Carmichael, Alfred. 1922. Indian legends of Vancouver Island.

[Henry Kammler]

> Kwa-nis, Kam-mass or Gam-mas
> [Actually a CJ word.  -- DDR]

Actually two words. The Chinook Wawa version /kamas/ is likely to be  
of Sahaptian origin (Nez Perce /q'emes/ or something like that) if I  
remember right.

The first word, the Nuuchanulth word Carmichael means, is /kwan'is/  
"camas bulb" (from Clayoquot Sound northward pronounced /kwan'us/).  
The plant is native to neighboring areas and was known long before the  
emergence of CJ. Moreover, it would be hard to explain why plain /m/  
would become glottalized /n'/ if it were a loanword. It may be related  
etymologically to  /kwan'ux/ "urinate (for a woman)".
Would be interesting to know whether camas has a diuretic effect.

-HK

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