1854, OR: Chacko! Nannitch!
These merchants meant what they said!
And their potential customers knew what they meant!
Here’s a neat little example of un-translated Chinuk Wawa in a frontier-era Oregon Territory newspaper ad:
Chacko! Nannitch!
[‘Come & look!’]Just received from San Francisco, a
large and varied assortment of mer-
chandise, comprising every variety of dry
goods, clothing, boots* and shoes, hats and
caps, school books and stationery, hard-
ware, carpenters’ tools, cross cut and mill
saws, cutlery, Queensware, groceries, &c.
&c. All of which we are determined to
sell at prices that cannot fail to suit. Our
customers and the public generally are re-
spectfully invited to give us a call. Come
and see, whether you purchase or not. No
trouble whatever to show goods these dull
times. MOORES & MCDONALD.
Salem Feb. 4. 1854.
— from the Salem (OR) Weekly Oregon Statesman of Mar 14, 1854, page 3, column 6
Was there an economic depression happening in 1854?
