Nesmith, J.W. on a sermon at Willamette Falls, Oregon

[hzenk at PDX.EDU]

Interesting!  The name "Yalocus" looks like it could be for yelqas, who signed
the 1855 Dayton Treaty for the main (=Northern) band of Molalas.  Northern
Molalas were intermarried with Willamette Falls Chinookans and frequented
Oregon City, so the identification is not necessarily a stretch.  In fact,
yelqas may have had a Willamette Falls wife, though I'd need to check on that.
I am tempted to wonder if "Wansanius" is a typist's copying error for some
approximation to the name waC'inu (C' for ejective "ch"), who signed the same
treaty as a chief of the Clackamas Chinookans (who had traditional wintering
sites at Gladstone, a short distance downriver from Willamette Falls).  That
one may be more of a stretch:  need to check if there are other likely names
recorded.

And as for:

The poverty of the language did not admit of any elaborated
> presentation of abstract ideas or principles

such judgments sorely underestimate the ability of human beings to be creative
even with limited resources.  The Catholic missionary literature in Chinuk Wawa
is a great case in point.  Henry

Quoting David Robertson <ddr11 at COLUMBIA.EDU>:

> From his address in Proc Oregon Pioneer Assoc 1880:19, quoted in Marshall,
> William I. Acquisition of Oregon and the Long Suppressed Evidence about
> Marcus Whitman, 1911, Vol. II., pages 5-343.], posted on the internet at
> http://homepage.mac.com/fotl/marshall/marshall2_5-343.html.
>
>
> "On one occasion I attended service conducted by a missionary for the
> benefit of the Indians at Willamette Falls. The old chiefs, Yalocus and
> Wansanius, with Slacom and other head men of their tribe and about 300 of
> their people, were present. The sermon was preached in Chinook jargon and
> consisted in an effort on the part of the preacher to unfold to his
> benighted, filthy and half-naked audience the mysteries of the plan of
> salvation. The poverty of the language did not admit of any elaborated
> presentation of abstract ideas or principles; the preacher dwelt strongly
> upon the efficacy of prayer and illustrated its benefits by pointing out
> the superior physical comforts enjoyed by the white people over the savages
> in habitation, food and clothing, and told them that they might enjoy
> similar benefits by its practice. He then interrogated them as to whether
> they were willing to ask for and receive the inestimable
> benefits to be derived from prayerful supplication to the Deity. Old
> Wansamus responded in behalf of his people:
>
> "'Nowitka, six; mica potlatch passissie, sakallux, sapalell, ittillwilla,
> cayuse, hyu close itca copa konniway nica tillicum. Yaka koniway kwaniisum
> wawa copa sohala tyee.' Which translated to English was
> substantially: "Yes, my friend; if you will give us plenty of blankets,
> pantaloons, flour and meat and tobacco, and lots of other good things, we
> will pray to God all the time and always.'
>
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>

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