Lieber O.M. Vocabulary of the Catawba language: with some remarks on its grammar, construction and pronunciation

Charleston, S.C.: James & Williams, 1858. — 32 p.During part of the year 1856, I had as a camp-servant, a Catawba Indian and occasionally amused myself in the evenings, after the day's field duties in the State geological survey of South-Carolina were over, by noting down some words of his language — a linguistic study which may well be considered pardonable only as a recreation, when it is known that the Catawba nation at present numbers but fifty human beings, men, women and children. Nevertheless, since this once powerful tribe is thus rapidly passing away, owing to debauchery and disease — for they have always been on amicable terms with the whites, and the rifles of the latter are not among the causes of extermination — there may be those to whom the subject may not appear unworthy of preservation. I am informed that nothing has ever been written on this Indian tongue, and there may be a period when its omission might be regarded with regret by the American philologist.