The Salish People: Volume IV. Charles Hill-Tout

      Last year I collected 60 stories (for Dr. Boas) from the people of North Bend, Boston Bar, and Spuzzum, and last winter I wrote a paper descriptive of the customs of the people between Lytton and Spuzzum. These papers will be printed by the American Museum.³ I also did some work (for Dr. Boas) last year among the Lillooet people, and I am going amongst them again in about a week’s time to finish up my work. I have obtained some very interesting information regarding them, and also a very good collection of stories.⁴ I may say that I have collected some 20 more myths among the Spences Bridge and Nicola people since I wrote up those for the American Folklore Society.

      So far I have done practically nothing with the Thompson language although I speak it rather fluently, but I contemplate making some study of it before long and shall commence to compile a dictionary of it. Dr. Boas is desirous for me to do this.⁵ I do not understand the rules governing the initial “N” in Thompson, but have no doubt the significance could easily be found out by studying lists of words. It is also very common in the Shuswap and Okanagon. Re. the difference between “ud” and “tlum,” I think your informant was probably correct regarding the former; “ud” is certainly a very definite form. Concerning the “TlohaQwontcit": a commoner form with the same meaning is “axkwontloteit" = “art thou still hungry.”

      Hoping this may find you well, I remain,

       Yours very truly

       J.A.Teit

Letter to C. F. Newcombe¹

      Abbotsford B.C.

       March 4th [1901]

      My dear Dr. Newcombe

      Thanks for your kind reply to mine. I fully appreciate your position as head of the Nat. Socy, but fear I do not quite understand the attitude of the Soc. as a whole towards my request.² From a remark made by Mr. Gosnell I fear many of the members are confusing the Survey work with that of the Jesup Exploration fund of the New York Museum of Nat. Hist. He says the complaint was made “that while the B.A.A.S. received many reports through the agency you represent, very few specimens found their way to England but were ultimately lodged in the U. States.” Will you kindly allow me to assure the Nat. Soc. of Victoria that no