A IJ O R I G I N A 1, S A C R ED EN C 1. S U R E S . 135 



finding, within " the Sacred Square," and standing near its western side, a Sanctum 

 Saiictorum, or most holy place, enclosed by a mud-wall about breast high. It was 

 here that the consecrated vessels of earthen ware, conch-shells, etc., were depo- 

 sited. This sacred place, according to our authority, could not be approached 

 by any but the magi or priests. Indeed, so great a holiness attached to the sacred 

 squares themselves, that it was believed if the great annual sacrifice were made 

 elsewhere, it would not only be unavailable for the purposes required, but bring 

 down the anger of the god to propitiate whose favor it was instituted, viz., the 

 genial god, the god of almost universal adoration amongst rude people, the fountain 

 of heat and light, the divine fire, The Sun ! Within this square, at least at the 

 time of the great festival, the women were not allowed to enter, nor those persons 

 who had neglected to comply with certain prescribed purifying ceremonies, or who 

 had been guilty of certain specified crimes. 



The deficiencies in Adair's account are supplied to a considerable extent by 

 Bartram, in a MS. work on the Creek Indians, now in possession of Dr. S. G. 

 Morton, of Philadelphia. He not only describes the " public squares" alluded to 

 by Adair, in which the religious ceremonies of the Indians were performed, and 

 their deliberative councils held, but also communicates the interesting and im- 

 portant fact that they sometimes appropriated to their purposes the ancient enclo- 

 sures and other monuments found in the country, and concerning the origin of 

 which they professed no knowledge. His account, apart from its bearings on the 

 questions before us, has a general interest which justifies its insertion entire. 



" Chunk Yards. — The ' Chunk Yards' of the Muscogulges or Creeks, are rec- 

 tangular areas, generally occupying the centre of the town. The Public Square 

 and Rotunda, or Great Winter Council House, stand at the two opposite corners 

 of them. They are generally very extensive, especially in the large, old towns : 

 some of them are from six to nine hundred feet in length, and of proportionate 

 breadth. The area is exactly level, and sunk two, sometimes three feet below the 

 banks or terraces surrounding them, which are occasionally two in number, one 

 behind and above the other, and composed of the earth taken from the area at the 

 time of its formation. These banks or terraces serve the purpose of seats for 

 spectators. In the centre of this yard or area there is a low circular mound or 

 eminence, in the middle of which stands erect the ' Chunk Pole,' which is a high 

 obelisk or four-square pillar dechning upwards to an obtuse point.* This is of 

 wood, the heart or inward resinous part of a sound pine tree, and is very durable ; 

 it is generally from thirty to forty feet in height, and to the top is fastened some 

 object which serves as a mark to shoot at, with arrows or the rifle, at certain 

 appointed times. Near each corner of one end of the yard stands erect a less 

 pole or pillar, about twelve feet high, called a ' slave post,' for the reason that to 

 them are bound the captives condemned to be burnt. These posts are usually 



* 'this pole, it may here be observed, corresponds in position with certain erect stones, found by Mr, 

 Stephens and other travellers, occupying the centre of the areas enclosed by the temples of Central America 

 and Yucatan, and which, as will be seen in due time, were undoubtedly phallic emblems. 



