lO ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



Place nomenclature . 



various articles in the Bulletin of the jSTatural History Society of New 

 Brunswick (see especially V., 227). 



211. A phase ox New Brunswick Flace-nomenclature of very 

 great interest is the entirely un^vTitten nomenclature used by the lum- 

 bermen for tlie various minor features along our rivers. Surprised by 

 the extent and character of these names, I have tried to collect them 

 for all of our principal rivers, obtaining them, when possible, directly 

 from the lumbermen in person, and in other cases from reliable persons 

 as intermediaries. I gave a list of those of the Magaguadavic and 

 of the St. Croix in the Place-nomenclature monograph, but I have since 

 gathered a more complete list for the St. Croix, and new lists for the 

 Oromocto, Lepreau, Nepisiguit, Salmon River, (Queens), the Tobique, 

 upper part of the Main Southwest Miramichi, Little Southwest 

 Miramichi, Northwest Miramichi and Eenous and in part for the 

 Upsalquitch and Eestigouche. I regret tliat the limitations of space do 

 not permit me to give them in these pages. These names have evidently 

 growTi up naturally in, the course of the use of the river, and apply to 

 each object seriously affecting the interests of the lumbermen, — the 

 recks and bars which obstruct their logs, the rips, rapids or falls which 

 give the river-drivers much trouble, the brows, landings, pools, brooks, 

 etc., each with their effect upon the daily life of the users, requiring 

 them to be mentioned in talk and hence to have names. Since they 

 are entirely unwritten aiid occur upon no map, it is plain that they 

 have not arisen in any literarv' way, or through any abstract con- 

 siderations; but they are the spontaneous expression of the naming 

 instinct. They are, therefore, of interest and value as illustrating 

 the principles by which place-names arise and as reflections of the 

 psychology of primitive name-givers. Incidentally, they have also 

 other values, in exhibiting the topographical terms in local use, and in 

 affording some method of testing the permanency of un^vritten names. 

 That many of these names have been long in use is shoTVTi by their 

 occurrence in various earlier documents, and it will be easy for the 

 future student by noting whether they are still in use to determine 

 their future persistence. 



Viewing the lists of these names, comprehensively, it is plain that 

 the probable origin of the great majority is evident at. a glance, while 

 a few are not thus self explanatory. The majority of the latter are 

 without doubt of Indian origin, namely, Naleguagus, Guagus, Slugundy, 

 Bittahacl-, Allahanlrt, OnJocl'yivicl'et, Pomraul', and the half Indian 

 Long LooTcum, all considered in the following Dictionary; and these 



