170 PICTOGRAPHS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 



As a general rule Indians are named at first according to a clan or 

 gentile system, but in later life one generally acquires a new name, or 

 perhaps several names in succession, from some special exploits or ad- 

 ventures. Frequently a sobriquet is given which is not complimentary. 

 All of the names subsequently acquired as well as the original names 

 are so connected with material objects or with substantive actions as 

 to be expressible in a graphic picture, and also in a pictorial sign. The 

 determination to use names of this connotive character is shown by the 

 objective translation, whenever possible, of such European names as it 

 became necessary for them to introduce frequently into their speech. 

 William Fenn was called Onas, that being the word for feather-quill in 

 the Mohawk dialect. The name of the second French governor of Can- 

 ada was Montuiagny, erroneously translated to be " great mountain," 

 which words were correctly translated by the Iroquois into Orwntio, and 

 this expression becoming associated with the title has been applied to 

 all successive Canadian governors, though the origin having been gen- 

 erally forgotten, it has been considered to be a metaphorical compli- 

 ment. Governor Fletcher was named by the Iroquois Cajenquiragoe, 

 " the great swift arrow," not because of his speedy arrival at a critical 

 time, as has been supposed, but because they had somehow been in- 

 formed of the etymology of his name, "arrow-maker" (Fr.flcchier). A 

 notable example of the adoption of a graphic illustration from a simi- 

 larity in the sound of the name to known English words is given in the 

 present paper in the Wiuter Count of American- Horse for the year 

 1865-'G6, page 141, where General Maynadier is made to figure as " many 

 deer." 



While, as before said, some tribes give names to children from con- 

 siderations of birth and kinship according to a fixed rule, others confer 

 them after solemn deliberation. They are not necessarily permanent. 

 A diminutive form is frequently bestowed by the affection of the parent. 

 On initiation a warrior always assumes or receives a name. Until this 

 is established he is liable to change his name after every fight or hunt. 

 He will generally only acknowledge the name he has himself assumed, 

 perhaps from a dream or vision, though he may be habitually called by 

 an entirely different name. From that reason the same man is some- 

 times known under several different epithets. Personal peculiarity, de- 

 formity, or accident is sure to fix a name, against which it is vain to 

 struggle. Girls do uot habitually change names bestowed in their child- 

 hood. It may also be remarked that the same precise name is often 

 given to different individuals in the same tribe, but not so frequently in 

 the same band, whereby the iucouvenience would be increased. For 

 this reason it is often necessary to specify the baud, sometimes also the 

 father. For instance, when the writer asked an Indian who Black-Stone, 

 a chief mentioned in the Dakota winter counts, was, the Indian asked. 

 first, what tribe was he; then, what baud; then, who was his father; 

 and, except in the case of very noted persons, the identity is not proved 



