mIXy] waxhaw head-flattening. 75 



probably followed also by tlie Catawba and otlier neighboring tribes, 

 whence they were called Flatheads. The first notice of either tribe 

 seems to be that of Lederer, who visited the Wisacky (Waxsaw) in 

 1G72, and fonnd them living next south of the Sara, i. e., about where 

 they were afterward known. He dismisses them with the brief state- 

 ment that they were subject to the Ushery (Catawba) and might be 

 considered a part of that tribe (Lederer, 11), 



In 1701 Lawson visited the Waxhaw and was received in the most 

 hospitable fashion. He mentions two of their villages as being situated 

 10 miles apart, showing that they might be considered a tribe of some 

 importance at that time. From incidental references in Lawson's work 

 it is evident that at the time of his visit they were on good terms with 

 their neighbors as well as with the Saponi fiirther toward the north. 

 He says that the Waxhaw were very tall, and describes in detail their 

 method of flattening the head. This was accomplished by laying the 

 infant in a sort of cradle, consisting chiefly of a flat board, with its head 

 resting on a bag of sand. Swaddling cloths were then wrapped tightly 

 around baby and cradle from head to foot and a roll (of cloth ?) was 

 placed over its forehead and pulled down tightly in the same manner. 

 The bandages were loosened or tightened from time to tinie, and the 

 child was kept in this press until the soft skull was permanently dis- 

 torted. The process had the effect of disfiguring the countenance by 

 making the eyes stand very wide apart and causing the hair to hang 

 over the forehead, as Lawson says, " like the eves of a house." The 

 reason given by the Indians for this strange custom was that it improved 

 the eyesight, so that they became better hunters. 



The dance ceremonials and councils of the AVaxhaw were held in a 

 large council house, much larger than the ordinary houses in which 

 they dwelt, with a very low entrance and with benches of cane inside 

 next to the wall. Instead of being covered with bark like their dwell- 

 ings, this state house was neatly thatched with sedge and rushes. One 

 of their principal old men had his residence in it as guard and keeper. 

 The interior of the structure was dark and the fire was kept up on public 

 occasions by means of a circle of cane splits in the middle, the canes 

 being constantly renewed at one end as they were consumed at the 

 other. According to i)ersonal information, the same method of making 

 and renewing the fire was used among the Cherokee on certain cere- 

 monial occasions. 



Soon after leaving the Waxhaw and Esaw (Catawba), Lawson met 

 the Sugeree, who, according to his statement, occupied a very fertile 

 country and inhabited "a great many towns and settlements." Near 

 them were the " Kadapau," who to all appearances were a detached 

 band of the Catawba (Lawson, 12). 



No later reference to these tribes is found excepting a brief mention 

 of the "Elaw" (Catawba) and Waxhaw in 1712, from which it seems 

 that the hostile Tuskarora and their allies in the north were making 

 inroads upon them. They were probably so far reduced a few years 



