Show NAMES how their fantastic cognomens omens are acquired futeral translation of some of the very expressive titles by which tbt ked inen are known alongi thear l caplo coplo many suppose that such names as sitting bull white gat etc are but cognomens omens of convenience given tha indians by army officers post traders and other white men having dealings with them this is not the case says a writer in the chicago evening journal the fantastic names are literal translations of tho real names at the indians the united states bureau of ethnology has devoted a great deal of attention to the subject oft nomenclature among the aborigines with very unsatisfactory results this much as established the indian boyi has no name ho is a plain indian boy until he grows up and becomes a buck or a warrior then ho is christened not formally but by general consent A name is given him that may indicate a physical excellence a physical peculiarity prowess in war or the chase a mental trait a habit a resemblance to something in nature the possession or absence of property or a dozen other things in making a treaty with a tribe of indians it is necessary to secure the signature of every male member of the tribe these documents as filed in the archives of the government offer some very curious reading the last volume published of the session sots of the i ignited states congress contains in full certain treaties as to reservation boundaries made with black f feet gros ventre piegan blood and t kiver crow indians in each instance of and the translay aiom is written out followed by the his X mark and a seal for instance the chief we cha ie tonka is big star A casual glance over the columns of signatures will give some idea of the fantastic diversity of indian names there is a preponderance of such names as big boar iron horn bull fast horse white horse little bull panther cr mountain lion physical peculiarities are indicated by such names as the thigh poor shoulder blade walks like a boy hawk tracks wrinkled face bed all over throat of bull left hand squint eyes one eye no eyes iron voice comans womans hip no hand turns crooked iron legs loud voiced elk yellow teeth swings his thigh one ehg lazy man laughing face stands high head like an arrow and crooked arm confirmed habits and disposition may perhaps be indicated by such names as shaved clean dirty ear strikes his breast smokes at night smells of tobacco steals tobacco beats bis wife trying white mah the glutton dirty robes kickin woman cold feet chief coward stole a gun at night man who steals women alan loves tobacco within A apice taken up by names is found in a treaty warriors bold answering TO the abla combination of stands him off wets his mouth hard looking man bad hat exploits and physical prowess are pera petua ted in the names of the bravest and glancing over the list ar random the 1 eye is struck by such designations as big brave strangled the wolf chief on the prairie chief all ove G Und SS mer good shield good ready to shoot aman who dont fight the bear take it alive good shot and many wounds rf i some of tho names besto wed carry with them contempt and derision 0 O such are stays in camp grand mother temporary married lof of sleep cat shooter squaw beater takes back gifts un incoy gambler all got yellow liver bad tempered bear goose A some idea of the worldly possessions of certain indians is carried with such names as twelve blankets 1 T guns many giors many arrows many apa wolf necklace plenty theat beace skin cap leather leggin and tall hat the variety of names indicating famed resemblances in nc or voice to birds and swells the strange list to such extent as to permit only of passing mention |