The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-08
supERsTITIoNs OF THE CREEKS As Depicted by an Indian Writer.

Charles GlpSOn III lHuihh oouihoA
 There is an animal something like a jackass, but ha double the length or ears and is much smaller in size. He is not more than twenty inches high and is one of those things that you meet at night in lonely places just be- fore a hard rain sets in or has been raining just a light mist, and if there are any little creek bottoms where the trees make it very dark Is good place to see one of these things.
 He will not take you off of horse or buggy, but will stand very quiet in the center of the read. Of course will stop your progress. You never see him any distance because he is always in a very dark place and you always walk or drive spank up to him before you know 1t is impassible-in fact you will find that your route lies in dif- ferent direction. Anyway after getting a peep at him. It is not every one that has the opportunity of seeing this rare animal. He is not dangerous. but is not a pleasant sight to come upon on a dark night-no you are not super stitious, but you are not anxious to meet this thing.
 No-Cos-oma.
 This rare animal IS as large ds grizzly bear.
 Ills business Is to stop you in places where you are always looking Tor ghosts, near some lonely grave or grave yard. This fellow will actually rare up on his hind legs and catch your horse by the bride and stop his progress be- fore your horse knows he is there.
 He will take the trouble to chase you, horse and all. a mile from a grave yard.
 He will chomp his teeth or tusks just like a wild boar. He has long neck and carries his head very near the ground all the time. Most any one can see him by going to places AS above described on a very cloudy night. You have rode by just such places in your tifAe and thought strange If your horse would scare and snort when you strained every nerve in your eyes and saw nothing.
 Let us tell you tha< this strange animal has the strangest oder that mortal man ever inhaled. This curl ous odor is what your horse snorts about, but may not see the no-cos-oma. The next time you go about such a place look out for this animal and tell the editor.
 Stack-wa-na-yer. Is water-snake and If Creek Indian dreads anything on thls earth or under the waters worse then the United States laws 1t is a stack-wa- o-yer. This snake is anywhere be- tween three inches up to fifty feet long. He Is found nearly always in all deep holes of water creeks, riIers or lakes; 1t has more strength than anything on earth of it's weight or size; 1t is not the white mans sea serpent at all; 1t does not live in the sea about sum- mer resorts, but is to be found in the Indian Territory. especially in the Creek nation. Some few years ago the great Alabama prophet notified the public to quit certain crossing on the north fork of the Canadian River as there was stack-wa-na-yer very much aggravated at the people sat that crossing, and 1t would be very danger ous for anyone to cross there. The crossing was finally abandoned. This snake is able to wrap itself about a horoe. deer or COW and drag 1t to its home. The end of the nose Is all that it will eat of anything-it will kill a human being just the same. It has appeared with several different heads -one time 1t has a head like a fawn. then like a large buck, then with a cats head. The Indians are very fond of bathing. but are very careful about going into deep hole of water in any territory streams.