Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 26.djvu/456

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390
Lewis A. McArthur

along the lower reaches of the river. Early day spelling was Chetko and Chitko. For information about the Chetco Indians see Pioneer History of Coos and Curry Counties, edited by Orvil Dodge. Mt. Emily in the southwestern part of Curry County is sometimes known as Chetco Peak, but the real Chetco Peak is in the eastern part of the county and has an elevation of 4648 feet. See U. S. G. S. topographic map of the Kerby quadrangle. The spelling Chetco has been adopted by the U. S . Geographic Board.

Chewaucan Marsh, Lake County. This is a large marsh, fed principally by Chewaucan River and draining into Lake Abert. The elevation of the upper end of the marsh is 4311 feet and that of the lower end 4291, according to the Strahorn railroad survey. The name is derived from the Klamath Indian words "tchua," meaning wild potato, and "keni," a general suffix meaning locality or place. The wild potato is generally known in Oregon and Washington as the wapato, arrowhead or sagittaria. It was an article of food with many tribes. See U. S . Geological Survey Water Supply Papers 220 and 363 for information about the marsh. See also The Oregonian, September 14, 1925, page 11, for information about the wapato.

Chico, Wallowa County. Chico is a Spanish word meaning "little. " The postmaster advises in October, 1925, that there is no local information available as to how the name became attached to the Wallowa County post office.

Chief Joseph Mountain, Wallowa County. This mountain has been known at various times as Tunnel Mountain and Point Joseph, but in 1925 the U. S. Geographic Board officially named it Chief Joseph Mountain in honor of the famous Nez Perce Indian chief. Joseph, or Young Joseph as he was sometimes known, was born near the mouth of Imnaha River in June, 1837, and died