Bethlehem, 15th August, 1816.
Dear Sir.—I sit down to conclude my answer to your letter of the 3d inst.
Before I begin this task, let me give you some examples that now occur to me to shew the regularity of the formation of Indian words.
1. The names of reptiles generally end in gook or gookses.
Achgook, a snake. Suckachgook, a black snake (from suck or suckeu, black.) Mamalachgook, spotted snake. Asgaskachgook, green snake.
2. The names of fishes in meek (Namæs, a fish.)
Maschilameek, a trout (spotted fish.) Wisameek, cat-fish (the fat fish.) Suckameek, black fish. Lennameek, chub fish.
3. The names of other animals, have in the same manner regular terminations, ap, or ape, for walking in an erect posture; hence lenape, man; chum, for four-legged animals, and wehelleu, for the winged tribes. I need not swell this letter with examples, which would add nothing to your knowledge of the principle which I have sufficiently explained.
I now proceed to answer your letter.
Notwithstanding Mr. Edwards’s observation (for whom I feel the highest respect), I cannot help being of opinion, that the monosyllable ooch, is the proper word for father, abstractedly considered, and that it is as proper to say ooch, father, and nooch, my father, as dallemons, beast, and n’dallemons, my beast; or nitschan, child, or a child, and n’nitschan, my child. It is certain, however, that there are few occasions for using these words in their abstract sense, as there are so many ways of associating them with other ideas. Wetoochwink and wetochemuxit both mean “the father,” in a more definite sense, and wetochemelenk is used in the vocative sense, and means “thou our father.” I once heard Captain Pipe, a celebrated Indian chief, address the British commandant at Detroit, and he said nooch! my father!