SWANTON] INDIAN TRIBES OF THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY 171 



if it I'.iiiic t(i l)t' »'x1 iii^'iiislicd in the one they could scfic llic oilier, in order 

 to r(>lij,'lil it, iind lie iiifonncd us that if tliis misfortune ever ii.ipiiened deatii 

 would extond itself over our nation until the lire was relijxlil«'<l. 



"They promised Inm to observe and jierform all these things, and then he eon- 

 sentcHl to he our sovereign, hut he did not wish to ho ealled by any f)ther mime 

 than Thi\ wliich sitrnities 'thee.'" However, after his death his descendants 

 were called Suns, because they came out originally from the Sun and because 

 TI16 was so brilliant tliat one could scarcely look at him. Then he had tlie 

 temples built, estal)Iished the guardians of the temple, 8 for each, and for each 

 temple a chief of the guardians, and in i)resence of tho entire nation he made 

 descend the fire of the Sun on tlie walnut (hickory) wood which he had pre- 

 pareil, and when it was liglited some of it was carried with nnich attention and 

 respect into the other temi)le, which was at the farther extremity of our 

 country. He lived a very long time, and saw the children of his children. 

 Finally he instituted the feasts w'hich you see." 



Such was the statement of the guardian of the templis by which one may 

 learn that the docility with which the Natchez nation submitted to the wise 

 laws of this extraordinary man who appeared suddenly in the midst of them 

 witnesses to a good depth of character. In fact, they are gentle, humane, 

 truthful, and very charitable. More than one Frenchman has experienced this 

 last quality among them. . 



He did not speak to me of any sacrifices, libations, or offerings, because they 

 make none. Their entire cult consists in maintaining the eternal tire, and it is 

 that for which the great Sun watches with particular attention over the chief 

 of the guardians of the temple. The one who ruled in my time, and whom I 

 knew particularly, went evei-y day into his temple to see whether the fire con- 

 tinued. His vigilance had been excited liy the fear which had been impressed 

 upon him by a terrible hurricane which passed over this di.strict and had lasted 

 for two days. Since tliis countr.v, as I have already said, is very beautiful and 

 the air there is generally pure and stM'ene, this extraordinary event had ap- 

 peared to him to announce something sinister, and the firm persuasion which 

 the people have that the extinction of the sacred tire infallibly involves the 

 death of a great number of men had made him apprehend lest this second 

 accident, uniting itself to the first, the entire nation would perish. The history 

 of the Natchez confirmed him in this fear through the example of a misfortune 

 from which they had not yet been able to recover. It was this that the great 

 Sun related to me one day when he had come to see me, in the following terms: 



" Our nation," said he to me, " was formerly very numerous and very i»owerful. 

 It extended for more than twelve days' journey from east to west and more than 

 fifteen from south to north. It then counted 500 Suns, and you can judge by 

 that what was the number of the Nobles, tfie Honored men, and the common 

 people. You know that there are always two guardians in the temple to care for 

 the sacred fire. But once in the past it happened that one of these two men 

 went out for some purpose, and while he was away his companion fell asleep 

 and let the fire go out. When he awoke, seeing the fire extinguished, fright 

 seized him. But as his companion had not yet come back he determined to 

 conceal his fault, because he was easily able to do it, in order to escape the 

 death which he had merited. He called then to the first passer and begged him 

 to bring him fire with which to light his calumet (his pipe), a thing which this 

 person did willingly, well knowing that it is not permitted to touch the eternal 

 fire except to tend it, and that no other use could be made of it. 



° Tbe usual pronominal prefix meaning " I " or " me " is ta. No other form approaches 

 this. 



