Friedman, "Tales out of Oregon"

[David Robertson]

1967.  New York:  Ballantine.

page 158:

'For weeks--one day after the other--[Chief Joseph of the Nez Perces] had
sat stoically at his campfire, breaking his brooding silence only with the
murmur of "Halo manitah"--he would not see another winter.'

Should we interpret this as a typographical error for 'halo nanitch'
('not/won't see')?

--Dave R.