[ganong] place-nomenclature OF NEW BRUNSWICK 213 



found. One seeming exception to this distribution is the occurrence of 

 the many saints' names in Charlotte, suggesting the presence there of the 

 French, but their occurrence is anomalous and no doubt represents a 

 sort of clumsy joke. 



There is still much to be done in this investigation. This Avork does 

 little more than open up the subject, and there is not a phase of it which 

 will not repay more thorough investigation. There is not, I believe, 

 much left for superficial study ; those who would carry the subject, or 

 any division of it, much beyond this point must expect to devote to it 

 the most critical scientific methods, but to these it will yield good returns. 

 The parts needing more careful and minute work are : L The Indian 

 names, to which the methods of comparative philology 7nust be applied. 

 This W'Ork should be done as soon as possible, for although the Indians 

 are not dying out, they and their language are becoming much diluted 

 by contact with the white race. 2. The plans, grants and licenses of 

 survey in the Crown Land office for many of the minor names. These 

 are in so well arranged a condition that their consultation is easy. 3. 

 The study of the parish and settlement names in the light of contemporary 

 history. I am certain there is far more in this subject than I have 

 obtained from it. 4. The phonetic changes involved in the transfer from 

 one language to another. 5. There are also many individual names whose 

 origin is unknown, as Sunbury, Portobello, Jourimain, Maces Bay, Cara- 

 quette, St. Andrews, Wù-kham, Palfrey, and, as the dictionary will show, 

 a large number of others which are doubtful. 



It seems as if this subject of place-nomenclature ought to be one of 

 which teachers could make much use in arousing interest in local history 

 among their pupils. If teacher and pupils together would work up 

 thoroughlj;^ the place-names of a limited district, such as their own county 

 or parish, and publish the results in the local newspaper, it would prove 

 a training of much value in investigation and in the apphcation of 

 critical methods, and, as well, a stimulus to local interest and even 

 to patriotism. 



It is well now to ask whether the results of such studies as these 

 can prove of any aid to present or benefit to future nomenclature. 



The laws controlling place-nomenclature are so deep seated in the 

 nature of the human mind, so independent of reason and so far out of 

 reach of argument, that any attempt to make great changes is entirely 

 iiseless ; the most that can be done is, falling in with this leading prin- 

 ciple of convenience, to suggest convenient ways for the future and the 

 most convenient of the two ways when there is doubt. The practical 

 value of uniformity in the spelling of place-names is evident and has 

 been recognized officially by several governments. The United States, 

 for example, has a " Board of Geographic ISTames," which attempts to 

 secure a standard form for all place-names in that country, and these 



