CHAPTER VIII
TANTASKWEE IN NIPNET
ORIGIN OF NAME.--NOTED PASS.--TERRITORY.--TRIBE.--NATIVES.--ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
TANTASKWE, IN NIPNET. ORIGIN OF NAME
In the long ago, before history had laid its pencil upon the pages of the past, a point in the path acquired a descriptive name of more note and importance to the aborigines than may be realized by us at the present time. That fact came to our knowledge in the following manner.
In 1893, the writer applied to Mr. Albert S. Gatschet, of the Smithsonian Institution, Bureau of Ethnology, Washington, D.C., for the meaning in the Indian dialect, of the name "Tantousque," stating it to be a territory now Sturbridge.
Mr. Gatschet's interpretation was "located between two breast-shaped hills," adding that "hills are often named after this organ, from their shape" and "I believe the pronunciation must have been TANTASKWE, with a long, as in father."
Applying that information to the old-time situation of the path near where now are the grounds of the Worcester South Agricultural Society, the description is found to be perfect.
The path was compelled to pass between the elbow of the Quinebaug River, as it bends abruptly southward, and Cedar Pond on the north. Added to this, the position of the way was limited by the crowding of small swamps, to a rather narrow course, which led between two hills composed of sand and gravel.
(One hill is entirely removed, the other is cut down much more than half.)
To the casual traveler years ago, the two gravel knolls fifteen or twenty feet in height presented a notable feature of the landscape. The importance and notoriety among the red men of the past, of this particular spot will be obvious in view of the topography for a considerable distance north and south.
The upheaval of rock and the wrinkles in the earth's surface here, have a formation peculiarly uniform in its rugged character over a territory extending twenty or more miles.
The trend of the rock strata is northeasterly and southwesterly; and that governs the general course or shape of the hills, some of them extending for miles, with a more or less precipitous or rocky slope on the eastern and occasionally throwing up a pinnacle to a considerable height.
Between these long parallel ridges are corresponding valleys holding throughout their length, at the lowest sag, long swamps, rocky ravines or natural ponds. All these features, elongated in the same direction, overlap each other, and thus combine to make up a natural barrier to an east and west thoroughfare which has not, except as the valley of the Quinebaug River furnishes the opening, even at this day been overcome.
Tantaskwe, "located between two breast-shaped hills," furnished the connection between several long paths that converged from the bays, channels or havens of the sea, and those that to the westward diverged in all directions, to the ponds and rivers of the interior.
At the time our history begins, the name "Tantaskwe" was applied to a large territory, at least all the land lying or included within the headwaters of the Quinebaug.
Tantaskwe, in Nipnet, was early known through the discovery of the mine of graphite, by the first party of Englishmen who, on an exploring enterprise, traveled along the path to the Connecticut River in 1633.
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The location of the mine is in the midst of a group of hills, of moderate elevation. The strata of the rock formation and the deposit of black-lead, once horizontal, are tilted up almost perpendicular, thus causing an outcropping of the mineral at the top of the hill. To work downward and get at the precious mineral some of the inclosed rock had to be removed.
The first operators built great fires, and threw water on the heated rock. The iron bar was then used to break it up into smaller pieces. A retaining wall was built of these brick-like stone fragments and is still standing at the place where the first mining in New England commenced in 1645.
Lower down on the hillside there is a well, walled in with the same kind of stone, and shaped like a bottle, with an opening at the top large enough to drop in a pail.
The crater-like depression left by nature's upheavals during long intervals of time, is now filled with water, becoming what is called Leadmine Pond.
There seems to be sufficient foundation for the suggestion that the terminal of Quabaug, however spelled, is one form of suffix which has been explained on another page, as meaning in the Indian language,--collectively--all.
More than a score of beautiful ponds form the headwaters of the Quinebaug and Quabaug river-systems; a unique cluster of jewels, with a name--Quabaug--which analyzed means, ponds--all, or collectively.
In the Indian language, several of the ponds are distinguished from the others by a prefix; viz.--Wekabaug (We-Quabaug), Puttikookuppog (Puttikoo-Quabaug), Mashapaug, Pequiog, and Kesiog.
"Leadmine Pond," which evidently occupies the crater of eruptions of long ago, was called by the Indians, Quaseuk; that is, Pond-all, or source of the Quinebaug, which also received or conveyed all the water.
In this interpretation and play upon words may be found the probable extent of the domain with uncertain outlines, over which the chief then ruled.
Applied to a territory, the term "Quabaug" was unknown in English language until the settlement of Brookfield.
The source of the Quinebaug River is found at Leadmine Pond, with two small streams entering from the north.
This pond was the Quaseuk of the natives, and the outlet or Leadmine Brook flows about two miles southward and connects with Lake Mashapaug at the north end. The outflow of the Quinebaug here is from the northwest corner of the Lake, and runs northwest and north through Hamilton Reservoir, where it is less than two miles west of its source.
The next is Holland Pond, beyond which it has crooked but a general northeast course in a great swamp, to which the large Mill Brook contributes, bearing along the whole drainage east of the Waddaquodduck Hills, including the Wales and the Sherman Ponds.
The river then turns eastward, penetrating the valley between the hills, receiving from the north the waters of Alum and Long Ponds, Lake Pookookapaug, Cedar Pond and Walker Pond.
Turning rather abruptly southward and flowing about three miles, it is then about two miles from its source and has made a circuit of about fifteen miles, and has gathered in the tribute of eleven natural ponds, becoming a river at this point of from three to four rods in width. (The above estimate of distances is by airline on the U. S. Topographical Survey.)
Every one of these ponds is notable at the present time, for the large number of Indian relics, including flint implements, which have been found on its shores. Thus is indicated the fact that an equal number of Indian villages once lay round about "ye hill at Tantaskwe"--"in which the blacklead is."
It is interesting to recall in imagination, if we can, or as we may, the appearance and local conditions existing at the time of aboriginal occupancy.
The park-like scenery of hills, valleys, and the ponds here and there, glimmering in the sunlight. The Indian, with his arrow, his stone hammer, and his birch canoe, knowing more of the secrets of nature than our farmer, lumberman, fisherman, hunter or trapper, altho they know many.
"There were never enough Indians in recorded time to exterminate, or visibly decrease the game (as a source of foot) in forest or waters." "There was never any famine in the Indian settlements." It is not recorded that the Indians hunted for mere sport.
Their manner of hunting was so noiseless, that neither bird nor beast were disturbed. The flight of an arrow was heard only at the bowstring; and the Indian himself was so assimilated with natural objects in color, and dress of skins and bark, his step was so light, his presence so stealthy and silent, that nothing was alarmed or fled from him.
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