HISTORY OF DERRYFIELD. S$ 



INDIAN PATRONYMICS. 



We have so long been familiar with the names of the neigh- 

 mountains, streams and lakes that we seldom pause to inquire 

 concerning their godfathers, and in many cases have not even 

 suspected their Nipmuck origin. As will have been observed, 

 the names of most of our larger rive-'s, lakes and highlands are 

 purely Indian ; the Merrimack, Piscataquog, Souhegan, Nashua, 

 Cohas, Soucook, Suncook and Contoocook ; the Baboosic and 

 Massabesic, Pawtuckaway and the Uncanoonucks — supply us 

 with instances. The manner of spelling these various names 

 has from time to time been curiously varied, while their pronun- 

 ciation has been no less capricious. The examples heretofore 

 given, however, may from long usage be now regarded as settled. 



The etymology of Indian names offers an attractive field for 

 study, and if many are involved in obscurity it only adds zest to 

 the chase. The scope of our contributions will not permit us 

 to enter upon this department of inquiry, and it is relegated to 

 experts in barbarous philology. We have observed that the 

 modern author appears over-anxious to disagree with writers 

 who have preceded him. Each latest-adopted history or school 

 atlas requires the student to commit to memory a new set of 

 names of persons, places and things never before heard of, and 

 should he attempt in after years to repeat these his own children 

 will laugh at him. 



As to the survival of certain names to the exclusion of others 

 we have been impressed by its significance ; the law of euphony 

 undoubtedly plays a part, but the reason must rest upon deeper 

 principles. The sight of certain names appeals to the ear like 

 strains of music ; but they also evoke pictures to the eye, as if 

 the name was the ghost of its owner, while we seem to see the 

 shifting scenes summoned by these memories of sound. 



Passaconaway is certainly the most striking figure among our 

 native chiefs, and all accounts agree in assigning to him the 



