MONUMENTS OF THE SOUTHERN STATES. 



121 



durable. It is generally from thirty to forty feet in height, and to the top is fastened 

 some object which serves as a mark to shoot at, with arrows or the rifle, at certain 

 appointed times. Near each corner of one end of the yard, stands erect a less 

 pole or pillar, about twelve feet high, called a ' Slave Post,' for the reason that to 

 them are bound the captives condemned to be burnt. These posts are usually 

 decorated with the scalps of slain enemies, suspended by strings from the top. 

 They are often crowned with the white dry skull of an enemy. 



" It thus appears that this area is designed for a public place of exhibition, for 

 shows, games, etc. Formerly, there is little doubt, most barbarous and tragical 

 scenes were enacted within them, such as the torturing and burning of captives, 

 who were here forced to run the gauntlet, bruised and beaten with sticks and 

 burning chunks of wood. The Indians do not now practise these cruelties ; but 

 there are some old traders who have witnessed them in former times. I inquired 

 of these traders for what reason these areas were called ' Chunk Yards ;' they 

 were in general ignorant, yet, for the most part, concurred in a lame story that it 

 originated in the circumstance of their having been places of torture, and that the 

 name was but an interpretation of the Indian term designating them. 



•'I observed none of these yards in use in any of the Cherokee towns; and 

 where I have mentioned them, in the Cherokee country, it must be understood 

 that I saw only the remains or vestiges of them among the ruins of ancient towns. 

 In the existing Cherokee towns which I visited, although there were ancient 

 mounds and signs of the yard adjoining, yet the yard was either built upon or turne d 

 into a garden plat, or otherwise appropriated. Indeed I am convinced that the 

 Chunk Yards now or lately in use among the Creeks are of very ancient date, 

 and not the work of the present Indians; although they are now kept in repair 

 by them, being swept very clean every day, and the poles kept up and decorated 

 in the manner I have described . 



" The following plan, (Fig. 23,) will illustrate the 



form and character of these yards. 



" A. The great area, surrounded by terraces or 



banks. 



" B. A circular eminence, at one end of the yard, 

 • ■ commonly nine or ten feet higher than the ground 



round about. Upon this mound stands the great 



Rotunda, Hot House, or Winter Council House of 



the present Creeks. It was probably designed and 



used by the ancients who constructed it, for the 



same purpose. 



" C. A square terrace or eminence, abou) the 

 - same height with the circular one just described, 



occupying a position at the other end of the yard. 



llpon this stands the Public Square. 



" The banks enclosing the yard arc indicated by 



the letters hhbb; c indicates the ' Chunk Pole,'' and 



d d the 'Slave Posts." 



^^^ 



Fin. 23 



