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Correspondence from William Brooks Cabot to Fannie Hardy Eckstorm ca. 1930-1946, part 2 (ms158_b1f017_002.03.pdf)

[Imprinted letterhead at top center:] 447 Marlborough St.

May 6/34

Dear Mrs. Eckstorm,

It is some your fault if I start up instantly after your letter. Anyway, I am sure you are used to it. That Nagwamkeag is [one underlined] queer, but I have no footing up there, down here I cut-a-cut myself sometimes, often to later shame. It is lucky our forbears did not perpetuate many but the plain names, certainly in the north, Labrador, I was helpless where a touch of imagination or whimsy came in: rather often an Indian would say "Not my country", & not try, though the location might not be far. My trip-up on Nagwamkeag is present Chauncy Pond near here, a fine round affair. Its name we have as Naggawoomcom. No fast water about & the mound idea fits well. Could a mounding up of the water at the right stage be the motion, it can be very striking in such rivers, & disconcerting.

Re names not too plain There was a small stream north with a name looking as if something had happened to some cloth; all I could think of was cover canvas, but the name was not new & canvas covers were. It comes out this way - where the winter [?] path comes to a

Description: Letters concerning Indian languages, culture, and history.

Link to document in Digital Maine

Language: English

Date: ca. 1930-1946

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