40
Facsimile
Transcription
Arizona John (J.M. Burke), Broncho Bill (Interpreter), Red Shirt (Sioux Chief), Julia Nelson(Sioux Girl).
INDIANS' NAMES.
While the Indian has very little idea of the origin of Creation, he has traditions as regards the origin of families Some believe that people are the result of intercourse of some God, or Spirit, with animals, birds, fish, or reptile, and the representation of that bird or reptile becomes the "coat of arms" of the family. The skin is carefully stuffed and ornamented, tied to the staff, and greatly respected, sometimes being put up in from of the door or planted on the top of a pole on the grave of the head of the fmaily when he dies.
This symbol of honor and ancestry is used by him as a signature. The Indian boy may be named by the family or have a nickname from his associates, and when he grows up to be a warrior, he then, as it were, is baptized, and has the right to change his name according to his success in war or chase. The name taken generally represents some event in which he has taken a prominent part, some exploit that he had accomplished, some animal he had killed in a chase in which he was pre-eminently successful.
Thus a warrior who, brought to bay, has beaten off his enemies, names himself the "Standing Bull"; another who makes a dash on a camp or village, and carries off a women or child, calls himself the "Eagle"; yet another, who goes off alone, and prowling about the enemy's camp, returns with stories or evidence of successful rapine, names himself "Lone Wolf." The paint used on all these expenditions has more or less potent influence on the "medicine," and he does not forget its efficacy; consequently many names indicate not only the action, but the color of his paint. The most common names, therefore, among Indians, are those indicating scene animals or material object as a sort of surname, while the color with which he has bedecked himself furnishes the first or what we would call the Christian name, as "Yellow Bear" "White Eagle," "Black Beaver," "Red Dog." ect., ect.
But these changes of name, though gratifying to his own vanity, are not always accepted by his companions, or the tribe generally. Even the most renowned warriors cannot always control the disposition to ridicule or nickname, which the Indians possess in a remarkable degree, and however he may name himself, he is likely to be addressed, known, and spoken of by the people of the tribe by an entirely different name.
Any personal defect, deformity of character, or casual incident furnishing ground for a good story, is eagerly
Notes and Questions
Nobody has written a note for this page yet
Please sign in to write a note for this page
