JOSEPH ELLISON coin, it is not easy to see upon what THE INDIANS OF OREGON-GEOGRAPHIC DISTRI- al legislature can interfere with the BUTION OF LINGUISTIC FAMILIES , of this power, original in the States, By J. NEILSON BARRY rrendered."35 Portland, Ore. tionality of the Specific Contract Act United States Supreme Court. In the Twelve distinct languages were spoken by the Indians odes,36 decided in 1868, the Court held who formerly lived in the present state of Oregon. This act to pay coined dollars can only be brief summary is an endeavor to indicate by modern names nent of coined dollars" and not notes. the localities which were once occupied by the various na- Wilson, decided in 1871, Justice Field, tions or stocks. In some cases a similar language was inion of the Court, held that the act of spoken in widely separated portions of the state, as, for *y, 1862, recognized the distinction be- example, the Wai-i-lat-pu-an speech of the Mo-la-las, or ned dollars. The act did not intend to Mo-lal-las, of Clack-a-mas County was similar to that of ng contracts payable by their express the Cay-use, or Kye-use, in Umatilla County. I the provision lawful money for all The Indians who lived in the present limits of the Ls payable in money generally and not United States, Alaska and the British possessions of North n a specific kind of money.37 America spoke fifty-eight languages, of which three were the Specific Contract Act and the state found only in Oregon, these being the Ku-san or Coos, the dly helped Oregon considerably to re- Ya-kon-an or Ya-quin-a and the Kal-a-poo-ian or Cal-a- ency in spite of considerable opposition. poo-ya. On the other hand the Til-la-mooks spoke the ] Eastern states notes were the medium Sa-lish-an language which was also used by the Sa-lish or ld was quoted at a premium, on the Flat Heads of western Montana, and by other tribes who 'as the medium of exchange and notes ranged over a wide area. The Ath-a-pas-can language of Lken at a discount. Whether the gold the Indians in Curry County and adjacent regions was simi- ie Pacific Coast or injured the national lar to that of the Indians living to the eastward of Hudson on open for discussion. Undoubtedly Bay, and in many other parts of North America. de good profits by buying their mer- The twelve nations or stocks in Oregon can be grouped with depreciated notes and selling on into some eighty tribes whose habitats can now be approx- nd silver coin, but the consumers, too, imately identified. In this brief summary there is no at- transaction. tempt to include such tribes as the Chillychandize, of which little is known except the mere name. The exact number of villages, or bands, is known in only forty-four of the eighty tribes which are here listed. mgon, p. 71 et seq. These aggregate four hundred. Since little can be gained v. Wilson, pp. 687-700. The facts of the case by giving hundreds of such names as Paiinkkhwutthu, these rrebilcock received from Wilson a promissory > year after the date, payable in specie. When have been omitted, although all that may appear to have red the principal and interest in notes, Trebil- interest are given, such as the euphonious Yu-la-lo-na vil- pt them, asserting that the promissory note only. Both the District and Supreme Court lage which formerly occupied the present site of Klamath ;ender in notes was legal and sufficient. But Falls. ipreme Court reversed the decision. 'A 50 J. NEILSON BARRY THE INDIANS OF OREC Since the United States Bureau of Ethnology is the ac- In many cases there were two or mo cepted standard, this article is based upon the Handbook so these are given, as Mi-shi-khwut-m of American Indians, Bulletin Thirty, and the article and tun-tunne, since the latter form probab' map by J. W. Powell, in the Seventh Annual Report. Ban- for those Indians being known by the F Coquille. There was a wide difference the Indian names, as, for example, Mo-l spelled in twenty-seven different ways. by the Bureau of Ethnology is the on( usually followed by another, as Lak-i official name for the tribe, while Luc] i 0 cepted name for the river. The pronunciation of Indian names 0 alphabet is not very well adapted to in( 0 illustrated by the frequent mispronur z miliar names as Spokane and Willame always been great diversity in both spelling. In this list the syllables are suggest the pronunciation, while one ol forms is also given as an additional ai z ^1 by Yu-kwin-a. It should be born LA- the popular local use is different from a as Ya-mel and Yamhill. - While a very great deal of time anc pended in an endeavor to make this lis - U: yet the subject is so difficult that it is all errors have been avoided. The wri appreciate the courtesy of anyone who notify him of any needed corrections, may be noted in some future number , It is most earnestly hoped that th inspire others to write monographs ol their manners and customs, and espy z really remarkable individuals among ti -F ple, since they rightly belong to Oreg THE ATHPASCAN croft's Native Races, and Pickering's Races of Man have The Ath-a-pas-can linguistic family been found of much value as have also nearly all the books distributed stock in North America, bei relating to early Oregon. Very helpful suggestions were ico to beyond the Arctic Circle in Ale kindly given by Mr. John Gill of Portland. J. NEILSON BARRY THE INDIANS OF OREGON 51 States Bureau of Ethnology is the ac- In many cases there were two or more names for a tribe, s article is based upon the Handbook so these are given, as Mi-shi-khwut-me-tunne or Ku-kwil- i, Bulletin Thirty, and the article and tun-tunne, since the latter form probably explains the cause , in the Seventh Annual Report. Ban- for those Indians being known by the French word for shell, Coquille. There was a wide difference in spelling most of the Indian names, as, for example, Mo-la-la or Mo-lal-la was spelled in twenty-seven different ways. The form adopted by the Bureau of Ethnology is the one first given, and is usually followed by another, as Lak-mu-it, which is the I z official name for the tribe, while Luck-i-a-mute is the ac- oI 0 _ cepted name for the river. w The pronunciation of Indian names is difficult, and our alphabet is not very well adapted to indicate the sounds, as . I 0 Lii illustrated by the frequent mispronunciation of such fa- *. z z miliar names as Spokane and Willamette. Also there has always been great diversity in both pronunciation and (I, spelling. In this list the syllables are divided in order to z0 4 suggest the pronunciation, while one of the many alternate T_ forms is also given as an additional aid, as Ya-quin-a, fol- I ^d by Yu-kwin-a. It should be borne in mind that often the popular ................ L;- local use is different from the standard form, 0 : e as Ya-mel and Yamhill. ......... v While a very great deal of time and effort has been ex- Ui pended in an endeavor to make this list absolutely perfect, -J ,: ,, ,,.. 0 yet the subject is so difficult that it is hardly possible that 4, : c; E all errors have been avoided. The writer will very greatly 0 0 16. appreciate the courtesy of anyone who will be so kind as to 4- ..' notify him of any needed corrections, in order that they -1' 6. - C.) 6- - may be noted in some future number of the Quarterly. U P It is most earnestly hoped that this brief sketch may -¾. inspire others to write monographs of the various tribes, 6- 0 their manners and customs, and especially of the many NV=NO>. ,$.. z really remarkable individuals among these interesting peo- -J ple, since they rightly belong to Oregon history. THE ATHPASCAN , and Pickering's Races of Man have The Ath-a-pas-can linguistic family was the most widely value as have also nearly all the books distributed stock in North America, being found from Mex- 1,gon. Very helpful suggestions were ico to beyond the Arctic Circle in Alaska, and from near John Gill of Portland. 52 J. NEILSON BARRY THE INDIANS OF ORE Hudson Bay to the Pacific Coast in California. Those in (B) Between Floras Creek and Oregon were: tlements. (1) In Columbia County. (i) The Kwa-ta-mi or Sik-se The Tlats-ka-nai, or Class-can-eye-ah, around Clatskanie dians." These formed a divi River. These Indians murdered a number of the As- with three settlements. Th torians and of the Northwesters, and in 1824, when the sided on Sixes Creek. Hudson's Bay Company began operations, it was con- (ii) The Yu-ki-che-tunne oi sidered dangerous for less than sixty armed men to pass Euchre Creek. their territory. (C) Between Rogue River and (2) In Douglas County. teen settlements. (a) The "Upper" Ump-qua, or Om-kwa, (the "Lower" (i) The Chet-les-chan-tunne v Umpqua were a different nation).