The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1896-07-10
SOME CHOCTAW NAMES
NOW BORNE BY MISSISSIPPI
AND LOUISIANA PLACES.

In the course OF several articles in
which the Picayunc has presented to
its readers different chapters from
the rccolIcctions Of the past, Mr.. John
A. Watkins, one Of the citys most
venerable dwcllcrs. this old resident
OF New Orleans having now passed
his eighty seventh year, but still re-
tanning Il remarkably vivid rcmcm-
brancc Of the days OF even the battle
OF New Orleans, it was remarked that
he was very familiar with the GUS
toms, usagcS, beliefs and traditions OF
the Choctaws Of Mississippi. much OF
his time when a youth having been
spent among them. In this article
the representative Of the Picayunc
will give some information on the
meanings and origins Of names of To-
calitics. rivers and creeks. and also
something about the folklore of the
ChoctawS, as derived from Il recent
conversation with Mr., Watkins.
In speaking on the subject of the
names of many localities, rivers, etc.
in Mississippi and Louisiana, Mr..
Watkins remarked that they show
their Choctaw origin. "But," he OBJ
served. 'the original names have be-
come so corrupted and changed that
only one familiar with tie Choctaws
and their language could be able to in
terprct Them In this connection it
should be remarked that Mr.. Wat
kin'S familiarity with the Indians be-
gan in the year 1913, and that it was
continued until the removal OF the
Indians to the Indian Territory,
about 1868.
"For instance" said Mr.. Watkins.
continuing his remarks. Sin the word
Coahoma, the name Of a county in
Mississippi, we have an example
among many Of this corruption OF
Choctaw nomenclature. The word
Coahoma is derived from Co-i-homma.
! meaning rcd tiger IsSaqucna is
deer river" or creek, corrupted frcm
issi (meaning 'decr'), and ok-hi-na,
meaning creek, or river. ltawamba
county, in Mississippi, meaning go
and kill was originally lta-taka'
lombl. This is Il very remarkable cx
ample of change.
"Thcrc is in the same State creek
called Noxubce. The change from
The original in this word has alSt
been very striking. The Indian form
of the word was Ok-a-mak>lobi, ant
its meaning was 'stinking creek Ira
1ition says, in regard to the origin o
this appcllation, that long ago an ob
stinatc and bloody battle was Tough
on the banks OF this creek bctweer
A the ChOctaws aud the Greeks, wh'
/. had been traditional enemies from
time immcmorial. So many wer'
slain on both sides that the bodies 0
\ the dead, thrown into the creek. gav'
q to the waters the appellation tina
commemoratcd both the incident o
i the battle and its malodOr0us con
d cluSiOn."
e 1t may be mentioned at this poin
that the feud between the two tribe
or nations never really ceased until
as stated above, the United State
- government transferred both OF thel
:, TO the Indian Territory. IA sort q
" so. called burying OF the hatchct, it
true" observed Mr.. Watkins, IVA
brought about some time before TIL
:. removal, through the efforts OF til
II government authorities, but it was a
re best never anything more than a
IN armed truce. In the Indian Terr
tory the government very wisel
3, placed the strong tribe OF Chcrokee'
a who were friendly to both, betwec
y them, thus preserving Tue peac
e among them in the new home"
In mentioning the various river
I, and localities in which appci'
/; "Tallan as the two first syllable
's OF the name, Mr.. Watkins quote
is several examples to show how TIL
y word, meaning ''rock,p has bee
10 changed from the original, "tull
trock), into its present form. Tall
y " hatchic means 1.-The rock rivers" III
" :. terminal "hatchic' should be "h'
. :. cha" meaning "river." In anotht
SC instance, that OF Tallahassee, Florida
n. the terminal ''hatchic' has bee
changed into 'hassce," the whole al'