Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-09-01
CREEK INDIANS.

exceedingly interesting and truly authentic
narratives of travels in Florida and South
America. We congratulate our readers
that we are again enabled, by the oblig ling
kindness of justly appreciated friend, to
adorn our columns with similar produc-
ton. The extracts from the journal writ
ten in the Creek nation Of Indians, convey
information at once important and agreea-
bic. Though we every day hear Of oer
Southern and Western sayages, we have
never had sufficiently ample and minute
delineation of their habits, their traditions,
their laws and their sentiments and we re-
ceive, with pleasure, every additional effort
to enlighten our ignorance upon the subject.
Recent events have rendered the Creek and
Seminole Indians, in particular, objects Of
great curiosity and interest and though
we could wish to see observations and facts
thus easily, gracefully, and accurately ex-
hibited, embodied in form more durable
than that Of newspaper column, we shall
always consult the qualification of our rea-
ders, as well as our own editorial pride, by
giving them an early publication in this ill.,
gitive form. Ed. Franklin Gazette.
EXTRACT FROM A JOURNAL WRITTEN IN
THE CREEK NATION OF INDIANS.
9th # he Traakc ~ IN,
form Republican, each town or village e.
lect chief or king, whose authority is ne
yer disputed, so long as he remains in Of
fee. and who represents his town in the
great council at which the business of the
nation is transacted, and where speaker
or head man of the whole is elected. The
military authority is distinct and subordi-
nate to the civil. M'lntosh, the celebrated
warrior, reports to and receives orders from
the civil head Of the government. But al
though their chiefs as thus elected, they are
invested with more power than any legili-
mate sovereign in Europe, and the submls-
sion the people pay 10 taei smperiurs is so
remarkable that they freely submit to the
most arbitrary acts oil the chiefs.
The chiefs of towns execute the laws in
the most summary manner. Murder is pu-
nished among them by putting the murder
er TO death, if he can be found 4; if he alb
scond, they put TO death his nearest male
relation, which exonerates The original ag-
gressor, who may then safely return. IL
man kills a woman, he himselfi is not ese-
cuted for the crime; but they put 10 death
his sister or other near female relation. In
many instances, their laws make relations
responsible for each other; this has created
among them great attention to family
there is little social intercourse, except a.
mong those united by the ties OF blood
The knowledge they have Of the ramifica-
tons and branches, not only OF their own
family, but of those of the whole tribe, is
surprising. No heraldry Office could be
more correct and minute than the heads OF
some of their old men. was once asked
by an Indian who spoke little English,
"You know me ?" answered no. mo"
he exclaimed" why my father killed six
men in one batte;" and was astonished
that any person should not know man
who was thus distinguished by his ancestor.
In one Of the villages passed, there had
been few days before, fracas, at which
a man was killed. The murderer was i'm
mediately secured, and the chief ordered
him TO dig grave for the man he had kill
ed and put him into it. After he had done
/. this, he was told 10 put COW hide over The
man; while doing this, the chief knocked
him in the head. and buried them both TO-
gether, acting himself as judge, jury, exc
| culioner, and sexton.
Nothing marks so much the barbarous,
unciyi!iZed state OF these savages, as the
manner in which their women are treated.
Polygamy is allowed among them, they are
perm ilted to have as many wives as they
are able to support. The consent Of the
woman 10 marriage is never asked. she
| must be bought from her father, to whom
application is made, which, il accompanied
| with presents, is rarely refused, and the
marriage takes place without the parties
| having previously exchanged word with
| each other. An assemblage OF relations TO
drink or TO dance, is all The ceremonial used
on the occasion. From this contract either
party may be divorced, by notifying three
| months before hand, that when the corn IS
ripened il is their intention TO part. The
women are employed in the most servile,
| mental drudgery, working in the field,
cooking, pounding or grinding corn, and
drying tislrare their principal occupations.
A widow is compelled 10 remain single
for four years after the death oil her hus-
band
Attachment to ardent spirits is general
vice among these people. Tecumseh en-
deavored in vain TO eradicate this lnvete.
rate passion.
Tecumseh was the most extraordinary
Indian that has ever appeared in their his.
tory. He was by birth ShawaDees, and
would have been great man in any age
or nation. Independent OF the most conSum-
mate courage and skillas warrior, and all
the characteristic acuteness Of bis race,