
64 THE MOUND BUILDERS OF TENNESSEE. 
less reverential than those made to the sun and moon. Simi- 7. 
lar customs prevailed on the west bank of this great river. 
In the morning every Indian presented himself at the en- 
trance of his cabin, and extending his hands toward the 
sun, as his first ray beamed from the eastern horizon, ad- 
dressed a rude but fervent hymn of adoration to his glory. 
during the day; and they were particularly careful that his 
last ray should strike their heads. 
A remarkable temple was situated in the town of Talmaco, 
upon the Savannah River, three miles distant from Cutifachi- 
que, near Silver Bluff. It was more than one hundred feet 
in length, and fifty feet in width. The walls were high in 
proportion, and the roof steep and covered with mats of 
split cane, interwoven so compaetly that they resembled the 
rush carpeting of the Moors. The roof was covered with 
shells of various kinds, arranged in an ingenious manner. 
On the inside beautiful festoons of pearls, plumes and shells 
extended along the sides down to the floor. The temple was 
entered by three gates, guarded by gigantie wooden statues, 
some of which were armed with drawn bows and long pikes, 
and others with copper hatchets. On the sides of the walls 
were large benches, in which sat boxes containing the de- 
ceased chiefs and their families. "Three rows of chests full 
of valuable pearls occupied the middle of the temple. The 








fhde of feathers. | 
Upon the route through Alabama and the neighboring 
States, De Soto found the temples full of human bones. The 
large towns contained stone houses, filled with rich and com- 
fortable clothing, such as mantles of hemp, and fasihers of 
i every - color a ee . The 
1 i £ 


