Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 13, 1902.djvu/409

 The Origin of Totem Na^ncs and Beliefs. 389

derived from plants and animals, like most totemic names. We also find "Dog Eaters," "Bread Eaters," " Burd Eaters," " VVhitpot Eaters," and answering to " Girls' Band" [Gens des Filles) " Pretty Maidens," answering to " Bad Nation," " Rogues," answering to " Eaters of Hide Scrapings," " Bone Pickers," while there are, as among the Siouans, names derived from various practices attri- buted to the English villagers, as to the Red Indian ^^ gentesy

No closer parallel between our rural folklore sobriquets of village groups, and the names of old savage totem-groups (now reckoning in the male line, and, therefore, now settled together in given localities) could be invented. I conceive, therefore, that my suggestion — the totem names of pristine groups were originally given from without, and were accepted (as in the case of the nicknames of Siouan ^' gentes,^^ now accepted by them) — may be reckoned no strain on our sense of probability. It is demonstrated that the name-giving processes of our villagers exist among American savage groups which reckon descent in the male line, and that it also existed among the savage groups which reckoned descent in the female line, is, surely, a not unreasonable surmise. I add a list in parallel columns.

English Group Names. Siouan Group Names.

Rogues Bad Sorts

Stags Elk

Bull Dogs Common Dogs

Horse-heads Warts on Horses' Legs

Bone-Pickers Hide-Scrapers

Whitpot j

Cheese f

Eaters Fish \ Eatei

Dried Venison

Barley Bread Doe

Dunj

Pretty Girls Girl Folk

Animal and Vegetable Animal and Vegetable

Names Names