Part 35 (1/2)

GLOSSARY OF INDIAN WORDS AND PHRASES

The names and phrases used in _The Arrow-Maker_ were chosen from the culture area comprising the central valleys of California, from tribes belonging to or affiliated with the Paiute group. Exact definitions could not always be ascertained and frequently the meaning given by different villages differed widely. Whenever possible the nomenclature of the locality in which the incident occurred is preferred.

_Choco._ ”Fatty”; a nickname of doubtful origin, possibly from the Spanish _Chopo_.

_Pamaquash._ ”Very tall”; the Paiute equivalent of Longfellow.

_Castac._ ”Place of Springs”; a small valley in the southerly Sierra, from which the inhabitants take their name.

_Yavi._ A common given name, meaning unknown.

_Tavwots._ ”Mighty Hunter”; a name given to the rabbit in Paiute lore.

_Seegooche._ ”Woman who gives good things to eat.” Lady Bountiful.

_Tiawa._ A familiar t.i.tle frequently given to old women, like ”Grannie.”

_Wacoba._ ”Flower of the Oak”; oak ta.s.sel, also the plume of the quail.

_Chisera._ Medicine Woman; witch. (See last chapter of _The Flock_ for account of the original Medicine Woman from whom the character was drawn.)

_Tuiyo._ ”s.h.i.+ning”; very bright.

_Pioke._ ”Dew drop.”

_Simwa._ Applied in humorous sense, meaning a ”swell.”

_Padahoon._ The Sparrow Hawk.

_Tecuya._ Oak thicket, _encinal_.

_Pahrump._ Corn water. A place where there is water enough to grow a crop of corn.

_Sagharawite._ ”Place of the mush that was afraid.” An Indian village named from the quaking, gelatinous mush of acorn meal.

_Paiute._ More properly ”Pah Ute”: the Utes who live by running water as distinguished from the Utes of the Great Basin; one of the interior tribes of the Pacific Coast.

”Friend of the Soul of Man.” The Great Spirit; the Holy Ghost.

_Toorape._ ”Captain”; chief; a name given to one of the peaks of the Sierras.

”The Sacred Sticks.” A number of small sticks with peculiar markings.

Divination was practiced by throwing them on the ground and interpreting the pattern in which they fell.

_Haiwai._ ”The dove.”

_Winnedumah._ ”Standing Rock”; a legendary hero.

_Tinnemaha._ Probably ”Medicine Water.” Mineral spring. Brother of the hero in the legend of Winnedumah.