The âpéprincipal sacred ceremony was the dance and accompanying song. This was called _kanti kanti_, from a verbal found in most Algonkin dialects with the primary meaning to sing (Abnaki, _skan_, je danse et chante en même temps, Rasles; Cree, _nikam_; Chip., _nigam_, I sing). From this noisy rite, which seems to have formed a part of all the native celebrations, the settlers coined the word _cantico_, which has survived and become incorporated into the English tongue.
Zeisberger describes other festivals, some five in number. The most interesting is that called _Machtoga_, which he translates "to sweat." This was held in honor of "their Grandfather, the Fire." The number twelve appears in it frequently as regulating the actions and numbers of the performers. This had evident reference to the twelve months of the year, but his description is too vague to allow a satisfactory analysis of the rite.
[48] See his remarks in the Transactions of the _American Philological Association_, 1872, p. 157.
[49] For instance, in Governor Patrick Gordon's Letter to the Friends, 1728, where he speaks of "Our Lenappys or Delaware Indians," in _Penna. Archives_, Vol. I, p. 230. At the treaty of Easton, 1756, Tedyuscung, head chief of the Delawares, is stated to have represented the "Lenopi" Indians (_Minutes of the Council_, Phila., 1757), and in the "Conference of Eleven Nations living West of Allegheny," held at Philadelphia, 1759, the Delawares are included under the tribal name "Leonopy." See _Minutes of the Provincial Council of Penna._, Vol. VIII, p. 418.
[50] So Mr. Lewis H. Morgan says, and he obtained the facts on the spot. "Len-ã'-pe was their former name, and is still used." _Systems of Consanguinity and Affinity_, p. 289 (Washington, 1871).
[51] _History of the Indian Nations_, p. 401.
[52] _Transactions of the American Philological Association_, 1871, p. 144.
[53] Zeisberger's translation of Lenni Lenape as "people of the same nation," would be more literal if it were put "men of our nation."
President Stiles, in his _Itinerary_, makes the statement: "The Delaware tribe is called _Poh-he-gan_ or _Mo-hee-gan_ by themselves, and _Auquitsaukon_." I have not been able to reach a satisfactory solution of the first and third of these names.