TRAVELS IN 
45 ^ 
hand of the mico by a flave, and prefented to the 
chief white man, and then to the great war chief, 
whence it circulates through the rank of head 
men and warriors, then returns to the king. After 
this each one fills his pipe from his own or his 
neighbour’s ikin. 
The great or public fquare generally ftands 
alone, in the centre and higheft part of the 
town : it conlifts of four-fquare or cubical build- 
ings, or houfes of one ftory, uniform, and of the 
fame dimenfions, fo fituated as to form an exadt 
tetragon, encompaffing an area of half an acre of 
ground, more or lefs, according to the ftrength 
or largenefs of the town, or will of the inhabi- 
tants : there is a palTage or avenue at each corner 
of equal width : each building is conflrudted of 
a wooden frame fixed flrongly in the earth, the 
walls filled in, and neatly plaiftered with clay 
mortar; dole on three lides, that is the back and 
two ends, except within about two feet of the 
wall plate or eves, which is left open for the pur- 
pofe of a window and to admit a free paffage of 
the air ; the front or fide next to the area is quite 
open like a piazza. One of thefe buildings is 
properly the council houfe, where the mico, 
chiefs, and warriors, with the citizens who have 
bufinefs, or choofe to repair thither, affemble 
every day in council, to hear, decide and redify 
all grievances, complaints and contentions, arif- 
ing betwixt the citizens ; give audience to am- 
baffadors, and ftrangers ; hear news and talks 
from confederate towns, allies or diftant nations ; 
confult about the particular affairs of the town, 
as erecting habitations for new citizens, or eftab- 
lifhing young families, concerning agriculture. 
This building is fomewhat different from 
the 
