Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/619

 Some Items of Algonkian Folk- Lore. 271

��SOME ITEMS OF ALGONKIAN FOLK-LORE.

Dictionaries of the languages of savage and barbarous peoples often contain many interesting and valuable items of folk-lore. The present writer, having had occasion to familiarize himself with the late Abbe Cuoq's 1 dictionary of the Nipissing dialect of the Algon- kian stock, has noted the following, which, with the Indian words relating to them, are worthy of attention : —

1. Agonakwens, "the little woman of the sacrifice" (p. 17), from agoj, "to suspend, to hang," and ikwens (diminutive of ikwc), "little woman." Concerning this word Cuoq observes : "Before the intro- duction of Christianity, these Indians used to place upon an elevated platform a young woman as a sacrifice to the god of war, in order to obtain his protection in a military expedition." See No. 46.

2. Agwatcing potawe, "she kindles her fire outside" (p. 18). This expression is said by euphemism of menstruating women. With the heathen Indians, women in that condition were not allowed to asso- ciate with anybody, and had to cook for themselves apart from all the rest.

3. Aiabe opikwan, "the back of a male" (p. 20). Cuoq says of this expression : " C'est en realite" une longe de dicvrcuil (a loin of venison)." He cites Thavenet, one of his predecessors among the Algonkins, as remarking : " At the birth of boys a curious ceremony takes place, during which they sing continually : aiabc opikwan."

4. Ajawisikanendamawicin, "pour me out of your mouth into mine" (p. 25). This was formerly "a great mark of affection," but only "a vague remembrance of it now survives."

5. Akoskowewack, "herbe de Venus" (p. 34). A plant which, " according to the superstition of the Indians, has the power of in- spiring the passion of love."

6. Apanjinaman (p. 56). This word Cuoq defines as "a sort of blackish face-paint which the pagan Indians used in their fasts." The word is still in use among the Christian Indians in the sense of "stove-polish." See No. 21.

7. Atawaamok, "they navigate together" (p. 64). The name given to the three bright stars in the belt of Orion. They are looked upon, as the name signifies (from atawaam, "to travel on the water together,"— ata, "together," nam, "to travel on the water"), as three Indians who are canoeing along the waters of the sky.

8. Atcitatikwan, "a tree planted upside clown on tl of a dead man," from atcitc, "upside down," and atik, "tree" (p. 66). According to Cuoq, this practice is still observed at the obsequies of pagan Indians.

1 Lexique de la langue algonquine (Montn5.il, 1886).

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