648 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 187 



(Anghierra, 1912, pp. 259-2G5; Swanton, 1922, pp. 43-i4). Farther 

 on we read : "Their kings are of gigantic size, as we have already men- 

 tioned. All the provinces we have named pay them tributes and these 

 tributes are paid in kind" (Anghierra, 1912, pp. 265-267; Swanton, 

 1922, p. 45). Finally, the ceremonialism used toward the chief is 

 suggestive of that employed before the chiefs of the Natchez and 

 Taensa : 



It is quite laughable to hear how the people salute the lords and how the king 

 responds, especially to his nobles. As a sign of respect the one who salutes puts 

 his hands to his nostrils and gives a bellow like a bull, after which he extends 

 his hands toward the forehead and in front of the face. The king does not bother 

 to return the salutes of his people, and responds to the nobles by half bending his 

 head toward the left shoulder without saying anything. (Anghierra, 1912, pp. 

 266-267; Swanton, 1922, p. 46.) 



The aristocratic nature of Timucua society and the great power of 

 Timucua chiefs is evident from information contained in both French 

 and Spanish documents. Pare j a gives a description of several line- 

 ages which is somewhat obscure but seems to indicate a sort of caste 

 system resembling that of the Natchez (Pareja, 1612, pp. 130-133; 

 Swanton, 1922, p. 370). 



From Pareja's catechism it also appears that chiefs were allowed to 

 exact tribute from their subjects, and that they sometimes punished 

 those who were disobedient by having their arms broken. Moreover, 

 the French witnessed the punishment of two men, for negligence when 

 on watch, who were beaten on the head with a club made of very hard 

 wood (Le Moyne, 1875, p. 12; Swanton, 1922, p. 380). A chief some- 

 times wore a long, painted skin the ends of which were held up by 

 another Indian in a manner rather suspiciously suggestive of Euro- 

 pean courts, but this custom is directly attested by Laudonniere as an 

 eyewitness. When the chief married, his bride was brought to him 

 in great state seated on a litter, and when he died he was buried with 

 ceremony, friendly chiefs participating in the mourning, and special 

 female mourners assisting. When councils were held, the chief's seat 

 was raised to a greater height than those of the others, or at least was 

 distinguished from theirs. Thither came his "nobles" and saluted 

 him in turn, 



the oldest first, by lifting both hands twice to the height of the head and saying, 

 "Ha, he, ya, ha, ha." To this the rest answer, "Ha, ha." Each as he completes 

 his salutation, takes his seat on the bench. 



When they were to hold a council with the French or some tribe away 

 from home, men were sent on ahead to erect an arbor. The state 

 observed by chiefs in conducting a war expedition also testifies to their 

 power, and this was particularly in evidence in that observed by the 

 Timucua or Utina chief (Laudonniere, 1586, p. 9; Le Moyne, 1785, 

 pp. 6-7, 11-12; Swanton, 1922, pp. 374-375, 377-378). Each greater 



