More research stuff

[David Lewis]

>I was reading a book in the Special Collections at the UO Knight Library
>by H.G. Barnett called "Indian Shakers: A Messianic Cult of the Pacific
>Northwest." I found this quote:
>
>"Shakers everywhere occasionally use the ejaculation 'masi' ... in the
>same contexts that the expression 'Hallelujah' and 'Praise the Lord' are
>used in Christian revival meetings.  Very few of them however know what it
>means <this is probably an opinion>. Enoch Abraham has puzzled over it, and
>years ago asked his cousin Joe Riddle about it. Riddle replied that he
>didn't know but "guessed" it meant "thank you". Abraham was not satisfied.
>He suggested that it sounded much like the proverbial negro corruption of
>"master". The word does indeed mean "thank you". It is taken from the
>Chinook Jargon in which it was incorporated as a corruption of the French
>"merci" <p.234>."
>
>In reading pieces of the book, especially regarding California, Smith
>River, Hupa, and Yurok areas, and in relation to the use of Chinook
>Jargon, there is an implication of a connection.
>
>There is reference to the 'Chinook Canticles <p.363>" and the fact that
>Shaker religion was spread through native communities through the use of
>the Jargon. EELLS was know to use it, as well as Wickersham, Mann, and
>Slocum. The sermons were conducted in Jargon in at least most communities,
>and there is reference to the problems of translation of Christian songs
>into native languages.
>
>So, the Shaker religion spread to Siletz 1923, then to Klamath area
>1929-30  and afterward to Yurok, Hupa and Smith River. In fact the book
>mentions Hupa becoming the hub of Shaker activity.
>
>So my questions are;
>
> How much was the spread of the Shaker Religion aided
>by Chinook Jargon and how much was Chinook Jargon's (recent?) spread aided
>by the
>Shaker Religion?
>
>Does this point to wide scale previous use of Jargon in Northern
>California?
>
>Does this point to the Shaker religion helping spread Jargon?
>
>The book is not very specific about the use of Jargon in the later period
>of the Shaker religion's spread into California. So, I guess its time for
>other books or to ask someone who knows more of the history of Shakers in
>California.