12 CREEKS. 



14. 



TO-MATH-LA-MICCO, OR THE LITTLE KING. 



(Painted June, 1843.) 



Principal Chief of the Upper Creeks. Distinguished only as a War 

 rior, he was elected to the chieftainship through the instrumentality 

 of Opoeth-le-yo-holo, who has great influence over him. He is 

 painted in the attitude of holding a red stick, which is invariably 

 carried by him, during the ceremonies of the busk or green-corn 

 dance. It is emblematical of the red-stick or late Creek war. 



Possessing no merit as an orator or counsellor, his will is easily 

 swayed by his speaker. He is mild and amiable in his disposition, 

 and much beloved by his people. 



15. 



TUCK-A-BACK-A-MICCO, OR THE MEDICINE-MAN OR PHYSIC- 

 MAKER. 



(Painted June, 1843.) 



This is the great Medicine or Mystery Man of the Creeks ; his 

 fields of corn are cultivated by the people of the town in which he 

 resides, and a salary of five hundred dollars per annum is allowed 

 him from the treasury of the nation, for his services. 



They suppose him to be indued with supernatural powers, and 

 capable of making it rain copiously at will. 



In his town is a building of rather a singular and peculiar con* 

 struction, used during their annual busk or green-corn dances as a 

 dancing-house. It is of a circular form, about sixty feet in diameter 

 and thirty feet high, built of logs; and was planned by this man in 

 the following manner : 



He cut sticks in miniature of every log required in the construc 

 tion of the building, and distributed them proportionately among the 

 residents of the town, whose duty it was to cut logs corresponding 

 with their sticks, and deliver them upon the ground appropriated for 

 the building, at a given time. At the raising of the house, not a 

 log was cut or changed from its original destination; all came to 

 gether in their appropriate places, as intended by the designer. 

 During the planning of this building, which occupied him six days, 

 he did not partake of the least particle of food. 



