The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-06-18
INDIAN NAMES.
Tho Young Children are Sent to tho Noun
tains to Find Them.


tains to Find Them.
The Nez Perces obtain their names
In several ways aside from nicknames
says the Journal OF American Folk
Lore. A child is namod by his parents
from stock OF family names held in
reserve for that purpose. 1t may ba
his fathers name which he obtains by
inheritance. or that OF some deceased
relative. An adult also, may take a
new name by publicly announcing his
desire to do so in council. and by pre-
senting to the tribe horse. blanket
or some other valuable thing to be
sold at auction. or by making pres
ent to the chief and then proclaiming
his new name. But the sacred or
vigil name. as 1t may be called is OF
different order, and is obtained in u
different way.
Whom child Is 10 or ~ years old
his parents send him elono out into
the mountains TO fast and watch for
something to appear to him in dream
and give him namc. His success is
regarded as an omen, and affects his
future character to some extent II
he has vision, and in the vision q
name is given him. he will excel in
bravery, wisdom. or skill in hunting.
and the like. II not he will probably
remain nero nobody. Not TO every
child. boy or girl is it given to receive
this aslatus. Only those serious
minded ones who keep their thoughts
steadfastiy on the object of their mis-
sion will succeed. Tho boy who is
frivolous who allows his attention to
be distracted by common OBJ ,ects on
his way to the place of vigil or who
while there succumbs to homesick-
ness, or gives himself up to thoughts
about hunting in the woods he has
just passed, or fishing in the streams
he has crossed. will probably fail in
his undertaking. Reubens said that
his own vigil was failure because he
was homes!ck and could not help
thinking OF his mother
On reaching the mountain-top the
watcher makes pile Of stones three
or four feet high rs n monument and Z
sits down by it to await the revelation.
After some time--it may be three or
four days-he falls asleep and
then, II fortunate is visited by the
image OF the thing which is to bestow
upon him his name and the wisdom
and power belonging to it The name
OF Reubens' father. former chief
was Eagle Who Knows All Ian
guages." In his dream great eagle.
holding in his talons some animal he
had killed. came to him and said:
You see l have killed this animal I
am al powerful among birds. and
other animals fear me and know my
name. Like me you shall be powerful
and subdue your enemies as l have
this animal and like me you shall
have wisdom and renown. My name
is Eagle who knows all languages and
that name shall be yours" This name
was also Reubens'. which he obtained
In the usual way by inheritance, since
he was unsuccessful in his vigil.
Upon his return the child is never
questioned by his parents about the
success or failure OF his pilgrimage.
probably because the subject is sa-
cred. But years after when the boy
has become u man and done some-
thing to distinguish himself he dis
closes his name in council and may
refer to the particular monument he
erected on the mountain.
In this way can be explained such
names as "Hoofs Around the Neck"
or Eyes Around the Neck" where q
wolf or bird of prey has appeared to
the watcher with those trophies OF the
hunt and has given him name con-
veying the idea of power or prowess
as exhibited in that way.
There are many of the little monu-
ments referred to on the mountains in
Idaho.