Letter VIE.

Mobile, in the State of Alabama, 3d April, 1820.

We left Ouchee Bridge on the 26th of May; and early in the afternoon, arrived at Fort Bainbridge, where we found a stand in which the

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Big Warrior" is a sleeping partner, and a head waiter from one of the principal inns in Washington, the efficient man. There is, however, another partner, of the name of Lewis, whom I found highly interesting, He had lived fifteen years in the heart of the Indian country, having married an Indian wife, and adopted the manners of the natives. He peared to unite great mildness and intelligence; and has contracted so ardent a love of solitude, by living in the woods, that he lately removed his stand from the most profitable situation, because there was a neighbour or two within four miles.*

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"Beside a house in the village, they have generally in their conucos, near some spring, or at the entrance of a solitary valley, a small hut, covered with the leaves of the palm or plaintain tree. Though they live less commodiously in the conuco, they love to retire thither as often as they

As he was going out to hunt in the woods, for an hour or two, at sun-set, I accompanied him, glad of the opportunity of learning some particulars of the Creek Indians, from one so long and so intimately acquainted with them. The common mode of hunting here is with a couple of hounds and a gun. The dogs soon started a grey fox, which, after running about two miles, ascended a tree. They announced that they had "treed it," as our hunter termed it, by altering their cry, when Lewis hastened to the spot and shot it. Panthers* are treed and shot in a similar manner.

Lewis told me that the "Big Warrior" and the "Little Prince" are the chief speakers of the nation, or the heads of the civil department. Their dignity is not strictly hereditary, although some of the family usually succeed to it, if there be no particular objection. The chief speakers are by no means necessarily the principal orators, but may employ a fluent chief to convey their sentiments. Their office is to carry into effect the

can. We have already spoken of their irresistible desire of fleeing from society, and of entering again on a savage life. Among civilized nations, the passion for hunting is owing, perhaps, in part to the same sentiments, to the charm of solitude, to the innate desire of independence, to the deep impression made by nature, whenever man finds himself in company with her alone."-Humboldt.

* See Note, page 123.

decisions of the great council of the nation; a deliberative body, composed of chiefs from the different towns. They assemble at Tlekotska, about fifteen miles from Ouchee Creek. They cultivate eloquence with great attention, practising in private, or when hunting in small parties in the woods.

The most popular and influential person in the nation, is Mackintosh, the head warrior, a half-breed, under forty years of age, who is consulted on every occasion, and who, in a great measure, directs the affairs of his country. I saw him at Washington in the beginning of the year, on a deputation to the American government. His suite were at the inn where I staid; and on inquiring from one of his aidesdu-camp, as I believed, (for they adopt our military terms,) if General Mackintosh had arrived, I was a little startled by his replying, "I am Mackintosh." He was very civil, and gave me an invitation to visit him, if I passed through the Creek nation, which at that time I did not contemplate.

My host regretted, in the most feeling terms, the injury which the morals of the Indians have sustained from intercourse with the whites; and especially from the introduction of whiskey, which has been their bane. He said that

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female licentiousness before marriage is very general, and not attended with loss of character; but that conjugal infidelity is punished by whipping, shaving the head of the culprit, and sending her naked into perpetual exile; the husband being liable to suffer the same severities, if he connive at the return of his offending wife. The murderer is now executed by public authority, the law of private retaliation becoming gradually obsolete. Stealing is punished, for the first offence, by whipping; for the second, by the loss of the ears; for the third, by death: the punishment having no relation to the amount stolen. My host remembers when there was no law against stealing; the crime itself being almost unknown; when the Indians would go a hunting, or "frolicking," for one or two days, leaving their clothes on the bushes opposite their wigwams, in a populous neighbourhood, or their silver trinkets and ornaments hanging in their open huts.* Confidence and

* "The Abipones of Paraguay are often and long absent from their homes, during which time they leave their little property without a guard, or even a door, exposed to the eyes and hands of all, with no apprehension of the loss of it, and on their return from a long journey, find every thing untouched. The doors, locks, bars, chests, and guards, with which Europeans defend their possessions from thieves, are things unknown to the Abipones, and quite unnecessary to them."-Dobrizhoffer.

generosity were then their characteristic virtues. A desire of gain, caught from the whites, has chilled their liberality; and abused credulity, has taught them suspicion and deceit.

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considers them still attached to the English, although disappointed in the little assistance which they have derived from them in late wars. This, however, they attribute rather to the distance of the British, which renders them less valuable allies than they expected, than to a treacherous violation of their promises. Whatever the first glow of British feeling may dictate, on hearing of their attachment, enlightened humanity will not repine, if, under their present circumstances, they are becoming daily more closely connected with the American government, which has evinced an active solicitude for their civilization.

Our recluse told us that they have a general idea of a Supreme Being; but no religious days, nor any religious rites, unless, as he is disposed to believe, their green-corn dance be one. Before the corn turns yellow, the inhabitants of each town or district assemble, and a certain number enter the streets of what is more properly called the town, with the war-whoop and savage yells, firing their arrows in the air, and going several times round the pole. They then