[Frederic Shonnard & W.W. Spooner (1900)] TOTEMS OF NEW YORK TRIBES. as a separate grand division or as a minor body, the geographical limits of the territory over which they were spread are well defined. _ They were called' by the Dutch Maikans, and by the French mis-sionaries the " nine nations of Mahingans, gathered between Manhat-tan;,nd the environs of Quebec." The tradition which they gave of their origin has been stated as follows: The country formerly owned by the Muhheakunnuk (Mohican) nation was situated partly in Massachusetts and partly in the States of Vermont and New York. The inhabitants dwelt chiefly in little towns and villages. Their chief seat was on the Hudson River now it is,alled Albany, which was called Pempotowwuthut-Muhhecanneuw, or the fireplace of the Muhheakunnuk nation, where their allies used to come on any business, whether relating to the covenant of their friendship or other matters. The etymology of the word Muhheakun-nuk, according to its original signification, is great waters or sea, which are constantly m motion either ebbing or flowing. Our forefathers assert that they were emigrants from another country; that they passed over great waters, where this and the other country was nearly connected, called Ukhokpeck; it signifies snake water or water where snakes are abundant • and that they lived by the side of a great water or sea, whence they derived the name of the Muhheakunnuk nation. Muhheakanneuw signifies a man of the Mahheakunnuk tribe Muhheakunneyuk is a plural number.