THE BOOK OF SHIONI AKEK

1The nation which is known as Nem of the Mountains is united with the nation which is known as the Nem of the Plains, as also it is united with the nation which is known as the Nem of the Lakes. And we do begin to be sundered somewhat in the languages which we speak. Nevertheless, an ingenious method of communication has been devised whereby those of us who do travel much between the three great nations might speak to one another without discord.

2For, many of our words are similar, but the manner in which we use them has changed and become sundered. The common tongue of the people is not the same as the written language and the way in which we speak has diverged and gone in different directions. And, because our writing is reserved for the keeping of our records only, it is not useful for us in daily discourse, a manner of speaking with our hands has been devised. This, as a companion to our spoken tongues, allows us to communicate with our relations without discord.

3So efficient, in fact, is this method of communication, and so precise, that many of our traders use it exclusively. And it is a very curious thing to speak to one of them after that they have returned from a year’s trading with our neighbors, for they do not give up their custom quickly. Yea, they do continue to speak with their hands and barely a few words to escape their mouths until they have been home among us for some time.

4And these are the borders of the Nem of the Mountains: From the place where the ice allows one to cross over the West Sea even extending down the coast even to the gulf of the sea where Hagoth put in and built a settlement before continuing up the River Akish, this is known as the Coasts of the Nem of the Mountains. And from there going inland to the mouths of the great canyons and continuing northward along the spine of mountains and bending back toward the sea, is also known as the Coasts. This continuing northward and venturing inland somewhat from place to place is also part of that province.

5Then where the River Potelim, which flows from out of the mountains down to the sea, and it is a morning’s journey, could one walk upon the waters as the Three do, to cross it at its confluence, continuing eastward through the Spine, there opens up a great basin and plains which extend far into the north and even up against the Great Mountains; this is the province known as Potal and Nespelem. And the western half of this region is known as Potal and the eastern portion is known as Nespelem.

6Now, the mountain range known to us as the Spine extends from the extreme north even down almost to the gulf and then continues inland to divide the northern portions of the Land Southward down the middle. The Coasts governs all the land from the West Sea to the tops of the Spine. Potal governs all the land east of the Spine extending from four days’ journey south of the River Potelim and continuing up until the wastes of the north. This land extending inland until the Winding River, which in the sign language is shown as two hands together giving a winding motion as that of the movement of a snake, does meet the Potelim and then following the basin and plain even into the far north country, is also part of that province.

7From the great Salten Sea which lies to the north of Meninta traveling northward and westward until one reaches the confluence of the Winding and the Potelim, and then following the shoulders of the mountains northward, this marks the borders of the province we know as Nespelem. Continuing from the Salten Sea eastward over the mountains and out onto the plains and then northward even up into the wastes of the far north, this is also part of that province.

8Now, the Coasts, Potal and Nespelem are the three provinces of the Nem of the Mountains, and we speak a language that has sundered somewhat from that which Hagoth spoke. Nevertheless, it is still similar unto that language in many regards.

9In the southern portion of the Coasts, the Nem speak a language that is not at all far sundered from that which our forefathers spoke in the Land Southward. In the northern portion of the Coasts and in Potal, the spoken language of the people is somewhat more sundered from our original tongue.

10Now, there are the Nem of the Islands, the same country that was formed when Hagothah traveled there and built up his settlements. Their borders are recorded in their own records and few are there among the Nem of the Mountains who travel enough in those parts to know the lay of that country. For it is a nation of islands and only they know the area of it.

11But the Nem of the Islands do often come to our shores and up our rivers, for they are great navigators of the sea and know the waves each by their own names. Yea, and they are accomplished in the navigation by use of the stars and the position of the sun, which is a mysterious thing to us, who navigate by the lay of the land.

12And even more curious is their ability to judge by the size of the swell and the direction of the wave such things as their location upon the sea, as also the weather in diverse places, even far away lands. And this is a curious science to me and one filled with wonder.

13Now, from four days’ journey east of the Great Mountains which divide the west from the plains, extending down into the south even until one reaches the borders of the People of the great gulf, and continuing all the way to the great forests, this is the Nation we know as the Nem of the Plains. And there is a great river which is known as the Misisip which divides the plains from the forests. Continuing northward from the Misisip until it turns to the west, this is the Nation we know as the Nem of the Plains. And it was once part of the Nem of Corianton but it has since become a nation of its own people.

14And the Nem of the Plains follow the great herds and make their living in that way. Wherefore, they make their homes from the hides of the cattle and they are easily taken down and moved.

15Now, from the Misisip eastward to the mountains and northward even up to the great eastern gulf which gives onto the East Sea is the nation we know as the Nem of the Lakes.

16These are they who have grown out of the that nation that Corianton forged among the wild people found in the land and their language is sundered from that which is spoken in Nespelem to the extent that to speak with them requires some expertise in the sign language. Notwithstanding the sundering of the languages, they do consistently send delegates to our Great Councils and we do also send our delegates unto theirs.

17In the south regions and along the East Sea, there are other nations and they are made up of the remnant of the Lamanites who were left in the land after the Great War. And for a time they were numbered among the Nem, but they have left the path of the Nem and have no more all things in common and they live not by the Common Consent but will have kings and rulers to govern them. These are considered neighbors but they are not Nem. Wherefore, the Nem have concourse with them and do trade with them from time to time, but the Nem do for the most part remain separated from them.

18Now, the people of the Land Southward do occupy all the face of the land in that region even down past the narrow neck of land and continuing down the coast of the West Sea even down to the southernmost regions. And they do make war each city upon the other. Yea, seldom have we had word of any nation which does grow to any size but that their neighbors do seek to bring them into subjection unto themselves. This is become the way and the economy of the Land Southward.

19Now this is the lay of the land of the Lands Northward and Southward, and of the peoples thereof. Of other lands and peoples we have heard much, and even some of our own people have traveled in diverse places in the world. But their borders and their stories must be written in other records and we are satisfied to hear of them in the stories that their pilgrims tell when they come to visit in the lands of the Nem.