siOBX; - Smithsonian Institution

120 BUREAU OP AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 103
turn the back on the field of battle." *^ A great many war names
ended in abi, signifying " killer," an appropriate termination of
course for titles of this character. A little light is thrown upon the
manner of giving names by Cushman
The Indian, unlike the white man, often received a new name from some
trivial incident or some extraordinary adventure, which frequently occurred,
especially in their wars. Anciently the Choctaws and Muscogees were uncompromising
enemies, ever making raids into each others territories. At one
time a Muscogee party invaded the Choctaw country, and made a sudden and
unexpected attack upon a band of Choctaw warriors. The Choctaws, though
surprised, made a brave resistance, and, after a short but furious fight, defeated
and put their assailants to flight. A vigorous pursuit at once ensued in which
a fleet young Choctaw warrior named Ahaikahno (The Careless) had far in
advance of his comrades, killed a Muscogee, and was in the act of scalping
him, when two Muscogee warriors turned and rushed toward him with their
utmost speed. The Choctaws in the rear, seeing the danger of Ahaikahno,
who was ignorant of his two fast approaching foes, shouted to him with all
the strength of their voices—Chikke-bulilih chia ! Chikke bulilih chia ! (pro.
Chik-ke (Quickly) bul-elih (run) che-ah (you!). Ahaikahno, hearing the
shout and seeing his danger, was not slow in heeding the advice. Ever afterwards
Ahaikahno bore the additional name Chikke Bulilih Chia.''^
The French Governor of Louisiana, De Kerlerec, informs us that
at a great assembly at which he was present the Choctaw gave him
the name " Tchakta youlakty mataha tchito, anke achoukema, which
in our language signifies the king of the Choctaw and the greatest
of the race of the youlakta which is ' the finest and the oldest,' the
whole terminating in ankc achoukema which means a very good
father." We would write this Chahta holahta imataha chito, a°ki
achukma, "big supporting holahta of the Choctaw, [and] my good
father." It is added that speeches and various ceremonials usually
accompanied the bestowal of such a title.
As in the case of the Creeks, a Choctaw was averse to telling
anyone his name. Cushman says :
*' It was impossible to get
it unless he had an acquaintance present, whom he requested to tell
it for him." ^° William Cobb, an intelligent half-breed, told Clai-
borne that " he never knew the name of his mother, though living
under the same roof with her, till two years ago." ^^ They also
avoided mentioning the names of the dead.^- Claiborne throws
considerable light upon this last custom in the following passage
A singular fact was established before the commissioners : the Clioctaws will
not speak of the dead. Our instructions required us to exact proof of the
number of children each claimant under the 14th article, had at the date of
the treaty, because each was entitled to a certain portion of land. Upon being
^ Byington, A Dictionary of the Choctaw Language, in Bull. 46, Bur. Amer. Ethn., p. 170.
"Cushman, Hist. Inds., pp. 236-237.
'"° Cushman, Hist. Inds., p. 202. See also Gregg, as quoted on p. 129.
" Claiborne, Miss., i, p. 520.
« Cushman, op. cit., p. 246,