(fwd) Re: reader question

[Jeffrey Kopp]

Klahowya tillikums!  I received this inquiry about the origin of
Tumwater which I wanted to pass along to the group, and also wanted
to share the link to a Web site of the writer, Pat Kohnen, about
Clackamas County history and the Oregon Trail, at
www.usgennet.org/alhnorus/ahorclak/history.html 

It's genealogically oriented but includes a copious, detailed
timeline of events as well as names on the trail and in Oregon in the
mid-19th century.  He is also developing a Clackamas County native
section, which will feature the Clackamas (Chinookan-speakers), the
Kalapuyas and the Molallas.

While following links from Pat's site I revisited Stephanie Flora's
Oregon Trail/Territory site at
http://www.teleport.com/~sflora/ortrail.htm, and see it has grown
since I ran across it a year or so ago.

An interesting link from Stephanie's site leads to "Understanding Old
Handwriting," on another genealogy site at
http://www.firstct.com/fv/oldhand.html.

cloosh nanitch

Jeff

>On Thu, 22 Jul 1999 16:51:41 -0700, jkohnen at easystreet.com wrote:
>
>>Hi,
>>
>>Thank you for your wonderful website on the Chinook Jargon--it's
>>fascinating!
>>
>>My name is Pat Kohnen. I maintain a page on Clackamas County Oregon
>>History and Genealogy at
>>
>> www.usgennet.org/alhnorus/ahorclak/history.html
>>
>>The various contradictory translations of Hyas Tyee Tum Tum or Tumwater
>>(Willamette Falls) are driving me crazy. The translation I like best is
>>Great Heartbeat [of the river]. Less poetic is Great Chief Waterfall.  I
>>was hoping you could shed some light on this. Is "tum tum" translatable
>>as "heart" or "heartbeat"? In context, did "heart" or "heartbeat" mean
>>waterfall? Is "tumwata" a combination word (Chinook "tum" plus English
>>"water") in the Chinook Jargon?
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Pat
>>
>>
>On Fri, 23 Jul 1999 07:26:03 -0700, jeffkopp at teleport.com 
>(Jeffrey Kopp) wrote:

>Yes, as I understand it, it is so.  Some sources indicate that "tum"
>merely imitates the sound of a waterfall, but the heartbeat/tumtum
>connection also makes sense.
>
>I enjoyed visiting your Web site.  I grew up here but trying now to
>catch up on my knowledge of local history.  It will take some time to
>review your extensive site.
>
>Thanks very much for your note.  If you don't mind I'd like to
>forward your message to the Chinook Jargon list; perhaps you will
>receive some more authoritative answers to your question.
>
>Regards,
>
>Jeff
>