The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-21
INDIAN NAMES.
How Their Fantastic Cognomons
Are Acquired.
Literal Translation OF Some OF tho Very
Expressive Titles by Which tho Rod
men Arc Known Among
Their People.


tho Indians by army officers, post
traders and other white mon having
dealings with Thorn. This is not tho
case, says writer in the Chicago Even
ing Journal. Tho fantastic names arc
literal translations of the real names of
the Indians. Tho United States Bureau
of Ethnology has devoted great deal
of attention to the subject Of nomcn-
clature among tho aborigincs, with very
unsatisfactory results This much is
established: The Indian boy has no
Inamo. He is plain Indian boy until
he grows up and becomes buck or a
warrior. Then he is christcncd, not
formally, but by general consent. a
name is given him that may indicate q
physical excellence, physical peculiar
ity, prowcss in war or the chase, mon
tai trait, a habit, q resemblance to
something in nature, the possession or
absence of property or a dozen other
things. In making treaty with a tribo
of Indians it is necessary to secure the
signature of every malo member of tho
tribe. These documents, as filed in tho
archives Of tho Government, offer some
very curious reading. The last volume
published of tho session sets of tho
certain treaties as to reservation bound
aries made with Assinniboincs, Black
Feet, Gros Ventrc, Picgan, Blood and
River Crow Indians. In each instance
the namc of the Indian and the transla-
ton is written out, followed by tho 'hs
y mark" and seal. For instance, tho
Assinniboine Chief, Wc-cha-] c-tonka, is
Big Star.
A casual glance over the columns of
signatures will give some idea of tho
fantastic diversity of Indian names.
There is prepondcranco of such names
as Big Dear, Iron Horn Bull, Fast Horse,
White Horse, Little Bull, Wolf Panther,
Mountain Lion. Physical pcculiarities
arc indicated by such names Us The
Thigh, Poor Shoulder Blade, Walks
Like 10y, Hawk Tracks, WrinlSlcd
Face, Red All Over, Throat of Bull,
Loft Hand, Squirt Eyes, Ono Eye, No
Eyes, Iron Voice, Woman's Hip, No
Hand, Turns Crooked, Iron Legs, Loud
Voiced Elk, Yellow Teeth, Swings His
Thigh, Ono Big Leg, BrocSy, Lazy Man,
Laughing Face, Stands High, Head Like
an Arrow and Crooked Arm.
Confirmed habits and disposition may
perhaps DO indicated by such names as
"Shaved Clean" DIRTY Ear" Strikes
His Breast, ""SmolScs at Night, ""Smclls
of Tobacco" "Stcals Tobacco" s.Bcats
His Wife," Lying White Man." 'The
Gluttop," DIRTY Robes" "Kicking
Woman" Gold Feet" Chief Coward"
''Stolo Gun at Night" 'Man Who
Steals Women, "Man Loves Tobacco"
Within space taken up by fifteen
names is found in Dlackfeet treaty,
warriors bold answering to tho improb-
able combination of Stands Him Of"
'Wcts His Mouth" "Whisly," "IIard-
Looking Man" and dad Hat"
Exploits and physical prowcss are per-
petuated in tho names of tho braves,
and glancing over tho list atrandom tho
ego is struck by such designations as
<'Big Brave" ''Stranglcd tho Wolf"
''Chicf on the Prairie" Chief All
Over" Good Stabbcr," "Undor Swim
NOR" Good Shield" Good Warrior"
Ready to Shoot" "Man Who Don't
Alive" Good Shot" and MANY
Wounds"
Some OF the names bestowed carry
with them contempt and dorision OF
such arc STAYS in Camp" @"Grand-
iuoChcr, temporary Married" Lots
of Sleep" ''Cat Shooter" ''Squaw
Beatcr," "Takes Back Gifts" ''Un-
lucky" Gambler" "All Goes" ''Yol-
low Liver" dad Tempered Boar"
Scared Out" Poor Goose" NEARLY
Dead, Captured"
Some idea of tho worldly possessions
OF certain Indians is carried with such
names as Twelve Blankets" Heavy
Cum, 1.-TWO Guns" Many Horses"
MANY Arrows" MANY Apes" "Wolf
ttccth) Necklace" plenty to Eat"
Bear Skin Cap" Leather LessinD
and Tall Hat"
yho variety of names Indicating
famed rescmblanccs in appearance, man
ners or voice to birds and animals
swclls the strange list to such extent IL;
10 permit only of passing mention.