D. The Sahaptin, and
E. The Shoshoni.
The Sahaptin is separated by Gallatin from the Waiilatpu containing the Cayús or Molelé form of speech. The present writer throws them both into the same group. The numerals, the words wherein it must be admitted that the two languages agree the most closely, are in—
| English. | Sahaptin. | Cayús. |
|---|---|---|
| one | naks | ná. |
| two | lapit | lepl-in. |
| three | mitat | mat-nin. |
| six | oi-lak | noi-na. |
| seven | oi-napt | noi-lip. |
| eight | oi-matat | noi-mat. |
The meaning of the oi and noi in these words requires investigation. It is not five; the Sahaptin and Cayús for five being pakhat (S.) and tawit (C.). Nor yet is it hand (as the word for five often is), the word for hand being epih and apah. It ought, however, theoretically to be something of the kind, inasmuch as
- Oi-lak and noi-na = ? + 1.
- Oi-napt and noi-lip = ? + 2.
- Oi-matat and noi-mat = ? + 3.
Of the Shoshoni more will be said in the sequel. At present it is enough to state that the Shoshoni and Sahaptin languages are as remarkable for the apparent ease and simplicity of their phonesis as the Jakon, Kalapuya, and Tshinúk are for the opposite qualities. It may also be added that the Shoshoni tongues will often be called by the more general name of Paduca.
South of the Cayús, Waiilatpu, and Wihinast, or Western Shoshonis, come the languages which are common to Oregon and
California.
For three of these we have vocabularies (Mr. Hale's):—