MOUNDVILLE REVISITED. 349 
something like a round and very large fly-fan, with a cross similar to that of the 
Knights of the Order of St. John of Rhodes, in the middle of a black field, and 
the cross was white." ! 
Though the accounts given by the chroniclers of the DeSoto expedition differ 
as to this banner, yet if we follow the description of Ranjel, an eyewitness, it is no 
hard task to recognize the swastika emblazoned on the standard of Tuscaloosa.? for 
although there is some difference in form between the swastika and the cross of 
the Knights of St. John, yet it is probable, as their cross was white on a black 
ground, like that of Tuscaloosa, that Ranjel gave more attention to this striking 
feature than to mere details of shape. 
x 
\ 
Fria. 6.—Vessel No. 28. Ground south of Mound D. Decoration showing swastika and also cross 
of the four directions. (About half size.) 
Vessel No. 28 from the ground south of Mound D, is a cup having a rather 
faint decoration (Fig. 6) on the base, a swastika within three concentric circles; and 
1“ Narratives of DeSoto.” Vol. II. “Relation of Ranjel," translated by Prof. Edward Gay- 
lord Bourne, page 121. "The paragraph is from Oviedo's * Historia General y Natural de las Indias,” 
Vol. I, 567. 
Th ur ex province, and the cacique bore the same name. Theodore Irving, “Conquest of 
Florida, 5 "verd 
Tas ue is веб Creek for * Black Warrior.” Т. Н. Lewis, “Spanish Explorers,” “ Expedi- 
tion of DeSoto, ” p. 186. 
