The councillors of the second Oneida class are of the Tortoise clan.
35. _Dewatahonhtenyonk_ (Onon., _Tehatahonhtenyonk_), "two hanging ears," from _ohonta_, ear.
_Kaniyatahshayonk_ (Onon., _Kanenyatakshayen_). This name was rendered "easy throat," as if derived from _oniata_, throat; but the Oneida form of the word seems to point to a derivation from _onenya_ (or _onenhia_), stone. This word must be regarded as another obsolete compound.
_Onwatsatonhonk_ (Onon., _Onwasjatenwi_), "he is buried."
The three chiefs of the third Oneida class are of the Bear clan.
36. _Eghyesaotonnihsen_, lit., "this was his uncle,"--or, as the words would be understood by the hearers, "the next are his uncles." The Onondaga nation, being the brother of the Canienga, was, of course, the uncle of the Oneida. In John Buck's MS. the Onondagas are introduced with more ceremony, in the following lines:
_Etho yeshodonnih_; These are the uncles; _Rodihsennakeghde_, They, the name-bearers-- _Tehhotiyena_, They took hold here; _Rodihnonsyonnihton_. They made the League.
That is, they helped, or joined, in making the League.
_Thatotarho, Wathatotarho_ (Onon., _Thatotarho_). _Thatotarho_ is the passive voice and cislocative form of _otarho_, which is defined "to grasp," or "catch" (_accrocher_) but in the passive signifies "entangled." This great chief, whose name is better known as Atotarho (without the cislocative prefix), is of the Bear clan.
_Etho ronaraschsen_, "these were cousins," or rather, "the next were cousins." This cousinhood, like all the relationships throughout the book, is political, and indicates some close relationship in public affairs. The announcement applies to the following chiefs, Enneserarenh and Dehatkahthos, who were the special aids and counselors of Atotarho.
_Enneserarenh_ (Onon. _Hanesehen_). One Onondata chief said that he knew no meaning for this word. Another thought it might mean "the best soil uppermost." It is apparently from some obsolete root.
_Dehatkahthos_ (Onon. _Tchatkahtons_), "he is two-sighted," or, "he looks both ways." Another rendering made it "on the watch." This and the preceding chief belong now to the Beaver clan. In one of the Onondaga lists which I received, these two, with their principal, Atotarho, formed a "class" by themselves, and were doubtless originally of the same clan.