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219 Joseph Nicolar (1827–1894) Joseph Nicolar belonged to an illustrious Penobscot family: his grandfather was the hereditary chief John Neptune; his daughter Florence became a writer and activist. Another daughter, Lucy, married the Kiowa performer Bruce Poolaw and toured in the 1920s as Princess Watawaso. Nicolar’s grandson (Florence’s son), Charles Nicolar Shay, today maintains a small family museum on Indian Island. Like his Passamaquoddy contemporary Louis Mitchell, Nicolar served as a representative to the Maine State Legislature. He is best known for writing a book of Penobscot creation and contact stories, Life and Traditions of the Red Man, which he self-published in 1893. He also wrote short pieces for local newspapers under the signature “Y.S.,” or “Young Sebattis,” of which the following piece is one. Probably published in the Old Town Herald circa 1887, it was reprinted by folklorist Fannie Hardy Eckstorm in Indian Place-Names of the Maine Coast (1941). The Scribe of the Penobscots Sends Us His Weekly Message Some of the Names that the Indian Has Bestowed—Quaint and Old—Our Indian Correspondent Continues the Legends of his Race Formerly members of our tribe on their annual trip to salt water for the purpose of fishing, etc., gave names to a number of places along the bay and river, which may prove of some interest to many persons living in those places. Commencing at “Coo-cook-har-want-buk,” “Owl’s Head,” we will ascend the west side of the river to our village. The name “Owl’s Head” or the Indian name meaning the same, was applied to that promontory, now so well known to all entering the Rockland harbor from the south and was so called from its resemblance to the neck and head of an owl when viewed from the north side. About two and a half miles north of this place is “Ca-tar-gwan-tic,” “Grand Landing,” now known as the city of Rockland. This was always used as a landing place for those who were going south. 220 penobscot Canoes were generally taken out and carried across, that the “boisterous White Head” might be avoided, for the way around White Head was considered dangerous, also by carrying across into George’s River two miles, a trip of fifteen miles was saved. “Matar-kar-mi-co-suk,” “High Land,” was the name given to Camden on account of its mountains. Lincolnville was called “Mar-kurn-ta-quick,” “Water ready for waves.” The old Indians assert that the little bay is full of waves from whatever quarter the wind blows. “Pa-qua-tan-ee,” “out of the way,” was applied to the spot where Belfast City is now located. This place was considered out of the regular course of travel. Sears Island, on account of a little sandy beach which can be seen from far away in the southern direction, was called “Warsumkeag,” “Bright sand.” Now we come to the celebrated “Ar-quar-har-see-dek,” “Stepping Ashore,” now known as old Fort Point, where hundreds of pleasure seekers during the summer months enjoy the cool sea breeze, but in the olden times when members of the tribe visited here, they only stopped long enough to make the sign of their visit, showing which direction they were going, the number of their party and canoes, etc. On account of its being a marking place no one was ever allowed to mar or deface its outline by using it for a camping ground. The reason for selecting this for a marking place, was because of it being the last prominent point, from entering the river from the bay, or going out into the bay from the river, and coming or going from the eastern or western shore all stopped here and made their marks. All the families of our tribe were known by a mark. Some were represented by animals, fish and reptiles, and others by well-known implements, the moon, sun, etc. Each mark showed the number in the family and the direction taken. “Asick,” “Clam-bed,” situated a little west of Fort Point, is now known as Stockton and was always noted for being the first place where good clams could be found on going down river. Verona Island was known by the name of “Ar-lur-meh-sic,” “spawning island.” The small river that flows into the Granite Quarries between Prospect and Frankfort was called “Que-que-mis-we-to-cook,” “Duck River.” Our next stopping...

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