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Correspondence from William Brooks Cabot to Fannie Hardy Eckstorm ca. 1930-1946, part 2 (ms158_b1f017_002.09.pdf)

on a string of such meanings to a point, for a while, then broke & told him it would not do.

ma-ta-, with us North, means side by side, with impulse; is directed now, mostly, to coming to the shore, or shore belt - persons may come to the shore, hills may, you may slide down a bank to the shore, the wind may be "on the land".

Mostly mata occurs as mattop-, you come to the shore & remain, stay, take seat, & good people granly [sic] translate "sitting-down place". They never heard of a country seat.

At a fishing club lately I came on a man of real account in the knowing I tried to do names spoke about it without without [sic] that wondering look as at a collector of buttonholes. Even asked if it wasn't a good thing to go & see the places.

Getting at Aubèry, I might try your names by vocabulary, but it daunts me, the idea. Without speaking use of the language it is lame business. With another lifetime handy I would do it. I hope you are going on well. I haven't laid down to your important last lot of notes yet but coming to them after a slack will be some advantage. Not much use, when the old Indians we get at don't hatch out more.

Very faithfully yours

Wm. 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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