162 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 43 



This temple, the front of which lool^s toward the iMsiiig sun, is placed on a 

 mound of earth brought thither which rises about S feet above the natural 

 level of the ground on the bank of a little river. This mound loses itself in an 

 insensible slope on the side toward the square. On the other sides the slope 

 is more marked and on the side toward the river it is very steep. This temple 

 measures about 30 feet each way. The four angle or corner posts are of the 

 inner part of the cypress, which is incorruptible. These trees in their actual 

 condition appear to have a diameter of a foot and a half. They rise 10 feet 

 out of the earth and extend to the beginning of the roof. The Natchez state 

 that they are as much in the earth as above it, a fact which must make it 

 secure against the winds. The other posts are a foot in diameter and are of 

 the same wood, having the same length in the earth as above it. The wall is 

 a rough mud wall entirely smooth outside and a little sunken between every 

 [two] posts inside in such a way that it is not more than 9 inches thick in the 

 middle. 



The interior of this temple is divided into two unequal parts by a little 

 wall which cuts it from the rising to the setting sun. The part into which one 

 enters may be 20 feet wide and the other may be 10, but In this second part 

 it is extremely gloomy, because there is only one opening, which is the door 

 of the temple itself, which is to the north, and because the little comnnmicating 

 door is not capable of lighting the second part. 



There is nothing remarkable in the inside of the temple except a table or 

 altar about 4 feet high and G long by 2 broad. On this table is a coffer 

 made of cane splints very well woi'ked, in which are the bones of the last 

 great Sun. The eternal fire is in this first part of the temple. In the other 

 and more secluded part nothing can be distinguished except two planks worked 

 by hand on which are many minute carvings (plusicitrs minntics) which one is 

 unable to make out, owing to the insufficient light. 



The roof of this temple is a long vault, the ridge ])ole of which is not more 

 than 6 feet long, on which are placed representations of three great birds 

 [carved] on flat pieces of wood. They are twice as large as a goose. They 

 have no feet. The neck is not as long as that of a goose, and the head does 

 not resemble it. The wing feathers are large and very distinct. The ground 

 color is white mingled with feathers of a beautiful red color. These bii'ds look 

 toward the east. The I'oof is very neat outside and in. In fact, the structure 

 and roof appear of a perfect solidity. 



Many persons who certainly had intelligence have seen this temple outside 

 and all have said that it was very neatly patterned and very well constructed. 

 Those to whom I have related the manner in which it was built have told me 

 that it was very substantial. But no one has seemed to me concerned to under- 

 stand how they had been able to bring from a good league where the cypress 

 swamp is and without vehicle trees of such a size, how they could have dug 

 out the earth to such a depth without tools, how finally they had succeeded 

 in planting and dressing these trees without any machine. The reader may 

 perhaps do as I have done. Not being able to do anything else I am forced to 

 guess. 



It is in this temi)le that two men tend the perpetual fire during each quarter 

 of the moon. There are eight guardians for the four quarters, and a superior 

 who is called chief of the guardians of the fire to command them and to see that 

 they do their duty, and to have the wood brought for this fire. This wood must be 

 clear wood. They employ for it only clear white walnut (or hickory) without 

 bark. The logs are 7 to S inclics in diameter by S feet long. They are placed 

 near the temple aboul Die trunk of a tree with a ratlier short stem. Tliis tree 

 is covered with thorns from the ourlh to the tui). 1 have given a description of 



