Summary Narrative of an Exploratory Expedition to the Sources of the Mississippi River, in 1820 / Resumed and Completed, by the Discovery of its Origin in Itasca Lake, in 1832

by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft

The local inflection, which, in the above examples, is ing and oong, is further changed to aing and eeng, as the ear may direct—changes which are governed chiefly by the terminal vowel of the noun. Examples will best supply the rule, as well as the exceptions to it.

SIMPLE FORM.		LOCAL FORM.
a. First inflection in aing.
Ishkodai	Fire	Ishkod-aing	In, &c. the fire.
Muskodai	Prairie	Muskod-aing	In, &c. the prairie.
Mukkuddai	Powder	Mukkud-aing	In, &c. the powder.
Pimmedai	Grease	Pimmid-aing	In, &c. the grease.
e. Second inflection in eeng.[ [272]
Seebi	River	Seeb-eeng	In, &c. the river.
Neebi	Water	Neeb-eeng	In, &c. the water.
Miskwi	Blood	Miskw-eeng	In, &c. the blood.
Unneeb	Elm	Unneeb-eeng	In, &c. the elm.
i. Third inflection in ing.
Kôn	Snow	Kôn-ing	In, &c. the snow.
Min	Berry	Meen-ing	In, &c. the berry.
Chimân	Canoe	Chimân-ing	In, &c. the canoe.
Muzziny´egun	Book	Muzziny´egun-ing	In, &c. the book.
o. Fourth inflection in oong.
Azhibik	Rock	Azhibik-oong	In, &c. the rock.
Gizhig	Sky	Gizhig-oong	In, &c. the sky.
Kimmiwun	Rain	Kimmiwun-oong	In, &c. the rain.
Akkik	Kettle	Akkik-oong	In, &c. the kettle.

	Throw it in the fire.
1.	Puggidôn ishkod-aing.
	Go into the prairie.
2.	Muskôdaing izhân.
	He is in the elm.
3.	Unnib-eeng iâ.
	It is on the water.
4.	Nib-eeng attai.
	Put it on the table.
5.	Addôpôwin-ing attôn.
	Look in the book.
6.	Enâbin muzziny´igun-ing.
	You stand in the rain.
7.	Kimmiwun-oong ki nibow.
	What have you in that box?
8.	Waigonain aitaig mukuk-oong?
	Put it in the kettle.
9.	Akkik-oong attôn, or Pôdawain.
	My bow is not in the lodge; neither is it in the canoe, nor on the rock.
10.	Kâwin pindiq iâsi ni mittigwâb; kâwiuh gyai chimân-ing; kâwin gyai âzhibik-oong.

An attentive inspection of these examples will show that the local form pertains either to such nouns of the animate class as are in their nature inanimate, or at most possessed of vegetable life. And here another conclusion presses upon us; that where these local terminations, in all their variety, are added to the names of animated beings, when such names are the nominatives of adjectives or adjective-nouns, these words are converted into terms of qualification, indicating like, resembling, equal. Thus, if we wish to say to a boy, "He is like a man," the expression is, Inin-ing izzhinâgozzi; or, if to a man, "He is like a bear," Mukk-oong izzhinâgozzi; or, to a bear, "He is like a horse, Pabaizhikogâzh-ing izzhinâgozzi. In all these expressions, the word izzhi is combined with the pronominal inflection _â_ (or nâ) and the animate termination gozzi. And the inflection of the nominative is merely an adjective corresponding with izzhi—a term indicative of the general qualities of persons or animated beings. Where a comparison is instituted, or a resemblance pointed out, between inanimate instead of animate objects, the inflection gozzi is changed to gwud, rendering the expression, which was, in the animate form, izzhinâgozzi, in the inanimate form izzhinâzgwud.

There is another variation of the local form of the noun, in addition to those above instanced, indicative of locality in a more general sense. It is formed by ong or nong—frequent terminations in geographical names. Thus, from Ojibwai, Chippewa, is formed Ojibwainong, "Place of the Chippewas." From Wamattigozhiwug, Frenchmen, is formed Wamittigozhinong, "Place of Frenchmen." From Ishpatinâ, Hill, Ishpatinong, "Place of the hill," &c. The termination ing, is also sometimes employed in this more general sense, as in the following names of places:—

• Monomonikâning. In the place of wild rice.
• Moninggwunikâning. In the place of sparrows.
• Ongwashagooshing. In the place of the fallen tree, &c.

2. The diminutive forms of the noun are indicated by ais, eas, _ôs_, and aus, as the final vowel of the word may require. Thus, Ojibwai, a Chippewa, becomes Ojibw-ais, a little Chippewa: Inin´i, a man, inin-ees, a little man: Amik, a beaver, amik-ôs, a young beaver: Ogimâ, a chief, ogim-âs, a little chief, or a chief of little authority. Further examples may be added.

SIMPLE FORM.		DIMINUTIVE FORM.
—ais.
A woman	Eekwâ	Eekwâz-ais.
A partridge	Pinâ	Pin-ais.
A woodcock	Mâimâi	Mâim-ais.
An island	Minnis	Minnis-ais.
A grape	Shômin	Shômin-ais.
A knife	Môkoman	Môkoman-ais.
—ees.
A stone	Ossin	Ossin-ees.
A river	Seebi	Seeb-ees.
A pigeon	Omimi	Omim-ees.
A bison	Pizhiki	Pizhik-ees.
A potato	Opin	Opin-ees.
A bird	Pinâisi	Pinâish-ees.
—ôs.
A moose	Môz	Môz-ôs.
An otter	Nigik	Nigik-ôs.
A reindeer	Addik	Addik-ôs.
An elk	Mushkôs	Mushkôs-ôs.
A hare	Wâbôs	Wâbôs-ôs.
A box	Mukuk	Mukuk-ôs.
—aus.
A bass	Ogâ	Og-âs.
A medal	Shôniâ	Shôni-âs.
A bowl	Onâgun	Onâg-âns.
A bed	Nibâgun	Nibâg-aûns.
A gun	Pâshkizzigun	Pâshkizzig-âns.
A house	Wakyigun	Wakyig-âns.

In the last four examples, the letter n, of the diminutive, retains its full sound.