The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1903-10-16
REMAINING INDIANS.

The recent order Of the interior de-
sartment appointing Hamlin Garland,
the well-known writer Of Indian
stories, to revise Indian names Of the
United States, is arousing much in
terest at the Indian school on the
Puyallup reservation. Mai Frank
Terry, who is in charge Of the school,
and also exercises supervision over the
reservations of northwestern Wash
ington, has made a study Of Indian
names for the past ten years. and has
written much upon the subject
The new order comes personally
home to the Indians all over the
country. as the changing and abridg-
ing Of the names Of the Indians is
part Of Mr.. Garland's work. 1t has
been found that Indians in various
sections are named indiscriminately,
and it is impossible to tell by the
name the relationship of one Indian
to the other. This resulted in COM
plications daily on the reservations.
Mai. Terry talks Interestingly upon
the subject. and in an interview
says:
"Translations of Indian names, as
rule, have been unsatisfactory,
though there are exceptions The
case is reported from the Pawnee res
ervation, Oklahoma, OF an Indian
named Coo-rux-ruh-rah-ruk-koo. The
literal Interpretation of his name as
given to me is Fearing g-a-bear-that-is-
Wild With this Interpretation the
agent named him Fearing b. Wilde
This is not a bad arrangement, but
there are many Indians whom / have
met with whose names could not be
so nicely altered. For instance, | re-
member a Crow Indian whose name
translated, was 'Kills-the-one-with-
the blue NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
chin Others l met were named Bob
tail-wolf-No. g.. 'Keeps-his-head-
above-water,' 'Walk-in-the-Water,
'Rain-in-the-face.' 'Crazy-horse.' Vel
low-bonnet, and Afraid-of-his-ene-
my These names. Of course, are un-
couth, un-American. and unciyilized
"As the Indian grows he commits
acts from time to time. each Of which
gives him a new name. For example
be may see a bear and run screaming
to a tepee The folks all laugh al
him and call MIN 'Afraid-of-a-bear.'
Later on he may become the pos
SCISSOR OF an unruly pony, which he ii
afraid to ride. and then he becomes
known as 'Afraid-of-his-horses.' o.
he may mount a horse from which an
other Indian has been thrown. an'
he then becomes known as 'Rides-the
horse Further, he may become
great hunter and kill many mild ami
mails, and he then is known as Five
bears. and when he slays another h
is known as 'Six-bears. He may per
form a valiant deed In battle. and rid
his horse through the camp of tn
enemy, for which he becomes know
as observation-disclosures Dur
ing the conflict he may kill one Of III
enemy. If his victim is the only on
slain he is known as 'Kills-the-en
emy.' But II others fall. the one h
kills must be described in his nam
as 'Kills-the-one-wlth-the-eagle-feath
- er-in-his-scalp,' or, 'Kills-the-one-who
rides-the-pony-with-the-bob-tail.
he braids in his hair yellow feathe
which he has plucked from the Ia.
Of an eagle. he may be called Eagle
TAIL 'Eagle-feather.' 'Yellow-tail
'Yellow-feather II he gives It to hi
friend he will be known as Gives
feather but If he keeps It. when aske
for it, he becomes Keeps-theyello'
feather II he has more than on
| feather.
"Or he may obtain his name froI
l some other object If he is accu'
toned TO ride what is known as
calico horse. he will be known a
'Spotted-horse.' But if his horse ha
a short tail he will be known as 'Bol
tail-horse.' Now, the chances al
that he will be known by all the for'
going names. His enemies in th
tribe will continue to speak Of him g
'Long-ears.' or Afraid-of-his-horse
while his friends will speak of him q
Rides -his-horse 'Six-bears, an
Kills-the-enemy. For this reason
occurs that you speak Of an Indian
the presence of members Of his trib
and call him 'Six-bears.' they ma
laugh at you and say: That is not h
name;' his name is "Runs-from-i
BEAR But II you speak of him
- other Indians and call elm Run
from-a-bear.' they will scowl and sal
That's not his name; his name
Kills-the-enemy."
"Hence II will be seen that the II
dian names are delusion and snar
and the practice Of converting the
into English is eminently wise.
william Penn, Fitzhugh Lee, Dav
u Irut ord william ShakpgDQaro a