The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-01-10

northwestern portion of that land.
Uniting with Montezuma in the ae-
Tense Of their country they were de-
feated, and not being willing to submit
to Spanish tyrrany they determined on
a movement eastward. In 1920 they
commenced z six months journey and
finally settled on Red River, fishing
and game being plentiful, they remain
ed some time to recueerate.
The Aiabamas, also supposed to be
a wandering tribe from the west. came
in conflict with the Creeks, resulting
in the death of several of the latters
hunting party. Oyertaldng the Ala
bamas some months later on the Mis-
souri, river, the Creeks defeated them
The vanquished tribe fled 10 the Mis-
sissippi, and being again attacked were
driven to the Ohio, and subsequently
to the Yazoo. FIFTEEN years after the
Greeks left Mexico they settled on
the Ohio river, where the country was
well adapted to their peculiar customs
Coming in contact with, they suhiu-
gated many minor tribes, and in 1903
the Tuckabatches and AlabamaS en-
tered into a treaty with the Creeks
becoming part of them. which origi-
IldleQ the NlICSh COIlCuClclSS liz
trprise of the Juckabatches was socn
made apparent by the large towns
they built They brought with them
some curious plates.
The object Of these copper and brass
plates has p zled scientific men of the
past and present, five out of the seven
are copper, the other two brass one
of the copper plates is eighteen inches
long by seven wide, the other four are
smaller The two brass plates are
eighteen inches in diameter and about
the thickness of a silver dollar, stamp
ed dinlly with Ale combined. The ira
dition goes that these peculiar metal
plates were given to them by their
ancestors, instructions accompanying
the plates that they We're to be hand
led only by particularly designated
men. No unclean woman should be
permitted TO come near them, or the
place of their deposit. These orders
have so far been sacredly kept, the
plates buried under the Mscao, or
kings cabin.
THANKSGIVINGS CEREMONIES.
Before the Indians would partake of
corn when first ripened in the fall.
they hold the green corn dance, the
most important of their religious cere-
monies In course of preparation pre-
vious TO this feast, buss or black drink
is participated in, consisting of tea
made from leaves of N'arsee a small
bu. or plant; being a. powerful emetic.
this tea has the effect Of cleansing the
system and preparing the stomach for
the great corn feast. The whole
band usually assemblies when cele-
brating the Iipening of Indian
coin. and before partaking Of 1t give
thanks in their way, to the great
spirit for His protecting care during
the past year and giving them the
<rnf6nr 10
At the green corn dance the warriors
and woman gather around the great
fre4and commence dancing while they
sing songs expressive of gratitude, but
should famine or pestilence overtake
them, or have many warriors fall in
battle, lamentation is intermingled
with the song such calamities are us
ually attributed to the crimes of the
people with the spirit or repentance
they invoke the great spirit to forgive
them. On the fourth day one of the
high prophets would bring out the
, brass plates, when in connection with
the green corn the brass plate dance
was enacted Before disbursing, fire
was produced by rubbing two sticks
together and sent from camp to camp
as an expression of friendship. Dur
ing the celebration, usually lasting sew
eral days, should a criminal escape
end get in the charmed ring, or in the
square during the dance he is consid-
cred under the protection Of the great
Spirit which brought about his par
don These old customs are followed
10 some extent now, the plates are
kept hidden until the fourth day of the
festival, and there used in the accus
toned way. Like the ark of the cove
nant when the Israelites carried it in
the wilderness, the Indians kept sacred
their plates. During their exodus from
the east, moving as they did in 1885,
TO Indian Territory, they strapped the
plates on the backs Of six chosen war
riors. lead by their chief Spokeooh
MUccO, one mile in advance Of tbs
party where they were not permitted
to communicate with their tribe The
full blood Indian believe that grea,
danger and even fatality will attend
any unauthorized person who touone:
or Intentionally looks upon these sa.
cred relics. Readily complying will
a request made upon them, IN the vaal
1920, the Greeks adopted as citizens
remnants Of the Tusk5ees, Azsills and
Natchez Indians, swelling their number
till seventy years later they became 2
great people, numbering sevanty-se CT
towns, fOrty-nine upp.r ami twenty
eight lower, besides the eigh- origina
Muskogee clans The Creek confeder
acy was under the government IF cnt
great chief. prince Or king. assisted *
upper and the other the lover town
Besides these, each town had kins
or chief magistrate, who represented
the people of the town from wIic.i they
came, at their general councils, thes,
representa- tives with the title Of Mice,
or ldng come with the name of tfei
respective town attached to them
These positions We're usually held for
life time. During the five years be
tween 1879 and 1894 the Creek,
gave the United States govern
Skirnishes took place between then
and the whites. Fifteen years late
Tecumthe, a cross between a Musko
gee and a Shawnee, conceived the ides
OF uniting the various Indian tribe
and forming one great confederacy
for the purpose of expelling white in
tTuders from their land. IN 1912 the,
united with Great Britain against tn
United States. A division arose anon;
them when the United States proposed
to move them to the west, part wiliin.
to go. probably, while the others wer
decidedly opposed to the proposition
In 1924 a law was framed, maxim,
sales OF land invalid except rattle,
by general council. under penalty o
death. Notwithstanding the law. OF
the 18th of February, the followin;
year. thirteen chiefs signed a treat.
Of conve vance. and on the End of May
two chiefs were shot down as the Law
provided. In 1927, the chief and coun
ell met and accepted a proposition
made by agents from the government
to move to Indian Territory. Unde
the leadership of Chilly Mcintosh emf
grafton commenced the same year, an
continued until all were moved t
their new home. During the exodus