The morning call., 1890-12-14
INDIAN NAMES.
Literal Translation Of Cognss
mems Borne by Red Men.

The exciting news from the Northwest RI
garding the threatened outbreak of indians
calls attention to the peculiar names by
Which the red men are known. Many sun
pose that such names as "Sitting Bull"
HOle-in-the- Day." etc., are cognomens Of
convenience given the Indians by army
officers, post-traders and other white men
having dwellings with them.
This is not the case. The fantastic names
are literal translations Of the real names Of
the Indians The United States Bureau of
Ethn0logy has devoted great deal of at
tention to the subject of nomenclature
among the ab0rIgines with very unsatis-
factory results.
This much is established: The Indian boy
has no name. He is a plain Indian bow un-
til he becomes buck or warrior. Then
he is chrstened, not formally, but by gen.
eral consent.
A name is given him that may indicate
physical excellence, physical peculiarly.
proves in war or chase. mental trait,
habit, resemblance to something in nature,
the pos session or absence of property, or
dozen other things. In making treaty
with q tribe of indians IL is necessary to Sc
cure the signature of every male member Of
the tribe.
These documents, as filed in the archives
OF the Government, offer some very curious
reading. The last volume published of the
session sets OF the United States Congress
contains in full certain treaties as to reser-
yation boundaries made with the Assni-
6olne. Blackfeet. eros Ventre, Piegan
Blood and River Crow Indians.
In each instance the name Of the Indian
and the translation is written out, followed
by This x mark" and a seal. For instance
the Assiniboine chief, We-cha-je-tonka, is
Big Star.
a casual glance over the columns of sigma
lures will give some idea of the fantastic
diversity of Indian names. There is pre-
p0nderance OF such names as Big Bear, Iron
Horn Bull, Fast Horse, White Horse, Little
Bull, Big Bull, Wolf Panther. Mountain
Lion.
Physical peculiarities are indicated by
Blade" Walks Like Boy" Hawk
p Tracks" .., "Wrinkied Face Red Al
o se9nt FSes Of od Ru I've LETT No H E1si
Iron Voice, 'Woman's Hip" mo Hand"
Turns Crooked" Iron Legs" Loud
Voiced Elk" yellow Teeth" Swings
His Thigh" Zone Big Leg" ..Brocky,'"
Lazy. Man." Laughing Face" Stands
High" Head Like an Arrow" and
Crooked ARM
Confirmed habits and disposition may per-
haps be indicated by such names as Shaved
Clean" Dirty Ear. Strike His Breast
f f. nsa Beats Bs Ws
Lying White Man." aThe Glutton,"
Dirty Robes, 50 - Kicking Woman, :" Cold
Feet" Chief Coward" "Steal Gun at
Night Man Who Steals Women" "Man
Loves Tobacco"
Within space taken up by fifteen names
is found in Blackfeet treaty warriors bold
answering to the improbable coordination of
:. Stand Him or" %Wets His Mouth
WhiskeY.'' Hard-Looking Man" and
Bad Hat
Exploits and physical proves are perpet-
uated in the names of the braves, and
glancing over the list at random the eye is
struck by such designations as "Bg Brave"
''Strangled the Wolf" "Chief on the Pra-
RE" "Chief All Over" "Good Stabber."
Under Swimmer" Good Shield" "Gond
Warrior" Ready to Shoot" Man ia Who
Alive" Good Shot" and Many Wounds"
Some of the names bestowed carry with
them contempt and derision. or such are
"Stays in Camp" GRANDMOTHER" ITEM
porariy Married." Lots of Sleep" "Cat
Shooter" "Squaw Beaten" Takes Back
Gifts" "Unlucky," Gambler" "All Goes"
yellow Liver" "Bad-tempered Bear"
Dead" "Captured," "The Lizard" False
the Lodge" Proving Dog" and afraid
of Bear"
Some idea of the worldly possessions Of
certain Indians is carried with such names
as Twelve Blankets" Heavy Gum"
1.-TWO Guns" " Many Horses" " Many
Arrows" Many Pipes" Wolf (teeth)
Necklace" Plenty to Eat" :" Bear Skin
Cap," Leather Logging" and "Tall Hat"
The variety of names indicating fancied
resemblances in appearances. manners or
voice to birds and animals swells the strange
passing mention.-St. Louis Globe-Demo-
crat.