Towees (was: RE: Clemmens -> Klimmin?

[Ross Clark (FOA LING)]

"Towees" are trade axe blades, more often spelled "toes". I'm pretty sure
this is from Polynesian /to?i/ "adze" (could be Tahitian or t-style
Hawaiian).

Ross Clark

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Cleven
To: CHINOOK at LISTSERV.LINGUISTLIST.ORG
Sent: 18/01/2002 7:13 a.m.
Subject: Clemmens -> Klimmin?

[Magee] Several canoes came alongside in the afternoon from which
purchased a quanityt of halibut with towees, and one sea otter skin for
a copper cap.  They had more skins, but would not sel them for anything
but moose skins, which we had none of.  These skins they call clemmens,
which if we had would command skin for skin.

We've seen klimmin before to mean skins, but not specifically for
moose-skin armour; if this is Jargon and not an actual Haida word.
Sounds like the Haida were more concerned with defence that fashion at
the time, huh?  Any guesses what "towees" are?

MC