Page:Hymns in the Chinook Jargon Language.djvu/14



These hymns have grown out of Christian work among the Indians. They repeat often, because they are intended chiefly for Indians who cannot read, and hence must memorize them; but as soon as they learn to read, they sing in English. It will be noticed that often two syllables must be sung to one note, as in the first word in No. 9, nika is sung to the first note of "Happy Land," and in No. 2, in the first line, skookum is sung to one note. The chief peculiarity which I have noticed in making hymns in this language is, that a large proportion of the words are often two syllables, and a large majority of these have the accent on the second syllable, which renders it almost impossible to compose any hymns in long, common or short metres. In the second edition a hymn has been added in each of the Skokomish, Nisqually and Clallam languages, and also a medley in the four languages.

M. E.