The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-20

'om an historical standpoint.
"one of the most extraordinary
legends concerns their supposed
temples found By DeSoto and his men.
These structures We're built OF up-
right canes and although apparent
~ insecure, contained vast wealth of
pearls and precious stones But IL
may have been possible that security
was obtained by playing on the re-
ligious or superstitious side of the
people to guard the treasures. The
entrance to the temples was guarded
by statues which resembled the FISH
god of the Egyptians and were so
placed that the statues fell upon an
intruder who made bold enough to
thrust himself within.
Lost AtIantean Race
Right here we may trace the Creek
INDIANS PACK anthropologically to the
Inhabitants Of the lost continent OF
Atlantis. As is known, the Atlantean
race had its origin in the civilizations
of ancient Egypt, when the continent
or Africa was Joined to the MAIN
land OF what is now called Europe;
and was also Joined to the Atlantean
continent which lay in and extended
across the Atlantic ocean. When the
land of Atlantis by slow degrees was
submerged beneath the sea. num-
bers of her people, knowing in ad-
vance her inevitable end, migrated
westward and became the pioneers of
our own American continent. So
striking is the resemblance Of ruins
round in Yucatan to those of ancient
times. that It has been called the
Egypt of the Western World.
From MexicoT
81
came from Mexico in the dawn OF
time. and selected the south as their
Nbeme, and this particular northeast
to-southeast section of Alabama as
their hunting ground. because it was
so we'll watered by mountain streams
But nothing connects them so strong
ly with Atlantis and prior civiliza-
ton as those figures in their temples
having crowns like fish mouths for
their heads
I'VE are all familiar with the story
of Columbus and his Amaze sailors.
the latter being able to talk with the
American Indians. The Anzacs re-
side on the coast of France and speak
a language peculiarly their own 1t
is noteworthy that they claim to be
survivors of the lost continent of
Atlantis. +.
Legends Galore
IF we wish to consider the ques-
tion of the Creek Indian survival
from Atlantis psyohologically, il is
| only necessary to recall another
| legend, which tells that Atlantis sank
beneath the waves as punishment
to her people because they misused
their mental power and began to
! practice necromancy, black magic,
and what not.
Tracing the analogy to the Creeks,
we find that they believed in the
supernatural powers of their rain
maker, their medicine men and their
prophets and perhaps they did have
unusual powers.
"Tecpmseh, an Indian of Creek ORR
gin, whose parents had migrated
north before his birth, came back to
the land of his ancestors with a great
project in his brain.
Dream of Empire
When he was returning to his Ohio
home, a disappointed man because he
could not carry through to accom-
plishment his dream OF Creek en-
pire, he hurled Anthema at those who
opposed him in the following words:
Your blood Is white You do not
believe the Great Spirit sent me. You
shall behave 1t. will leave directly
and go straight to Detroit. and when
get there I shall stamp my foot
upon the ground and shake every
house in Tuckabatchee.'
'Tecumseh evidently believed he
had powers And perhaps he did have
unusual powers. Who knows? The
Creeks believed he was stamping his
foot when earthquakes were frequent
in 1911.
Blanket Making
In periods of peace the Indians
wove blankets by the basketry
process, using wool. hair, fur, feathers
and down in the making. These
blankets served for partitions, doors.
awnings and sunshades. The squaws
dried fruit on them. and fashioned
them into vehicles and cradles. They
became very skilled in fine weaving
and embroidery, so that the blanket
finally became , standard of value
and a medium OF exchange in bar
gaining. Blankets were used as
covering for beds and were also worn
as a toga to protect the boy from
the weather, although the Indian
was stole and delighted to boast
of his Indifference to cold.
Made Black Drink
The Creeks also used as an article
of trade the leaves and young shoots
OF the common lick or holly. These
were dried. roasted and stored in
baskets, and from them was made the
celebrated black drink. which was
either an emetic. purgative or IN
toxicant according to the amount i'm
bibed.
I'm common with all other indian
tribes. the Creeks made baskets, but
il is said that they exceHed in bas-
L atrv and woven willow trays They
made huge storage baskets when
were bag -like in character: smaller
carrying basket, and still smaller
Gathering basket about 16 inches