Diane, I have to respectfully disagree with you. I also grew up in Pennsylvania, a little farther east and a lot more urban, and I for one always understood--that is to say, assumed--that the phrase referred to some characteristic of Indians. The reason for that assumption was that there were so many other phrases (derogatory or not) relating to nationality or ethnicity, it seemed to fit right in. I don't think any of us thought about *why* Indians would give gifts back, any more than we thought about why Dutch people would split the costs of a date (or used two jump ropes, for that matter)--it was just part of our language. But none of us were sophisticated enough at six or seven to know how early white settlers had treated natives in North America -- nor, in the 1950s and 60s, were we likely to have been able to discover the truth even if we were interested.

Still, I appreciate your input and recognize that your truth was evidently different from mine. That's what makes life interesting. And welcome to the Mudcat. Pull up a cookie and stay awhile! (Join, that is -- it's free and fun!)

Aloha,
Mark