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val, six new Schools had been formed,
and that 533 pupils had been added to
the Common Schools, besides several
to the Seminary and Preparatory
School. The whole number now un
der instruction, is 4,487.
CORRESPONDENCE.
From Major Francis fV. Armstrong
to William Hicks and John Ross,
Principal Chiefs of the Cherokee Na
tion.
Ridges Ferry 19. July 1828.
Totiie Two Principal Chiefs of
the Cherokee Nation, William
Hicks and John Ross
Gentlemen: I am instructed by the
Sec’y of War, as you have been appri
zed by your Agent Col. Montgomery,
to visit your Nation for the purpose
of ascertaining, as far as practicable
at this time, the disposition of the
Cherokee Nation, to cede to the Uni
ted States, a strip of land sufficient to
make a Canal or the Rail road on, (as
the case may be,) so as to unite the
waters of Tennessee with those of
Ala. at some point on the Conasau-
ga. It is proper that I should state,
that I have no contracting powers of
any kind whatever, my instructions are
to converse freely upon this very im
portant subject , with such of the lead
ing men of the Nation as I could meet
with. This I have had the pleasure
of doing today, with yourselves and
Major Ridge—Upon my report—If
necessary—Commissioners will lie ap-
I pointed to moet the Nation at such
time and place as may be agreed on
by the parties, for the purposes here
in stated.
I flatter myself from the conversation
which we have had this morning, that
your answer to this communication
will be such as to authorize me to
make a repoit, expressive of your
willingness to confer with Commission
ers when appointed.
With great respect and esteem, I
have the Honour to be Your Qbt.
Servant,
F. W. ARMSTRONG.
Headmen Wm. Hicks &
John Ross, Present.
Nation, over which the State miist ex
ercise its laws. Under such circum
stances much embarrassments and lit
igations would arise between the
Cherokecs and the Citizens of the
States. And from the improving con
dition of the Nation, we cannot but flat
ter ourselves that the Nation will be
prepared with better roads across the
portage of those rivers, at least by the
time the United States, or the State
of Alabama shall have completed re
moving the obstructions in the Coosa
river up to the Ten Islands.
With great respect and esteem, we
are Sir, your Obt. Servants,
WILLIAM IlICKS,
JNO. ROSS.
Major Francis W. Armstrong
Present.
COMMUNICATIONS.
From William Hicks and John Ross,
Principal Chiefs fyc. to Major Fran
cis W. Armstrong.
Ridges Ferry C. N. July 19. 1828.
Major Francis W. Armstrong,
Sir,—We have had the honor to
receive your communication of this
date, informing us that “you are in
structed by the Secretary of War to
visit the Cherokee Nation for the pur
pose of ascertaining, as far as prac
ticable, at this time, the disposition of
the Nation to cede to the United States
a strip of land sufficient to make a Ca
nal or Rail road on, (as the case may
be) so as to unite the waters of Ten
nessee with those of Alabama, at some
point on the Canasauga.” In reply to
this part of your communication, we
will inform you, that the sentiments of
the Nation remains the same, as has
been made known to the former au
thorized agents of the United States,
who had been instructed to negotiate
with us on this subject—that is, the
Cherokee Nation objects making fur
ther cessions of lands to the United
for any purpose whatsoever. There
fore being so deeply sensible of the
unchangeable disposition of the Nation
on this point, we cannot in the sleight-
est degree flatter you to make a re
port that will induce the General
Government to appoint Commissioners
for the purpose of renewing the sub
ject for negotiation. In presenting
you with this candid expression of the
sentiments of the Nation, we hope
Sir, you will not be disposed to im
pute this objection to any unfriendly
feelings of the Nation towards the
States interested on this occasion, nor
view their decisions emanating from
a gross ignorance of the great impor
tance and the utility of internal im
provements; especially when you re
flect that some of your own enlighten
ed States have cherished a jealousy
towards the United States exercising
the powers of merely making internal
improvements within the limits of the
States without infringing upon the
sovereign Jurisdiction of the States—
"But Sir, what would be the situation
of the Nation, were they to make a ces
sion of land for a canal or rail road
through it? However small or insig
nificant the cession may appear to be,
so soon ns it is made to the United
States, the right of sovereign jurisdic
tion passes through the U. States to
Philadelphia, April 5, 1828.
Editor of tiif. Cherokee Phcenix
Dear Sir:—I have seen by chance
the first number of the Cherokee
Phoenix, in the hands of Mr. Duponce-
au President of the American Philoso
phical Society, who is going to send it
to a learned society in France as a
great curiosity!
I am a great friend of the native
Tribes of America, whose history I
have investigated more deeply than
any one else, and particularly of the
Tsa-la-gi or Cherokees, the remains of
a very ancient and powerful Nation,
now coming to glory again. I am wri
ting a general history of the American
Nations, and my history of the Tsala-
gi Nation will be very interesting;
it might be still more so if I could pro
cure from you some fragments of the
ancient traditions preserved in the
nation. As some new facts may be
evolved in the pages of the Chero
kee Phoenix, I wish to procure that
journal from the beginning. If you
could send me two copies of the Cher
okee Phoenix, I would send one to
Europe, where it will be preserved
as a rarity. I understand that a Li
brary and Museum is forming by the
Cherokee Nation; I wish to offer them
25 volumes as a present, and also
some articles of natural history, when
you will inform me how they may be
sent safely.
I send you this letter and also the
Prospectus of my history of America,
through Mr. Ross Post-Master of
Iiossville, to insure its reception, as
I do not know if you have a Post office
at New Echota. I send you also
here annexed two series of questions
on the language and history of the
Cherokees, which I beg you will in
sert in your journal, in order that they
may be answered by the best inform
ed Cherokees. You may probably
answer yourself those on the language.
I wish to study the Cherokee Alpha
bet and am perplexed by the difficul
ties that I state. I understand the
French, Latin, Italian, Spanish, Por
tuguese languages, and a little the
Hebrew, Arabic, Sanscrit and twen
ty others. I wish to compare the
Tsalagi with all these; I have a small
vocabulary already and I think that
I can trace some of its affinities to the
Sanscrit, Etruscan and Atalantes.—
And in America with the Tala (or
Tarasca) of West Mexico, Otolum,
Muhiscas &c. This will be confirm
ed or disproved by your answers.—
The main point to be ascertained is,
whether all your 85 syllables have
each a meaning in the Tsalagi lan
guage; if they have, it will be an im
portant philological fact.
Respecting your ancient history as
a Nation, let me suggest the proprie
ty to rescue it from oblivion. Now
is the time, since Education enables
you to write your ancient traditions
before they become totally lost. An
example has just been given by Da
vid Cusick a Tuscarora chief, who has
lately published in English the ancient
history or traditions of the six nations,
going 2500 years back.
I wish with all my heart, success
to your attempt to become a perma
nent Nation. Act with firmness and
propriety and you may overcome all
opposition; right and justice, law and
treaties, with all good men are on
your side. But you must not shut
the eyes to your situation, you will
not be allowed to remain independent!
the stronger you become the greater
the danger incase of War will be said
by the southern States, and your tol
eration of slavery lessens the sympa
thy of the Northern States. You will
be removed at last by force to some
equivalent place, far off now, and a-
years
Fate; it is by respectfully, but repeat
edly asking to form a kind of Territo
rial government, annexed to the Fed
eral Union, so as to become an inde
pendant acknowledged Federal Ter
ritory, with a delegate in Congress,
and the privilege to become a State
when yoir population will allow it.
This is tlje kind advice of a true friend
of your nition.
C. S. RAFINESQUE.
Professor of History and Botany, in
Philadelphia.
P. S 'Pray are there any Botanists
in your Nation, or any one able to pre
serve and press plants in herbals?
I should widi much to procure the
plants of youi country and Mountains,
particularly the medical ones. I have
published a first volume of the Medi
cal Flo/a of the United Slates, and
am novj writing the second volume.
What Is the Tsalagi name of Guess,
inventor of the Alphabet? It is a pit-
y so nany letters are so near alike.
QUESTIONS ON THE TSALAGI
/ LANGUAGE,
By Professor Rafincsque.
1. Why is there such a difference
between the alphabet published by the
United States in Indian treaties, and
that given in No. I. of your Journal or
Guess and W. alphabets? I do not
mean in the order or pronunciation,
but in the forms, terms and nutations?
2. What mean the 3 letters all 3
pro. xm (french) oori of Guess, & what
is become of them? What is become
also of Clqngh p, Cleegh e, Clah c,
Cleg]u,, Cloh v, and the nasal Gnaugh
* t *
3. Why is the name of the Nation
ewy pronounced by Guess Tsah-lah-
keeh an<j by W. Tsa-la-gi? are the
sounds G and K interchangeable and
also Cl and Til
4. Is really the Tsalagi Language
totally deficient of the sounds B, D,
F, J, P, R, V, X, Z, Th, & all nasal
sounds An, En, In, On, Un ? and how
are tlujse sounds changed in writing
foreign words? how would you write
my name Rafinesquc, for instance, per
haps Lahineska? how Washington, Jef
ferson, Europe, Phcenix, Boston? &c.
5. Has not every syllable of the
Tsalagi a proper meaning or import in
the language when standing alone? if
they have, give the meaning of each,
this is very important!-
6. Are there not several dialects of
the language yet spoken, or is the uni
formity complete? what is become of
the Ayrati dialect which changed L
into R, and called the Mountain Che-
rokis Otari instead of Otali, and the
whole Nation Chiroki whence your
English name of Cherokecs. Are
they all gone to Arkansas?
7. What is the meaning of the fol
lowing historical names and words in
Tsalagi, translated into English.
Otali, <&\vp Tsalagi,
Alati, tnvj Teomi,
Olata, aww Melilo,
Teliquo, Tanassi, Araana,
Talasi, Cusa, Matika,
Alega, Satula, Olaimi,
Atsala, Talomeco, Utina,
Awalatsi, Timuaca, Mayla,
Hitanatsi, Yamasi, Atsora,
Quowatsi, Aquovvaka Hemalini,
8. Try to give literal translations
of the Lord’s prayer and some other
fragments, word for word in opposition
to each other, so as to offer at once a
view of words and Syntax: but the
words must each be separated and
distinguished either in two perpendic
ular lines or double lines, one word
Tsalagi and one word English annexed
to each other and separated from all
others!
9. What numerals are used by the
Tsalagi, give the names of numbers to
10, in letters, and the cyphers? Do
they count decimally or how?
10. I send you a short vocabulary
of the Language spoken by Apalachi,
Timuaca or Yamasi in 1640; please to
to compare the words with the Tsala
gi, and point out those which have a
resemblance, or give the correspond
ing Tsalagi words.
the State within whose charter it may
fall. Here then would necessarily I gain from thence within 50
b.e a narrow strip in the heart of the |There is only one way to uvert this
Man
Piro,cara,hua.
Woraart
Nia,
Father
Iti,
Mother
Isa,
Child
Chirico,kie,xilc,
Brother
Niha,hiasa,
Sister
Yachamiso,
j3o.
Amitai
Do.
Yachacamina,
River
A chi,
King
Cusi Cube,
Queen
Qui,
Emperor
Para cusi,
Earth
Gua,aga y
Great
Ma,mi,
Holy
Hari,
Priest
Iaohua,
fine
Milana
Valiant hiba,
1 one minccota,
2 two naincha,
3 three nahapu,
Fish Baza, Wasa,
yes haha,
maize haze: naarimi t
Mountain aimi,
house maste, boliio,
God Yao,Q,uc,Tcc,Io t
Spirits Inama, Teka
City, Meli,
Council Ilo,
Sun Ol,lmga,tona,
Bird Tsuli,
Lake Tseo,
Gold Sierapira, Silahila,
my no,
thine ye,
his her mima,
our mile,
your yaya,
theirs lama. C. S. R.
Questions upon the iiitory of the
Tsalagi or Cherokee Nation
By Professor Rafincsque, author of the
General History of America, Phila
delphia, April 1828.
1. I have formed the following ta
ble of all the great Rulers of the Tsa
lagi mentioned in history and fragments
printed. I wish to know whether any
thing to the contrary is known by tra
dition or otherwise, and whether the
names mentioned have a meaning in
Tsalagi?
Chronological Table.
Towards 2200 years before Colum
bus, the Emperor of Gold City or Me
lilo expo;, ruled over all the Nation
frgm the Great Lakes to the Gulf of
Mexico. The Nations were called
Talegalii Wtfsa, and divided into 2
tribes of the mountains and plains, O-
tali cMvp and Olata aww.—(Cusick,
Bridstock, fyc. $*c.
Y owards the year 400 of Christ or
1100 before Columbus the Otali sent
a large colony to Mexico where they
are called Tlatuytsi co*o.—(Brid
stock.
Towards 500, The Dinasty of the
Teltlahim (perhaps Telatlahimi bwc-
ah) ruled over the Empire of Apala-
cha (perhaps Awalatsa dc.w&] extend
ing from latitude 33 to 37, this dinas-
ty still ruling in 1640.—(Br.
Towards 1150 Expulsion of the
Nation Matica, *-a©.—(Br.
In 1540 at the Invasion of Soto,
Queen Cofaciqui or Qouwatsiqui «v«Cl,-
h-ip ruled over the Tsilaki.
In 1565. The Emperor was Olata-
utina (MVw-o>je.
In 1643. The king of Atsalaka was
yet dependant on the Empire of Apa
lacha.
In 1700. Litsi was king of the Tsa
lagi, but a revolution takes place, he
is driven south in 1716.
In 1717 Chamascula orTsamasgula
is king of Tsalagi.
In 1736 Moytoy was Emperor of
Teliquo and Tsalagi.
In 1751 Ostenaco was king of Echo
ta and Tsalagi.
In 1770 Oconestota was king and
Atagnla great General.
fn 1785 Koatohi king of Toquo,
makes peaee with United States.
In 1791 Tsilioha was great chief of
Tsalagi.
In 1798 Tskagua was the great
chief at the first treaty of Teliquo.
In 1804 Molutuski was great chief
at the second Do.
In 1805 Enoli was great chief at the
third treaty of Teliquo.
In 1816 Nenohutuhe or Pathkiller
is the great chief.
2d Question—Give the names of all
the great supreme chiefs of the Na
tion, as far back as memory or tradi
tions go, and try to fix their successive
order and time?
3d. Question—What is the sub
stance of the oldest traditions as yet
preserved? how far back do they go?
do they not point to a connection with
the Nations Apalacha, Timuacas, A-
raana, Matica, Sehama, Meraco, &c.
all parts of the ancient Empire of Ta-
legawy? which must be Tsalagi,
4th Quest.—What have been the
ancient wars of the Tsalagi? what na
tions did they deem foes? and which
friends and allies? what nations have
been incorporated or adopted?
5th Quest.—What were the caus
es of the separation of the Tsalagi
from the Apalacha towards 1716, or
112 years ago? was it not their alli
ance with the Spaniards, while the
Tsalagi become allies of the English
of Carolina?
6th Quest.—Whereabout were the
holy mountains of Olaimi, the capital
Melilo, and the Lake Tseomi mention
ed in 1643 as yet seen by Bridgstock?
where was Talomeco capital and tem
ple seen in 1540 by Soto? w'as It Tt
liquo?
7th Quest.—What traditions or fJ
hies exist concerning the origin of flJ
Nation, the monuments they have built
anciently, &c? are no migrations
changes of places remembered?
1540 the Tsalagi extended all over)
Carolina, part of Georgia and as fa,[
as the Ohio: but where did they dwell!
before? have they no memory of hat.
ing crossed the Sea? to have conJ
from the South? what, places wen|
deemed most holy, as first seats
ancestors? . , *
8th Quest.—Have no traditionil
been preserved of other migrations or
colonies besides those of the Tlahuitsi,
Matica, and the last to Arkansas?
sent off by Tsalagi?
C. S. RAFINESQUE, Pr.
P. S. What names do the Tsalagi
give to the United States and to encli
State known to them? also to each
Indian Nation known to them? and (o
the largest River in the United States?
and to their own Mountains?
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