Samuel Sturman, "Pioneer Days on the Little Spokane" (thanks, Tina W.!)

[Dave Robertson]

Howdy,

Here are two brief excerpts from a 1935 pioneer memoir typescript by Samuel
Sturman, who homesteaded on or near the site of the old HBC Fort Spokane.

My hearty thanks to Tina Wynecoop for sharing this with me; I felt that it
would only be fair to pass it along to all of you.

     "Our cabin was on land owned by Dr. Burnett.  The Indians were bitter
     over his claim to the land, and they hated him.  But they were friendly
     to me.  One day [circa 1886] I was working in the field, and Chief
     Solomon came up to me and said these words [evidently in Chinook
     Jargon], 'I see you working in the fields, and my tum-tum (meaning his
     heart) beats smooth -- nice -- all quiet.  You my friend.  But I see
     him (meaning Dr. Burnett) working and my tum-tum goes leaping -- all
     hot -- all bad.  Him no good."  (page 2)

     "[The Spokane Indians] spoke the Chinook jargon, and my wife and I grew
     quite proficient in the language.  It goes like this:
          Nike tica mica -- I like you
          Nika klatawa siah -- I am going on a long journey
     They spoke of time as so many moons (a moon being a month).  They also
     used the sign language to a great extent, but all in all, we could
     speak with them quite fluently."  (page 4)

Very interesting and rather novel data for this part of the Interior
Northwest!

Hayash mersi, Tina.

Dave