Note 1342 — Chapter V

Governor Colden says that when he first went among the Mohawks he was adopted by them. The name given to him was “Cayenderogue,” which was borne by an old sachem, a notable warrior. He writes: “I thought no more of it at that time than as an artifice to draw a belly-full of strong liquor from me for himself and his companions. But when, about ten or twelve years after, my business led me among them,” he was recognized by the name, and it served him in good stead. (Hist. of Five Nats., 3d ed., i. p. 11.) The savages always took the liberty of assigning names of their own, either general or individual, to the Europeans with whom they had intercourse. The governor of Canada, for the time being, was called “Onontio”; of New York, “Corlear”; of Virginia, “Assarigoa”; of Pennsylvania, “Onas,” etc. At a council of the Six Nations with the governors of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland, held at Lancaster in June, 1744, it came under notice that the governor of Maryland had as yet no appellation assigned him by the natives. Much formality was used in providing one for him. It was tried by lot as to which of the tribes should have the honor of naming him. The lot fell to the Cayugas, one of whose chiefs, after solemn deliberation, assigned the name “To-carryhogan.” (Colden, ii. p. 89.)