Corbett Mack: The Life of a Northern Paiute

2. Boyhood (1892-1905)

2 Boyhood (1892-1905) 16. Them Taivo, They Come to Smith (and Mason) Valley! My grandma, she's the one tell me that: how old man [Dan] Simpson and "Hike" [George] Fulstone make that early [first] settlement in Desert Creek [Smith Valley]. Say my grandfather, Poogooga 'yoo, and Chief Joaquin, they wanna kill 'em. (Joaquin, that's Hazel Quinn's togho '0 [maternal grandfather ]; she's my wife's oosAnabeeya [sister-in-law], Blind Bob and Maggie's daughter.) 'Cause you see why they're mad? They don't want cattle feedin' on their food. No, sir! Same way, too, Old Man [Dan] Simpson, he don't want these Indian on his land. Say they can't cut [harvest] mahaveeta [sec. 17] no more. No, sir! Say that's his cow feed, so won't let them Bridgeport Indians do that [Le., cultivate and harvest] that kind no more. And so they get mad. Wanna chase them first taivo outta Smith Valley. You know, to make a war.... So Old Man [Dan] Simpson, he just make a friend with these Indian. Yes, sir! Hire 'em to work; give 'em plenty food to eat, too: flour, bacon ... a knife to cut that bacon with. And same way, too, he give 'em gun powder. So they make a friend that way. Sign a treaty: we can let 'em stay in Smith Valley, live close by; them taivo, they have to give these Indian work. Yes, sir! To get along better that way. 'Cause them Simpson boy, they like these Indian.... Then later on, when Old Man [Dan] Simpson get marry-'cause 43 44 Corbett Mack I hear he send to California for his wife-he's gotta invite all these Indians [in] the other [Smith] valley to that Big Time.... And you know who's doin' all that talkin' [interpreting] for both [Dan Simpson and "Hike" Fulstone]? Blind Bob [Roberts]! Yes, sir! 'Cause you see why? [He's] been among them taivo, I hear, so Blind Bob, he know their lingo. Can talk their tongue real good.... Tell these [Smith Valley] Indians not to kill Old Man [Dan] Simpson and Hike. You know, to make a friend. 'Cause he's a real old-timer, Blind Bob. Older than my mom. Pretty near like my grandma, that old man. Khai tabootaboowee [blind], you know? 'Cause them early days ago, when taivo first start comin' into this valley, Blind Bob, he was grubbin' sagebrush for 'em: you know, so they can plant alfalfa. And you see what happen? Someone witch him! Yes, sir! Make him to have that accident that way: poke out his eye. And so Old Lady Simpson, she take Blind Bob to California. Stay two month.... But that don't help. No, sir! Can't make it! Eye all shot to hell! Both 'em! So maybe that's why my grandma's always sayin' that? How it's better with all them old-timers gone? 'Cause too many witch them days! my grandma says. Ste 'yoo! Bad One! No good that kind! 17. World's War! And when them early wagon start comin' through these valley, when them taivo start comin' through, we can watch 'em.... 'Cause I know Big Mack, he say they're headed to dry lake [Smith Valley] first, then Hudson, and over them mountain to California. Say he's only wearin' his "birthday suit" when them first taivo come through these valley. Hungry all the time, too, them days. Yes, sir! Afraid, too. Afraid maybe they're gonna grab him and run away with him. So you see what he do? Hide! 'Cause I hear they grab Tom Mitchell's brother and take him outta here.... 'Cause this one fellow, Brady [Emm], he go back to Utah; find him there. Say that other fellow's name's Charley Travis.... And same way, too, this one taivo and his wife, they're passin' through Wellington and nearly grab hold Eddie [Mack, Corbett's nephew].... 'Cause Eddie's playin" you know. But he fight 'em off, all right; so they have to let go him. And so when we see 'em again, why, they're both ashamed. But you see what them real old-time Indians are doin' when them covered wagon start comin' through these valley? They go over there and kill Boyhood (1892-1905) 45 'em! Yes, sir! 'Cause that's how they make trouble...