Muncy High School - Canusarago Yearbook (Muncy, PA)

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' -' H . .-' . ii .-. . ' '- af- -'H-. -'-:I- as-'-.-2'-2'-1:--'i-i ....CANU.1A RAGO -- --:P-'22:2 -'2:F':2:- W---i,q, Canusaraigo gg ANUSARAGOB was an aboriginal name for what is now called Muncy Creek and is the earliest name preserved and handed down to us on good authority. In 1737, Conrad Weiser, the celebrated Indian interpreter and guide, reported this name as it was pronounced by the Indians of his generation. In the proper interpretation of the syllables of the Iroquoian dialect, he had the assistance of the Iroquois chief, Shikellimy, who was with him at the time. Weis- er's journal was written in German and later translated by Dr. Muhlenburg, a man of great learning and knowledge of Indian languages. It then found its way into Schoolcraft's great work and throughout its many editions, the spelling of Canu- sarago still conforms to that given above. In 1755, Weiser again passed this way and upon reaching the mouth of what is now Muncy Creek, he again calls it Canusarago and writes in his journal: And as we passed Canusarago, where a town now is, and again, speaking of the in- habitants, They are chiefly Showones CShawaneesj and Chickasaws. There are about 20 men in the town when they are all at home. Evidently upon his Hrst visit, the village-site on the rock to the north of the Creek's mouth had been un- occupied. It was now tenanted by a mixed population from various roving tribes. While the name of this town in Weiser's day was Iroquoian Qindicating a previous outpost settlementj it doubtless was originally a Susquehannock town with a name now lost to us. The quotation above is dwelt upon as the term Canusarago, in the Iroquois language, signifies a Town on. a Rock or a high place. It is from the word Canada, a towng Ar, a rock, and Ago, a place. Those acquainted with the character and lay of the land at the point will readily see the application of this description. The deduction is, that the Iroquoian town on this rocky height gave its own name to the creek. In 1768, the first surveys were made in the valley, at which time, the beau- tiful name of Muncy was definitely attached, first to Muncy Manor, then to the Creek, to Samuel Wallis' plantation, to the Fort Muncy, to the Valley and lastly in 1826, to the present town of Muncy and the almost equally beautiful name, Canusarago, was forgotten. It was not that there was anything in the name Muncy to characterize any of these except that a tribe of Indians called Muncies, Monseys, or more correctly Minsies, was found there, temporarily residing, at the time that the pioneers came. This was not their permanent home. They were here under the direction and orders of the powerful Iroquoian Confederacy. T. KuNNieTH Woou, M.D. 5? 5:-...g':.'g,.:2 2:g:2:'2::F:-'2::2:-'x5:2:g:55'.,-:f':2:g:2:2:g:2:'-ce:2'2:r:2'3ke2::::g:571'.::F2:g:2:'f:-.2--:-'5':'a I16l

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