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Footprints of the Red Men: Indian Geographical Names — Passage 92

Edward Manning Ruttenber (1906) 186 words View original →

[Edward Manning Ruttenber (1906)] Osserion, Osserrinon_) appears to be from the Mohawk dialect of the Iroquoian stock of languages. It signifies, if its English dress gives any approximation to the sound of the original expression, 'At the beaver dam.'" This expert testimony has its value in the force which it gives to the conclusion that the castle in which Father Jogues suffered was at or near Aurie's Creek. The relation between Megapolensis' _Assarue_ and Jogues's _Osseru_ is readily seen by changing the initial _A_ in the former to _O._ _Aurie's,_ the present name of the stream, otherwise written _Arie's,_ is Dutch for _Adrian_ or _Adrianus_ (Latin) "Of or pertaining to the sea." It is suggestive of the name _Adriochten,_ written by Van Curler as that of the ruling sachem of the castle which he visited and called _Onekagoncka_ in 1635. The only tangible fact, however, is that the stream took its present name from Aurie, a ruling sachem who resided on or near it. In this connection the several names by which the castle was called, viz: _Onekagoncka, Carenay_ or _Caneray, Osserueñon, Assarue,_ and _Oneugiouré,_ may be again referred to.