philosophy. His life has been extensively examined by Earl P. Olmstead in two books, Blackcoats among the Delaware: David Zeisberger on the Ohio Fro ntier ( 1991) and David Zeisberger: A Life among the In dians ( 1997). Olmstead writes of Zeisberger: "He loved the Indians, spoke their language fl uently, and admired many of Moravians ·were ...less avid in their cultural traits ....He did not attempt to con vert the natives to the white man's world but des trying io supplant Indian culture perately tried to reach an accommodation between with white) and ... they showed the native culture and mission life." ) Zeisberger's family immigrated to Georgia in 1736 [respect) fo r Native Americans to join a Moravian community there, and he followed a year later. He soon began his study of Native history and social structures. American languages, particularly Delaware. Much of his early missionary work, beginning about 1743, was in Pennsylvania, particularly the Lehigh and Susquehanna valleys. He continued to travel widely, however, including in New England, as well as in what are now New Yo rk and North Carolina. He first went to the Ohio country in 1771 and established impor tant Moravian missions among the Delaware on the Li nach geech ti te, JJ1a che len da fu tfc h, Muskingum River in 1772. During the Revolutionary when they lay their he f11all be honoured War, the Moravians were officially neutral, but many, Hands to it Mach gach ta wu11 ge, a including Zeisberger, were personally pro-American. Lin gi hi/ le u, it thaws, red Bank on a River Mach Zeisberger and other missionaries were arrested and melts ga tzachk te u, questioned by the British in 1782. While Zeisberger Lilm ha cka mi ga, Evening- and Morn common Land, not ing-Red was being detained in Canada, American militia exe Bottom but Upland Mach gas gach tei }at, cuted most of the residents at the Muskingum River Lin ni le na pe, Indians red-bellied Snake mission towns of Schoenbrunn and Gnadenhutten. of the fa me Nation Mach ge u ach gook, Zeisberger remained in Canada fo r several years after Li te ha }en que, if we Copper-Snake the conflict, fo unding a mission at New Fairfield, think Ma ch ta fo .ge woa can, Ontario. (It was later destroyed by William Henry Li te ha je que, if ye War, Fight Harrison in 1813 but was rebuilt by the Delaware .) In think fo Mach ta lap pa je, bad 1798, Zeisberger was able to return to Schoenbrunn. Li te be woa gmt, Morning- Weather The last mission town he established was Goshen, Thought, Senti Mach ta li pach quail, ment, Opinion bad Shoes Ohio, where he died in 1808. wa nos u, over Ma ch tan do wi nenk, Among the works by Zeisberger in the Indiana Li qtte grown with Weeds among the Devils, Historical Society's William Henry Smith Memorial Lo ga bel le u, he is dif in Hell Library are his diary, published in two volumes in couraged, he drop Ma ch ta pa muc quot, 1885; Zeisberger's Indian Dictionary (1887); Leniipe ped it Dufk of the Evening English Dictionary (1888); Collection of Hy mns, fo r the Lo hil le u, e u wi it is Mqch tfchi hil l , cor Us e of the Delaware Christian In dians ( 184 7); Essay of paft .· rupt, infecled, a Delaware-Indian and English Sp elling-Book ( 1776); Ma che Je ma tam, ho fp oiled and Grammar of the Language of the Lenni Lenape or nour him Ma ch tfchiech to woa Ma che Je mu xit, he is gan, Delaware Indians (1827). It is interesting to note Corruptnefs honoured Ma hal Ia nza gen, that a reprint of this last book is still available fo r I Ma che le nzuwi, ho fo ld it, or it is bought sale by the Delaware in Oklahoma, attesting to the nourably of me enduring value of Zeisberger's work. Ma che len da men, to Ma ja uch fo woa gan, Leigh Darbee is curator of printed collections at value, efteem Unity the In diana Historical Society and a contributing editor Mal li cu woa gatt, fo r Traces.
TRACES St�mmer 2002 27