The Adventures of John Jewitt: Only Survivor of the Crew of the Ship Boston During a Captivity of Nearly Three Years Among the Indians of Nootka Sound in Vancouver IslandJewitt, John Rodgers
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The Adventures of John Jewitt: Only Survivor of the Crew of the Ship Boston During a Captivity of Nearly Three Years Among the Indians of Nootka Sound in Vancouver Island
Jewitt, John Rodgers
Indian captivities; Nootka Indians; Nootka Sound (B.C.)
_Ie-yee ma hi-chill_ signifies, "Ye do not know." It appears to be a
poetical mode of expression, the common one for "You do not know" being
_Wik-kum-atash_; from this, it would seem that they have two languages,
one for their songs and another for common use. The general meaning of
this first stanza appears to be, "Ye little know, ye men of Klahar, what
valiant warriors we are. Poorly can our foes contend with us, when we
come on with our daggers," etc.
The Nootkians have no songs of an historical nature, nor do they appear
to have any tradition respecting their origin.[145]
FOOTNOTE:
[145] That is not quite true. They have several of a vague order: one,
for example, is that all the Indians are sprung from Quawteaht and the
Thunder Birds. Another is that all the tribes on the West Coast come
from the west; the different tribes having sprung from the canoes full
of migrants stranded by a storm here and there, and so forth.
III. A LIST OF WORDS
_In the Nootkian Language, the most in use._[146]
Check-up, Man.
Kloots-mah, Woman.
Noowexa, Father.
Hooma-hexa, Mother.
Tanassis, Child.
Katlahtik, Brother.
Kloot-chem-up, Sister.
Tanassis-check-up, Son.
Tanassis-kloots-mah, Daughter.
Tau-hat-se-tee, Head.
Kassee, Eye.
Hap-se-up, Hair.
Neetsa, Nose.
Parpee, Ears.
Chee-chee, Teeth.
Choop, Tongue.
Kook-a-nik-sa, Hands.
Klish-klin, Feet.
Oop-helth, Sun or Moon.
Tar-toose, Stars.
Sie-yah, Sky.
Toop-elth, Sea.
Cha-hak, Fresh water.
Meet-la, Rain.
Queece, Snow.
Noot-chee, Mountain or hill.
Kla-tur-miss, Earth.
Een-nuk-see, Fire or fuel.
Mook-see, Rock.
Muk-ka-tee, House.
Wik, No.
He-ho, Yes.
Kak-koelth, Slave.
Mah-hack, Whale.
Klack-e-miss, Oil.
Quart-lak, Sea-otter.
Coo-coo-ho-sa, Seal.
Moo-watch, Bear.
So-har, Salmon.
Toosch-qua, Cod.
Pow-ee, Halibut.
Kloos-a-mit, Herring.
Chap-atz, Canoe.
Oo-wha-pa, Paddle.
Chee-me-na, Fish-hook.
Chee-men, Fish-hooks.
Sick-a-minny, Iron.
Toophelth, Cloth.
Cham-mass, Fruit.
Cham-mas-sish, Sweet or pleasant to the taste.
Moot-sus, Powder.
Chee-pokes, Copper.
Hah-welks, Hungry.
Nee-sim-mer-hise, Enough.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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