Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1928-06-21

DaTAn4G.
...s+ion OF the Indian word ''Pitta-
s.,stie.H meaning high land" or, ac-
sscrding 10 another authority, "a round
mol, or hillock, from which there is
tn pattaquatics occupied land ad-
;.rent TO the Old Indian fort; known
= Fort No. in the Nipmuck Coun-
try. .,.
ware a subdivision of the Wabbaquas-
81 or Wapososbequash tribe, and the
Wannaouassetts were a division Of the
Mobegan or Mohicans of the Algon-
cain Nation of Indians. The word
Tinmuck means fresh water" for
ibev were Indians living near ponds
and rivers.
The Mohicans were warriors and
eanoe makers. The Wabbaquassets
were mat makers of rushes.
Burning the Candle at Both Ends
In the days before the advent Of
eandles rushes were used. There
were rush light holders as later there
wpre lighters or rolled paper into a
uipe-like stem to save matches. The
rush light holder held a wax dipped
rush in its pincers so that both ends
eonld be lighted at once. This ac-
counts for the origin of the phrase,
Burning the candle at both ends"
Later candles were held horizontally
by pincers over dish to save the
drippings, which might be used again
In a lighter Of oil or .'greese" in which
was placed a wick or rag"
The Mohicans or Mohegan Indians
held the sacred, noble river Mahicon-
ittick, which we call the Hudson. BY
warfare the Mohegans had gained a
partial possession of the rich valley
OF the Connecticut, from whom the
early Dutch settlers purchased the
lands they occupied in that region.
They frequented the streams as their
names viii suggest.
Firewater of the Indians "Icy-hot''
In regions more westerly, issuing
from pits and hollows in the ground,
or from crevices of the rocks, uprising
from flowing streams were both min
eral oil and natural gas. 1t was one
Of the amusements of the Indian chill
dren to apply fire and light the bub-
bles and tiny mists from the marshes.
By the same means they made crimson
tongues of flame rise out or play on
the surface of the ice-cold flowing
stream. This game was called icy
hot from which came the name Of
"hrewater," whether the flame came
from swamp or rock assure or the
white mans Installations. The liquid
poison verified the Bible truth: AT
last il biteth like a serpent and sting
ETH ike an adder" By the solid fire"
the Indians turned their guns upon
each other-then made themselves like
fravening" wolves and serpents to the
settlers over the whole continent.
Hence they invited determination; so
that now only the mountains, rivers,
and towns give the names where no In
dians remain.
Now Cargill Falls
Many an Indian name has given
place TO some enterprising pioneer.
This Is true In Putnam's lower falls"
which are known far and near for
scenic grandeur. "Quascacunquen,"
the Indian name for waterfall, are
now designated as Cargill Falls. One
Of the fayorite resorts OF the Nipmuck
Indians was a great lake with long
--~et'Nt Nh~tDdtAtidts AAtb y aAitAdk VI
Observation-Disclosures, or Chareogga-
gogg manchaugg ogg chaubuna gunga-
maug, meaning the boundary fishing
place. This lake or pond, sometimes
called Chunkamug by the English, was
the dividing line between the Nipmuck
and the Narragansett territory. Web
ster's lake is properly spelt with fif-
teen Ks, (if there is a correct way of
spelling IT'D -Chargoggagoggmanchau-
gagoggagungamaugg
Spelling Of Proper Names
Before the time of dictionaries peo-
pie spelt words, especially proper
names, as they sounded to them; the
different nations using the letters Of
their alphabet. We therefore have
numerous ways of spelling the same
word. Words now are becoming
standardized by the best writers and
by SO doing saving time and money.
Errors come with the years in the
use and meaning of words. For ex-
ample rifle" being used for "musket'
or gun" Guns and muskets have
been IN use since the twelfth and thir-
tenth centuries. The colonists had no
rlfies until about the time of the Rev.
olution and then only a few made in
delaware or the adjacent parts OF
pennsylvania and New York, and the
british had none during the Reyolu-
ton.
Guns were carried to church by the
ceolonisits and stacked in the aisle near
tne entrance to the pew. The men oc-
eupied the seats nearest the muskets
50 as 70 be in readiness in case of an
indian attack. This custom of the
man having the end seat dates from
the colonial period.
Farm-Piantation
From the time of the earliest set
Elements a distinction was made be-
tween a farm and plantation. The
Dutch "bouwerie," bowery or the Eng
nsh farm was improved land, with
buildings. Grain, fruit and vegetables
We're brought from Europe. For these
carefully titled land was required.
Fleids under cultivation made farms.
~ was necessary TO pillow and harrow
Tor the European plants while 1t was
possible TO go into the woods and by
glrdlng' the trees, the leaves wiited
quickly, which let in enough sunshine
70 rlpen the Indian corn and tobacco.
Sach clearing" or "slashing" was a
plantation. A new settlement, in its
beginning, when the men lived in bark
n0uses, was concentration" but q