Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-10-07
CREEK INDIANS.

CREEK INDIANS.
notwithstanding our vicinity 10 tbe
Greek Indians, few of us know any thing
OF their manners and customs. The fol-
lowing articles on this subject, are copied
from manuscript. Sketch ofMe Creek
.Nafion," drawn up by col. Hawkins sopn
after being appointed Agent for Indian Az
fairs. Having been permitted to make
extracts from this valuable work, we shall
from time to time present our readers with
such parts oft as we may conceive most
Interesting:
War.--'This is always determined ON
by the great Warrior. When the hl;cco
and Counsel.ors are of opinion the town
has been injured, he lifts the war-hatchet
against the nation that has injured them.
But as soon as it is taken up, the Niece
and Councillors may interfere, and by.
their prudent counseIs stop it, and pro-
coed to adjust the misunderstanding by ne
gotiation.
1t The great warrior persist, and ooes
out, he is followed by all who are for War.
II is seldom town is unanimous !. tae ma :
ton never is; and within the memory of
the oldest man among them, it is not recol.
lected, that more than one half of the ma
ton have been for war at the same time.
Ior taken, as they express it, the war talk
The Great Warrior when he marches
gives notice where he shall encamn s anJ
sets oil sometimes with one or two only
He tires off his gun and sets off the JI1ar-
hoop. This Is repeated by all who follow
nm, and they are sometimes for one mr.
two nights marching off,.
Peace is invariably concluded bv 4be
Niece and counsellOrs, and peace talksare
always addressed to the cabin of the M;cco
In some cases when the resentment of fine
Warriors has run high, the Niece and
counsel have been embarrassed.
niGTrldge.-A man who wants a wife
never applies in person. He sends Lis
sister, his mother, or some other female -.
iatons to the woman he marries. They
consult the brothers and uncles on the ma
ternal side, and sometimes the father !.
but this IS compliment only, as his an,
probation or opposition is Of no avail. ff
the party applied to approve of the match
they answer accordingly to the woman
who made the application. The bride.
groom then gets together blanket aud
such other articles of cloathiBg as he e
able to do, and sends them by fRe females
to the women or the family of the bride
Ii they accept them, the match is made.
AMI the man may then go to her house 81
soOnas he thuses. When he has b,i;lf !
house, made hrs crop and gathered it in
made ms hunt, brought home the meat and
put all thisin the possession of his wife.
The ceremony ends, and they are married |:
OF, as they express it, the aC0nan is bound.
From the first going to the house of the wn.
man till the ceremony ends, he Is com.
pletely in possession Of her.
This law has been understood different.
~ by some hasty cuckoIds, who insist mat
when they have helped the woman to plant
her crop, the ceremony ends and the wo-
man IS bound. A man never marries in
his own tribe.
Uivorce is at the choice of either oftbe
part'es. The man may marry again as
soon as he will, but the woman IS bound
till all the BOosketeau Of that year are over
-exceptlng in the cases of marriage and
parting ~ the season when there IS no
planting; or, more properly speaking.
during the season the man resides at the
house OF the woman, has possession of her
pending the marriage ceremony in that
case, the woman is equally free to connect
herself as soon as she pleases.
| There is an inconsistency in the excep-
ton mentioned above, as in such season
there can be nomariiage but the chiefs in
their repOrt on this article, mentioned Il as
an exception, and this practice in the ca
ses Of half marriage prevails universally.-
as soon as a man goes to the house Of his
BRIDE he is in complete possession of her
I'LL the ceremony ends, and during this pc
Rod the exception viii apply1
Marriage gives no right to the husband
over the property Of bis wife and when
they part, she keeps the children and pro-
lperty belonging to them.
.9futie1y is punished by the family
TRIBE OF the husband. They collect. con
Isnlt and decree. If the proof is clear
land they determine to punish the Of
TENDERS, they divide and proceed to appre.