Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-03-06
QUEER INDIAN NAMES.
NOMENCLATURE OF THE RED MAN
FOUND ON A LEGAL DOCUMENT.

the squaws Notify Their Lords That Din
ner Is Ready-No Repetitions.
A few of the Indian names culied from the
large and interesting number which adorn a
bill presented in congr ess will be interesting
reading and will afford an idea of those Of
many. The first one the eye rests upon is
Medicine Bear" whose Indian name, briefer
than many others, is Iattowaian. "Yellc-
Eagle" whose Indan name is Wamadege,
follows Medicine Beer. He has learped to
revere the symbol of American liberty and
has honored him ty taking his name,
thus doing great deal more toward
perpetuating one of our honored institu-
tions than congress, which is disposed to
overlook such matters, dear to the heart of
every true American over of liberty. Deer
Tail, !" who has probs bly, distinguished him
self In the chase with his class of quadrnpeds
is the third signer BLACK Hawk" next fol-
lows
Historyis story Of tho Black Hawk war is
familiar to this generation, and the present
warrior of that name will lose none of the
reputation of his narlesake for bravery by
belonging to the Sioux big Eaglen next
appends his name. de may or he may not
be bigger man than Yellow Eagle, but his
name is not SO smooth and agreeable to the
auricular organs as that of his brother. He
also adds his mite in perpetuating the repu-
tation of the emblematic bird of liberty, in
return for what the " hite man, with his pro-
gressive and aggressive nature, has rendered
him-a poor outcast driven to the untrodden,
unbroken wilds OF the western country be-
fore his advancing ate of civilization.
SOME RUDpY AFFILIATIONS
In regular order comes White Maggot,n -
.vxytN al. 49, 80 fkn t..
be earnestly hoped that this Indian Is higher
in nature than this appellation would indicate,
and that he has risen above the delights of
his namesake whatever his propensities may
be for wriggling, squirming or infesting that
which is unwholesome. When an Indian
takes upon himself the name Of Afraid Of
Bear" which Sioux has done, 1t may be
taken for granted thai, in contradiction Of his
name, he has no mortal fear Of anything which
has the shape Of Brun. This Indians name
Is designated as "Matocokepa, which Of itself
would frighten person if it were spoken in
his ear surreptitiously or if 1t were uttered in
nightmare
RED Lodge" "Red Thunder" Red
Door" RED Boy" Red Dog" Red Hoof"
and Red Eagle" agree TO do what their
predecessors have done. 1t is not known
that this ALTERATION In Christian, or, more
properly, heather names has any special sig
niticance except to the person himself. Out
Of them the poet might compose some beauti-
full rhymes, the write of fiction interweave
some very fancifi story; the muse might sing
them out in feet of lam bic, dactylic or trochaic
meter; the warrior might inscribe them on
his shield and heimeg, and the funny man
might write puns on them, but to the uulet-
tered and untutored aborigines they are az
- L
dear ancestry.
The boundlessness of the Indians domain
and their habits of roaming at leisure, unfet-
tered and unrestrained, over the land, have
educated them to this degree Of wild fancy.
flushing Eagle, /" Eagle Ears walking
Eagle" Bear Eagle" have also adopted in
part the name of some of their fellows and
all indicate to greater or less degree the
instructive and neutral habits and inclina-
tions of these queer people, with their whole
nature always alert. Iron Necklace" was
also present when the contract was executed
Inspired by the thrilling traditions which
have descended upon him, be has probably
selected this significant name as truly demon
strating the invulne ability of bis race as q
whole, and ap parently rejoices in the cogno.
men.
"a DEAD GIVE AWAY"
Hthe heordinary Chicago girl, with thereputa
tion st. Louis has suco eeded in attaching to hei
for large pedal extreraities, or the Chinese CIR
| of noble family, Gould have seen this bill and
have noticed the self assumed name Of big
| Foot" or ''Sewahtonka,n they would have
breathed sigh Of re ief and concluded that
after all, men--at any rate Indian men-ds
not regard an appelation Of this kind with
much shrinking. OF course, 1t is not assumed
that Big Foot's" shoe is of larger number
comparatively speaking, than those Of many
Of his white friends, out the name to use
slang term, is "a dead give away" 'Medi
| cine Bear Track, ," Gray Hand" Lightning
Bull" BLACK Duck" Standing Elk,
Charging Crow" White Bill" 'Blact
Shield, Good Track" also appropriately
append their TX" mark.
Probably the longest name after translation
is that Of Long Pole" or Red Lance" )" and
the longest original name "Daunkapaeetcha.
duchna," which is interpreted as Don't Stay
| in Camp" The ordinary Sioux woman who
has to articulate these words when her hegt
lord descends to his breakfast or arrives homs
late In the evening would long ago have pc
titoned the legislature, if such existed, tc
have her husbands name changed. Blu,
probably the mere thought of pronouncine
such q name has often had soothing effec1
on . heated and over caxed brain, and in thi
way have been the means of modifying the
severity of aboriginal domestic alterations
Some other names noticed in hasty lool
at the bill are: Stand OF, Chief Ghost, Iror
Hoop, Porcupine Sack, Egg, Yellow Dog
Standing Cow, Black Horn, Knife River
Flying White Thunder, All Goes, Track
whose Indian name is Ola; Turning Wing
| Good Dog, Black Chicken, Yellow Liver, II.
Has the Crow, Begr Stands High, Kill
Lightning, Feather Earring, Thunder Hawks
| They Meet, Wolf Necklace, Chicken Head
Kin Two, -Flesh-Rib Bring Himself anl
and Little Yellow Liver. Washington Star