Nordhoff, Charles. "Northern California, Oregon and the Sandwich Islands"

[Dave Robertson]

Available as a free e-book reprint at http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13222.

New York: Harper & Brothers, 1875.

His impression of local place names in Washington Territory, including those
from Chinook Jargon, is amusing:

"When, at Kalama, you enter Washington Territory, your ears begin to be
assailed by the most barbarous names imaginable. On your way to Olympia
by rail you cross a river called the Skookum-Chuck; your train stops at
places named Newaukum, Tumwater, and Toutle; and if you seek further, you
will hear of whole counties labeled Wahkiakum, or Snohomish, or Kitsap, or
Klikatat; and Cowlitz, Hookium, and Nenolelops greet and offend you. They
complain in Olympia that Washington Territory gets but little immigration;
but what wonder? What man, having the whole American continent to chose
from, would willingly date his letters from the county of Snohomish, or
bring up his children in the city of Nenolelops? The village of Tumwater
is, as I am ready to bear witness, very pretty indeed; but surely an
emigrant would think twice before he established himself either there or
at Toutle. Seattle is sufficiently barbarous; Steilacoom is no better; and
I suspect that the Northern Pacific Railroad terminus has been fixed at
Tacoma--if it is fixed there--because that is one of the few places
on Puget Sound whose name does not inspire horror and disgust."

Is "Nenolelops" a version of "Humptulips"?  Or maybe a separate Lower
Chehalis name?

Also, add this book's misspelling "Chistook" to your synonymy for "Chinook".

--Dave R

To respond to the CHINOOK list, click 'REPLY ALL'.  To respond privately to the sender of a message, click 'REPLY'.  Hayu masi!