Iroquois Indians; Mohawk language -- Texts; Onondaga language -- Texts
_Dehatkahthos_ (Onon. _Tchatkahtons_), "he is two-sighted," or, "he
looks both ways." Another rendering made it "on the watch." This and the
preceding chief belong now to the Beaver clan. In one of the Onondaga
lists which I received, these two, with their principal, Atotarho,
formed a "class" by themselves, and were doubtless originally of the
same clan.
_Waghontenhnonterontye_, "they were as brothers thenceforth;" or, more
fully rendered, "the next continued to be brothers." This declaration
refers to the three next following chiefs, who were connected by some
special political tie. The first who bore the name were, probably, like
the two preceding chiefs, leading partisans and favorites of the first
Atotarho.
_Onyatajiwak_, or _Skanyadajiwak_ (Onon., _Oyatajiwak_). One authority
makes this "a fowl's crop;" another, "the throat alone," from _oniata_,
throat, and _jiwak_, alone; another defined it, "bitter throat." Mr.
Morgan renders it "bitter body,"--his informant probably seeing in it
the word _oyata_, body. This chief belongs now to the Snipe clan.
_Awekenyade_. "the end of its journey,"--from awe, going, and
_akonhiate_(Can.) "at the end." This chief is of the Ball tribe, both in
Canada, and at Onondaga Castle. In the list furnished to Mr. Morgan by
the Senecas, he is of the Tortoise clan.
_Dehadkwarayen_ (Onon., _Tchatkwayen_). This word is obsolete. One
interpreter guessed it to mean "on his body;" another made it "red
wings." He is of the Tortoise clan.
In the Book of Rites the first six chiefs of the Onondagas make but one
class, as is shown by the fact that their names are followed by the
formula, _etho natejonhne_, "this was the number of you." It may be
presumed that they were originally of one clan,--probably that of the
Bear, to which their leader, Atotarho, belonged.
37. _Yeshohawak_, _rakwahhokowah_, "then his next son, he the great
Wolf." The chief who follows, _Ronenghwireghtonh_, was evidently a
personage of great importance,--probably the leading chief of the Wolf
class. He forms a "clan" by himself,--the only instance of the kind in
the list. The expression, "there (or, in him) were combined the minds,"
indicates--as Mr. Bearfoot suggests--his superior intellect. It may also
refer to the fact that he was the hereditary keeper of the wampum
records. The title was borne in Canada by the late chief George Buck,
but the duties of record-keeper were usually performed by his more
eminent brother, John (_Skanawati_).
_Rononghwireghtonh_ (Onon., _Honanwiehti_), "he is sunk out of sight."
This chief, who, as has been stated, alone constitutes the second
Onondaga class, is of the Wolf clan.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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