45^ "TRAVELS ft* 
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 neigh- 
bour’s fkin. 
The great or public fquare generally (lands 
alone, in the centre and highefl part of the town : 
it eonffils of four-fquare or cubical buildings, or 
houfes of one (lory, uniform, and of the fame 
dimenfions, fo fituated as to form an exadt tetragon, 
cncompafiing an area of half an acre of ground, 
more or lefs, according to the ftrength or largenefs 
of the town, or will of the inhabitants : there Is 
a pafiage or avenue at each corner of equal width : 
each building is conftrudted of a wooden frame fixed 
ftrongly in the earth, the walls filled in and neatly 
plaiftered with clay mortar ; clofe on three iides, 
that is the back and two ends, except within about 
two feet of the wall plate or eves, which is left open 
for the purpofe of a window and to admit a free 
pafiage of the air 5 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, afiemble 
every day in council, to hear, decide and rectify 
all grievances, complaints and contentions, arif- 
ing betwixt the citizens; give audience to am- 
bafiadors, and ftrangers; hear news and talks 
from confederate towns, allies or diftant nations ; 
confult about the particular affairs of the town* 
as eredting habitations for new citizens, or eftab- 
lifhing young families, concerning agriculture* 
&c* This building is fomewhat different from 
the 
