502 MYTHS OF THE CHEROKEE [r.Tn.ANN.19 



as a matter of popular belief, shaped by tribal custom ami ritual. The question of 

 fact is for the archeologist to decide. The Indian statement is of value, however, 

 in showing the supposed requirements for the solemn consecration of an imjiortant 

 work. 



A note by John Howard Payne upon the sacred square of the Creeks, as observed 

 by him in 1835, just before his visit to the Cherokee, may throw further light on 

 the jiroblem: "In the center of this outer square was a very high circular mound. 

 This, it seems, was formed froui the earth accumulated yearly Ijy removing the 

 surface of the sacred square thither. At every Green-corn festival the sacred square 

 is strewn with soil yet untrodden; the soil of the year preceding Ijeing taken away, 

 but preserved as above explained. No stranger's foot is allowed to press the new 

 earth of the sacred square until its consecration is complete" (Letter of 1S3.5 in 

 Continental Monthly, New York, 1862, p. 19). See note on the sacred tire. 



Conjured Kiith disenxe — The practice of conjuring certain favorite spots in order to 

 render them fatal to an invading enemy was conunon to many if not to all tribes. One 

 of the most terrible battles of the Creek war was fought upon the "Holy ground," 

 so called because it was believed by the Indians that in consequence of the mystic 

 rites which had been performed there for that purpose by their prophets, no white 

 troops could set foot upon it and live. 



The sacred fire — The method described for producing fire and keeping it constantly 

 smoldering in the townhouse appears to have been that actually in use in ancient 

 times, as indicated by the name given to the plant {atsil'-sfyltl) , and corroborated 

 by the unanimous testimony of the old people. All the older East Cherokee believe 

 that the ancient tire still burns within the mounds at Franklin and Bryson City, and 

 those men who were stationed for a time near the latter place while in the Confed- 

 erate service, during the Civil war, assert that they frequently saw the smoke rising 

 from tlie adjacent mound. 



The missionary Buttrick, from old Cherokee authority, says: "They were obliged 

 to make new fire for .sacred purposes by rubbing two pieces of dry wood together, 

 with a certain weed, called golden rod, dry, between them. . . . When their 

 enemies destroyed the house in which this holy fire was kept, it was said the fire 

 settled down into the earth, where it still lives, though unknown to the people. The 

 place where they lost this holy fire is somewhere in one of the Carolinas" 

 (Antiquities, p. 9). 



The general accuracy of Swimmer's account is strikingly confirmed by the descrip- 

 tion of the New-fire ceremony given more than half a century before by John 

 Howard Payne, the poet, who had gone among the Cherokee to study their ethnol- 

 ogy and was engaged in that work when arrested, together with John Ross, by the 

 Georgia guard in 1885. He makes the kindling of the new fire a part of the annual 

 spring festival. At that time, says Payne, "the altar in the center of the national 

 heptagon [i. e. townhouse] was rtyiaired. It was constructed of a conical shape, of 

 fresh earth. A circle was drawn around the tojj to receive the fire of sacrifice. Upon 

 this was laid, ready for use, the inner bark of seven different kinds of trees. This 

 bark was carefully chosen from the east side of the trees, and was clear and free 

 from blemish." After some days of preliminary purilication, sacrifice, and other cere- 

 monial performances, the day appointed for the kimiling of the new fire arrived. 



" Early in the morning the seven persons who were commissioned to kindle the 

 fire commenced their operations. One was the official fire-maker; the remaining six 

 his asfsistants. A hearth was carefully cleared and prepared. A round hole being 

 made in a block of wood, a small quantity of dry golden-rod weed w'as placed in it. 

 A stick, the end of which just fitted the opening, was whirled rapidly until the weed 

 took fire. The flame was then kindled on the hearth and thence taken to every 

 house by the women, who collectively waited for that purpose. The old fires having 

 been everywhere extinguisheil, and the lieaiths cleansed, new fires were lighted 



