408 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



After being seated the Indians conferred among themselves, and 

 remarked that it was not well that Bishop von Watteville had no 

 Indian name by which he would be known among them, and that it 

 was their wish to confer one on him, because he had. lived among 

 them, and had come over the " great water " to visit them. Accord- 

 ingly they deliberated a long time, and decided to name him Teca- 

 rihondie, which signifies one who brings a message or important 

 news. It was the name of a great Seneca chief, of the tribe of the 

 Deer, and as he who bore it is dead, his name will be thus perpetu- 

 ated. This name they announced to their white brethren, who ac- 

 knowledged it with pleasure, and gave evidence of their joy that 

 Tecarihondie was naturalized, and that he was the tenth brother who 

 was admitted into their nation. 



In his life of Red Jacket, Col. W. L. Stone gave a curious ac- 

 count of the adoption of Thomas Morris at Tioga Point in 1790. 

 On this occasion he received the name of Otetiana, always ready, 

 which had been Red Jacket's. This was done when the full 1600 

 " Indians present at the treaty, united in an offering to the moon, 

 then being at her full. The ceremonies were performed in the 

 evening. It was a clear night, and the moon shone with uncom- 

 mon brilliancy. The host of Indians, and their neophyte, were all 

 seated upon the ground in an extended circle, on one side of which 

 a large fire was kept burning. The aged Cayuga chieftain, Fish- 

 carrier, who was held in exalted veneration for his wisdom, and 

 who had been greatly distinguished for his bravery from his youth 

 up, officiated as the high priest of the occasion — making a long 

 speech to the luminary, occasionally throwing tobacco into the fire 

 as incense. On the conclusion of the address, the whole assembly 

 prostrated themselves upon the bosom of their parent earth, and a 

 grunting sound of approbation was uttered from mouth to mouth 

 around the entire circle." Stone, p. 42 



A war dance followed which nearly made trouble, but the account 

 differs widely from other adoptions. A more personal act was that 

 of Red Jacket in 1821. He talked with the Rev. John Brecken- 

 ridge : 



At the close of the conversation he proposed to give me a name, 

 that henceforth I might be numbered among his friends, and ad- 

 mitted to the intercourse and regards of the nation. Supposing 

 this not amiss, I consented. But before he proceeded he called for 

 some whisky . . . After some time a small portion was sent to 

 him at the bottom of a decanter. He looked at it, — shook it, — and 



