240 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY I bull. 73 
in the respective groups. It is probable that most of the other tribes 
afterwards found upon Tallapoosa River were at this time in Georgia, 
and it is likely that the Abihka had not yet come to settle beside the 
Coosa. In spite of an evident confusion in the minds of the 
Spaniards of Indian and feudal institutions there must have been 
some basis for the overlordship said to have been enjoyed by the 
Indians of Coosa. The Napochies seem to have been a Choctaw- 
speaking people on the Black Warrior and Tombigbee Rivers. Mr. 
Grayson informs me that the name was preserved until recent years 
as a war title among the Creeks. They were probably identical with 
the Napissa, whom Iberville notes as having already in his time 
(1699) united with the Chickasaw. 1 
In 1567 Juan Pardo came toward this country, advancing beyond 
Chiaha on the Tennessee to a place called Satapo, from which some 
Indians and a soldier proceeded to Coosa. On the authority of the 
soldier, Vandera gives the following description of Coosa town: 
Coosa is a large village, the largest to be met after leaving Santa Elena on the road 
we took from there. It may contain about 150 people — that is, judging by the size of 
the village. It seems to be a wealthier place than all the others; there are generally 
a great many Indians in it. It is situated in a valley at the foot of a mountain. All 
around it at one-quarter, one-half, and one league there are very many big places. It 
is a very fertile country; its situation is at midday's sun or perhaps a little less than 
midday. (?) 2 
Fear of this tribe, allied with the "Chisca, Carrosa, and Costehe, " 
was what decided Pardo to turn back to Santa Elena. 3 While Van- 
dera seems to say that Coosa had 150 inhabitants, he must mean 
neighborhoods, otherwise it certainly would not be the largest place 
the Spaniards had discovered. Garcilasso says that in Coosa there 
were 500 houses, but he is wont to exaggerate. 4 At the same time, 
if Vandera means 150 neighborhoods and Garcilasso counted all 
classes of buildings, the two statements could be reconciled very well. 
And now, after enjoying such early prominence, the Coosa tribe 
slips entirely from view, and when we next catch a glimpse of it its 
ancient importance has gone. Adair, the first writer to notice the 
town particularly, says: 
In the upper or most western part of the country of the Muskohge there was an old 
beloved town, now reduced to a small ruinous village, called Koosah, which is still a 
place of safety to those who kill undesignedly. It stands on commanding ground, 
overlooking a bold river. 6 
The name appears in the enumerations of 1738, 6 1750, 6 and 1760, 7 
and a part at least in the enumeration of 1761. 8 In 1796 John O' Kelly, 
a half-breed, was trader there, having succeeded his father. 9 
i Margry, Dec., iv, p. 180. « MS., Ay^r Coll. 
2 Vandera in Ruidiaz, n, pp. 485-486. 7 Miss. Prov. Arch., i, pp. 94-95. 
s Ibid., p. 471. 8 Col. Docs. Ga., vm, p. 512. 
* Garcilasso in Shipp, De Soto and Florida, p. 374. » Ga. Hist. Soc. Colls., ix, pp. 34, 169. 
» Adair, Hist. Am. Inds., p. 159, 
