Reading Notes W3: Shoshone Land, Part A

• The story is about the land of the Shoshone through the eyes of Winnenap' who was a Shoshone that lived as part of the Paiutes.
• It's a very interesting plot because its from the point of view of one of the Shoshone as opposed to a lot of the other texts that show the point of view of the settlers.
• It also highlights a lot about the customs of the Shoshone and the proper etiquette when interacting with them.
• The theme seems to be something almost like reminiscent of the past, sort of light-hearted in a way.
• It also talks about the different medical problems, broken bones and bullet holes.
• "broken bones and bullet holes the Indian can understand, but measles, pneumonia, and smallpox are witchcraft" (Mary Austin, "Shoshone Land")
• It's crazy because the disease is something that was unknown to the Native Americans and was brought by the white man.
• They considered the diseases to be witchcraft and the medicine-man didn't know how to cure it because it was foreign to them.