SW_HJ1830_030

The Indian names are often significant of something in nature, as Cornplanter's name in the Seneca language is Ky-on-twa-ky; Connu-dia signifies a handsome lake, Ogis-quah-tah is dry musk, Oenda means the first ripe corn, Yeang-qwa-haunt, chew-tobacco, &;c. They are also frequently named from occurrences that happen near the time of their birth, and their names are occasionally changed in consequence of remarkable circumstances taking place, or of particular employ-ments, or acts of individuals. It is supposed that in a general way the Indians rather exceed white people in longevity, often living, as they imagine, to the age of ninety and one hundred years; but as they keep no written records of births or other occurrences, nor have any regular method of computing time, other than by moons and winters, or the remembrance of remarkable events, very few of their elderly people can give a correct account how old they are. There is now living on the Alleghany river an old woman, who can call her descendants round her to the sixth generation. There was also an Indian living at Cattaraugus, in the year 1800, who said he was one hundred and twenty-one years of age. He said he had been in Philadelphia when it was a very small town, and gave such a circumstantial and regular account of his life, as (together with his aged brow and furrowed cheeks,) induced me to credit his relation. The Indians are frequently skilful in the application of simples, as also in the knowledge of the medicinal qualities of divers herbs and plants. They, however, practice bleeding on trivial occasions, and when a person has been a considerable time sick, in a lingering condition, and the foregoing applications prove ineffectual to restore him to health, it is common for the friends of the diseased person to collect, and, dressing two or more men with masks and other accoutrements, as in times of public worship, they repair to the habitation of the sick, which they go round, rattling and rubbing the tortoise shell, and whooping in a frightful manner. Although this is a known custom, and in time of health gives no alarm, yet on the debilitated Indian, whose fears are awakened by knowing what is to be endured, it has considerable effect. The men then enter the house, continuing the noise and acting every wild con-tortion and manœuvre which their imaginations devise. Sometimes they pull the sick person (male or female,) about the house, dirtying them with their black hands, rubbing their heads and bodies over with ashes, and handling the patient in so rough a manner, that a person unacquainted with their custom, might suppose they were going to kill him. After this wild treatment, and having thoroughly dirtied the house with ashes, they withdraw, and leave the nurse to clean after them.