Enter a name, company, place or keywords to search across this item. Then click "Search" (or hit Enter).
Handbook of Yokuts Indians - Pahmit's Story (11 pages)

Copy the Page Text to the Clipboard

Show the Page Image

Show the Image Page Text


More Information About this Image

Get a Citation for Page or Image - Copy to the Clipboard

Go to the Next Page (or Right Arrow key)
Page: of 11

216 HANDBOOK OF YOKUTS INDIANS
He says, ‘‘Them Indian Doctor don’t want them people to
know what he singin’. So he fix he’s own word so they don’t
understand ’em.’’
This is a wonderful example of the common behavior of
all men. Until late historic times did not the legal profession
practice in Latin? And until recently did not all doctors of
medicine write their prescriptions in latin for the identical
reason as did those primitive Yokuts medicine men. Following
is ie song, together with the interpretation given by Wahumchah:
O, Chochin witche pah
(There is a bird’s children)
O, Chochine miah wiche pah
(Oh bird, I want your children)
O, Chochine miah witche pah
O, Chochine miah witche pah
O, Chochine miah witche pah
O,Chochin witche pah
O, Yoe hete ketre ehe dinne
(Poor rattlesnake)
Kiowki nowu utu sudongtow
(I am looking in the tree)
O, Chochine miah witche pah
Yah weah ----yah!
(Everyone hear me).
HANDBOOK OF YOKUTS INDIANS
Stark CHAPTER XII
INDIAN STATEMENTS
PAHMIT’S STORY
Almost all of the material in the preceding sketches Coy —
cerning San Joaquin Valley Indians has been taken from si ate
ments made by aged Yokuts Indians, or by aged white pionee rs
who settled among the Yokuts before they were disturbed by _
white people. To present an intimate picture of the Yokuts,}-+
is best to include a few stories just as they were related to me
by aged Indians.
The following self-explanatory statement was taken fyomPahmit in 1928: .
I born Kuyu (Koo’-you) Illik, long time ’go. Kuyu [jj ik
(Sulphur Water] Indian village bank river white man call. Gan
Joaquin. Village at place white man call Fort Miller whe v2
soldiers march. 2
My people belong Dumna (Doom’-nah) tribe Indian, ©
don’t know how much old me. White man say I more than
hundred. I know when soldiers, Major Savage come Kuuw
Illik make Indian sign paper, [1851], I young man *hout
twenty-one, twenty-two years old.
My people live happy ’till soldiers come. We have ple ary
eat. We have nice dry houses live in. We don’t fight. Lots
our people live along river above Kuyu Illik. Lots antelope,
lots elk, lots wild horses come river, drink below Kuyu T{i\«
where Friant now. —__
My grandpa, Tom/’-kit, chief all Indian tribe round Kuy w
Tlik. We want meat; he send two, three Indian; good sot
with bow, arrow, get it. They hide in rocks by river, wait an +elope, elk. Antelope come. They shoot six, eight nice fat ones
They shoot one each house Kuyt Illik. They let rest run ’wo
We have all meat we want. When white man come, he sh@io
shoot, shoot. Kill all antelope. Kill all elk. Then he bri ng
cattle, make Indian buy beef.
When Indian get hungry, he go with gun shoot some quiti. ?
maybe cotton tail, maybe dove. White man ’rest him, put (n
jail. Now my people no keep gun. They no have rifle; the
no have shotgun in house. When my people shoot, white m 44
’rest him.