ABOIUGINAL SACRED ENCLOSURES. 



137 



" Sometimes the square, instead of being open at the ends, as shown in the 

 plan, is closed upon all sides by the banks. In the lately built or new Creek 

 towns, they do not raise a mound for the foundation of their rotundas or public 

 squares. The yard, however, is retained, and the public buildings occupy nearly 

 the same position in respect to it. They also retain the central obelisk and the 

 slave posts. 



ARRANGEAiENT OF THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 



" The following engraving. Fig. 38, exhibits the most common plan or arrange- 

 ment of the Chunk Yard, Public Square, and Rotunda, in the modern Creek towns. 



" A. The Public Square. 



" B. The Rotunda : a, the entrance opening towards the square ; the three cir- 

 cular lines show the rows of seats or rude sofas ; the punctures show the posts 

 or columns which support the building ; c, the great central pillar, surrounded by 

 the spiral fire which gives light to the edifice.* 



" C. Part of the Chunk Yard. 



" Within this Rotunda, they seem to keep the Eternal Fire, where it is guarded 



and other tribes on the Missouri. It also prevailed among some of the Ohio Indians. It has been sug- 

 gested that the areas called chunk or chunky yards by Bartram, derived their names from the circumstance 

 that they were, amongst other objects, devoted to games, among which, that of the chunghe was prominent. 

 This suggestion derives some support from Adair, who says, " They have, near then- State House, a square 

 piece of ground, well cleared ; and fine sand is strewn over it when requisite to promote a swifter motion 

 to what they throw along it," — [American Indians, p. 402.) It is therefore not improbable that these 

 square areas were denominated chungke yards. 



* It is to be regretted that our author has not given the dimensions of the " Rotunda." It would be 

 interesting to know how it would compare, in that respect, with the small circles so common throughout the 

 West. 



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