters or figures, but that the number was
diminished by the custom of placing one or more of them with the body of a deceased chief of
the pure or reigning blood. The plates remaining are placed in the hands of particular men. They
are guarded with care, and kept from being touched by women (Schoolcraft 1860, v.3:88-89).
Footnotes:
page 88
6. American Indians
page 89
1. History of Alabama, Vol. I, p.85
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
Creek.
Use, Ritual, Social Category.
Antiquities. 7. Antique Muscogee Brass Plates.
Tullahassee Mission, Creek Agency, W. Ark., 14th Sept., 1852. R. M. LOUGHRIDGE.
Having understood that the Tukkabachee town or clan of Creek Indians, were holding their
annual festival, ("the green corn dance,") and that they would exhibit the much talked of "brass
plates," I determined to examine them, and therefore proceeded to their town, and camped for the
night, on the 7th of August. Before daylight next morning, I was aroused by the singing, dancing
and whooping, of the Indians, and was informed that the dance with the plates had commenced.
On reaching the place, I found 200 or 300 men assembled in the Square, with fires burning to
give them light. About 80 or 100 of them were formed into a procession, marching with a
dancing step, double the, around their "stamping ground," which is about 240 feet in
circumference. The procession was led by seven men, each of whom carried one of the plates
with much solemnity of manner. After the dance was over, (which lasted about an hour,) I sent in
my request for permission to inspect the plates.
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The old chief Tukkabachee Mikko, came out and said that I could see them, on condition that I
would not touch them. They profess to believe, that if any person who has not been consecrated
for the purpose, by fasting or other exercises, six or eight days, should touch them, he would
certainly die, and sickness or some great calamity would befall the town. For similar reasons, he
said it was unlawful for a woman to look at them. The old chief then conducted me into the
square, or public ground, where the plates had been laid out for my inspection. There were seven
in all, three brass and four copper plates.
The brass plates are circular, very thin, and are, respectively, about twelve, fourteen and eighteen
inches in diameter. The middle sized one has two letters (or rather a double letter) near its centre,
about one-fourth of an inch in length; thus, Æ, very well executed, as if done by a stamp. This
was the only appearance of writing which I could discern on any of them.
The four copper plates (or strips,) are from four to six inches in width, and from one and a half to
two feet in length. There is nothing remarkable about them. Like the brass plates, they are very
thin, and appear as if they had been cut out of some copper kettle or other vessel.
The Indians cannot give any satisfactory account of any of these plates. They say that they have
been handed down from father to son, for many generations past, as relics of great value, on
account of the blessing supposed to be attached to the proper attention to them. They hold, that
the health and prosperity of the town, depend in a great measure upon the proper observance of
the rites connected with them. It is said, that this town is known to have had these plates in their
possession for 200 years past.
There has been much conjecture about the writing upon them. Some supposed that it was
Hebrew, and hence concluded that they might be descendants of the Jews. I was, therefore, the
more anxious to see the plates, and very particular in examining them. But I could discover no
appearance of writing, and not a single letter, but the above mentioned Roman letters.
Some have supposed the brass plates to be old shields. The largest one, (which I could not
examine very closely,) appeared more like the remains of a shield than any of them.
But upon the whole. I am inclined to adopt the opinion given me by one of their dancers in the
procession, that "they appear to have been covers for pots, or some other vessel, taken a great
while ago from the Spaniards perhaps, in Florida"(Schoolcraft 1860, v.5:660). (1)
Footnote:
1. It will be observed by turning to page 283, that Major Swan on his official visit to Creek
County, in 1791, alluded to these plates, that they had been discovered by this tribe in the clay
soil. H.R.S.
Siouan
Iowa.
Meaning.
VOCABULARIES.
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346. Radix of the noun and verb: There are but few words of one syllable in their language. Not
over sixty or seventy. There are a few particles of one syllable, which are used in verbs to change
the signification, but signify nothing alone, or at least have a very different meaning: e.g., heka is
a tooth; added to wokapa, just, it makes the verb, wokathoheka, he justifies, etc.
Many words simple in English are compound in Iowa.
Ehe, beard, hair of the chin; the-pa, toes, nose of the foot, na wopa, finger, nose of the hand,
copper, red-iron; silver, manthapka, white-iron, gold; yellow-iron, or yellow silver, or money
(Schoolcraft 1860, v.4:406).
Winnebago.
Use, Ritual, Social Category, Meaning.
B. Art of Recording Ideas. -- Pictography.
c. Medicine Animal of the Winnebagoes.
Transmitted with the Preceding. (FIG. 7. PLATE 55.)
The annexed Fig. 7, Plate 55, was drawn by Little Hill, a Winnebago chief of the upper
Mississippi, west. He represents it as their medicine animal. He says that this animal is but
seldom seen- that it is only seen by medicine-men after severe fasting. He has a piece of bone,
which he asserts was taken from this animal. He considers it a potent medicine, and uses it by
filing a small piece in water. He has also a small piece of native copper, which he uses in the
same manner, and entertains like notions of its sovereign virtues (Schoolcraft 1860, v.2:224).
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Schoolcraft, Henry Rowe
1860 Information Respecting the History, Condition, and Prospects of the Indian
Tribes of the United States. 6 vols. J.B. Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia.
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