Were the American nations originally of one tongue? Humboldt, Du Ponceau, and others have remarked that striking analogies of grammatical construction exist in all American languages, from the Eskimo to the Fuegian, although differing entirely in their roots. Dr. Prichard says,—
"There are peculiarities in the very nature of the American languages which are likely to produce great variety in words, and to obliterate in a comparatively short period the traces of resemblance."—Phys. Hist. &c., vol. v. p. 317.
It may be only a curious coincidence, but it is undoubtedly true, that, with scarcely one exception, all names (we might almost say words) so terminating are more or less connected with water. The exception (if it really be one) is Masca, which I have found among my old notes, followed by the word Montagne; but nothing more, and I have forgotten all about it.
For the rest, the varieties in isca, &c., spoken of before, are chiefly to be found in the northern countries, towards Hudson's and James' Bay, &c., where the present spoken languages are the Eskimo or Karalit, the Cree, and the Montagnard dialect of the Algonkin, viz. Agomisca, island in James' Bay; Meminisca, lake on Albany River; Nemiskau, a lake; Pasquamisco, on James' Bay; then, Keenwapiscaw, lake; Naosquiscaw, ditto; Nepiscaw, ditto; Camipescaw, ditto; Caniapuscaw, ditto and river: the last five lie between the head waters of the Saguenay and the bottom of James' Bay.
Again, beginning at the extreme west, we find Oonalaska, or Agoun Aliaska, or (according to the natives) Nagoun Alaska, an island abounding in fine springs and rivulets. Nor should I omit another of the Aleutian islands, called Kiska.
Alaska, or Aliaska, a peninsula. The language in these instances is a branch of the Eskimo.
Athabaska (Atapescow of Malte-Brun), lake and river. M‘Kenzie says that the word means, in the Knistenaux language, a flat, low, swampy country, liable to inundations (edit. 4to., p. 122.). Here I repeat the question, is the word vernacular, or only adopted? In such vocabularies as I have seen, there is nothing bearing the slightest relationship to it. In one given by Dr. Latham (Varieties of Man, &c., pp. 208-9.), water, in the Chepewyan, is tone, and river, tesse.
Itaska, the small lake whence the Mississippi has its origin. The languages prevalent in the adjacent country would be the Sioux, and the Chippeway branch of the Algonquino.
Wapiscow, river. Language, Cree?
Nebraska, "The Shallow River," said to be the name of the Platte in the Sioux language.