BUSHNELL] NATIVE VILLAGES AND VILLAGE SITES 59 
they stick the thickest ends of them in the ground, above two yards 
asunder, in a circular form, the distance they design the Cabin to be 
(which is not always round but sometimes oval); then they bend the 
tops and bring them together and bind their ends with bark of trees, 
that is proper for that use, as Elm is, or sometimes the Moss that 
erow on the Trees... They have other sorts of Cabins without 
Windows, which are for the Granaries, Skins, and Merchandizes; 
and others that are covered overhead and the rest left open for air. 
These have reed Hurdles like Tables, to lie and sit on in summer, 
and serve for pleasant Banqueting Houses in the Hot Season of the 
Year. The Cabins they dwell in have Benches all around, except 
where the door stands. On these they lay Beasts-Skins and Mats 
made of Rushes, whereon they sleep and loll. In one of these several 
Families commonly live, though all related to one another.”’ 
Considering the size and importance of the Cherokee it is surpris- 
ing how little is known regarding the appearance of their dwellings 
and other structures. But their villages were not compactly built, 
as among other tribes. The houses were widely scattered and were 
often far removed from the center of the community, or village, 
which was indicated by the town house. Unlike the Creeks, so 
Bartram wrote in 1789— 
“They have neither the Square nor the Chunky-Yard. Their 
Summer Council House is a spacious open loft or pavilion, on the 
top of a very large oblong building; and the Rotunda, or great Hot 
or Town House, is the Gouncil House in Cold seasons. Their private 
houses or habitations consist of one large oblong-square log build- 
ing, divided transversely into several apartmants; and a round hot- 
house stands a little distance off, for a winter lodging-house.” 
(Bartram, W., (1), pp. 56-57.) 
A few years earlier it was said: ‘‘They build their houses with 
wood and ciel them with clay mixed with straw, so as to render them 
tight and comfortable. They have many small towns dispersed 
among the mountains.” (Rogers, (1), p. 202.) The Cherokee 
and Creeks not only differed in the arrangement of the buildings 
but in the manner of their construction. The rectangular habitation 
of the Cherokee was one story in height, formed of logs “stripped of 
their bark, notched at their ends, fixed one upon another, and after- 
wards plaistered well, both inside and out, with clay well tempered 
with dry grass, and the whole covered or roofed with the bark of the 
chestnut tree or long broad shingles.” (Bartram, W., (2), p. 365.) 
This was partitioned transversely and formed into three apartments, 
connected by doors. A few yards away from the house, opposite 
the main entrance, stood a small, conical, earth-covered lodge, 
known as the winter hothouse. 
