23.—Picture Defining and Reading Book. 1 vol. 12mo. p. 123. Boston: Crocker & Brewster, for the A. B. C. F. Missions, A. D. 1835.
Here is a translation of Mr. Gallaudet’s popular “Definer,” with illustrations, in the Chippewa, which exhibits the pictorial mode of teaching, in a successful manner. The arts of design may certainly be employed, to a great extent, in elementary teaching to the natives. There is no indication of the translator’s name, or the field of his labors, which latter is only known to be in the great missionary area of the Chippewas of the Northwest.
24.—Geography for Beginners. Abinoji Aki Tibajimouin; literally, News, or Information of the Earth, for children or youth. 1 vol. 12mo. p. 139. Boston: Crocker & Brewster, A. B. C. F. M.
This volume has all the attraction of news and novelty for the natives, giving information about people and countries, manners and customs, which were before totally unknown to them. It is taken chiefly from the Peter Parley series. The system of orthography is precisely that employed in No. 24, which varies, in some respects, from the system of the A. Board, and is to be regarded as an attempt of the translator, whose name is not given, to amend it. The forms of Chippewa substantives ending in ngk, are provided for by a dash under the final vowels, thus a̱ e̱ i̱ o̱ u̱. As this ngk, or ng, the g full, is both the participial form of the verb, and the ablative or prepositional form of the noun, denoting, in the latter cases, on, in, or at, agreeably to its antecedent, the abbreviation requires to be carefully noticed. At page 88, at the foot of a wood cut giving the mode of travelling on sleds drawn by dogs, in Siberia in the winter, if the vowel i in the word “pebo̱in,” signifying winter, should not be put in its full prepositional form in ing, or the vowel dashed according to the translator’s system, the word Siberia should certainly have its local ending in ng or ngk; otherwise the reading of Bemadiz i̱ pebo̱in ima Siberia, is literally, In travelling—winter—there, (or that place)—Siberia; and not, as the language permits—Travelling in winter, there (or that place,) in Siberia.
25.—A Chippewa Primer. 1 vol. 12mo. 84 p. Printed for the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church. New York: John Westall, 29 Ann street, A. D. 1844. Compiled by the Rev. Peter Dougherty. 1st and 2d editions.
Under the simple name of “Primer” this little work is one of much value to the philologist, as well as being adapted to promote the advance of the pupil. The Key to the spelling of the “Indian,” prefixed to it, is more conformed to the ordinary standard of English orthœpy, than is practised by the American Board, the vowels retaining, under limitations, their natural English sound.
26.—The First Initiatory Catechism, with the Ten Commandments and Lord’s Prayer; by James Gall, translated into the Ojibwa language by Rev. Peter Dougherty and D. Rodd. Printed for the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church. 1 vol. 12mo. p. 69. New York: John Westall, 11 Spruce street, A. D. 1847.
This translation exhibits the parallel passages of English and Indian.
27.—Ojibwa Spelling Book, designed for the use of Native learners. Printed for the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, by Crocker & Brewster, Boston. 1 vol. 12mo. 127 p., A. D. 1835, 2d Ed.
This elementary work contains a “Key to the Alphabet,” which is adopted, essentially, from the system of Mr. Pickering.