1897-8. TRANSACTIONS. 21 



The Ncin^e of Ottawa. 



By B. Sulte, F. R. S. C. 

 {Extracts frovi an address delivered Aov. igth^ -^Spy.) 



The easiest way to obtain accurate information concern- 

 ing the term Ottawa, Outaouais, Outaoua, is by perusing the 

 different works of the 17th Century mentioned below, and 

 leave aside all other books for the moment, until you have 

 digested the texts of those authors, for they actually saw what 

 they write about. Whoever dealt with the matter subse- 

 quently could not be in a position to make a clear case of it. 



Take the following authors as the only base of informa- 

 tion Champlain, Sagard, Marie de I'Incarnation, Dollier, 

 Perrot, La Potherie, the Jesuit papers, and the records of the 

 Conseil Souverain of Quebec. 



Champlain met the people in question (16 15) and called 

 them Standing Hair, because of the fashion they had to 

 dress their hair upright. This was in Lake Huron. 



The Hurons, who spoke a language totally different from 

 the Standing Hairs, and who lived in open fields, designated 

 them as the Men of the Woods, to indicate that they were 

 roaming in the forests (county of Bruce and Manitoulin Is- 

 land.) In Huron-Iroquois language this was Ondataoua. The 

 French translated it into Gens des Bois quite correctly. 



There is no indication of the name by which the Oiitaouas 

 designated their own nation. 

 Champlain : Cheveux Releves : Standing Hair. No other 



name. 

 Sagard^ 162^ : Cheveux Releves and Gens des Bois are like 



one nation he says. 

 Jesiiit Relations^ 16^4-^6 : Ondataouaouat, Outaouak ; 1669, 



Outaouac. 

 Journal des Jesuits^ 1 6^4 : OndataSaSak «/mj 8ta8ak, 8ta8at. 



(8 is the softest sound of w.) 

 Conseil Souverain de Quebec^ J<^6j^ iSyo : 8ta8au, 8ta8ak. 

 Marie de P Incarnation^ 1660 : Outaouak. 

 Dollier de Casso7i^ i^^5 '■ Outaoua. 

 Nicolas Perrot 1660-iyi^ : Outaoua. 

 La Potherie lyoo ; Outaouak. 



