The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1891-01-24
INDIAN NAMES.
How Their Fantastic Cognomens
Are Acquired.
Literal Translation OF Some of the Very
Expressive Titles by Which the Red
men Are Known Among
Their People.

Many suppose that such names as
"Sitting Bull" ''White Gut" etc., are
but cognomens of convenience given
the Indians by army officers, post
traders and other white men having
dealings with them. This is not the
case, says writer in the Chicago Even
ing Journal. The fantastic names are
literal translations of the real names Of
the Indians. The United States Bureau
of Ethnology has devoted great deal
of attention to the ssubject of nomen-
clature among the aborigines, with very
unsatisfactory results. This much is
established: The Indian boy has no
name. He is plain Indian boy until
he grows up and becomes a buck or a
warrior. Then he is christened, not
formally, but by general consent. A
name is given him that may indicate
physical excellence, a physical peculiar
ity, prowess in war or the chase, men,
tai trait, habit, a resemblance to
something in nature, the possession or
absence Of property or dozen other
things. In making a treaty with a tribe
of Indians it is necessary to secure 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 reservation bound
aries made with Assinniboines, Black
Feet, Gros Ventre, Piegan, Blood and
River Crow Indians. In each instance
the name of the Indian and the transla-
tion is written out, followed by the ''his
X mark" and seal. For instance, the
Assinniboine Chief, We-cha-Je tonka, is
A casual glance over the columns of
signatures will give some idea of the
fantastic diversity of Indian names.
There is preponderance of such names
as Big Bear, Iron Horn Bull, Fast Horse,
White Horse, Little Bull, Wolf Panther,
Mountain Lion. Physical peculiarities
are indicated by such names as The
Thigh, Poor Shoulder Blade, Walks
Like Boy, Hawk Tracks, Wrinkled
Face, Red All Over, Throat of Bull,
Left Hand, Squint Eyes, One Eye, No
Eyes, Iron Voice, Woman's Hip, No
Hand, Turns Crooked, Iron Legs, Loud
Voiced Elk, Yellow Teeth. Swings His
Thigh, One Big Leg, Brocky, Lazy Man,
Laughing Face. Stands High, Head Like
an Arrow and Crooked Arm. %
Confirmed habits and disposition may
perhaps be indicated by such names as
'Shaved Clean" ''Dirty Ear" "Strikes
His Breast" Smokes at Night, ""Smells
of Tobacco" "Steals Tobacco" "Beats
His Wife," Lying White Man." ''The
Glutton," ''Dirty Robes,' "Kicking
Woman" "Cold Feet" Chief Coward" !"
"Stole a Gun at Night" "Man Who
Steals Women" "Man Loves Tobacco"
Within a space taken up by fifteen
names is found in a Blackfeet treaty,
warriors bold answering to the improb-
able combination of "Stands Him Of"
"Wets His Mouth" "Whisky," Hard
Looking Man" and "Bad Hat" %;psas:4.
Exploits and physical prowess are per.
petuated in the names of the braves,
and glancing over the list atrandom the
eye Is struck by such designations as
big Brave" ''Strangled the WOLF
"Chief on the Prairie," "Chief All
Over," ""Good Stabber," ''Under Swim
mer," "Good Shield" ''Good Warrior y
Ready to Shoot" "Man Who Don't
Rum" "Fight the Bear" "Take 1t
Alive" "Good Shot" a and MANY
Wounds" w.. xsas..- ~ ssssssssssFa -.
Some of the names bestowed carry
with them contempt and derision. OF
such are "Stays in Camp" "Grand
MOTHER" Temporary Married, ""Lots
of Sleep" Scat Shooter" "Squaw
Beater," Stakes Back Gifts" sUn.
lucky" Gambler" "All Goes" "Yel
low Liver" ''Bad Tempered Bear
Scared Out" "Poor Goose" "Nearly
Dead" Captured"
Some idea of the worldly possessions
of certain Indians is carried with such
names as "Twstve Blankets" "Heav,
Cum" "Two Guns" ''Many Horses,
MANY Arrows" 'Many Apes" ''Wol
(teeth) Necklace" PLENTY to Eat,
Bear Skin Cap" "Leather Leggin'
and ''Tall Hat" sSsss
The variety of names indicating
famed resemblances in appearance, man
ners or voice to birds and animals
swells the strange list to such extent a.
to permit only of passing mention.