88
THE CITY OF PORTLAND
working on the boats and about Vancouver, while troubles were going on in the upper country.
And as another matter of interest in Indian life, part of the Chinook Dictionary is given in the form of conversational phrases. The "Chinook Jargon" is a made up language, composed of some Indian words picked up by Capt. Cook, and other navigators, to which was added many words of the Hudson Bay Company, and a still larger number by the Protestant missionaries. It was the sole means of conversation with the Indians for many years, and is still used to some extent with the older members of the different tribes, having been in use all over the country west of the Rocky mountains all the way up to Alaska.
CHINOOK JARGON
Conversational Phrases.
| ENGLISH. | CHINOOK. |
|---|---|
| Good morning. | Klahowya, six? |
| Good evening. | or |
| Good day. | Klahowyam. |
| How do you do? | |
| Come here. | Chahco yahwa. |
| How are you? | Kahta mika? |
| Are you sick? | Mika sick? |
| Are you hungry? | * Nah olo mika? |
| How did you come? | Kahta mika chahco? |
| Are you thirsty? | * Nah, olo chuck mika? |
| What ails you? | Kahtah mika? |
| Would you like something to eat? | Mika tikeh muckamuck? |
| Do you want work? | Mika tikeh mamook? |
| To do what? | |
| What do you want me to do? | Iktah mika mamook? |
| Cut some wood. | Mamook stick? |
| Certainly. | Nawitka. |
| How much do you want for cutting that lot of wood? | Kan see dolla spose mika mamook konoway okoke stick? |
| One dollar. | Ikt dolla. |
| That is too much. I will give half a dollar. | Hyas markook, nika potlatch sitkum dolla. |
| No! Give three quarters. | Wake, six ! Potlatch klone quahtah. |
| Very well; get to work. | Kloshe kahkaw; mamook alta. |
| Where is the ax? | Kah lahash? |
| There it is. | Yah-wa. |
| Cut it small for the stove. | Mamook tenas, spose chickamin pah. |
| Give me a saw. | Potlatch lasee. |
| I have the saw; use the ax. | Halo lasee; is'kum lahash. |
| All right. | Nawitka. |
| Bring it inside. | Lolo stick kopa house. |
| Where shall I put it. | Kah mika marsh okoka? |
| There. | Yahwa. |
| Here is something to eat. | Yahkwa mitlite mika muckamuck. |
| Here is some bread. | Yahkwa mitlite piah sapolil. |
| Now bring some water. | Klatawa is 'kum chuck. |
| Where shall I get it? | Kah nitka iskum? |
| In the river there. | Kopa ikhol yahwa. |
| Make a fire. | Mamook piah. |
