MODERN SQUARE GROUNDS OF THE CREEK INDIANS

During the summer of 1929 I again visited the village of Përroi to obtain information about the organization of the existing territories. In the distribution of the original Muskogee tribes, the Abihka and Coosa made up most of the Upper. According to the story this had to do with the division of Muskogee on the one hand.

Ispokogi was the name of the culture heroes of the Tukabahchee and it may be a Shawnee term. Atcik-hata, a term said to refer to the ashes of the ceremonial fire in the square site. The Alabama town of Tawasa seems to have had an origin similar to that of the Osotci.

85 In earlier times, a certain distance was maintained from the cities of one part to those of the other. A chief who belonged to the bird clan of this city always gave the keynote speech when a new head of the Federation was installed.

NO. 8 CREEK SQUARE GROUNDS S WANTON 9

10 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 85 rationalization, there can be no doubt that the earher ceremonial

NO. 8 CREEK SQUARE GROUNDS SWANTON II posts are used for the seating of as many clans, groups of clans

8 SWANTON CREEK SQUARE RULES II-posts are used to land as many clans, groups of clans as possible. There were two ta'palas whose main function was to act as heralds before and during the women's dance, and there were two singers for it. He oversaw the preparation of the potions and gave them their ultimate power and ordered everything in any way touching the supernatural.

Some cities seem to have had a separate official called tutka didja, "fire-builder," who lit the fire, but in others it was hilishaya who did it, and instead it was atutka oktididja, "gatherer of wood" for the fire. In a certain town we learn of the ahaga haiyalgi, "law makers." who are said to carry out the instructions of the tastanagis and may be the same as the imals mentioned elsewhere. Hoktagi immiko, "chief of women." and his heniha, may have been identical with the ta'pals.

One, called by the local popular name "stomp dance," was confined to the townspeople and was simple in character, miko hoyanidja (red willow) being usually the only medicine used during it. There were nodals other than the usual and relatively secular ones, there was no ceremonial lighting of the fire, no.

NO. 8 CREEK SQUARE GROUNDS SWANTON IT,

ABIHKA

14 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 85 was placed a little farther north and west for the boys (12) and

NO. 8 CREEK SQUARE GROUNDS SWANTON 1 5

OTCIAPOFA. OR HICKORY GROUND

NO. 8 CREEK SQUARE GROUNDS SWANTON 1/

LITTLE TULSA

SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 85

NO. 8 CREEK SQUARE GROUNDS SWANTON I9

NUYAKA

20 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 85

BFAR

TASTA^AOIS (VV/ND)

SKU/\/H

DEER ALLIGATOR

PAKAN' TALLAHASSEE

22 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 85

8 CREEK SQUARE GROUNDS SWANTON 23 In this town were Hathage Bird, Alhgator, Beaver, Bear. In this city were Hathage Bird, Alhgator, Beaver, Bear, Tami and Wind. The town's special opponents in regular ball games were the people of Atasi, and they also played against Eufaula Hopai, Alabama, Hilibi and Upper Eufaula. The Koasati Indians were said to divide themselves in ball games, some playing on each side.

Pakan Tallahassee informant, they sent a man to that town with a ball stick, and when the people of town number two came to an agreement, they sent the ball stick back. During the women's dance, the two ta'palas are positioned approximately where the plan says the two pots closest to the western bed are located.

24 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 85 About 54 men were present at the last preceding busk and 25

WIOGUFKI

8 CRERK SQIIARK GROUNDS SWANTON 25The towns of Wakokai, Tukpafka and Talahasutci were all one. The towns of Wakokai, Tukpafka and Talahasutci were all one with this. A comparison between the plan given above and the two taken in 1912 shows considerable differences, but from one of the former. However, there is a general correspondence and the division of clans into parts also agrees, except in the case of.

This is explained by the fact that the Panther was previously considered a White clan and later was considered Tciloki.

OKCHAI

NO. 8 CREEK SQUARE GROUNDS S WANTON 27 The medicine was pounded up just in front of the pots at the

28 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 85 The two leaders among the women carry atasa, that held by the

ALLIGATOR BEAR

The doctor sees that medications are taken and fines those who neglect to do so. There is a city policeman called an istikona'ha who enforces the miko's orders against those who refuse to obey him and. The Asilanabi Square is arranged similarly to this one, but the Okchai differ slightly from these two in the use of their potions.

The only divergence worth noting is in the position assigned to the Deer clan by my earlier informants, but this may be attributed to the fact that the miko apokta was then a Deer, and his clan was probably brought to the western cabin for this reason. As we should expect, the agreement is also close to the settlement of the Asilanabi ground, although there are minor divergences in the division of clans in the southern cabin. All my authorities agreed well in assigning the clans to the two parts, but the oldest of them all thought that the Beaver and Alligator were prol)al)lv Tciloki.

TUKABAHCHEE

30 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 85 a man were a Deer and his father a Raccoon, they would give him

POT/\TO\

BOYS

NO. 8 CREEK SQUARE GROUNDS SWANTON 31

32 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 85 The general arrangement is the same as that obtained from the

KEALEDJI

AHTAYATCI

TURKEY

LAPLAKO

NO. 8 CREEK SQUARE GROUNDS SWANTON 35

36 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 85 and more confusion is shown in the later organization, but they

Jatika calls them four times and the fourth time they must be in their seats. Yatika delivers a speech on behalf of the miko, urging his listeners not to behave unfriendly to outside friends. This "kills fasting". Throughout the day the square should be kept clean with the idea that the fasting people will be clean as a result.

Then all who belong to the village go down to the branch and bathe, after which they return and sit in their respective beds. The night before the chief of a friendly village might have announced a dance, and if so, the announcement is now made and advice given as to how they should help their friends. This advice is given by the yatika, who speaks for the miko, and he then makes a general speech, advising his people not to drink, not to break the laws, and to be good citizens in .

HILIBI

Yatika delivers a speech on behalf of the miko, urging his listeners not to behave unfriendly to outside friends. who are ready to be admitted to the dance, not drink, behave all night, not fight, and so on. Throughout the day the square should be kept clean with the idea that the fasting people will be clean as a result. They go up to take the medicine two by two, and they. who are ceremonially impure receive the last medicine.

85 If a man whose father is from the Aktayatci, the miko's tribe, is given. If a man whose father is from the Aktayatci, the miko's clan, gets a busk name, he is brought to the mikos' bed and given a seat there. The following notes on some personal names contained in the town list give an interesting insight into the manner in which totemic names were assigned. He belonged to the Bear tribe, but his father belonged to the Raccoon, hence the name Halak or Ahalak ("Potato"), since both these tribes are Tciloki.

He belonged to the Wind Clan, but his father was a Deer, and Pahosa is of the same brotherhood as the Deer. As shown by the local history above, given that this city was not supposed to be ancient or to have a stable city organization, and. At the same time there is a general agreement between the plan here given and that which I took in 1912 (42d Ann.

Mikos' hut is to the west, and mikalki and henihalgi were of the same. The alligator and turkey were classified as white from association with the bird.

ALABAMA

PANTHER, BIRD,

TURKEY BEARER

THE NORTH

BEAR UAN)