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CODIFY ODD TONGUESBiloxi and Ofo Languages Now Scientifically Arranged.Bareau of American Ethnology ofSmithsonian Institute Issues New Dictionary Accompanied by Texts of Folklore Stories.~ Washington.—The bureau of American ethnology of the Smithsonian Institution has issued a dictionary of Che Biloxi and Ofo languages, accompanied by' texts of a number of stories embodying mythology and folklore of the two tribes. This volume is largely the result of painstaking investigation. and study on the part of the late Rev. J. Owen Dorsey, to which Dr. John R. Swanton of the bureau has added the Ofo material, besides arranging and editing (from the linguistic point of view) the entire work.The Biloxi formed part of the Siouan group of tribes and the Ofo were among the tribes of the same stock, being most closely related linguistically to them. Neither in size nor in the position occupied in history are the Biloxi of importance; yet from many points of view their history has romantic Interests. The first mention of the Biloxi was by Iberville, in 1699, when he established a permanent settlement in Louisiana, and it was after this tribe that the first capitals of Louisiana werev named, Old and New Biloxi. When first known to white men, the Biloxi lived in a small village on the Pascagoula river, several miles to the eastward of Pascagoula bay. In about 1702 or 1703, they were forced to move to a small bayou back of the site of the present New Orleans, but. between 1722 and 1730 returned nearer to their former dwelling place. They seem to have been a quiet, unobtrusive people, and have received little attention in history, yet it is known that they shifted their abode from time to time. In 1874 they were found west of the Mississippi and gradually became more and more disorganized and scattered, until in 1908 only six or eight of the tribe could be located.Like the Biloxi, the Ofo, usually known in history as Offagoula, or Ofo-goula, are first mentioned in 'Iberville’s journal of his expedition to the mouth Df the Mississippi in 1699. They were then located on the right bank of the river, about four or five miles from its mouth, in close proximity to five other tribes. Being only a small tribe, the Ofo were forced to move up and down the river until 1758, when Governor De Kerlerec reported them as the remains of a fairly numerous nation, established at Natchez, near the fort to which they lent their united aid in times of strife, although numbering only 15 warriors. In 1784 the remnant of this tribe was reported as having a small village of a dozen warriors located on the west bank of the Mississippi a few miles above Point Coupee. As far as the editor is aware as late as 1908, only one member of this tribe remained, who lived near Marksville, La., with a remnant of the Tunica tribe. It was from this survivor that the Ofo words recorded in the dictionary were obtained.The Biloxi texts form an interesting collection of stories some of which are already known from different sources, while others are recognized as pure American from their similarity to old negro superstitions and tales. For example, the story of the rabbit and the Frenchman is parallel to the familiar story of ‘Brer’ Fox and Brer* Rabbit,” arid their comical doings with the “tar-baby,” by “Uncle Remus.” This story, it is held, was borrowed from the negroes by the Indians, modified and eventually adopted by them.There is a little story in regard to the origin of the opossum’s lying and deceitful nature. It seems that at one time an opossum, known as the Ancient of Opossums, who had been the sole possessor of the hunting ground on the shores of a pond, found one morning that- some unknown animal had passed along before him and devoured all the crayfish tc be found on the shore. After some time he met his rival hunter who turned out to be the Raccoon. Realizing that they both desired the same feeding ground, they agreed to see which would rise the Booner and go around the pond securing the spoils for breakfast. The Ancient of Opossums, however, overslept, aud when he arrived at the pond found that the Raccoon had completed the course, eaten all the crayfish and was on his way home to rest. When the Raccoon told of his exploit the Ancient of Opossums said that he also had eaten, and being very tired, was likewise going to rest. The Indians say that since that time the opossum has always been a liar and to this day he deceives the hunter by pretending to be dead. s
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Syracuse Journal
Syracuse, Indiana, US
Thu, Jul 11, 1912
Page 2
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