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Re: translation -- the duke was smitten

From:John Cowan <jcowan@...>
Date:Wednesday, July 11, 2001, 21:12
J Matthew Pearson wrote:


> Yes indeed. Among the Tokana, wealth is measured in terms of how much property you can > distribute. The Tokana words for "wealthy" and "generous, hospitable" are closely > related.
This reminds me of the Navajo term (according to Tony Hillerman, anyhow) for a conspicuously wealthy Navajo: "he acts like he doesn't have any relatives". And the wonderful line H. quotes in one of his essays, attributed to a successful (in mainstream terms) Navajo farmer: "I'll be a poor man all my life: nobody ever taught me any [ritual] songs." -- There is / one art || John Cowan <jcowan@...> no more / no less || http://www.reutershealth.com to do / all things || http://www.ccil.org/~cowan with art- / lessness \\ -- Piet Hein