6 
but little doubt as to a near approach to accuracy in both particulars. Some are involved in an 
obscurity which further investigation may remoye. 
A few English local names, as before nentioned, are added for the purpose of referring to their 
origin, and, as far as may be, to the times and reasons of their application to localities well known. 
Trusting that this effort to illustrate the geographical names on the coast of Maine, as to their 
orthography, meaning, and history, will be acceptable and prove beneficial to your Department, I 
have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, ; 
EDWARD BALLARD. 
Prof. BENJAMIN PEIRCE, L.L. D., 
Superintendent U. S. Coast Survey. 
GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES ON THE COAST OF MAINE. 
ABAGADUSSET.—This name is given to a river and a point on the north side of Merrymeeting 
Bay. The original name of the point was Nagusset.! Ata later day it was called “ Point Agree- 
able.” Among its several forms occurs Bagadasset ; which agrees with the word bagadassek, given 
by Rale under eelairer to shine; who also under soleil gives pagadassem, il eclaire, i. e., the sun 
shines. It is not known whether the river or the Indian chief of early days first received this 
name, which was probably taken from the reflection of the sunbeams on the waters of this broad 
inland bay. This sagamore, jointly with Kennebis, of Swan Island, deeded land to Christopher 
Lawson, of Boston, October 8, 1649, who built a house and dwelt on the western side of the Ken- 
nebec, below the bay, and afterward sold to Thomas Lake, but in such a way as to be deemed to 
have conveyed no title.’ This chief appears to have been peaceful, like “ The Shining Sun.” 
But another mode of writing the word Abeguaduset, suggests a preferable interpretation, from 
the word begiwdtus® bay. It may refer to the large expanse of Merrymeeting Bay, or to the broad 
opening of the river bearing the name at the head of this article. Dropping the first letter, proba- 
bly an English prefix, and using the locative et, the word finds its equivalent in A¢ the Bay, as the 
place where the chief has his home. 
ACQUEHADONGONOCK.—This word denoted a point on the west side of the “ Chops,” Iebec, 
where the Kennebec leaves Merrymeeting Bay in its progress to the ocean. It is derived from 
Ughiadi, to finish, terminate ; agiéaiin, dried-tish, (Rale,) augowam and auguan, (John Smith,) smoked 
fish, and ock, a place. The full form will, therefore, be Ug-hi-ad-an-giaii-ock.! The form given at 
the head of this article is found in the ancient maps of the Pejepscot Company, now in possession 
of the Maine Historical Society. The accepted interpretation of the name is Smoked-Fish-Point. 
AGAMENTICUS.—This name was given by the Indians to the stream now called York River, at 
the mouth of which Sir Ferdinando Gorges planned to found the city which was called “ Gorge- 
ana,” and incorporated by him by a grant in 1642. Thence it was appropriated to the mountain 
near its source, called by Captain John Smith ‘ Sassenowe’s Mount,” and by the Prince his High- 
ness, “ Snodon Hill.” It is derived from. the form of the little pond in the town of Eliot, at its 
head, which is much like that of the Indian snow-shoe, aiighem, plur., anghemak? The last syllable 
is the same as koos, a stream, from kesoose,® to run, or koosihada,' to rundown. The full form of the 
word, therefore, was An-ghem-ak-koos, with the euphonic syllable ¢ interposed to make An-ghem- 
ak-ti-koos, meaning “ Snow-shoes River,” or “ Raquette River,” as in the Adirondack region of New 
York. By the softening process of usage it has come through various orthographies. to its present 
form, Agamenticus." 
ANDROSCOGGIN.—The present form of the name borne by this important river, improperly 
'So says tradition, confirmed by documents in the Pejepscot Papers, Vol. 1, p. 105. 8S. Davis, p. 491%, Cossen’s 
deposition. Maps in same, 50 and 54°, 1719. 
2 Pejepscot Papers, Vol. 1. 
“See Castine. 
4 Ock, or auk, from auke, land. 
®RaAle under raquette lac. When a bay in a lake was deseribed, the word was waiiriaiighemak. The word is 
derived from aigmakou, the ash-tree, of which wood the curved rim was made. 
- ©In the Kimzooi Awikhigan. 
7Rale under avaler, 
®John Smith wrote if lecominticus. Ahkeekwontep. Seal Heal on Pox Islands ; ahkeck-seal, upakwontep, head. 
