Meacham's CJ in Oregon 1870

[Aron Faegre]

Mike Cleven wrote:

> > p. 8 wick-e-ups
> > Indian tents
>
> interesting = isn't this an algonquin or plains word?
>

I should have mentioned that pp 5-31 describe his involvement with moving a
band of Sacs and Foxes "from their home on the Iowa river 25 miles above Iowa
City, Iowa , to Skunk River 100 miles west."

> > p. 16 arrival at camp Kish-ke-kosh
>
> Modoc word?  Klamath?

Sac or Fox presumably.  But it is interesting to realize that the whites were
moving around a lot (like Meacham) so that what Meacham calls Jargon or
Chinook is mixed with language from the midwest where he grew up.

> > p. 25 Kin-ni-ki-nick
> > tobacco
>
> What _is_ the etymology of kinnikinick, anyway?  It's used in old Jargon
> and still in BC slang English in the Interior; but what language is it
> from and what does it really mean?

Of course you know it is now the common name of a plant Arctostaphylos uva
ursi, which was supposedly smoked.  Its a very common plant here in the
Willamette Valley, especially is well drained soils where there is a good sun
exposure.

> > p. 52 Umatilla
> > horse-heaven
>
> Hmmmmm.  Is that an Umatilla meaning of Umatilla or what's he meaning?

Meacham thinks that is the translation.  Can anyone clarify whether this is
true?

> > p. 59 hollow-tree canoe...white "tyeee" of the "great canoe"
> context?

Meacham is telling a story told him by the natives about Oneatta.  The
hollow-tree canoe is a canoe, the great canoe is a ship that was supposed to
have entered Yaquina Bay in some distant time.

> > p. 89 Si-wash-the
> > usual word for Indian

> any suggestions on that "-the" suffix?

The text just had "Si-wash" but an errata in the front said it should have the
"the"; perhaps it just an errata of the errata.

> > p. 113 Salem Tyee
> > superintendent
>
> Superintendant of Indian affairs, or of the territory as a whole?  Was
> Salem the capital from early on?

Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Oregon; based in Salem.

> > p. 115 speeches by Wapto Dave, Jo Hutchins, Black Tom, Solomon Riggs,
> > speeches...[all given in English translation]
>
> Any hint on whether these were made in Chinook or in other Indian
> languages?  How do they read?  i.e. is what's in them possible to have
> been _said_ in the Jargon, or are they maybe as much "remembered
> embellishments" as the various versions of Chief Sealth's speech?

I was thinking of David Lewis's work in going through files -- Dave, it might
be worth a search of government files -- probably there's a wealth of
information somewhere.  I'll ask my friend if the family has any old papers.

> > p. 124 Spose Misika Capit mamook icta el-i-he, Kau-yua nika is cum,
> > seventy acres.
> > Suppose you stop surveying, and wait a while, I can get seventy acres,
> > maybe eighty acres.
>
> Kau-yua; is that from a local language or can we figure out its Jargon
> derivation?

This survey is taking place on the Grand Round Agency [why does he use the
name/spelling of the river from eastern Oregon?] and the person talking is
said to be a "Wapto" Indian.

> > p. 151 Meacham visits Warm Springs Agency in February, 1870.  Indians
> > insist on Tyghe Valley as a home; Government refuses; under threats and
> > intimidation, the Indians finally agree to accept home on "Warm Springs
> > Reservation".
>
> Isn't that a typo for "Tule Valley"; i.e. if this is the Modoc dispute
> that's under discussion here?

No these are negotiations of several tribes/bands that did become the "Warm
Springs."  In fact, see p588 -- the Warm Spring scouts were aligned with the
War Department against Captain Jack and his Modoc band.

> > p. 157 discussion of Indian fishing rights at The Dalles
>
> What the heck does "the Dalles" mean, anyway?  Is it from "dal"/"dale" =
> valley/glen?

>From my prior life as a backwoods canoist, I believe it simply means
"rapids".  I always assumed it was French.

> > p. 185 Meacham tells lots of native stories about horses for the next 20
> > pages.
>
> Mmmmmm.  Horseflesh.  Recipes or saddlery?

Packing, racing, trading.

> > p. 198 Me-si-ka wake cum-tux ic-ta mamook ni-ka tru-i-tan-klat-a-wa
> > you did not know how to make my horse run
>
> Typo or prononciation variant? - truitan/kiutan?

I wondered about that too, after the big discussion of kuitan on the List.

> > p. 202 pic-i-ni-ne
> > child
>
> pickaninny?  What context is this in; i.e. does it look like natives
> regularly used this term?  If so, have to wonder how they got it and
> from who and why.

"Often on the visits which they make to old homes, a little pic-i-ni-ne
(child) is securely fastened to the Indian saddle, and the horse is turned
loose with the band."