Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-11-09
indian Names in Maine.

1
The editor of the Maine Sportsman
in a long editorial laments that some
Of the good old Indian names have not
been preserved here in Maine. He de-
plores the multiplicity of prosaic and
meaningless English names applied 70
hills. lakes. rivers and towns when il
have preserved the nomenclature which
prevailed when the red men held sway
over this section Of the land. The
Sportsman Is right in saying that il
lis pity TO allow the picturesque In
dian names 10 pass away or fal! into
disuse, but We cannot help feeling that
the situation Is not nearly as bad as
that publication makes out. We have
always felt that Maine. Of all states
in the Union. was distinguished for the
number Of Indian names. which il has
preserved.
| Certainly the number Of names Of this
| character which are jaw-cracking and
tongue-lwisring in their length haV@
furnished the pert Photographers and
| humorous poets with frequent text
the Indian name has been forgotten or
! crowded aside where Il would have
been much better had il been retained,
but any or Who looks 81 Ihe map Of
Maine viii have no trouble II finding
picturesque Indian names by 1he score.
All three Of our principal rivers ar
known by their Indian names. and half
the counties Of the state bear similar
| destinations Names highest noun
tain bears 1he same name h which
il was known 10 the red -n-n. Among
tte many lakes Of our State where the
Indian nomenclature has been retained
may be mentioned Messalonskee, Cobb
| osseacontee, Annabassac cook. Togus,
Wassookeag. Ssbago. Pokunius, Moose
| luculaguntic, Oouossoc. Parma chenea,
Chesunccok. Iusquash, SisadobSisis
Caucomgumoc, '0naua, kennebego,
W.! 1l4n-b acools, Moie,hunharnunch,
Pennassawasss Jmbazookees. Chem
| Observation-Disclosures, J-saskis, Pana-
dumcook. Sabatus. Nahmakanti. Malta
ceunk Nj 2neh prl. am hlndI@i
others. .,!Js. a. these lakes have
streams among tneir inie-s u outle,S
hich are known by -he same Indian
NAMES.
Then among our Maine Towns ana
postot7lcas there are scores which pre-
serve Old Indian names Sore u them
are graceful and easy 70 the tongue
and some ar exceedingly harsh, but
they ar here ID stay. CaraIunk, Show
hogan. Cheteaguat Darlariscot1a. Egg
,noggin. kineo N@nduskaag, AIacwa-
hoc. MADAM aska. Ma.tamiscontis.
Mar1awarnkeag. Medonak. Med
d! bemps, Monhegan. Ogunquit, Passa-
dUrlkeag, Pa-tagunpus, Pelnaquid,
Presu-rp scot. Rockaberla, Sehoouook.
Waua grass. Nestcogus. Willratic arl
Nytopillock are samples which may u
mentioned. The summer camps ana
cottages Of Maine preserve a thousand
Of the Old local Indian names and
| legends. NJ doubt il would be wen
were more Of the Indian names preserv-
I'd. as Ihe Sportsman urges. bur !, car
not hardly . argued mat all The In
I =
others.
Therz i ore old Indian name wnicA
| many 4. lis here On the hennebec Will
always regret was not preserved when
the Town Of Augusta was 81 Of from
HalloweH. That name i koussinoc-
| not TushnOc." a. j. The corrupt form
IL modern times. hui koussinoc. Iha
name ny which tins place was known -
the gentle Abnaki Indians and ny which
i j. design ated in -he writings II tn
early jesuit missionaries VINO came
| here from France before the English
settlers appeared. Here al kouzsinoc,
! az the head Of the tide. was long an In
| dian village. here al koussinoc was the
early Indian trading post maintained
for over 81 wears by the Plymouth col
onv. ard here al koussinoc the Jesuit
missionaries began their work among
tn Indians Of Maine. Ii j. indeed a
pity thai this name which was 50 rich
in The traditions q centuries should
have been put aside and another name.
rnt aningless in its local associations
and even obscure il il origin. applied
. The young town from which our cap
ital city has grown
The Increase Of INSANITY,