DCHP-1 Online
how † [cf. Siouan hâo] 
interj. in Indian parlance, an expression used for several purposes, as when greeting someone, thanking him, registering approval, etc.
- 1886 A chorus of "How! How! How!" followed every appeal the medicine man made to the circle of half-naked and battle-scarred warriors.
- 1913 The tea and tobacco which La Pierre and I measured out to them was received with many a "How How" of thanks.
- 1956 An ill-founded legend insists that Indians are inarticulate, content to make "How!" a conversation.
- 1962 The Blackfoot Indians usually greet a white man with "How, How!" sometimes, "How wa-pe," perhaps an imitation of the English "How do you do?"
- 1886 A chorus of "How! How! How!" followed every appeal the medicine man made to the circle of half-naked and battle-scarred warriors.