Re: translation -- the duke was smitten

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