The Meaning Of The Word Washtenaw

Editor Argus: Some weeks ago I noticed an article in the Argus in regard to the naming of Ann Arbor, Adrián and other towns and cities in this vicinity. Thinking it might be interesting to at least a portion of your readers I send you this in renard to the meaning of the word Washtenaw. It is purely an Indian word. When I was a lad and went to school we used to have it, good, better, best. The Indians have it washta, good; nena-washta, better; wash-ta-na, the best. I sa d to the Indian with whom I was talking about the word, (he was a half-breed and by the way an educated and truthful fellow as eau be found anywhere): "There is a 'w' on the end of that word; what are you going to do with that?" He said, ''that means nothing, it has no sound and has no business there for it signifies nothing. It is like this; you know our people (the Sioux) are great on 'do'. Washta is good. VVashta-do is good just the same. Secha is bad, secha-do is bad; pedomi is thank you, pedomi-do is thank you just the same and nothing more; only they seem to think it is a little more elegant or polite to hitch a 'do' onto every word whenever they can. He said the up-river and Canadian Indians, (meaning the Indians of the upperMissouri river) hitch on to all words the letter 'w' the same as the Sioux did the 'do' (do with the Indians is pronounced doe). Mr. Editor, I think you will agree with me that whoever had the honor of naming this county, did well for of all the good connties in Michigan, Washtenaw is the best. Dexter, Mich.