56 I^ransaCtionS. 1897-8. 



Lake Erie is the lake of the wild cats^ or as my friend *Dr, 

 Bourinot says, the lake of the Raccoon^ the Indians resorting in 

 the ancient times to the region round about for raccoons. 

 Lake Huron is the lake of the Indian-Huron tribe who seem 

 to have cultivated shocks of hair, (French Hure^ similar to 

 to those of certain African tribes with which we of the pres- 

 ent time are familiar from our geographies or from personal 

 observation. Lake Michigan is from the Indian Mishigan, 

 meaning motistrous lake ; and Lake Nipissing is Indian for 

 diminutive^ the lake being small by the side of the great lakes. 

 Kami7iistiquia means wide laver. Manitouli7i is a Frenchifi- 

 cation of the Indian word Manitouwahining — " the dwelling 

 place of spirits y Mattawa (Indian Mataowan) means ^'' place 

 where tzvo rivers meet.'''' Ottazva^ according to Father Arnaud, 

 means " the place where the water boils and surges " and 

 according to Rev. Mr. Beatty, it means the " River guards," 

 the Ottawa tribe of Indians being so called by the Indians of 

 Montreal because they guarded the river and prevented the 

 irruption of the more northerly tribes into the regions at the 

 mouth of the river. Mr. Suite thinks the word means " men 

 of the woods." Penetariguishene ViiQ.2ir\s "rolling of shining 

 sands." Toronto means "place of meeting" — a name that 

 well characterizes it to-day, as the boast is that it is the City 

 of Conventions. 



When the St. Lawrence River Indians referred to the 

 Maritime Provinces they called the region " Abenakis," de- 

 rived from Waben—'-'- it is dawn " and Ykki, " land ; " or 

 "land of the dawn or east." The English, who are essentially 

 water-men, have seized upon the other peculiarity and call 

 them the Maritime region. But the "Dawn" land is a fine 

 poetic name. 



Abittibi ; {Abitt meaning "middle." Nipig meaning 

 " water)" the middle water, Lake Abittibi being half way 

 between Nipissing Lake and James Bay. 



Athabasca ; Ayapp as Kais, meaning " there are rushes, 

 reeds or herbs here and there." 



Ka Kouna ; Kakwa means porcupine ; nak, " at the;" 

 equal to " The Porcupine's home." 



Chicoutimi ; Ishko^ "up to where ; " timiw, "it is deep." 

 " The end of deep water." 



Shawenegan ; Shavo., "through," nigan^ "tool," needle 



* I am proud to know that since the above was written the Doctor 

 has received the well merited honour of a K.C.M. G. from the Sove- 

 reign. 



