ABORIGINAL PLACE NAMES OF NEW YORK l5i 



means beautiful squazv, but all good authorities, including the Onon- 

 dagas, assert that it means merely long lake. So strenuous was the 

 local opposition to this prosaic definition, that Mr Clark put on 

 record the testimony of two principal chiefs of the Onondagas on 

 this point, in 1862. Among other things they said : 



We would here distinctly state that we have never known among 

 the Indians the interpretation of Skaneateles to be " beautiful 

 squaw," nor do we know of any tradition among the Onondagas, 

 connected with Skaneateles, that has any allusion to a " beautiful 

 squaw," or " tall virgin," ox any " female of graceful form." The 

 Onondagas know the lake by the name Skeh-ne-a-ties, which, liter- 

 ally rendered, is " long water." Nothing more or less. We have 

 inquired of several of our chief men and women^ who say that it i.s 

 the first time they have ever heard that Skaneateles meant " beautiful 

 squaw." They, as well as ourselves, believe such interpretation to 

 be a fiction. 



So-hah'-hee, the name given by Clark for the Onondaga outlet, 

 is the same as the title of one of the principal chiefs, which means 

 wearing a weapon in his belt. It may be a corruption of o-sa'-a, 

 muddy, a name applied to putty and paste, and quite appropriate for 

 the marly shores. 



Sta-a'-ta is his name for the east branch of Onondaga creek, 

 coming from between tzvo barren knolls. 



Ste-ha'-hah, stones in the ivatcr, is the present Indian name of 

 Baldwinsville, in allusion to the rifts or to two large boulders in 

 the river above the village. It was one of the six great Onondaga 

 fishing places, and was under charge of Kaghswuhtioni in 1753. 



Swe-noch-so'-a was Zeisberger's name for Onondaga creek in 

 1752, but he wrote it differently at other times. 



Swe-nugh'-kee, cutting through a deep gulf, is Clark's name for 

 the west branch of Onondaga creek. A. Cusick gave the name of 

 Sweno'ga for this, defined as a hollotv. 



Ta-gu-ne'-da, a name for Oneida Lake on Thurber's map. 



Tah-te-yohn-yah'-hah or Tah-te-nen-yo'-nes, place of making 

 stone. Onondaga Reservation quarries. 



Ta-ko-a-yent-ha'-qua, place zuhere they used to run. Old race 

 track at Danforth. 



Ta-te-so-weh-nea-ha'-qna, place zvhere they made guns. Navarino. 



Te-ger-hunk'-se-rode. Onondaga West Hill on Mitchell's map. 



