.ODkw.NTE3MA

�"At the mouth of the stream". Maine is full of river months. Of course there are distinct falls or rapids near the mouth of the Saco, but I do not see that the Abnake word for that enters into the discussion. The Saco River was the biggest river between the Kennebec and the Piscataqua. It rises in the foothills of the White Mountains. It is a real river Tuk[underline] is Natick for "River", the generic form used solely in combination. Rasler[?] left us his dictionary based on the Kennebec region. It is a long way to Natick. Teg8[underline] is his word for flot[underline](Fr). Judge Sewall said that Japhet an Indian preacher on the Vineyard told him that it was useless to send missionaries from Martha's Vineyard "to the Eastward" as the language (dialect?) was different. (Diary). It is interesting in this connection to find in Kittery early a Sacoe Pond, evidently an adoption of the Indian word Sauk meaning a pond - now Neeschawamuck[?] Pond. At the risk of memory failing me, I think there is an island in the river across which the bridge between Saco and Biddeford is built. To the Indian it divided the river into two parts? Hence would not the idea of a divided river enter into his nomenclature? Nees[underline] = two. Neeswock; plural animate, Is this too fanciful for you? [NEE]SAWOCKATUCK [note the brackets are part of the word] Translated - The divided [. ?] [note the brackets and question mark are part of the transcription] river, leaving WAHQUA or WOCKA to your polite consideration to fill in the gap. Yours sincerely Charles E. Banks[?] [signature]