Mystery word: "depooye"

[Mike Cleven]

Dave Robertson wrote:
>
> Klahowya, tillicums,
>
> Probably not directly related to Chinook Jargon, but in Rev. Elkanah Walker's "Letters and Diaries ... 1838-1852" (typescript version in Spokane Public Library's Northwest Room), on page 140 (circa 1843) he writes:
>
> "...and lo, a poor half-starved to death dog, had eaten a large hole in through the tent, and about half of our meat, two buffalo tongues, and a fine piece of depooye which was put up on purpose for me [by 'Ponderays', i.e. Pend d'Oreille Salish Indians], by my saying I was very fond of it.  We regretted the loss of our tongues more than anything else."
>
> [As would I, living among speakers of such foreign languages!]
>
> Anybody know what 'depooye' is?  Is this a French word?

Might be; can't think what, though; the problem in recognition, if it
is, is the period anglicization; depuyer, if that _were_ a word, would
have a shorter 'u' sound; depouyer (I'm not thinking of actual words;
just what this might look like if a francophone had spelled it);
depouiller.  Yann?

MC