NO. 8 CREEK SQUARE GROUNDS SWANTON II 



posts are used for the seating of as many clans, groups of clans 

 or related officials. 



Considerable variation in the ancient and intended plan has been 

 brought about by the attrition which the tribe and its several 

 divisions have undergone, loss of the keepers of the sacred lore, 

 and other factors, but it is plain that normally one of the four cabins 

 was mainly devoted to the miko and his clan. Hence it was called 

 mikalgi (or mikagi) intupa. the " Chiefs' bed." Another was devoted 

 mainly to the henlhalgi and was named from them, another to the 

 higher class of warriors, the tastiinagalgi, and so received their name, 

 and still another to the novitiate warriors or youths from whom it 

 was called tasikaialgi intupa or tcibanagalgi intupa. The positions 

 of these in the square ground varies considerably. It should be 

 stated in the first place that the cabins are placed normally toward 

 the four points of the compass, but that for some unexplained reason 

 in the square of Tukabahchee the entrances are toward the cardinal 

 points. In the old Kasihta square, which seems to have set the 

 fashion for many other towns, the mikos' calkin lay west, the henihas' 

 south, the tastanagis' north, and the tasikaias' east. In the Okfuskee 

 towns, of which Nuyaka is an example, the mikos' cabin lay north, 

 the henihas' east, the tastanagis' west, and the tasikaias' south. In 

 Pakan Tallahassee the mikos' cabin is north, the henihas' south, the 

 tastanagis' west, and there is no east cabin. In Eufaula the mikos' 

 cabin is north, the henihas' east and the tastanagis' south, the west 

 cabin being missing. In Alabama, where there are but two cabins, 

 the mikos' cabin is east. 



The other variations in the arrangement of the squares will come 

 out in the subjoined material, but before presenting it something 

 must be said regarding town officials. 



The miko, as already stated, was chief of the town, its head 

 presiding officer and responsible executive. Like many of the other 

 officers he had a special companion or heniha taken from the Wind 

 clan or whatever clan occupied the position of henlhalgi. This heniha 

 is sometimes called miko apokta, " second chief," but the latter name 

 is also given to still another functionary who shares the burdens 

 of state w'ith his superior. The chief had one or more yatikas or 

 interpreters who also bore the name asimbonaia, " speakers." Unless 

 wanted to make an announcement or to send upon an errand, they 

 sat with their clan or other group to which they normally belonged. 

 The tastanagi Jake and holibonaia have been mentioned. The position 

 of holibonaia, " war speaker " was the most exalted military position, 

 and it is possible that there was only one such official at a time in 



