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Correspondence from William Brooks Cabot to Fannie Hardy Eckstorm ca. 1930-1946, part 2 (ms158_b1f017_002.02.pdf)

is usable I haven't got. I did not offer translations, in fact have felt that if printed it had better by by myself, & not get a sponsor into trouble.

Nothing about Mattasunk, those gentry they get into shows aren't much - I have had it happen before, gave an old sinner [?] $5. & never heard. Indians (one underlined) don't do that. If Mattanseunk & Mattakeeunk were down here my guess would be fishing, but I've small faith. Mattaseunk is now Salmon Stream, & the other is near. Mattakeeset is a common spelling here & southward, occasionally occurring in its full form Namattakeset. Mattaseunk seems nearer the Mattachest spelling. But I no nerve [?] about mont [?] forms up with you; not, at the moment, enough to write to Stanislaus. With us the ēē sounds seem diminutive, something is small, or narrow, or thin; area Mattakee [last two letters underlined and superscribed] goes with herring runs, Mattachu [last letter superscribed] - with larger water. Mata- is a coming-out term: V. Madagascet; is used very widely for going to the shore, from inland, or even from near by: in all dialects, Hudson Straits to N. Carolina. The string of Mats- in Rasles [one underlined] make Mattaseunk look bad brook (two underlined).

Well, I wish you were over there in the chair where you were. Thanks indeed for the Chadwick, my best wishes,

Sincerely yours

William B. Cabot.

Description: Letters concerning Indian languages, culture, and history.

Link to document in Digital Maine

Language: English

Date: ca. 1930-1946

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