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Footprints of the Red Men: Indian Geographical Names — Passage 26 (part 2)
[Edward Manning Ruttenber (1906)] In Shawano, _Wawia'tan_ describes bending or eddying water--with locative, "Where the current winds about." The name is applicable at any place where the features exist. Metambeson, a creek so called in Duchess County, is now known as Sawkill. It is the outlet of a lake called Long Pond. The Indian name is from _Matt,_ negative and depreciatory, "Small, unfavorable," etc., and _M'beson,_ "Strong water," a word used in describing brandy,