GATSCHET — KAS. LEG. — APPENDIX VI. [- I9] 187 



■average reproduction all of the town-houses, or tchuko 'lako, as 

 found to exist at the present time in the few settlements of the 

 Creek Nation, Indian Terr., which have preser\ed the antique 

 institution of the busk or puskita. 



The four sheds are rather low and of equal size and construc- 

 tion, each facing- one of the four points of the compass ; the 

 roof rests on five supports, and thus each shed is divided into 

 four parts. The fi ont of each measftres about forty feet, and 

 open passages are left between. Each shed stands upon ground 

 sloping forward, is open behind, and on its floor contains from 

 twelve to fifteen logs running parallel and intended for seats. The 

 sheds or tiipa, lit. "scaflblds," are entered from behind; the space 

 under the seats is reserved for the storage of objects needed during 

 the celebration of the busk, which formerly lasted eight days, 

 but is now in several towns reduced to six or even four days. 



The council-house, rotunda, or tchukofa 'lako, where meetings 

 were held onlv in winter and during bad weather, is built into 

 the southern end of the western shed, and a road leads from its 

 door to the square and fireplace, upon which the people often 

 moved in file or procession. South of the southern shed is the 

 tadshu or area surrounded by an earth-wall, where games and 

 dancing have full sway. In the town of Tukabatchi this area 

 lies behind the western shed. The four logs which feed the 

 sacred fire lie in the centre of the square, and each in the di- 

 rection toward one of the points of the compass. 



The sheds and partitions assigned to each of the gentes and di- 

 visions of the people vary greatly from town to tovvn. Talua 'lako, 

 now the only busking town of the Hitchiti connection, disposes 

 them, according to G. W. Stidham, in the following order: the 

 western shed is assigned to the mikalgi ; the south shed to the 

 tassikayalgi, familiarly called boys : the east shed to the women 

 and children; the north shed to the tastenakalgi or 'Svarriors." 

 The details of the present diagram refer to the square of Kasi'hta 

 town on the Deep Fork of Canadian river, and were obtained 

 from chief Ispahidshi, who is a native of that town, and well 

 acquainted with its present and earlier customs.* 



* Compare the ground-plan of tlie square and "great house" in Odshi-apofa by C. Swan 



(1791) in Schoolcraft, Indian Tribes, v. 264. 



