SWANTON] WAR CUSTOMS 2am 
In other words, these men were temporarily of the same class as the 
priests, of whom he says elsewhere: 
The Indian Jshtohoollo “holy men” [ishto, “great” holo, “holy’’] are by 
their function absolutely forbidden to slay, notwithstanding their propensity 
thereto even for small injuries. They will not allow the greatest warrior to 
officiate when the yearly grand sacrifice of expiation is offered up, or on 
any other religious occasion, except the leader. All must be performed by their 
beloved men who are clean of every stain of blood and have their foreheads 
circled with streaks of white clay.” 
The following information may be added. Says Romans: 
In their war parties they have generally one who has done most mischief to 
the enemy for their leader ;- but he is so far from having a command that an 
attempt to do more than proposing whether such or such an undertaking would 
not be most advisable, or at most persuading them to it, would at least be 
followed by a total desertion. 
They are very ceremonious in their preparations for war, and their fondness 
for witchcraft makes them look for omens of futurity. 
They and all other savages have the greatest share of patience imaginable; 
when a scalp or prisoner is in question they will travel hundreds of miles in 
the deserts with amazing precaution, enduring hunger, and often thirst, at a 
great rate; nay, if their provisions fail before they strike the blow, they have 
been known to return to hunt for more in some safe place, and, without going 
home, to make a second or third attempt. 
They make war by stratagem, surprise, or ambush, despising us as fools for 
exposing ourselves to be shot at like marks. A man’s valour with them con- 
sists in their cunning, and he is deemed the greatest hero who employs most 
art in surprising his enemy; they never strike a blow unless they think them- 
selves sure of a retreat, and the loss of many men is an infamous crime laid 
to the charge of the party.” 
Cushman’s account runs thus: 
When preparing for war the Chickasaws, like their entire race, of whom I have 
read or personally known, painted their faces in such a manner (known only 
to the North American Indians) as to give the face an expression of fierceness 
that must be seen to be justly comprehended. A few days before going upon 
the warpath a day was solemnly appointed for a great feast, consisting of all 
the varieties of food that could be obtained; but every night previous to the 
day of the feast those contemplating going upon the warpath engaged in the 
war dance during the greater part of the nights, dressed in all the parapher- 
nalia of Indian warfare. The warriors also came to the prepared feast fully 
equipped with every necessary appertaining to the warpath, but with no super- 
fluous articles whatever that might have a tendency to impede their actions. 
Before they partook of the waiting repast some celebrated old chief or noted 
old warrior, with the war pipe in his hand, who from the decrepitude of age 
had been placed upon the “ retired list” among the seers and prophets of the 
nation, delivered a speech to the war-going company, in which he rehearsed his 
own exploits, not in the spirit of self-adulation but as an honest exhortation 
to them to emulate his deeds of heroic valor; then encouraged them to go in 
trusting confidence; to be great in manly courage and strong in heart; to be 
Adair, Hist. Am. Inds., p. 152. = Romans, Nat. Hist. E. and W. Fla., p. 70. 
