Powhatan's domain
on Tuesday January 27, 2004 02:02PM
In the February issue of Chesapeake Bay Magazine there is an article about sailing from Smith Point up the Pinkatank River. An insert headed "Powhatan's Domain" describes the river as being 21 miles long from it's headwaters in Dragon Run swamp. The article goes on to report that the river's name is derived from Native American language and roughly translated it means "wiggly bugger protected by many crab pots". More seriously, the article reports, the river was named by Chief Powhatan in the late 1500's. "Tank" comes from the Indian meaning water and "Pianka" means winding or crooked. And crab pots didn't show until several hundred years later. If you want to read more you'll find the magazine in the clubhouse after my next visit to the club.