Jargon letter (Jeffcott 1945)

[Francisc Czobor]

This is my attempt to translate it:
   
  To my good friend:
   
  If you want to know Chinook Wawa, I [will] write all I know now, I began to learn a little Chinook Wawa from a Native Chief when I first came to Nooksack in 1872, I [or he?] was in canoe, together with Jensen, and he helped me [to learn] Chinook Wawa. Jim said: what's your name? And I said: my name is Emmett. And he said: I give you a very nice name. I think [that] "Red Face" is a very nice name for you.
   
  Your good friend:
   
  "Red Face"
  

David Robertson <ddr11 at COLUMBIA.EDU> wrote:
  On page xv of Robert Emmett Hawley's book "Skqee Mus, or Pioneer Days on 
the Nooksack" (Bellingham, WA, 1945) is the following letter to the 
reader. I thought some of you might enjoy the reading practice.

Copa nika klosh tillicum:

Spose mika tickie kumtux chinook waw waw, nika tsum conoway nika kumtux 
alta, nika alip iskum tenas chinook waw waw copa siwash tyee alta nika alip 
charco copa Nootsaak copa 1872, mitlite copa canim, conomox Jinsen, pe yaka 
help copa nika chinook waw waw. Jim yake waw waw icta mica nim? pe nika 
waw waw nika nim Emmett. pe yaka waw waw, nika potlatch nika hias klosh 
nim. Nika tum tum Skqee mus yaka hias klosh nim copa mika.

Mika klosh tillicum, 

Skqee Mus

(Anyone want to try translating this into English? Beware, there's a 
misprint or two here. Skqee Mus means 'Red Face' in Nooksack Salish.)

--Dave R

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