Cheroenhaka Language
CHEROENHAKA (NOTTOWAY) INDIAN LANGUAGE
DAR-SUN-KE (TONGUE)
Transcribed By: Chief Walt “Red Hawk” Brown, Tribal Historian
Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe, Southampton County, VA
The Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe of Southampton County, Virginia’s Language (Dar-sun-ke), is recorded in a “Manuscript” obtained from the American Philosophical Society, 105 South Fifth Street, Philadelphia, Philadelphia.
The vocabulary and /or tongue (Dar-sun-ke) of the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indians is a compilation of lists and source materials dating back to March 4th, 1820. Former President Thomas Jefferson’s hand written letter to Peter S. DuPonceau, on July 7, 1820, states that the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian vocabulary was obtained on March 4th, 1820 from a woman by the name of Edie Turner, styled as their “Queen” and that he had procured a copy of the vocabulary from John Woods, a former Professor of Mathematics at the College of William & Mary. Jefferson also infers in his letter of July 7, 1820, that at the time of the recording of the vocabulary, members of the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe, Southampton County Virginia, was still living on seven thousands acres of tribal reservation land, west of the Nottoway River, two miles from Jerusalem [Courtland…WDB] in Southampton County Virginia.
Lewis R. Benford, University of California, Los Angeles, in his manuscript, title “An Ethno-history of the Nottoway, Meherrin and Weanock Indians of Southeastern Virginia” writes that Jefferson forwarded the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Vocabulary to Peter S. DuPonceau of Philadelphia, a student of Indian Languages, particularly the Iroquoian tongues (Gallatin 1836:81) and that DuPonceau recognized the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian language as belonging to the Iroquoian family of languages. Prior to the analysis by DuPonceau it was assumed that the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indians spoke an Algonkian (Algonquian) language related to their northern neighbors, the Powhatan tribes and / or Lenape Nation.
Albert Gallatin, “Transactions and Collections of the American Antiquarian Society, Volume II, pages 81-82,” states that “the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe had preserved their independence and their numbers later than the Powhatans, and that, at the end of the seventeenth century, they still had one hundred and thirty warriors and they had not migrated from their original seat in Southampton County Virginia. It is noted that between 1831 and 1836 a second recording of the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian language was obtained and recorded by the Honorable James Tresevant (Trezevant), one of the original judges on the infamous Southampton County Nat Turner Insurrection Trial. The vocabulary obtained by the Honorable James Tresevant corresponds with that of John Wood, and from which we learn that the true name of the tribe is Cheroenhaka sometimes spelled Cherohakah.
In his references notes, Lewis Binford writes that in accordance with Mook (1944:185-195), Swanton (1952:218), Mooney (1894:29), and Hewitt (Hodge 1907:71) that the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) were also named by the Algonkian(Algonquian) speakers as Mangoake (Mandoags, Mandoaks, Mandoages, Maongoack) a term apparently meaning “rattlesnakes. In 1650 per the diary entries of Bland we were called “Na-da-wa” by the Algonkian (Algonquian) speakers.
The following is the language /vocabulary - “DAR-SUN-KE” of the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe as obtained / recorded phonically by John Woods on March 4th 1820 and the Honorable James Tresevant, 1831-1836 and as analyzed by Peter S. DuPonceau and documented in letters between he and Thomas Jefferson between July 1820 and September 1820:
Vocabulary Of The Language Of The Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indians of Southampton County, Virginia Obtain By John Wood (1775-1822) From An Old Indian Woman by The Name of Edie Turner aka Wane’ Roonseraw, The 4th Of March 1820 – As Communicated By Thomas Jefferson to Peter DuPonceau (1760-1844) :
Nouns of the Universe:
The Sun A-hee-ta The Moon Teth-ra-ke
The Stars Dee-shu The Clouds Ura-se-que
Thunder Ha-he-nu Lighting Towat-gehe-terise
Air Yau-tat-ch God Quaker-Hunte
Devil Ot-kum Rain Yount-out-ch
Snow Kan-kaus Ice O-wees
Fire Au-teur A River Jo-ke
A Great River Onos-chi-oke The Ocean Owan-tet-cho-ta
A Mountain Yenun-Te-nunte The Woods Ora-racoon
Rocks Orun-tag Light You-han-hu
Darkness A-sun-ta Swamp Kee-nu
Land O-ter Gold or Copper Geek-quan
Silver Wa-nee Heaven/Sky Quaker-win-tika
Iron Owe-na I EE
Yes Ho-Keh No Roh
My Set (Singular) Your Get (Singular)
My Ses (Plural – more than one) Your Ges (Plural )
Verbs:
To Walk Iā To Ride Unk-sa-ta
To Fly Get-ya To Swim Ore-run-te
To Drink Arar-her To Eat Unt-cho-re
To Throw Esung-wis-a-tae To Cry Tehe-su-hard
To Sleep Ker-tus To Fight Wan-tre-hu
To Wound Yah-te-rund To Kill Urta-tree-you
To Hear Thra-hun-ta To See Was-ke-hee
To Smell Sa-hu-ran-too To Touch Swa-ro-re
To Speak Was-we-kr To Hunt Ku-nun
To Fish Wat-hu-nund To Love Tat-cha-da-nuste
To Hate Do-taut-che To Pray Dur-tan-hura
To Stab Unte-qua-ra To Cut Un-ta-ter
To Break Wayet-che-ro-sag To Drown Untor-ees-weg
To Hang Wa-ha-ree To Strike Unta-teu-hee-rug
To Shoot Unta-te-hag To Listen Satun-ta-tag
To Wash Ga-ku-har To Run Sari-oka
To Leap Dehun-ti-ras-rag
Of The Human Species:
Man Eni-ha An Old Man Aku-hor
A Young Man Aqua-tio A Boy Aqueianha
A Woman Eke-ning An Old Woman Aquas-ri-sha
A Young Woman Chewas-ri-sha Death Ansee-he
A Dead Body Wahe-hun The Head Seta-ra-ke
Marriage Gol-yag Husband Gotya-kum
Mother Ena Father Ah-roh
A Wife De-kes A Son Wa-ka-ton-ta
A Daughter Eru-ha A King Tir-er
The Belly Un-ke My Belly Set-Un-ke
The Hand or Finger Nun-ke My Hand Ses Nun-ke
Your Belly Get-Un-ke Your Hand Ges-Nun-ke
Right Hand Pa-nun-kee Left Hand Mata-Pa-nun-kee
The Thigh Otit-chag The Knee Sn-she-ke
The Leg Fran-seke The Foot Sa-see-ke
The Hair How-erac The Eyes Un-ko-harac
The Mouth Eska-harant The Ears Sun-tun-ke
The Tongue Dar-sun-ke The Teeth Oto-sag
The Neck Hee-reke The Nose Oteu-sag
The Lips O-arag The Chin O-chag
The Toes See-ke The Blood Gat-kum
The Skin Oho-nag Flesh Skes-hun-ke
Nails Ye-tunke Heart Sun-ke
The Cheeks Ekuns-quare The Breath Un-tu-res
The Eye Brows Eskar-unte A Shoemaker Yunta-qua-ankum
Of Animals:
A Cow Tos-he-rung A Dog Cheer
A Hog Was-kar-row A Cat To-se
A Boar Garsu-sung A Deer Aquia
A Mouse Kos-quen-na A Rat Oyen-tu
A Bull Frog Dra-kon Fish Kain-tu
Shad or Herring Ko-han An Eel Kun-te
A Crag So-sune A Snake An-ta-tum
A Bird Chee-ta A Turkey Ka-num
A Hen Taw-ret-tig A Fox Ske-yu
A Wolf Huse A Squirrel O-sarst
A Rabbit Que-ru A House Fly De-es-rere
A Bee Ro-nu-quam A Shell Oder-sag
A Deer Skin Aquia-ohorag A Wing Ohu-wis-tag
A Feather A-wenk-rag Wool Os-to-harag
The Tail Orwis-ag Horns Oshe-rag
The Vegetable Kingdom:
A Tree Ge-ree A Pine Oho-tee
A Cypress Ras-so A Red Oak Co-ree
Grass Ohe-rag Fire Wood Geka
Ashes O-quag Bread Gota-tera
Potatoes Anten Peaches Ra-shee
Cherries Ra-tung Apples Qua-har-rag
Strawberries Wees-runt Briars Oster
A Leaf Ohar-rak
Division Of Time:
A Year Waken-hu The New Year Unksawa-waken-hu
The New Moon Dot-ra-tung Spring Shan-taros-wache
Summer Gen-heke Autumn Bas-heke
Winter Gos-hera Morning Sun-te-tung
Daytime Ant-ye-ke Mid-day Ante-nee-kal
Evening Gen-sake Night Time Asun-ta
Domestic Articles:
A House Onu-shag A Door Os-to-torag
A Chimney Ode-shag A Knife Osa-ken-ta
A Stick Oche-ru-ra A Gun Ata
A Bed Sat-ta-ak Milk Can-tu
Spirits Anu-qua Clothes Aquast
Smoke Okyer Shoe Otag-wag
Stockings Oris-rag Leather To-tier-hia
Linen Nikan-ra-ra Fat Meat Oska-ha-rag
Lean Meat Oha-rag A Fiddle Erus-karin-tita
A Bottle Che-wak Paper Ori-rag
Adjectives:
White Owher-ya-kun Black Ga-hun-tee
Red Ga-nunt-quare Green Seka-te-quan-tian
Song Ewis Short Ne-wisha
Great Tat-chana-wihie Little Ne-wisha
Deep Tat-chanu-wiras Sharp Wat-choka
Round Tato-we-rente Smooth Chu-watee
Rough Genua-quast Hard Wa-koste
Strong Wa-koste Weak Genu-heha
Dry Your-ha Wet Ya-ora
Ugly Yesaxa Beautiful Ye-sa-quast
Good Wa-quast Bad Was-sa
Hot Tari-ha Cold Wa-torae
Angry That-cha-rore Happy That-cha-nunte
Unhappy Dodoit-che-wake-rak-sa Old Ona-hahe
Young Osae
Numerals:
One Hun-te Two Deka-nee
Three Ar-sa Four Hen-tag
Five Wisk Six Oyag
Seven Oha-tag Eight Dek-ra
Nine Dehee-runk Ten Washa
Eleven urtes-ka-hr Twelve Deka-nes-kahr
Fourteen Hentags-kahr Fifteen Whis-kahr
Sixteen Oyags-kahr Seventeen Ohatags-kahr
Eighteen Dekars-hahr Nineteen Dehee-runks-hahr
Twenty Dewartha-untes-kahr Thrity Arse-nee-warsa
Forty Hentag-nee-warsa Fifty Wiska-nee-warsa
Sixty Oyag-nee-warsa Seventy Getaga-nee-warsa
Eighty Dekranee-warsa Ninety Deheerunk-nee-wasa
A Hundred Kahars-three A Thousand Unte-yoas-three
Letter Sent by Thomas Jefferson To Peter S. DuPonceau, Esq
Germane To The Vocabulary of The Nottoway Tribe Of Indians
Transcribed by Chief Walt “Red Hawk” Brown of the
Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe, Southampton County Virginia
Dear Sir Monticello July 7th 1820
I have lately had an opportunity of procuring a copy of the vocabulary of the Nottoway [Cheroenhaka…WDB] tribe of Indians. These with the Pamunkies and Mattaponies were component parts of the great Powhatan Confederacy which covered all the lower part of this State, and probably spoke the general language of the Powhatans. This vocabulary was taken by Mr. John Woods, formerly professor of mathematics in William & Mary College. I do not know whether vocabularies of these Tribes or of some of them might not have been among those I formerly sent you, in that case this may still be of service by collecting their orthographies. I tender you constant assurances of my friendship & respect.
(signed by)
Thomas Jefferson
Peter S. DuPonceau, Esq.
(News paper Extract enclosed)
Petersburg VA March 17, 1820
The Nottoway [Cheroenhaka….WDB] Indians
The only remains in the State of Virginia of the formidable tribes which once composed the Powhatan confederacy, are the Pamunkeys & Nottoways [Cheroenhaka….WDB] with a few Mattoponies.
The Nottoway Indians in number about Twenty Seven, including men, women & children, occupy a tract of Seven thousand acres of excellent land upon the West side of Nottoway river, two miles from Jerusalem, [now Courtland Virginia…WDB] in the county of Southampton.
The principal character among them is a woman, who is styled their Queen. Her name is Edie Turner. She is nearly sixty years of age, and extremely intelligent, for although illiterate, [She could not read nor write…WDB], she converses and communicates her ideas with greater facility and perspicuity than women among the lower order of society [slaves….WDB]. She has a comfortable cottage well furnished, several horses and cows, and keeps her portion of the settlement in good state of cultivation.
The ancient Nottoway [Cheroenhaka….WDB] or Powhatan language is only known to the queen and two other old Indians. This language is evidently of Celtic origin; and appears equally harmonious and expressive as either the Erse, Irish, or Welch. It has two genders, masculine and feminine; three degrees of comparison, and two articles; but the verbs are extremely irregular.
[NOTE: Peter S. DuPonceau’s reply to Thomas Jefferson on 12th July, 1820, wrote: “I did not expect to find, in what you consider as a branch of the general language of the Powhatans, an Iroquoian Dialect, & yet nothing is clearer nor more incontrovertible, than that this Nottoway Language is essentially Iroquois, & is compounded of the different dialects of the Six Nations .....Virginia has been inhabited by nations of two great stocks, the Lenape & Iroquois… WDB]
Letter Of Reply To Thomas Jefferson From Peter S. DuPonceau
Germane To The Vocabulary Of The Nottoway Tribe Of Indians
Transcribed by Chief Walt “Red Hawk” Brown of the
Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe, Southampton County, Virginia
Thomas Jefferson, Esq Philadelphia 12th July 1820
Dear Sir
I have received the letter you have done me the honor to write to me dated the 7th July 1820 enclosing a vocabulary of the language of the Nottoway [ Cheroenhaka…WDB] tribe of Indians, which I shall not fail to lay before the Historical Committee at their next meeting, & in the mean while I am free to anticipate their cordial thanks for your unwearied & effectual exertions in promoting the great cause of American literature as well as committee’s special objects. They will always be proud & happy to acknowledge the great obligations which you have laid them under, & which men truly devoted to the pursuit of Science can but appreciate.
I am at no loss to determine on the true character of this language. The moment I cast my eyes on this vocabulary, I was struck as well as astonished at its decided Iroquois physiognomy, which habit has taught me easily to discriminate. I say I was astonished, because from the names of Rivers and places in Virginia, which in general are to be traced to the great & widely extended Lenni Lenape, of Delaware idiom, and also from the words of the Virginia Indians quoted by Capt Smith, which are all in close affinity with the Lenape, I did not expect to find, in what you consider as a branch of the general language of the Powhatans, an Iroquois Dialect, & yet nothing is cleared nor more incontrovertible than that this Nottoway language is essentially Iroquois, & is compounded of the different dialects of the Six Nations, in which the Tuscarora seems to predominate. I have yet found but one word in which there appears some affinity to the Lenape, it is “Deeshu” (a star) which appears derived from the Delaware “Gischur” (the sun). The Nottoway word “Aheeta,” which in the vocabulary signifies the great luminary, is evidently Tuscarora “Heita,” which has the same meaning. I shall take the liberty some time hence of sending you full proofs of the assertion which I have made; in the mean time I enclose the Nottoway numerals from one to ten, compared with the Onandago & Mohawks, the two principal Iroquois Dialects. I regret, I have not the Tuscarora numerals as a further means of comparison, you will be thus convinced of the great affinity which exist between those languages.
Whether the Nottoway is a mother tongue from which the Iroquois Dialects have branched out, or whether it is itself a derivative mixture, I dare not undertake to pronounce , but this much appears to me certain, that Virginia has been enhabited by nations of the two great stocks which filled the Northern parts of this country, the Lenape & the Iroquois, or five and afterward Six nations. Of these last the Tuscarora are the least known having joined the confederacy at a late period. It would be perhaps hazarding too much to say that their original stock is found in the Nottoways. I content myself with stating facts. Leaving it to those who are better informed than I am to draw inference from them.
Among the vocabularies which you have heretofore had the goodness to send to the Historical committee, there is none of the language, nor of any connected with it. They are all various idioms of the Lenape & Floridian Stocks. There is not a single one at all in affinity with the Iroquois or any of its Dialects. The Iroquois language appears to have been more extended in its branches than was imagined before Zeisberger & Pyrlous. I have found considerable affinity to it in the Osage.
If more vocabularies could be procured of the Idioms of the Virginia Indians, it would be easy to tract them to their respective stocks, for I have no doubt they were all in affinity with one or other of the two great families, the Lenape & the Iroquois, & that the settlements of the Floridian Indians did not begin farther to the Northward than North Carolina. Yet I may be mistaken. I offer a conjecture in which I think I am warranted by all that I have hitherto seen of the languages of the Northern Indians.
I have the honor to be - with the greatest respect
(signed by)
Peter S. DuPonceau