SWANTON] WAR CUSTOMS 239 
The later statement runs thus: 
I can not, however, conclude this argument without a few remarks concerning 
the Indian methods of making peace and of renewing their old friendship. They 
first smoke out of the friend pipe and eat together; then they drink of the 
Cussena, using such invocations as have been mentioned, and proceed to wave 
their large fans of eagles’ tails, concluding with a dance. The persons visited 
appoint half a dozen of their most active and expert young warriors to perform 
their religious duty, who have had their own temples adorned with the swan- 
feather cap. They paint their bodies with white clay and cover their heads 
with swan down; then approaching the chief representative of the strangers, 
who by way of honour and strong assurance of friendship is seated on the 
central white or holy seat, “the beloved cabin” (which is about 9 feet long 
and 7 feet broad), they wave the eagles’ tails backward and forward over his 
head.” Immediately they begin the solemn song with an awful air; and pres- 
ently they dance in a bowing posture; then they raise themselves so erect that 
their faces look partly upwards, waving the eagles’ tails with the right hand 
toward heaven, sometimes with a slow, at others with a quick motion; at the 
same time they touch their breast with their small calabash and pebbles fas- 
tened to a stick about a foot long which they hold in their left hand, keeping 
time with the motion of the eagles’ tails; during the dance they repeat the 
usual divine notes, Yo, ete., and wave the eagles’ tails now and then over the 
stranger’s head, not moving above two yards backward or forward before him. 
They are so surprisingly expert in their supposed religious office and observe 
time so exactly with their particular gestures and notes that there is not the 
least discernible discord... . 
The Indians can not show greater honor to the greatest potentate on earth 
than to place him in the white seat—inyoke Yo He Wah while he is drinking the 
Cussena and dance before him with the eagles’ tails. When two chieftains are 
renewing or perpetuating friendship with each other they are treated with the 
Same ceremonies. And in their circular friendly dances, when they honour 
their guests and pledge themselves to keep good faith with them, they some- 
times sing their divine notes with a very awful air, pointing their right hand 
towards the sky. Some years ago I saw the Koosahte Indians (200 miles up 
Mobile River) perform this rite with much solemnity, as if invoking the deity 
with their notes and gestures, to enable them to show good will to their 
fellow creatures, and to bear witness of their faithful vows and conduct.* 
A peace-making ambassador, besides carrying the swans’ wings, 
was provided with eagles’ tails, white beads, white pipes, and 
tobacco.*® When Adair visited the Choctaw for the purpose of con- 
cluding peace with them, they tied strings of beads about his neck, 
arms, and legs, and in return he presented to them silver arm plates, 
gorgets, wrist plates, earbobs, and so on.*° 
* When they are disaffected, or intend to declare war, they will not allow any of the 
party against whom they have hostile views, to approach the white seat; as their holy 
men, and holy places, are considered firmly bound to keep good faith and give sure 
refuge.— Adair. 
% Adair, Hist. Am. Inds., pp. 167—169. 
# These things are numerated by Adair, Hist. Am. Inds., pp. 269-270, and 316. 
“Tbid., p. 331. 
