READ
BEFORE THE PHILOLOGICAL SOCIETY,
MAY 13TH 1853.
The languages of the south-western districts of the Oregon territory are conveniently studied in the admirable volume upon the Philology of the United States Exploring Expedition, by Mr Hale. Herein we find that the frontier between that territory and California is most probably formed by the Saintskla, Umkwa, and Lutuami languages, the Saintskla being spoken on the sea-coast, the Umkwa lying to the east of it, and the Lutuami east of the Umkwa. All three, in the present state of our knowledge, belong to different philological divisions. It is unnecessary to add, that each tongue covers but a small geographical area.
The Paduca area extends in a south-eastern direction in such a manner as to lap round the greater part of California and New Mexico, to enclose both of those areas, and to prolong itself into Texas; and that so far southwards as almost to reach the Gulf of Mexico. Hence, except at the south and the north-west, the Californian languages (and indeed the New Mexican as well) are cut off and isolated from the other tongues of America by means of this remarkable extension of the Paducas. The Paduca tongues dip into each of these countries as well as lap round them. It is convenient to begin with a Paduca language.
The Wihinast is, perhaps, an Oregon rather than a Californian language; though at the same time it is probably common to the two countries. It can be shown to be Paduca by its vocabulary in Mr. Hale's work, the Shoshoni being the language to which it comes nearest; indeed Mr. Gallatin calls the Wihinast the Western Shoshoni. Due east of the Wihinast come the Bonak Indians, currently believed to be Paduca, but still requiring the evidence of a vocabulary to prove them so.
The true Shoshoni succeed; and these are, probably, Oregon rather than Californian. At any rate, their language falls within the study of the former country. But the Uta Lake is truly a part of the great Californian basin, and the Uta language is known to us from a vocabulary, and known to be Paduca:
| English. | Uta[36] | Comanch[37] |
|---|---|---|
| sun | tap | taharp. |
| moon | mahtots | mush. |
| star | quahlantz | táarch. |
| man | tooonpayah | tooavishchee. |
| woman | naijah | wyapee. |
| boy | ahpats | tooanickpee. |
| girl | mahmats | wyapeechee. |
| head | tuts | páaph. |
| forehead | muttock | —— |
| face | kooelp | koveh. |
| eye | puttyshoe | nachich. |
| nose | mahvetah | moopee. |
| mouth | timp | teppa. |
| teeth | tong | tahnee. |
| tongue | ahoh | ahako. |
| chin | hannockquell | —— |
| ear | nink | nahark. |
| hair | suooh | parpee. |
| neck | kolph | toyock. |
| arm | pooir | mowa. |
| hand | masseer | mowa. |
| breast | pay | toko. |
| foot | namp | nahap. |
| horse | kahvah | teheyar. |
| serpent | toeweroe | noheer. |
| dog | sahreets | shardee. |
| cat | moosah | —— |
| fire | coon | koona. |
| food | oof | —— |
| water | pah | pahar. |
The Uta being thus shown to be Paduca, the evidence in favour of other tribes in their neighbourhood being Paduca also is improved. Thus—
The Diggers are generally placed in the same category with the Bonaks, and sometimes considered as Bonaks under another name.