Iau (animate) To be.  Atta (inanimate)—­To be.

Nin, Diau—­I am, or my spirit is.  Atta—­It is.

Ki, Diau—­Thou art, &c.  Atta-aun—­They are.

Iau—­He (or she) is.  Atta-bun—­it was.

Nin, Diau-min (ex.)—­We (excluding you) are.  Atta-aubun—­They have been.

Ki, Diau-min (in.)—­We (including you) are.  Iah atta—­It shall be.

Ki, Diau-ni—­Ye are.  Iah atta-win—­They shall be.

 Iau-wug—­They are.

There is probably no language so barbarous as not to have words to address God.  But, of all languages under heaven, the Indian dialects appear to me the most fruitful in terminations and adjuncts to point their expressions, and to give to them living and spiritual meanings.  They appear, by their words, to live in a world of spirits.  Aside from the direct words for Father, as the universal Parent, and of Maker, and Great Spirit, they have an exact term for the Holy Ghost; and he who has ever heard a converted Indian pray, and can understand his petition, will never afterwards wish to read any philological disquisitions about the adaptation of their languages to the purposes of Christianity.

Dec. 2d.  I determined that part of the diversions of my first winter at Mackinack should consist of notices of its meteorology, the changes of winds and currents in the straits, &c.  Shut out from the world by a long expanse of coasts, which cannot be navigated in the winter, much of the sum of our daily observation must necessarily take its impress from local objects.  To pass a winter in the midst of one of the great lakes—­the Huron—­was itself a subject of excitement.  Mild weather had characterized the season, which had been predicted by some persons as the consequence of the remarkable meteoric displays in November.

At the monthly concert in the evening, interesting statements were made on the efforts now in progress to evangelize the world.  In this the Bible, tract, and mission causes were shown to act with harmonious power.

3d.  I employed myself in the morning in a revision of papers relating to subjects of natural history, and in references to Conybeare and Phillips.  In the evening, the Rev. Mr. Ferry and Mr. Barber were visitors.

4th.  The last vessel for the season, the “Marengo,” left the harbor for Detroit, taking on board our expressmen, who are to return by land.  The weather has continued mild, with the winds from the westward and southward.

6th.  Some rain fell in the evening, which did not, however, prevent friends from passing the evening with us.

7th.  Weather still mild.

10th.  The continued mildness of the atmosphere has induced the Indians from the adjacent shores to visit the island.  There are no Indians permanently resident on it.  Within the last ten days, rising of eighty souls have visited the agency and shops.  Some have iron work to mend.  Most of them have applied for provisions.  Several aged persons and widows have asked for blankets.