22 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. 
in Heekewelder’s Indian JSTations, according to wliicli two large 
tribes emigrated several centuries ago from west of the Mis¬ 
sissippi, giving to that stream the name of Hawoesi Sipu, or 
River of Fish, whence the present name is derived. 
Lake Michigan w r as the last of the five great inland seas of 
the continent concerning which the early cartographers derived 
knowledge. The old maps call it Lake Illinois (Ilinovik, Ili- 
nois etc.), after the tribe of Indians that dwelt on its southern 
border ; and Lake Dauphin, after the heir to the throne of 
France. Lake Mitchiganons is the term used in the old Jesuit 
Relation (1670-71), and a Paris map of 1688 labels it Lake 
Michigami. Most of the early French maps give preference 
to the word Illinois and its variants. 
This Indian word, which has outlived the European names, 
is variously interpreted to mean “fish weir,” and “great lake.” 
Some authorities maintain that the word is derived from 
Mitchaw, “great,” and Sagiegan, “lake.” This seems to be the 
most plausible explanation. The assumption that the mean¬ 
ing is weir, or fish-trap, is based on the shape of the lake. 
As with other geographical names derived from Indian 
sources, the real meaning of the word Wisconsin (Chippewa 
origin) is so obscure as to be in dispute. The popular transr 
lation is “wild, rushing channel,” a definition that accords well 
with the nature of the stream, but which nevertheless is of 
doubtful authenticity. Another rendering, “the gathering of 
the waters,” is pronounced absurd by students of the Algon¬ 
quin tongue. Mrs. Charlotte Ouisconsin Van Cleve, in her 
Three Score Years and Ten says that the Indians termed the 
stream Vee-na-hoo-na-ninka (beautiful little river). 
It is claimed by Consul W. Butterfield that the name is de¬ 
rived from the physical features of its lower course, where 
are observable the high lands or river hills. “Some of these 
hills present high and precipitous faces towards the water. 
Others terminate in knobs The name is supposed to have been 
taken from this feature, the word being derived from Missi, 
‘great/ and Os-sin, ‘a stone, or rock.’ ” 
The word Wisconsin is the result of considerable change from 
the first rendering. On Marquette’s genuine map, where the 
