Cherokee Phoenix
Vol. I No. 27
Wednesday, September 3, 1828
Pg. 2 Col. 3 & 4 (arranged as a double column)

 Question 9. "What numerals are used by the Tsalagi, give the names of number to 10,in letters, & the ciphers?  Do they count decimally or how?'
 For the answer to this question I must refer Professor R. in part to the table of numbers contained in the second number or your paper, which I presume he has received.  By examining that table he will perceive that the Cherokees count by tens, hundreds, and thousands.  Their number terms are simple as far as ten.  Thence to nineteen they add to one, two, &c., the syllable s, tu, with a variation of the simple term for the sake of euphony.  Twenty, thirsty, &c to 90 are formed by the combination  of two, three, &c. with ten.  Above twenty to twenty-nine they add the termination (Cherokee symbols) to the simple terms one, two &c.  Above thirty-nine they add to the same simple terms the termination (Cherokee symbols) Ga-li, and the same above forty to forty-nine, & so on to ninety-nine, prefixing, however, in every instance above thirty-nine, the decimal number.  The term denoting one hundred is formed by adding (Cherokee symbols) a-sko-hi ten, the syllables (Cherokee symbols) tsu-qui; and each decimal number between one and two hundred by adding the same termination to (Cherokee symbol) sa-du eleven &c. thus (Cherokee symbol) eleven, (Cherokee symbol) one hundred and ten; wws ta la du, twelve, (Cherokee symbol) one hundred and twenty.  Any number of hundreds less than ten is formed by adding the termination (Cherokee symbol) to the simple numbers two, three &c. to nine; thus (Cherokee symbol) ta-li two, (Cherokee symbol) two hundred.  Between thousands any number of hundreds may be expressed either by eleven, twelve, &c. followed by (Cherokee symbol) i-ya-tsu-qui, as (Cherokee symbols) eleven hundred, or by adding to the number of thousands the excess of hundreds.  In the later case they add the term (Cherokee symbols) wi-du-na-tlv-di, which denotes addition; thus (Cherokee symbols) a-ga-yv-li ta-li-tsu-qui wi-du-na-tlv-di, one thousand and two hundred.  (Cherokee symbols) signifies a thousand, (Cherokee symbols) ta-li-iii-ya-ga-yv-li two thousand &c.  They have also a term for million, which is (Cherokee symbols)a-ga-yv-li-ya, a real thousand, by(sic) it is not universally known, and (Cherokee symbols) a thousand thousand is better understood.

 Question 10.  "I send you a short vocabulary of the Language spoken by Apalachi, Timuaca or Yamasi in 1640; please to compare the words with the Tsalagi, and point out those which have a resemblance, or give the corresponding Tsalagi words."

 Ans. There are no words in the vocabulary which bear any resemblance at all to the corresponding Cherokee words.  I however annex the vocabulary, with the Cherokee words in a parallel column.

English  Apalachi   Cherokee
Man   viro, cara, hua [1] Cherokee symbols  A-ska-ya
woman  nia    Cherokee symbols  a-ge-hyv
father  iti    [2] Cherokee symbols e-do-da
mother  isa    Cherokee symbols e-tsi
child  chirico, kie, ule Cherokee symbols a-que-tsi
brother  niha,hiasa  [3] Cherokee symbols v-gi-ni-li
       Cherokee symbols v-gi-nv-tli
       Cherokee symbols v-gi-do
sister  yachamiso   Cherokee symbols v-gi-do
do.   amita   Cherokee symbols v-gi-lv
do.   yachamina
river  achi    Cherokee symbols e-quo-ni
king   cusi, cuhe  Cherokee symbols u-gv-wi-yu-hi
queen  qui
emperor  paracusi   Cherokee symbols u-gv-wi-yu-hi
earth  gua,aga   Cherokee symbols e-lo-hi
great  ma, mi   Cherokee symbols e-qua [large]
holy   hari    Cherokee symbols ga-lv-quo-di
priest  iaohua   [4] Cherokee symbols a-do-ni-ski
fine   hitana   Cherokee symbols u-wo-du            [pretty]
valiant  hiba    [5] Cherokee symbols
        u-li-tsv-ya-sti
       Cherokee symbols u-ska-se-di
1 one  minecota   Cherokee symbols sa-quo
2 two   naincha   Cherokee symbols ta-li
3 three  nahapu   Cherokee symbols tso-i
fish   baza wasa   Cherokee symbols a-tsa-di
yes   haha    Cherokee symbols v-v
maize  hazez naarimi  Cherokee symbols se-lu
mountain  aimi    Cherokee symbols o-da-li
house  maste, bohio  Cherokee symbols a-da-ne-lv
       Cherokee symbols ga-li-tso-de
God   Yao, Que,Tec, Io [6] Cherokee symbols
         u-ne-la-nv-hi
       Cherokee symbols
         ga-lv-la-ti e-hi
spirits  inama teka  [7] Cherokee symbols
         u-tse-lv- nv-hi
       Cherokee symbols na-ye-hi
       Cherokee symbols a-da-nv-to
city   meli    Cherokee symbols ga-du-hv
council  ilo    Cherokee symbols de-ga-la-wi-v
sum   ol,huga,tona  Cherokee symbols nv-to
bird   tsuli   Cherokee symbols tse-squa
lake   tseo    Cherokee symbols v-da-l-i
gold   sierapira,silahila  [8] Cherokee symbols
         da-lo-ni-ge a-te-lv
my    na    [9] Cherokee symbols
         a-qua-tse-li
thine  ye    Cherokee symbols tsa-tse-li
his, her  mima    Cherokee symbols u-tse-li
our   mile    [10] Cherokee symbols
         gi-na-tse-li
       Cherokee symbols
         o-gi-na-tse-li
       Cherokee symbols
         i-ga-tse-li
       Cherokee symbols
         o-ga-tse-li
your   yaya    Cherokee symbols tsa-tse-li
their  lama    Cherokee symbols u-na-tse-li
__________________
[1] In distinction from woman.  The general name of the human species if (Cherokee symbol) yv-wi.
[2] (Cherokee Symbols) my father, (Cherokee symbols) tsa-do-da thy father, (Cherokee symbols) u-do-da his father &c.- so (Cherokee symbols) my mother, (Cherokee symbols) tsi-tsi, thy mother, (Cherokee symbols) my child &c.  The nouns of relationship are inseparable from the possessive pronouns.
[3] (Cherokee symbols) my elder brother. (Cherokee symbols) my younger brother.  These two are used only by men.  (Cherokee symbols) my brother used by a woman. (Cherokee symbols) my sister used by a man. (Cherokee symbols) my sister used by a woman.
[4] (Cherokee symbols) signifies a conjurer. Conjurers seem to have acted the part of priests more nearly than any other class of persons.  In translating scripture (Cherokee symbols) a-tsi -lv ge-lo-ho, fire feeder, is used.  The Cherokees formerly offered sacrifices by throwing pieces of meat &c. into the fire, and this was called  feeding the fire.
[5](Cherokee symbols) who makes himself a man. (Cherokee symbols) literally signifies dreadful, but is the term most commonly applied to a valiant warrior.
[6] (Cherokee symbols) the Creator.  (Cherokee symbols) he who dwells above.  These are their only names for God.  They never call him the Great Spirit, as it has been erroneously supposed that all Indians do.
[7] (Cherokee symbols) is a little troublesome imaginary supernatural being, which sometimes drives or rides persons about through marshes and briar-patches by night, and otherwise torments them.  Jack with a lantern goes by the same name, and perhaps deserves the credit of giving rise to the fable.  Cherokee symbols) denotes a superior order of beings.   (Cherokee symbols) the soul, the spirit.
[8] Yellow metal. (Cherokee symbols) denotes either of the precious metals, but usually silver, or money, unless accompanied with (Cherokee symbols) yellow.
[9] (Cherokee symbols) my one thing. (Cherokee symbols) my more than one thing. (Cherokee symbols) thy one thing. (Cherokee symbols) thy more than one. (Cherokee symbols) his one thing. (Cherokee symbols) his more than one.
[10] (Cherokee symbols) belonging to thee and me; (Cherokee symbols) belonging to him and me (Cherokee symbols) to you and me; (Cherokee symbols) to them and me. (Cherokee symbols) of you two (Cherokee symbols) belonging to you, more than two.  These have also a plural form, as Cherokee symbols) our [of thee and me]  more than one things &c.

This transcription from the Cherokee Phoenix is presented as part of the historical record, and includes historical materials that may contain negative stereotypes or language reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place including terminology that may not be deemed appropriate today. While an effort has been made to verify the transcription against the original text, complete accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Researchers are urged to match the transcription against the original article to authenticate exact quotes. Issues of the Cherokee Phoenix are available on microfilm. Please check your local library for availability or to inquire about interlibrary loan of a microfilm copy.

Send comments or questions to: George Frizzell
Special Collections . Hunter Library . Western Carolina University . Cullowhee, NC 28723 . 828-227-7474