Footprints of the Red Men: Indian geographical names in the valley of Hudson's river, the valley of the Mohawk, and on the Delaware: their location and the probable meaning of some of them.Ruttenber, Edward Manning
History
Footprints of the Red Men: Indian geographical names in the valley of Hudson's river, the valley of the Mohawk, and on the Delaware: their location and the probable meaning of some of them.
Ruttenber, Edward Manning
Indians of North America -- New York (State); Names, Geographical -- New York (State); Names, Indian -- North America
_Tautapau,_ "a medicine man," so entered in a patent to Jacob Rutzen in
1713. _Tautapau_ (Taupowaw, Powaw), "A priest or medicine man," literally,
"A wise speaker."
* * * * *
[FN-1] Indian Hunting-houses were met in all parts of the country. They
were generally temporary huts, but in some cases became permanent. (See
Cochecton.)
[FN-2] _Fontaine_ is French--"A spring of water issuing from the earth."
The stream flowing from the spring is met in local history as Fantine
Kill.
Kau-na-ong-ga, "Two wings," is said to have been the name of White Lake,
Sullivan County, the form of the lake being that of a pair of wings
expanded, according to the late Alfred B. Street, the poet-historian,
who embalmed the lake in verse years before it became noted as a
fashionable resort. (See Kong-hong-amok.)
"Where the twin branches of the Delaware
Glide into one, and in their language call'd
_Chihocken,_ or 'the meeting of the floods';" [FN-1]
The "Willemoc," [FN-2] and "The Falls of the Mongaup," are also among
Street's poetical productions.
* * * * *
[FN-1] "Formerly Shohakin or Chehocton." (French's Gaz.) In N. Y. Land
Papers, Schohakana is the orthography. Street's translation is a poetical
fancy. The name probably refers to a place at the mouth of the northwest
or Mohawk Branch of the Delaware, and the northeast or Paghkataghan
Branch, at Hancock, Del. Co.
[FN-2] _Willemoc_ probably stands for _Wilamauk,_ "Good fishing-place."
There were two streams in the town, one known as the Beaver Kill and the
other as the _Williwemack._ In Cal. N. Y. Land Papers, 699, occurs the
entry: "The Beaver Kill or Whitenaughwemack." The date is 1785. The
orthography bears evidence of many years' corruption. It may have been
shortened to Willewemock and Willemoc, and stand for _Wilamochk,_ "Good,
rich, beaver." It was, presumably, a superior resort for beavers.
Shawanoesberg was conferred on a hill in the present town of Mamakating,
commemorative of a village of the Shawanoes who settled here in 1694 on
invitation of the Minisinks. (Council Minutes, Sept. 14, 1692.) Their
council-house is said to have been on the summit of the hill.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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