Legends of the Micmac Indians and extracts from the Micmac prayer book
Name:
Rand, Silas Tertius, 1810-1889
Date:
1848
Description:
Six legends in Micmac, along with extracts from the Micmac prayer book, written down by Silas Tertius Rand, based on dictation from various Micmac interlocutors, with interlinear translations by Rand, in English. His translation is occasionally rendered in shorthand (p. 194-195); in a few instances no translation is given (p. 320; 321, 365-380). The last three pages of the manuscript (p. 381-383) are of a different nature, comprising glossaries of phrases, in Micmac and English (partly in shorthand). Evidently the first part of the manuscript (p. 1-192), containing the legends, was written mostly in the course of 1848 (Char. Town, P.E.I., 1848, p. 1; C. Town, Sept. 1848, p. 71; Oct. 1848, p. 100), while the second part (p. 194-380), containing extracts from the prayer book, was written mostly in September 1849 (p. 194, 222); one note that may have been added subsequent to the actual transcription is dated July 15, 1850 (p. 221). An introduction by Rand is dated Hantsport, 25 April 1884 (tipped in, p. ii); at that time he completed the translation of the sixth story (24 April 1884; p. 192), which he had earlier left unfinished. Rand states in the introduction that he had aimed to spell the Micmac words phonetically, as he heard them pronounced; he remarks that the spellings he used in transcribing changed a little over the years. Regarding the source of the stories, he makes the following statement: These curious Indian tales were written down from the dictation mainly of an Indian woman named Susan Doctor (she is still living, I am told), and she learned them from her father (note tipped in, p. ii). Evidently Susan Doctor is the same person elsewhere identified as Susan Barss: in the note related to the 1884 translation Rand identifies the source for the sixth story as Susan Barss, whose father, he says, carried the title Dr. Paul; and the same story is attributed at the top of the first page to Susan Doctor (p. 160). Two other notes about attribution are found within the manuscript: 1) the first story is said to have been written down from the mouth of an Indian woman (p. 1); and 2) the fourth is said to have been related by Jacob Mitchell (p. 100). Concerning the extracts from the prayer book, Rand reports at the beginning of the first section that the material was read to him by a daughter of Dennis Michael, chief of the Indians in Cape Breton (p. 194). Three of the subsequent headings refer to the prayer book explicitly (222, 319, 379). However, in the case of at least two sections entitled as sermons (p. 253, 294), Rand's notes indicate that the material was related to him not by the daughter of Mitchell but by others (from the mouth of Christmas Tuma , p. 253; read by Francis Sulom, p. 294). A note on the first page of the section on the mass, apparently in reference to the title of that section, reads: Named by Philip Sire, July 15, 1850.
Language:
English
Provenance:
From the collection of Daniel Garrison Brinton (ex libris stamp on inside front cover and title page).; Brinton, Daniel G. 1837-1899, former owner.
193 leaves : paper; 202 x 165 (202 x 157) mm bound to 209 x 173 mm
Geographic Subject:
Nova Scotia -- Languages; Nova Scotia
Rights:
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/
Notes:
Ms. codex.; A Baptist minister, who, in 1846, made the decision to devote himself to missionary work among the Micmac Indians of Nova Scotia, and began to learn the Micmac language. From 1846 until at least 1849, Rand lived in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; in 1849 he helped to found the Micmac Missionary Society there. He moved permanently to Hanteport, Nova Scotia, in November 1853 and lived there until his death, in 1889.; Title from title page (p. i).; Pagination: Paper, i + 193 + ii leaves; [i-ii], 1-141, 141-383. Contemporary foliation in ink, generally upper center, p. 1-192; modern pagination in pencil, lower outer corners, p. 193-383. Four partial leaves tipped (p. 175, 179, 184, 190). The contemporary pagination is occasionally to be found in the upper outer or inner corners, or the lower center of the page; p.159, 193, 323, 324 are blank.; Layout: Written in 20-22 long lines on lined paper, with text often extending to the upper and lower edges of the page.; Script: Written in the hand of Silas Tertius Rand.; Binding:Contemporary quarter calf (narrow leather spine and small corners); front hinge cracked, back cover detached; spine tattered and partially wanting.; Origin: Written mostly in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, from 1848 (p. 1), possibly beginning in September 1848 (p. 71) until approximately July 1850 (p. 321); the interlinear translation for the sixth story (probably including the additional explanatory notes to that story, on partial leaves tipped in, f. 175, 179, 184, 190), and the introduction, written on 24 and 25 April 1884, respectively (p. 192; leaf tipped in, p. ii).; Table of contents: 1. pp. ii (tipped in): Introduction.; Table of contents: 2. pp. 1-32: A legendary tale: the history of Ŭsitābŭlăju of Micmac antiquity / from the mouth of an Indian woman [Susan Doctor/Barss?].; Table of contents: 3. pp. 33-71: A second story: adventures of Kitpusëăgŭnou / [Susan Doctor/Barss?].; Table of contents: 4. pp. 72-100: The third story [Now there is a great settlement, an old woman walks about in the woods, she finds a small babe ...] / [Susan Doctor/Barss?].; Table of contents: 5. pp. 100-138: The adventures of Abăbĕjit, a Micmac chief, in an engagement with the Mohawks / related by Jacob Mitchell.; Table of contents: 6. pp. 138-158: Story of Uchĭgëāskio and Tëam / [Susan Doctor/Barss?].; Table of contents: 7. pp. 160-192: The sixth story: the adventures of Karytuguās, or The Thunderer / Susan Doctor [=Susan Barss].; Table of contents: 8. pp. 194-221: From the Indian hieroglyphical prayer book / read by a daughter of Dennis Michael, chief of the Indians in Cape Breton.; Table of contents: 9. pp. 222-252 [cont. on p. 348]: The catechism extracted from the Micmac prayer book.; Table of contents: 10. pp. 253-294: A sermon / from the mouth of Christmas Tuma [?].; Table of contents: 11. pp. 294-318: A sermon written at Annapolis Gut / read by Francis Sulom.; Table of contents: 12. pp. 319-320: An Indian hymn, on the page opposite the big ship.; Table of contents: 13. pp. 320: Another Indian hymn.; Table of contents: 14. pp. 321-341: The mass.; Table of contents: 15. pp. 342-348: Psalm XCV.; Table of contents: 16. pp. 348 [cont. from p. 252]: The catechism.; Table of contents: 17. pp. 349-352: For St. Ann's day.; Table of contents: 18. pp. 352-357: The ten commandments.; Table of contents: 19. pp. 358-363: The funeral service.; Table of contents: 20. pp. 364-365: Morning prayer.; Table of contents: 21. pp. 365-367: Matthew 5:38-45 [?].; Table of contents: 22. pp. 368-378: An Indian hymn.; Table of contents: 23. pp. 379-380: A Christmas hymn from the prayer book.; Table of contents: 24. pp. 381-382: Micmac words resembling Greek.; Table of contents: 25. pp. 383: [Untitled phrases].; English and Micmac.
Physical Location:
Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, Manuscripts, Ms. Coll. 700 Item 225
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