28 INDIANS. 



creeks and water courses in the country. The Indian name is 

 Muscogee.* 



The Creeks came from the west. They have a tradition 

 among them, that there is, in the fork of Red river, west of 

 the Mississippi, two mounds of earth ; that at this place, the 

 Cussetuhs, Conetuhs and Chickasaws, found themselves ; that 

 being distressed by wars with red people, they crossed the 

 Mississippi, and directing their coiise eastwardly, they crossed 

 the falls of Tal-la-poo-sa, above Took-au-bat-che, settled below 

 the falls of Chat-to-ho-che, and spread out from thence to Oc- 

 mul-gee^ 0-co-nee, Savannah, and down on the sea-coast to- 

 wards Charleston. Here, they first saw white people, and 

 from hence they have been compelled to retire back again, to 

 their present settlements. 



Cha-to-ho-che. — The name of this river is from Chat-to, 

 a stone ; and hoche, marked or Jiowered ; there being rocks of 

 that description in the river, above Ho-ith-le-ti-gau, at the 

 old town Chatto-ho-che. 



War. — This is always determined on by the great Warrior. 

 When the Mic-co and counsellors are of opinion that the town 

 has been injured, he lifts the war hatchet against the nation 

 which has injured them. But as soon as it is taken up, the 

 Mic-co and counsellors may interpose, and by their prudent 

 counsels, stop it, and proceed to adjust the misunderstanding 

 by negotiation. If the Great Warrior persists and goes out, 

 he is followed by all who are for war. It is seldom a town is 

 unanimous, the nation never is ; and within the memory of 

 the oldest man among them, it is not recollected, that more 

 than one half the nation have been for war at the same time ; 

 or taken, as they express it, the war talk. 



The Great Warrior, when he marches, gives notice where 

 he shall encamp, and sets out sometimes with one or two only. 

 He fires off his gun and sets up the war-whoop. This is 

 repeated by all who follow him, and they are sometimes for 

 one or two nights marching off'. 



* G, g is always hard in Creek : J, j is used for the soft g. Mus-co-gee, 

 a creek ; Muscogulgee, creeks : Che-lo-kee, a Cherokee ; Cheloculgee, the 

 Cherokees. 



