136 



APPENDIX. 



decorated with the scalps of slain enemies, suspended by strings from the top. 

 They are often crowned with the white dry skull of an enemy. 



" It thus appears that this area is designed for a public place of exhibition, for 

 shows, games, etc. Formerly, there is little doubt, most barbarous and tragical 

 scenes were enacted within them, such as the torturing and burning of captives, 

 who were here forced to run the gaunlet, bruised and beaten with sticks and 

 burning chunks of wood. The Indians do not now practise these cruelties ; but 

 there are some old traders who have witnessed them in former times. I inquired 

 of these traders for what reason these areas were called ' C/mnA; Yards ;^ they 

 were in general ignorant, yet, for the most part, concurred in a lame story that it 

 originated in the circumstance of its having been a place of torture, and that the 

 name was but an interpretation of the Indian term designating them.* 



"I observed none of these yards in use in any of the Cherokee towns ; and 

 where I have mentioned them, in the Cherokee country, it must be understood 

 that I saw only the remains or vestiges of them among the ruins of ancient towns, 

 In the existing Cherokee towns which I visited, although there were ancient mounds 

 and signs of the yard adjoining, yet the yard was either built upon or turned into 

 a garden plat, or otherwise appropriated. Indeed, I am convinced that the Chunk 

 Yards now or lately in use among the Creeks are of very ancient date, and not 

 the work of the present Indians ; although they are now kept in repair by them, 

 being swept very clean every day, and the poles kept up and decorated in the 

 manner I have described. 



" The following plan. Fig. 37, will illustrate the 

 form and character of these yards. 



"A. The great area, surrounded by terraces or 

 banks. 



" B. A circular eminence, at one end of the yard, 

 commonly nine or ten feet higher than the ground 

 round about. Upon this mound stands the great 

 Rotunda, Hot House, or Winter Council House of 

 the present Creeks. It was "probably designed and 

 used by the ancients who constructed it, for the same 

 purpose. 

 * " C. A square terrace or eminence, about the same 

 height with the circular one just described, occupying 

 a position at the other end of the yard. Upon this 

 stands the Public Square. 



" The banks enclosing the yard are indicated by 

 Fig 37 the letters h, h, b, b; c indicates the ' Chunk Pole,'' 



and d, d, the ' Slaie Posts ' 



* According to Adair, Du Pratz, and other writers, the Cherokees and probably the Creeks were much 

 addicted to a singular game, played with a rod or pole and a circular stone, which w^as called cJmnc/tce. 

 Mr, Catjin describes this game as still existing under the name of " Tclmng-.kee," among the Minitarees 



