The Lenâpé and Their Legends by Daniel G. Brinton

(12 User reviews)   5981
By Ronald Gonzalez Posted on Dec 25, 2025
In Category - Leadership
Brinton, Daniel G. (Daniel Garrison), 1837-1899 Brinton, Daniel G. (Daniel Garrison), 1837-1899
English
Hey, I just finished this fascinating old book that's been on my shelf forever. It's not your typical history. It's from 1885, and it's about the Lenâpé people—you might know them as the Delaware—but the author, Daniel Brinton, isn't just listing facts. He's trying to do something radical for his time: treat their stories as serious, sacred literature, not just 'myths' or 'folklore.' The whole book feels like a rescue mission. Brinton is racing against time, gathering these legends from the few sources he has before they're lost forever. The central mystery isn't a whodunit; it's a 'who were they, really?' He uses their own creation stories, hero tales, and poems to argue that their culture was deep, spiritual, and complex. Reading it, you feel this tension between his genuine respect and the unavoidable fact that he's a 19th-century white man interpreting a culture under immense pressure. It's a time capsule within a time capsule. It gives you the legends themselves, which are beautiful and strange, and also shows you how people 140 years ago struggled to understand them. If you're curious about early anthropology, Native American history, or just love hearing ancient stories told in their own voice, this is a unique and surprisingly gripping read.
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In the Office of the Librarian of Congress. All rights reserved. Transcriber's Notes: Words or phrases with an underscore(_) before and after are italicized. Words or phrases with an equal sign(=) before and after are in bold. Obvious spelling and punctuation mistakes have been corrected. The use of the digit 8 to represent a 'whistled' letter w has been retained as in the original. PREFACE. In the present volume I have grouped a series of ethnological studies of the Indians of Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland, around what is asserted to be one of the most curious records of ancient American history. For a long time this record--the WALAM OLUM, or Red Score--was supposed to have been lost. Having obtained the original text complete about a year ago, I printed a few copies and sent them to several educated native Delawares with a request for aid in its translation and opinions on its authenticity. The results will be found in the following pages. The interest in the subject thus excited prompted me to a general review of our knowledge of the Lenape or Delawares, their history and traditions, their language and customs. This disclosed the existence of a number of MSS. not mentioned in bibliographies, some in the first rank of importance, especially in the field of linguistics. Of these I have made free use. In the course of these studies I have received suggestions and assistance from a number of obliging friends, among whom I would mention the native Delawares, the Rev. Albert Anthony, and the Rev. John Kilbuck; Mr. Horatio Hale and the Right Rev. E. de Schweinitz; Dr. J. Hammond Trambull, Prof. A. M. Elliott and Gen. John Mason Brown. Not without hesitation do I send forth this volume to the learned world. Regarded as an authentic memorial, the original text of the WALAM OLUM will require a more accurate rendering than I have been able to give it; while the possibility that a more searching criticism will demonstrate it to have been a fabrication may condemn as labor lost the pains that I have bestowed upon it. Yet even in the latter case my work will not have been in vain. There is, I trust, sufficient in the volume to justify its appearance, apart from the Red Score; and the latter, by means of this complete presentation, can now be assigned its true position in American archaeology, whatever that may be. CONTENTS. PAGE CHAPTER I.--§ 1. THE ALGONKIN STOCK 9 Scheme of its Dialects.--Probable Primitive Location. § 2. THE IROQUIS STOCK 13 The Susquehannocks--The Hurons--The Cherokees. CHAPTER II.--THE WAPANACHKI OR EASTERN ALGONKIN CONFEDERACY 19 The Confederated Tribes--The Mohegans--The Nanticokes.--The Conoys.--The Shawnees.--The Saponies.--The Assiwikalees. CHAPTER III.--THE LENAPE OR DELAWARES 33 Derivation of the Name Lenape.--The Three Sub-Tribes: the Minsi or Wolf, the Unami or Turtle, and the Unalachtgo or Turkey Tribes.--Their Totems.--The New Jersey Tribes: the Wapings, Sanhicans and Mantas.--Political Constitution of the Lenape.--Vegetable Food Resources.--Domestic Architecture.--Manufactures.--Paints and Dyes.--Dogs.-- Interments.--Computation of Time.--Picture Writing.-- Record Sticks.--Moral and Mental Character.--Religious Belief.--Doctrine of the Soul.--The Native Priests.-- Religious Ceremonies. CHAPTER IV.--THE LITERATURE AND LANGUAGE OF THE LENAPE 74 § 1. Literature of the Lenape Tongue.-- Campanius; Penn; Thomas; Zeisberger; Heckewelder; Roth; Ettwem; Grube; Dencke; Luckenbach; Henry; Vocabularies; a Native Letter. § 2. General Remarks on the Lenape. § 3. Dialects of the Lenape. § 4. Special Structure of the Lenape.--The Root and the Theme; Prefixes; Suffixes; Derivatives; Grammatical Notes. CHAPTER V.--HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE LENAPE 109 § 1. The Lenape as "Women." § 2. Recent Migrations of the Lenape. § 3. Missionary Efforts in the Provinces of Pennsylvania and...

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Published in 1885, The Lenâpé and Their Legends is Daniel Brinton's attempt to preserve and analyze the traditional stories of the Lenâpé (Delaware) people. Brinton wasn't a field anthropologist living with the tribe; he was a scholar working with the written records he could find, primarily a rare manuscript called the Walam Olum. The book presents these legends in their translated form, often with Brinton's commentary alongside them.

The Story

There isn't a single narrative plot. Instead, the book is a collection. It shares the Lenâpé story of creation, how the earth was formed on the back of a great turtle. It tells of their epic migrations and the adventures of their culture heroes. A significant portion is dedicated to the Walam Olum itself, a series of pictographs and verses that Brinton believed recorded their ancient history. The 'story' here is Brinton's own journey of interpretation. He walks us through each legend, comparing symbols and themes to those in other world cultures, arguing for the sophistication and spiritual depth of Lenâpé thought.

Why You Should Read It

You read this book for two layers of history. First, you get direct access to powerful, indigenous stories that were in danger of disappearing. Reading the migration epic or a poem about the creator is a profound experience. Second, you witness the birth of American anthropology. Brinton's respect for his subject is clear—he insists these are not childish fables but a legitimate 'literature.' Yet, his 19th-century perspectives and methods are also visible, making you think critically about how history is written. It’s not a perfect, modern study, but its earnest effort to listen and elevate these voices is compelling.

Final Verdict

This is a must-read for anyone interested in the roots of Native American studies or the history of how America has tried to understand its original inhabitants. It's also great for readers who love mythology and primary sources. Be prepared for an old-fashioned writing style and some outdated ideas, but if you can read it as a product of its time, it's a rewarding and thoughtful look at a rich cultural legacy. It’s less a definitive history and more an invitation to listen to stories we almost lost.



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Mark King
1 year ago

A bit long but worth it.

Mary Thomas
7 months ago

Recommended.

Anthony Thompson
10 months ago

To be perfectly clear, the clarity of the writing makes this accessible. A valuable addition to my collection.

Mason Jackson
9 months ago

As someone who reads a lot, the flow of the text seems very fluid. Exactly what I needed.

Brian Johnson
8 months ago

From the very first page, the author's voice is distinct and makes complex topics easy to digest. I will read more from this author.

4.5
4.5 out of 5 (12 User reviews )

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