BUSHNELL] NATIVE VILLAGES AND VILLAGE SITES 1D 
Public Squares. The yard, however, is retained, and the public 
buildings occupy nearly the same position in respect to it. They also 
retain the central obelisk and the slave-posts.”’ 
Following this description of the more ancient towns, it appears 
quite evident that the large circular mound on the site of Cussetah 
was occupied by the rotunda, while the four buildings inclosing the 
public square stood on the summit of the large rectangular work, 
and the space between the artificial mounds was covered by the 
chunky yard. Cussetah should probably be accepted as having been 
a typical Creek town, presenting features characteristic of many 
villages in the valleys of the Flint 
and Chattahoochee, Coosa, and 
Tallapoosa; the villages of the 
Chickasaw may have been quite 
similar. A concise description 
of the manner of constructing a 
great circular house has been pre- 
served. (Hawkins, B., (1), pp. 
71-72.) It was called by the 
Creeks Chooc-ofau thluc-co, and 
by the traders was known as the 
“‘hot-house.”’ 
“Hight posts are fixed in the 
ground, forming an octagon of 
thirty feet diameter. They are 
twelve feet high, and_ large 
enough to support the roof. On 
these, five or six logs are placed, 
of a side, drawn in as they rise. 
On these, long poles or rafters, to 
suit the height of the building, 
ane laid, the Upper ends forming Fig. 7.—Older method of placing the principal 
a point, and the lower ends pro- structures in a Creek town. 
jecting out six feet from the oc- 
tagon, and resting on posts five feet high, placed in a circle round 
the octagon, with plates on them, to which the rafters are tied with 
splits. The rafters are near together, and fastened with splits. These 
are covered with clay, and that with pine bark; the wall, six feet from 
the octagon, is clayed up; they have asmall door into a small por- 
tico, curved round for five or six feet, then into the house. Thespace 
between the octagon and the wall, is one entire sopha, where the 
visiters lie or sit at pleasure. It is covered with reed, mat or splits. 
In the center of the room, on a small rise, the fire is made, of dry 
cane or dry old pine slabs, split fine, and laid in aspiral circle. This 
is the assembly room for all people, old and young; they assemble 
every night, and amuse themselves with dancing, singing, or conver- 
aoe 
3 
ER % 
