HINOOK is a queer jargon. It is said to have been manufactured many years ago by an employé of the Hudson Bay Fur Company, who taught the principal chiefs of various Indian tribes to speak it in order to facilitate traffic with them. From that time it has grown and spread until almost every Indian of the North Pacific Coast, and many inland tribes of Washington, British Columbia, and Oregon speak it. White men of all nations who live in this country speak it, and even the almond-eyed Chinaman learns it soon after locating here. In short, it is the court language of the Northwest, as the sign language is of the plains. It is made up from various Indian tongues, with a few English, or rather pigeon-English, French, and Spanish words intermixed. There are only about 1,500 words in the language and it is very easy to learn. Of course, it is woefully lacking in strength and beauty. You will often want to say something that can not be said in Chinook, because there are no words in that jargon with which to say it. But it is made to answer the purposes of trade, travel, and barter, in common forms. For instance:
"Kah-tah si-ah ko-pa Frazer chuck?" would be, "How far is it to the Frazer river?"
"Yutes kut klat-a-wa la-pe-a," "Only a short walk." If you wish to say good-morning or good-evening to an Indian you say:
"Kla-how-ya, six."
"Chah-co yah-wa" is "Come here."
"Mi-ka tik-eh mam-ook?" "Do you want to work?"
"Ik-ta mi-ka mam-ook?" "At what?"