Chapter III: The Creek Indians (1)

The Creek Indians or Maskoki proper occupy, in historic times, a central position among the other tribes of their affiliation, and through their influence and physical power, which they attained by forming a comparatively strong and permanent national union, have become the most noteworthy of all the Southern tribes of the United States territories. They still form a compact body of Indians for themselves, and their history, customs and antiquities can be studied at the present time almost as well as they could at the beginning of the nineteenth century. But personal presence among the Creeks in the Indian Territory is necessary to obtain from them all the information which is needed for the purposes of ethnologic science.

There is a tradition that when the Creek people incorporated tribes of other nations into their confederacy, these tribes never kept up their own customs and peculiarities for any length of time, but were subdued in such a manner as to conform with the dominant race. As a confirmation of this, it is asserted that the Creeks annihilated the Yámassi Indians completely, so that they disappeared entirely among their number; that the Tukabatchi, Taskígi and other tribes of foreign descent abandoned their paternal language to adopt that of the dominant Creeks.

But there are facts which tend to attenuate or disprove this tradition. The Yuchi, as well as the Naktche tribe and the tribes of Alibamu descent[86] have retained their language and peculiar habits up to the present time, notwithstanding their long incorporation into the Creek community. The Hitchiti, Apalatchúkla and Sawokli tribes, with their branch villages, have also retained their language to this day, notwithstanding their membership in the extensive confederacy, a membership which must have lasted for centuries; and in fact we cannot see how the retention of vernacular speech could hurt the interests of the community even in the slightest way. There were tribes among the Maskoki proper, which were said to have given up not only their own language, but also their customs, at a time which fell within the remembrance of the living generation. Among their number was the Taskígi tribe,[87] on the confluence of Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers, whose earlier language was probably Cheroki. But, on the other side, a body of Chicasa Indians lived near Kasíχta in historic times, which during their stay certainly preserved their language as well as their traditional customs. From Em. Bowen's map it appears that Chicasa Indians also lived on Savannah river (above the Yuchi) for some time, and many Cheroki must have lived within the boundaries of the consolidated Creek confederacy. The more there were of them, and the nearer they were to their own country, the more it becomes probable that they preserved their own language and paternal customs. The existence of Cheroki local names amid the Creek settlements strongly militates in favor of this; we have Etowa, Okóni, Chiaha, Tamá`li, Átasi, Taskígi, Amakalli.

[Footnote 86: Wítumka (Great), Muklási, and the four Alibamu
villages named by Hawkins. To these we may add Koassáti.]

[Footnote 87: Hawkins, p. 39.]

In the minds of many of our readers it will ever remain doubtful that the Creek tribes immigrated into the territories of the Eastern Gulf States by crossing the Lower Mississippi river. But there is at least one fact which goes to show that the settling of the Creeks proceeded from west to east and southeast. The oldest immigration to Chatahuchi river is that of the Kasíχta and Kawíta tribes, both of whom, as our legend shows, found the Kúsa and the Apalatchúkla with their connections, _in situ_, probably the Ábiχka also. If there is any truth in the Hitchiti tradition, the tribes of this division _came from the seashore_, an indication which seems to point to the coast tracts afterwards claimed by the Cha'hta. All the other settlements on Chatahuchi river seem younger than Kasíχta and Kawíta, and therefore the Creek immigration to those parts came from Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers. At one time the northern or Cheroki-Creek boundary of the Coosa river settlements was Talatígi, now written Talladega, for the name of this town has to be interpreted by "Village at the End," itálua atígi. If the name of Tallapoosa river, in Hitchiti Talepúsi, can be derived from Creek talepú`la _stranger_, this would furnish another indication for a former allophylic population in that valley; but `l rarely, if ever, changes into s. The Cheroki local names in these parts, and east from there, show conclusively who these "strangers" may have been.

It appears from old charts, that Creek towns, or at least towns having Creek names, also existed west of Coosa river, as on Canoe creek: Litafatcha, and on Cahawba river: Tálua hádsho, "Crazy Town," together with ruins of other villages above this.

THE CREEK SETTLEMENTS.

The towns and villages of the Creeks were in the eighteenth century built along the banks of rivers and their smaller tributaries, often in places subject to inundation during large freshets, which occurred once in about fifteen years. The smallest of them contained from twenty to thirty cabins, some of the larger ones up to two hundred, and in 1832 Tukabatchi, then the largest of all the Creek settlements, harbored 386 families. Many towns appeared rather compactly built, although they were composed of irregular clusters of four to eight houses standing together; each of these clusters contained a gens ("clan or family of relations," C. Swan), eating and living in common. The huts and cabins of the Lower Creeks resembled, from a distance, clusters of newly-burned brick kilns, from the high color of the clay.[88]

[Footnote 88: Cf. Yuchi, p. 22. At the time of the conquest of
Mexico by Cortez, many of the interior towns of that country
were whitewashed in the same manner, by means of a shining white
clay coating.]

It will be found appropriate to distinguish between Creek towns and villages. By _towns_ is indicated the settlements which had a public square, by _villages_ those which had none. The square occupied the central part of the town, and was reserved for the celebration of festivals, especially the annual busk or _fast_ (púskita), for the meetings of chiefs, headmen and "beloved men," and for the performance of daily dances. Upon this central area stood the "great house," tchúka `láko, the council-house, and attached to it was a play-ground, called by traders the "chunkey-yard." Descriptions of these places will be given below.

Another thoroughgoing distinction in the settlements of the Creek nation was that of the _red_ or _war towns_ and the _white_ or _peace towns_.

The _red_ or _kipáya towns_, to which C. Swan in 1791 refers as being already a thing of the past, were governed by _warriors only_. The term _red_ refers to the warlike disposition of these towns, but does not correspond to our adjective _bloody_; it depicts the wrath or anger animating the warriors when out on the war-path. The posts of their cabin in the public square were painted red on one side.

The present Creeks still keep up _formally_ this ancient distinction between the towns, and count the following among the kipáya towns:

Kawíta, Tukabátchi, `Lá-`láko, Átasi, Ka-iläídshi, Chiáha, Úsudshi, Hútali-huyána, Alibamu, Yufala, Yufala hupáyi, Hílapi, Kitcha-patáki.

_The white towns_, also called peace towns, conservative towns, were governed by _civil officers_ or míkalgi, and, as some of the earlier authors allege, were considered as places of refuge and safety to individuals who had left their tribes in dread of punishment or revenge at the hand of their pursuers. The modern Creeks count among the peace towns, called tálua-míkagi towns, the following settlements:

Hitchiti, Okfúski, Kasíχta, Ábi'hka, Abiχkúdshi, Tálisi, Oktcháyi, Odshi-apófa, Lutchapóka, Taskígi, Assi-lánapi or Green-Leaf, Wiwúχka.

Quite different from the above list is the one of the white towns given by Col. Benj. Hawkins in 1799, which refers to the Upper Creeks only: Okfúski and its branch villages (viz: Niuyáχa, Tukabátchi Talahássi, Imúkfa, Tutokági, Atchinálgi, Okfuskū′dshi, Sukapóga, Ipisógi); then Tálisi, Átasi, Fus'-hátchi, Kulúmi. For this list and that of the kipáya towns, cf. his "Sketch," p. 51. 52.

The ancient distinction between red and white towns began to fall into disuse with the approach of the white colonists, which entailed the spread of agricultural pursuits among these Indians; nevertheless frequent reference is made to it by the modern Creeks.

Segmentation of villages is frequently observed in Indian tribes, and the list below will give many striking instances. It was brought about by over-population, as in the case of Okfúski; and it is probable that then only certain gentes, not a promiscuous lot of citizens, emigrated from a town. Other causes for emigration were the exhaustion of the cultivated lands by many successive crops, as well as the need of new and extensive hunting grounds. These they could not obtain in their nearest neighborhood without warring with their proprietors, and therefore often repaired to distant countries to seek new homes (Bartram, Travels, p. 389). The frequent removals of towns to new sites, lying at _short_ distances only, may be easily explained by the unhealthiness of the old site, produced by the constant accumulation of refuse and filth around the towns, which never had anything like sewers or efficient regulations of sanitary police.

The distinction between Muscogulge and _Stincard_ towns, explicitly spoken of in Wm. Bartram's Travels (see Appendices), refers merely to the form of speech used by the tribes of the confederacy. This epithet (_Puants_ in French) may have had an opprobrious meaning in the beginning, but not in later times, when it simply served to distinguish the principal people from the accessory tribes. We find it also used as a current term in the Naktche villages.

Bartram does not designate as Stincards the tribes speaking languages of another stock than Maskoki, the Yuchi, for instance; not even all of those that speak dialects of Maskoki other than the Creek. He calls by this savorous name the Muklása, Witúmka, Koassáti, Chíaha, Hitchiti, Okóni, both Sáwokli and a part of the Seminoles. He mentions the _towns_ only, and omits all the _villages_ which have branched off from the towns.

The present Creeks know nothing of such a distinction. Although I do not know the Creek term which corresponded to it in the eighteenth century, it is not improbable that such a designation was in vogue; for we find many similar opprobrious epithets among other Indians, as Cuitlateca or "excrementers" in Mexico; Puants or Metsmetskop among the Naktche[89]; Inkalik, "sons of louse-eggs" among the Eskimo; Kā′katilsh or "arm-pit-stinkers" among the Klamaths of Southwestern Oregon; Móki or Múki, "cadaverous, stinking," an epithet originally given to _one_ of the Shínumo or Móki towns for lack of bravery, and belonging to the Shínumo language: múki _dead_.

[Footnote 89: Dumont, Mém. histor. de la Louisiane, I, 181.]

The plural forms: tchilokóga and tchilokogálgi designate in Creek persons speaking another than the Creek language; tchilókäs _I speak an alien language_. "Stincards" would be expressed in Creek by ísti fámbagi. Of all the gentes of the Chicasa that of the _skunk_ or hushkoni was held in the lowest esteem, some of the lowest officials, as runners, etc., being appointed from it; therefore it can be conjectured that from the Chicasa tribe a term like "skunks," "stinkards," may have been transferred and applied to the less esteemed gentes of other nations.

ALPHABETIC LIST OF TOWNS AND VILLAGES.

In this alphabetic list of ancient Creek towns and villages I have included all the names of inhabited places which I have found recorded before the emigration of the people to the Indian Territory. The description of their sites is chiefly taken from Hawkins' "_Sketch_," one of the most instructive books which we possess on the Creeks in their earlier homes. Some of these town names are still existing in Alabama and Georgia, although the site has not unfrequently changed. I have interspersed into the list a few names of the larger rivers. The etymologies added to the names contain the opinions of the Creek delegates visiting Washington every year, and they seldom differed among each other on any name. The local names are written according to my scientific system of phonetics, the only change introduced being that of the palatal _tch_ for _ch_.

LIST OF CREEK SETTLEMENTS.

_Ábi'hka_, one of the oldest among the Upper Creek towns; the
oldest chiefs were in the habit of naming the Creek nation
after it. Hawkins speaks of Abikúdshi only, not of Abi'hka.
It certainly lay somewhere near the Upper Coosa river, where
some old maps have it. Emanuel Bowen, "A new map of
Georgia," has only "Abacouse," and this in the wrong place,
below Kúsa and above Great Talasse, on the western side of
Coosa river. A town Abi'hka now exists in the Indian
Territory. The name of the ancient town was pronounced
Ábi'hka, Apíχka and written Obika, Abeka, Abeicas, Abecka,
Beicas, Becaes, etc.; its people are called Apiχkanági.
Some writers have identified them with the Kúsa and also
with the Conshacs, e. g. du Pratz.[90] D. Coxe, Carolana, p.
25, states that "the Becaes or Abecaes have thirteen towns,
and the Ewemalas, between the Becaes and the Chattas, can
raise five hundred fighting men" (1741). A part of the most
ancient Creek customs originated here, as, for instance, the
law for regulating marriages and for punishing adultery. The
Creek term ábi'hka signifies "pile at the base, heap at the
root" (ábi _stem, pole_), and was imparted to this tribe,
"because in the contest for supremacy its warriors heaped up
a pile of scalps, covering the base of the war-pole only.
Before this achievement the tribe was called sak'hútga
_door, shutter_, or simat'hútga itálua _shutter, door of
the towns_ or _tribes_." Cf. ak'hútäs _I close a door_,
sak'hútga hawídshäs _I open a door_.

[Footnote 90: The map appended to the French edition of Bartram
identifies them with the Kúsa: "Abikas ou Coussas."]

_Abikū′dshi_, an Upper Creek town on the right bank of
Natche (now Tallahatchi) creek, five miles east of Coosa
river, on a small plain. Settled from Ábika, and by some
Indians from Natche, q. v. Bartram (1775) states, that they
spoke a dialect of Chicasa; which can be true of a part of
the inhabitants only. A spacious cave exists in the
neighborhood.

_Ahíki creek_, Hitchiti name of the upper course of Hitchiti
creek, an eastern tributary of Chatahuchi river. Hawkins (p.
60) writes it Ouhe-gee creek. The name signifies "sweet
potato-mother" (áhi, íki), from the circumstance that when
planting sweet potatoes (áhi), the fruit sown _remains in
the ground_ until the new crop comes to maturity.

_Alabama river_ is formed by the junction of Coosa and
Tallapoosa rivers; pursues a winding course between banks
about fifty feet high, and joins Tombigbee river about
thirty miles above Mobile bay, when it assumes the name of
Mobile river. Its waters are pure, its current gentle; it
runs about two miles an hour, and has 15-18 feet depth in
the driest season of the year. Boats travel from the
junction to Mobile bay in about nine days, through a fertile
country, with high, cleared fields and romantic landscapes
(Hawkins). The hunting grounds of the Creeks extended to the
water-shed between the Tombigbee and the Coosa and Alabama
rivers.

_Amakalli_, Lower Creek town, planted by Chiaha Indians on a
creek of that name, which is the main water-course of
Kitchofuni creek, a northern affluent of Flint river,
Georgia. Inhabited by sixty men in 1799. The name is not
Creek; it seems identical with Amacalola, the Cheroki name
of a picturesque cascade on Amacalola creek, a northern
affluent of Etowa river, Dawson county, Georgia. The
derivation given for it is: ama _water_, kalola _sliding_,
_tumbling_.

_Anáti tchápko_ or "Long Swamp," a Hillabi village, ten miles
above that town, on a northern tributary of Hillabi creek. A
battle occurred there during the Creek or Red Stick war,
January 24th, 1814. Usually written Enotochopko. The Creek
term anáti means a _brushy, swampy place_, where persons can
secrete themselves.

_Apalatchúkla_, a Lower Creek town on the west bank of
Chatahuchi river, 1-1/2 miles below Chíaha. In Hawkins' time
it was in a state of decay, but in former times had been a
_white_ or _peace_ town, called (even now) Itálua `láko
"large town," and the principal community among the Lower
Creek settlements. The name was abbreviated into
Palatchúkla, and has also been transferred to the Chatahuchi
river; that river is now called Apalachicola below its
confluence with the Flint river. Cf. Sawokli-údshi. Bartram
(Travels, p. 522) states: The Indians have a tradition that
the vast four-square terraces, chunk yards, etc., at
Apalachucla, old town, were "the ruins of an ancient Indian
town and fortress." This "old town" lay one mile and a half
down the river from the new town, and was abandoned about
1750 on account of unhealthy location. Bartram viewed the
"terraces, on which formerly stood their town-house or
rotunda and square or areopagus," and gives a lucid
description of them. About fifty years before his visit a
general killing of the white traders occurred in this town,
though these had placed themselves under the protection of
the chiefs (Travels, pp. 388-390). Concerning the former
importance of this "white" town, W. Bartram (Travels, p.
387) states, that "this town is esteemed the mother town or
capital of the Creek confederacy; sacred to peace; no
captives are put to death or human blood spilt there;
deputies from all Creek towns assemble there when a general
peace is proposed." He refers to the town existing at the
time of his visit, but implicitly also to the "old
Apalachucla town." The ancient and correct form of this name
is Apalaχtchúkla, and of the extinct tribe east of it, on
Apalache bay, Apaláχtchi. Judge G. W. Stidham heard of the
following etymology of the name: In cleaning the ground for
the town square and making it even, the ground and sweeping
finally formed a ridge on the outside of the chunk-yard or
play-ground; from this ridge the town was called
apálaχtch'-ukla. More upon this subject, cf. Apalachi. An
Apalachicola Fort on Savannah river is mentioned on p.
20.

_Apatá-i_, a village of the Lower Creeks, settled by Kasí'hta
people on Big creek or Hátchi `láko, twenty miles east of
Chatahuchi river, in Georgia. The name refers to a
sheet-like covering, from apatáyäs _I cover_; cf. patákäs _I
spread out_; the Creek word apatá-i signifies any _covering_
comparable to wall-papers, carpets, etc. The town of Upotoy
now lies on Upotoy creek, Muscogee county, Alabama, in 32°
38´ Lat.

_Ássi-lánapi_, an Upper Creek town, called Oselanopy in the
Census list of 1832. It probably lay on Yellow Leaf creek,
which joins Coosa river from the west about five miles below
Talladega creek. From it sprang Green-leaf Town in the
Indian Territory, since láni means yellow _and_ green at the
same time. Green is now more frequently expressed by
páhi-láni.

_Átasi, or Átassi_, an Upper Creek town on the east side of
Tallapoosa river, below and adjoining Kalibi hátchi creek.
It was a miserable-looking place in Hawkins' time, with
about 43 warriors in 1766. Like that of all the other towns
built on Tallapoosa river, below its falls, the site is low
and unhealthy. The name is derived from the war-club
(ă′tăssa), and was written Autossee, Ottossee,
Otasse, Ot-tis-se, etc. Battle on November 29th, 1813. A
town in the Indian Territory is called after it A′tĕsi,
its inhabitants Atĕsálgi. "A post or column of pine,
forty feet high, stood in the town of Autassee, on a low,
circular, artificial hill." Bartram, Travels, p. 456. Cf.
Hu`li-Wá'hli.

_Atchina-álgi_, or "Cedar Grove," the northernmost of all the
Creek settlements, near the Hillabi-Etowa trail, on a side
creek of Tallapoosa river and forty miles above Niuya'áχa.
Settled from Lutchapóga.

_Atchina Hátchi_, or "Cedar Creek," a village settled by
Indians from Ka-iläídshi, q. v. on a creek of the same name.

_Chatahuchi_, a former town of the Lower Creeks, on the
headwaters of Chatahuchi river. Probably abandoned in
Hawkins' time; he calls it "old town Chatahutchi;" cf.
Chatahuchi river. Called Chata Uche by Bartram (1775),
Chatahoosie by Swan (1791).

_Chatahuchi river_ is the water-course dividing, in its lower
portion, the State of Alabama from that of Georgia. On its
banks were settled the towns and villages of the Lower
Creeks. Its name is composed of tchátu _rock, stone_ and
hútchi _marked, provided with signs_, and hence means:
"Pictured Rocks." Rocks of this description are in the bed
of the river, at the "old town Chatahuchi," above
Hú`li-täíka (Hawkins, p. 52). Other names for this river
were: Apalachukla river (Wm. Bartram), Cahouita or
Apalachoocoly river (Jefferys' map in John Bartram's
report).

_Che`láko Nini_, or "Horse-Trail," a Lower Creek town on the
headwaters of Chatahuchi river, settled by Okfuski Indians.
Mentioned in 1832 as Chelucconinny. Probably identical with
Okfuski Nini; see Okfuskúdshi, and: Indian Pathways.

_Chíaha_, or Tchíaha, Chehaw, a Lower Creek town just below
Ósotchi town and contiguous to it, on western bank of
Chatahuchi river. The Chíaha Indians had in 1799 spread out
in villages on the Flint river, of which Hawkins names
Amakalli, Hótali-huyána; and at Chiahúdshi. Here a trail
crossed the Chatahuchi river (Swan, 1791). A town of the
same name, "where otters live," existed among the Cheroki.
An Upper Creek town of this name, with twenty-nine heads of
families, is mentioned in the Census list of 1832
(Schoolcraft IV, 578).

_Chiahū′dshi_, or "Little Chíaha," a Lower Creek town
planted by Chíaha Indians in a pine forest one mile and a
half west of Hitchiti town. Cf. Hitchiti, pp. 77. sqq.

_Chíska talófa_, a Lower Creek town on the west side of
Chatahuchi river. Morse, Report, p. 364, refers to it under
the name of "Cheskitalowas" as belonging to the Seminole
villages. Is it Chisca, or "Chisi provincia", visited by the
army of H. de Soto in 1540? Hawkins states that Chiske
talófa hatche was the name given to Savannah river (from
tchíska _base of tree_).

_Coosa River_, (1) an affluent of Alabama river in Eastern
Alabama, in Creek Kusa-hátchi, runs through the roughest and
most hilly district formerly held by the Creek Indians. "It
is rapid, and so full of rocks and shoals that it is hardly
navigable even for canoes": Swan, in Schoolcraft V, 257.
Cusawati is an affluent of Upper Coosa river, in
northwestern Georgia, a tract where Cheroki local names may
be expected.

(2) A water-course of the same name, Coosawhatchie, passes
southeast of Savannah City, South Carolina, into the
Atlantic ocean. For the etymology, see Kúsa.

_Fin'-hálui_, a town of the Lower Creeks or Seminoles. The name
signifies a high bridge, or a high foot-log, and the
traders' name was "High Log" (1832).

A swamp having the same name, Finholoway Swamp, lies in Wayne
county, between the lower Altamaha and Satilla rivers,
Georgia.

_Fish-Ponds, or Fish-Pond Town_; cf. `Lá`lo-kálka.

_Flint River_, in Creek `Lonotíska hátchi, an eastern Georgian
affluent of Chatahuchi river, and almost of the same length.
Creeks, Yuchi and Seminole Indians were settled on it and on
its numerous tributaries, one of which is `Lónoto creek,
also called Indian creek, Dooley county, Georgia. From
`lónoto _flint_.

_Fort Toulouse_; cf. Taskígi. This fort was also called, from
the tribe settled around it, Fort Alibamu, Fort Albamo, Fort
Alebahmah, Forteresse des Alibamons. Abandoned by the French
in 1762.

_Fusi-hátchi, Fus'-hátchi_, or "Birdcreek," a town of the
Upper Creeks, built on the right or northern bank of
Tallapoosa river, two miles below Hu`li-Wáli. Remains of a
walled town on the opposite shore.

_Hátchi tchápa_, or "Half-way Creek," a small village settled
in a pine forest by Ka-iläídshi Indians, q. v.

_Hickory Ground_; cf. Odshi-apófa.

_Hillabi_, pronounced Hî′lapi, an Upper Creek town on
Ko-ufadi creek, which runs into Hillabi creek one mile from
the village. Hillabi creek is a western tributary of
Tallapoosa river, and joins it eight miles below Niuyáχa.
The majority of the Hillabi people had settled in four
villages of the vicinity in 1799, which were: `Lánudshi
apála, Anáti tchápko, Ístudshi-läíka, Úktaha `lási.

A battle took place in the vicinity on November 18th, 1813.
Though the name is of difficult analysis, it is said to
refer to quickness, velocity (of the water-course?)

_Hitchiti_, a Lower Creek town with branch villages; cf.
Hitchiti, p. 77 sqq.

_Hitchitū′dshi_; cf. Hitchiti, p. 77.

_Hótali-huyána_, a Lower Creek town, planted by Chiaha Indians
on the eastern bank of Flint river, six miles below the
Kitchofuni creek junction. Ósotchi settlers had mingled with
the twenty families of the village. The name means:
"Hurricane Town," for hútali in Creek is _wind_, huyána
_passing_; it therefore marks a locality once devastated by
a passing hurricane. Called Tallewheanas, in Seminole list,
p. 72.

_Hu`li-täíga_, a Lower Creek village on Chatahuchi river,
planted by Okfuski Indians. Bartram calls it Hothtetoga, C.
Swan: Hohtatoga (Schoolcraft, Indians V, 262); the name
signifies "war-ford," military river-passage.

_Hul′i-Wá'hli_, an Upper Creek town on the right bank of
Tallapoosa river, five miles below Átasi. This town obtained
its name from the privilege of declaring war (hú`li _war_,
awá'hlita _to share out, divide_); the declaration was first
sent to Tukabatchi, and from there among the other tribes.
The town bordered west on Atas'-hátchi creek. The name is
written Clewauley (1791), Ho-ithle-Wau-lee (Hawkins),
Cleu-wath-ta (1832), Cluale, Clewulla, etc.

_Ikanatcháka_, or Holy Ground, a town on the southern side of
Alabama river, built on holy ground, and therefore said to
be exempt from any possible inroads of the white people.
Weatherford, the leader of the insurgent Creeks, and their
prophet Hilis'-háko resided there; the forces gathered at
this place by them were defeated December 23d, 1813. From
íkana _ground_, atcháka _beloved, sacred_.

_Ikan'-hátki_, or "white ground," a Sháwano town just below
Kulumi, and on the same side of Tallapoosa river. "Cunhutki
speaks the Muscogulge tongue"; W. Bartram (1775).

_Imúkfa_, an Upper Creek town on Imukfa creek, west of
Tallapoosa river. Near this place, in a bend or peninsula
formed by the Tallapoosa river, called Horse Shoe by the
whites, the American troops achieved a decisive victory over
the Red Stick party of the Creek Indians on March 25th,
1814, which resulted in the surrender of Weatherford, their
leader, and put an end to this bloody campaign. Not less
than five hundred and fifty-seven Creek warriors lost their
lives in this battle. The term imúkfa is Hitchiti, for (1)
shell; (2) metallic ornament of concave shape; Hawkins
interprets the name by "gorget made of a conch." In
Hitchiti, _bend of river_ is hátchi paχútchki;
ha'htchafáshki, hatsafáski is _river-bend_ in Creek.
Tohopeka is another name for this battle-field, but does not
belong to the Creek language.

_Intatchkálgi_, or "collection of beaver dams," a Yuchi town of
Georgia settled twenty-eight miles up Opil-`láko creek, a
tributary of Flint river. A square was built by the fourteen
families of this town in 1798. Tátchki means anything
_straight_, as a dam, beaver dam, line, boundary line, etc.,
íkan'-tátchka _survey-line_; the above creek was probably
Beaver-dam creek, an eastern tributary of Flint river,
joining it about 32° 15´ Lat.

_Ipisógi_, an Upper Creek town upon Ipisógi creek, a large
eastern tributary of Tallapoosa river, joining it opposite
Okfuski. Forty settlers in 1799. Cf. Pin-hóti.

_Istapóga_, an Upper Creek settlement not recorded in the
earlier documents; a place of this name exists now east of
Coosa river, Talladega county, Alabama. The name, usually
written Eastaboga, signifies: "where people reside" (ísti
_people_; apókita _to reside_).

_Ístudshi-läíka_, or "child lying there," a Hillabi village, on
Hillabi creek, four miles below Hillabi town. It owes its
name to the circumstance that a child was found on its site.

_Ka-iläídshi_, an Upper Creek town, on a creek of the same
name, which joins Oktchóyi creek, a western tributary of
Tallapoosa river, joining it fifteen miles above Tukabatchi.
The two villages, Atchina Hátchi and Hátchi tchápa, branched
off from this town. The name was variously written
Ki-a-li-ge, Kiliga, Killeegko, Kiolege, and probably
referred to a warrior's head dress: íka _his head_;
iläídshäs _I kill_.

_Kan'-tcháti_, Kansháde, "Red dirt," "Red earth," an Upper
Creek town, mentioned in 1835 as "Conchant-ti." Conchardee
is a place a few miles northwest of Talladega.

_Kasí'hta_, a Lower Creek town on the eastern bank of
Chatahuchi river, two and a half miles below Kawíta
Talahássi; Kasí'hta once claimed the lands above the falls
of the Chatahuchi river on its eastern bank. In this town
and tribe our migration legend has taken its origin. Its
branch settlements spread out on the right side of the
river, the number of the warriors of the town and branches
being estimated at 180 in 1799; it was considered the
largest among the Lower Creeks. The natives were friendly to
the whites and fond of visiting them; the old chiefs were
orderly men, desirous and active in restraining the young
"braves" from the licentiousness which they had contracted
through their intercourse with the scum of the white
colonists. Hawkins makes some strictures at their
incompetency for farming; "they do not know the season for
planting, or, if they do, they never avail themselves of
what they know, as they always plant one month too late" (p.
59). A large conical mound is described by him as standing
on the Kasí'hta fields, forty-five yards in diameter at its
base, and flat on the top. Below the town was the "old
Cussetuh town," on a high flat, and afterwards "a Chicasaw
town" occupied this site (p. 58). A branch village of
Kasí'hta is Apatá-i, q. v. The name Kasí'hta, Kasiχta, is
popularly explained as "coming from the sun" (hă′si)
and being identical with hasí'hta. The Creeks infer, from
the parallel Creek form hasóti, "sunshine," that Kasí'hta
really meant "light," or "bright splendor of the sun;"
anciently, this term was used for the sun himself, "as the
old people say." The inhabitants of the town believed that
they came from the sun. Cf. Yuchi. A place Cusseta is now in
Chatahuchi county, Georgia, 32° 20´ Lat.

_Kawäíki_, a town of the Lower Creeks, having forty-five heads
of families in 1832. Kawäíki Creek is named after _quails_.

_Kawíta_, a Lower Creek town on the high western bank of
Chatahuchi river, three miles below its falls. The fishery
in the western channel of the river, below the falls,
belonged to Kawíta, that in the eastern channel to
Kasí'hta. In Hawkins' time (1799) many Indians had settled
on streams in the vicinity, as at Hátchi íka, "Creek-Head."
Probably a colony of Kawíta Talahássi.

_Kawíta Talahássi_, "old Kawíta Town," a Lower Creek town two
miles and a half below Kawíta, on the western side of the
river, and half a mile from it. Old Kawíta town was the
"public establishment" of the Lower Creeks, and in 1799
could raise sixty-five warriors; it was also the seat of the
United States agent. Kawíta Talahássi had branched off by
segmentation from Kasí'hta, as shown in the migration
legend, and itself has given origin to a village called
Witúmka, on Big Yuchi creek. The town was a political centre
for the nation, and is referred to by the traveler Wm.
Bartram (1775), p. 389. 463, in the following terms: "The
great Coweta town, on Chatahuchi or Apalachucly river,
twelve miles above Apalachucla town, is called the bloody
town, where the micos, chiefs and warriors assemble, when a
general war is proposed, and here captives and state
malefactors are put to death. Coweta speaks the Muscogulgee
tongue." Colden, Five Nations, p. 5, mentions an alliance
concluded between the Iroquois of New York and the Cowetas;
but here the name Cowetas is used in the wider sense of
Creek Indians or Lower Creek Indians. The Creek form is
Kawítalgi, or ísti Kawítalgi. Written Caouita by French
authors. Cf. Apalatchúkla.

_Kitcho-patáki_, an Upper Creek town, now name of a Creek
settlement in the Indian Territory. From kítchu
"maize-pounding _block of wood_"; patáki "_spreading out_."
Kitchopatáki creek joins Tallapoosa river from the west a
few miles below Okfuskee, in Randolph county, Alabama.

_Koassáti_, an Upper Creek town. Cf. special article on this
tribe, pp. 89. 90.

_Kulumi_, Upper Creek town on right side of Tallapoosa river,
small and compact, below Fusi-hátchi and contiguous to it. A
conical mound, thirty feet in diameter, was seen by Hawkins,
opposite the "town-house." A part of the inhabitants had
settled on Likasa creek. The signification of the name is
unknown, but it may have connection with a'hkolúmäs _I
clinch_ (prefix a- for áni _I_). Of the "old Coolome town,"
which stood on the opposite shore of Tallapoosa river, a few
houses were left at the time of Bartram's visit, c. 1775
(Travels, p. 395).

_Kúsa_, (1) an old capital of the Creek people, referred to as
Coça by the historians of de Soto's expedition, on the
eastern bank of Coosa river, between Yufála and Natche
creeks, which join Coosa river from the east, a quarter of a
mile apart.[91] The town stood on a high hill in the midst
of a rich limestone country, forty miles above
Pakan-Talahássi and sixty above Taskígi, q. v. Bartram saw
it (1775), half deserted and in ruins. "The great and old
beloved town of refuge, Koosah, which stands high on the
eastern side of a bold river, about two hundred and fifty
yards broad, that runs by the late dangerous Alebahma fort,
down to the black poisoning Mobille, and so into the gulph
of Mexico:" Adair, History, p. 395. This town, which was
also, as it seems, the sojourning place of Tristan de Luna's
expedition (1559), must have been one of the earliest
centres of the Maskoki people, though it does not appear
among its "four leading towns". Its inhabitants may at one
time have been comprised under the people of the neighboring
Abi'hka town, q. v. Kósa is the name of a small forest-bird,
resembling a sparrow; but the name of the town and river
could possibly be an ancient form of ō′sa, ōsá, 'osá
_poke_ or _pokeweed_, a plant with red berries, which grows
plentifully and to an enormous height throughout the South.
Cf. Coosa river. It is more probable, however, that the name
is of Cha'hta origin; cf. (3).

[Footnote 91: Now called Talladega and Tallahatchi creeks.]

(2) A town, "Old Kúsa" or "Coussas old village," is reported a
short distance below Fort Toulouse, on the northern shore of
Alabama river, between Taskígi and Koassáti. It was,
perhaps, from this place that the Alabama river was, in
earlier times, called Coosa or Coussa river, but since
Hawkins and others make no mention of this town, I surmise
that it was identical with Koassáti, the name being an
abbreviation from the latter.

(3) The Kúsa, Cusha or Coosa towns, on the Kúsa Creeks, formed
a group of the eastern Cha'hta settlements. From Cha'hta
kush _reed, cane_ which corresponds to the kóa, kóe of
Creek. Cf. p. 108.

_`Lá`lo-kálka_, "_Fish-Pond Town_," or "Fish-Ponds," an Upper
Creek town on a small creek forming ponds, fourteen miles
above its junction with Alkohátchi, a stream running into
Tallapoosa river from the west, four miles above Okfuski.
The name is abbreviated from `lá`lo-akálka _fish separated,
placed apart_; from `lá`lo _fish_, akálgäs _I am separated
from_. This was a colony planted by Oktcháyi Indians, q. v.

_`Lánudshi apála_, or "beyond a little mountain," a Hillabi
place fifteen miles from that town and on the northwest
branch of Hillabi creek; had a "town-house" or public square.

_`Láp`láko_, or "Tall Cane," "Big Reed," the name of two
villages of the Upper Creeks, mentioned in 1832. `Láp is a
tall cane, from which sarbacanes or blow-guns are made.

_`Lè-kátchka, `Li-i-kátchka_, or "Broken Arrow," a Lower
Creek town on a ford of the southern trail, which crossed
Chatahuchi river at this point, twelve miles below Kasi'hta
and Kawíta (Swan, 1791). Bartram calls it Tukauska, Swan:
Chalagatsca. Called so because reeds were obtained there for
manufacturing arrow shafts.

_Lutchapóga_, or "Terrapin-Resort," an Upper Creek town,
probably near Tallapoosa river. The village Atchina-álgi was
settled by natives of this town (Hawkins, p. 47), but
afterwards incorporated with Okfuski. Also mentioned in the
Census list of 1832. A place called Loachapoka is now in Lee
county, Alabama, about half-way between Montgomery and West
Point. From lútcha _terrapin_, póka _killing-place_; póyäs
_I destroy, kill_; póka occurs only in compound words.

H. S. Tanner's map (1827) marks an Indian town Luchepoga on
west bank of Tallapoosa river, about ten miles above
Tukabátchi Talahássi; also Luchanpogan creek, as a western
tributary of Chatahuchi river, in 33° 8´ Lat., just below
Chatahuchi town.

_Muklása_, a small Upper Creek town one mile below Sawanógi and
on the same side of Tallapoosa river. In times of freshet
the river spreads here nearly eight miles from bank to bank.
Bartram states, that Mucclasse speaks the "Stincard tongue,"
and the list of 1832 writes "Muckeleses." They are Alibamu,
and a town of that name is in the Indian Territory. "The
Wolf-king, our old, steady friend of the Amooklasah Town,
near the late Alebahma" (Adair, History, p. 277). The name
points to the Imuklásha, a division of the Cha'hta people;
imúkla is the "opposite people," referring to the two iksa,
Kasháp-ukla and Úkla iⁿhulá'hta. Cf. Cha'hta, p.
104, and Mugulasha, p. 111. 112.

_Natche_ (better Náktche), on "Natche creek, five miles above
Abikū′dshi, scattering for two miles on a rich flat
below the fork of the creek, which is an eastern tributary
of Upper Coosa river."[92] Peopled by the remainder of the
Naktche tribe on Mississippi river, and containing from
fifty to one hundred warriors in 1799. The root tálua was
dug by them in this vicinity. Bartram states, that "Natchez
speak Muscogee and Chicasaw" (1775).

[Footnote 92: Now called Tallahatchi creek.]

_Niuyáχa_, village of the Upper Creeks, settled by Tukpáfka
Indians in 1777, twenty miles above Okfuski, on the east
bank of Tallapoosa river. It was called so after the Treaty
of New York, concluded between the United States Government
and the Creek confederacy, at a date posterior to the
settlement of this town, August 7th, 1790.

_Nofápi creek_, an affluent of Yufábi creek. Cf. Yufábi, and
Annotations to the Legend.

_Odshi-apófa_, or "Hickory-Ground," an Upper Creek town on the
eastern bank of Coosa river, two miles above the fork of the
river; from ō′dshi _hickory_, ápi _tree, stem, trunk_, -ófa,
-ófan, a suffix pointing to _locality_. The falls of Coosa
river, one mile above the town, can be easily passed in
canoes, either up or down. The town had forty warriors at the
time of Hawkins' visit (1799). Identical with Little Tálisi;
Milfort, p. 27: "le petit Talessy ou village des Noyers." A
map of this section will be found in Schoolcraft, Indians, V,
255. Literally: "in the hickory grove."

_Okfuski_ (better Akfáski), an Upper Creek town, erected on
both sides of Tallapoosa river, about thirty-five miles
above Tukabatchi. The Indians settled on the eastern side
came from Chatahuchi river, and had founded on it three
villages, Che`láko-Ni′ni, Hul′i-täíga, Tchúka l′áko,
q. v. In 1799 Okfuski (one hundred and eighty warriors)
_with_ its seven branch villages on Tallapoosa river (two
hundred and seventy warriors) was considered the largest
community of the confederacy. The shrub _Ilex cassine_ was
growing there in clumps. These seven villages were:
Niuyáχa, Tukabátchi Talahássi, Imúkfa, Tuχtukági,
Atchina-álgi, Ipisógi, Suka-ispóka. The Creek term akfáski,
akfúski signifies _point, tongue_ of a confluence,
_promontory_, from ak-_down in_, fáski _sharp, pointed_.
Tallapoosa river was also called Okfuski river.

_Okfuskū′dshi_, or "Little Okfuski," a part of a small
village four miles above Niuyáχa. Some of these people
formerly inhabited Okfuski-Níni, on Chatahuchi river, but
were driven from there by Georgian volunteers in 1793. Cf.
Che`láko-Níni.

_Oki-tiyákni_, a lower Creek village on the eastern bank of
Chatahuchi river, eight miles below Yufála. Hawkins writes
it O-ke-teyoc-en-ni, and Morse, Report, p. 364, mentions
among the Seminole settlements, "Oka-tiokinans, near Fort
Gaines." Oki-tiyakni, a Hitchiti term, means either
_whirlpool_, or _river-bend_.

_Okmúlgi_ (1), a Lower Creek town on the east side of Flint
river, near Hótali-huyána. The name signifies "bubbling,
boiling water," from H. óki _water_; múlgis _it is boiling_,
in Creek and Hitchiti.

(2) East of Flint river is Okmúlgi river, which, after joining
Little Okmúlgi and Okóni rivers, forms Altamaha river.

_Okóni_, a small Lower Creek town, six miles below Apalachúkla,
on the western bank of Chatahuchi river; settled by
immigrants from a locality below the Rock Landing on Okóni
river, Georgia. They spoke the "Stincard tongue," and
probably were Apalachians of the Hitchiti-Mikasuki dialect.
Cf. Cuscowilla, under the head of: Seminole. The name is the
Cheroki term ekuóni _river_, from ékua _great, large_,
viz.: "great water." Bartram, who encamped on the site of
the old Okóni town on Okóni river, states (Travels, p. 378),
that the Indians abandoned that place about 1710, on account
of the vicinity of the white colonists, and built a town
among the Upper Creeks. Their roving disposition impelled
them to leave this settlement also, and to migrate to the
fertile Alachua plains, where they built Cuscowilla on the
banks of a lake, and had to defend it against the attacks of
the Tomocos, Utinas, Calloosas (?), Yamases and other
remnant tribes of Florida, and the more northern refugees
from Carolina, all of whom were helped by the Spaniards.
Being reinforced by other Indians from the Upper Creek
towns, "their uncles," they repulsed the aggressors and
destroyed their villages, as well as those of the Spaniards.
This notice probably refers to the Indian troubles with the
Yámassi, which occurred long before 1710, since inroads are
recorded as early as 1687. Hawkins, p. 65, states that the
town they formerly occupied on Okóni river stood just below
the Rock Landing, once the site of a British post about four
miles below Milledgeville, Georgia.

_Oktcháyi_, an Upper Creek town built along Oktchayi creek, a
western tributary of Tallapoosa river. The town, mentioned
as Oak-tchoy in 1791, lay three miles below Ka-iläídshi, in
the central district. Cf. `La`lo-kálka. Milfort, Mémoire, p.
266. 267, calls the tribe: les Oxiailles.

_Oktchayū′dshi_, a "little compact town" of the Upper
Creek Indians, on the eastern bank of Coosa river, between
Otchi-apófa and Taskígi, its cabins joining those of the
latter town. Their maize fields lay on the same side of the
river, on the Sambelo grounds, below Sambelo creek. They
removed their village to the eastern side of Tallapoosa
river on account of former Chicasa raids. The name of the
town, "Little Oktcháyi," proves it to be a colony or branch
of Oktcháyi, q. v.; Pl. Porter says it is a branch of
Okfúski.

_Opíl'-`láko_, or "Big Swamp," from opílua _swamp_, `láko
_large_. (1) An Upper Creek town on a stream of the same
name, which joins Pákan'-Talahássi creek on its left side.
The town was twenty miles from Coosa river; its tribe is
called Pinclatchas by C. Swan (1791).

(2) A locality west of Kasi′hta; cf. Tálisi.

(3) A stream running into Flint river, Georgia. Cf.
Intatchkálgi.

_Ósotchi, Ósutchi, Ósudshi,_ or _Úsutchi_, a Lower Creek
town about two miles below Yuchi town, on the western bank
of Chatahuchi river, whose inhabitants migrated to this
place in 1794 from Flint river. The town adjoins that of
Chiaha; Bartram calls it Hoositchi. The descendants of it
and of Chíaha have consolidated into one town in the Creek
Nation, Indian Territory. Cf. Hawkins, p. 63.

_Padshiläíka_, or "Pigeon Roost;" (1) a Yuchi town on the
junction of Padshiläíka creek with Flint river, Macon
county, Georgia, about 32° 38´ Lat. The village suffered
heavily by the loss of sixteen warriors, who were murdered
by Benjamin Harrison and his associates; cf. Hawkins, p. 62
sq.

(2) Patsiläíka river was the name of the western branch of
Conecuh river, in Southern Alabama, Covington county, which
runs into Escambia river and Pensacola bay. From pádshi
_pigeon_, and läíkäs _I sit down, am sitting_.

_Pákan'-Talahássi_, Upper Creek town on a creek of the same
name, which joins Coosa river from the east, forty miles
below Kúsa town. From ipákana, _mayapple_, itálua _town_,
hássi _ancient_, in the sense of _waste_. G. W. Stidham
interprets the name: "Old Peach Orchard Town."

_Pin'-hóti_, or "Turkey-Home," an Upper Creek town on the right
side of a small tributary of Ipisógi creek; cf. Ipisógi. The
trail from Niuyáχa to Kawíta Talahássi passed through this
settlement. From pínua _turkey_, húti, hóti _home_.

_Pótchus'-hátchi_, Upper Creek town in the central district, on
a stream of the same name, which joins Coosa river from the
northeast, four miles below Pákan'-Talahássi. The town was
in Coosa or Talladega county, Alabama, forty miles above the
junction; the name signifies "Hatchet-Stream": potchúsua
_hatchet, ax_; hátchi _water-course_.

_Sakapatáyi_, Upper Creek town in the central district, now
Socopatoy, on a small eastern tributary of Pótchus'-hátchi,
or Hatchet creek, Coosa county, Alabama; pronounced also
Sakapató-i by Creek Indians. Probably refers to water-lilies
covering the surface of a pond, the seeds of them being
eaten by the natives; from sakpatágäs _I lie inside_ (a
covering, blanket, etc.) A legend, which evidently
originated from the name already existing, relates that
wayfarers passing there had left a large provision-basket
(sáka) at this locality, which was upset and left rotting,
so that finally it became flattened out: from patäídshäs _I
spread out something_; patáyi, partic. pass., _shaken out_.

_Sauga Hátchi_, Upper Creek town on a stream of the same name,
which runs into Tallapoosa river from the east, ten miles
below Yufála. In 1799 the thirty young men of this place had
joined Tálisi town. Hawkins, p. 49, renders the name by
"cymbal creek." Sauga is a hard-shelled fruit or gourd,
similar to a cocoa-nut, used for making rattles; saúkäs _I
am rattling_.

_Sawanógi_, or "Sháwanos," a town settled by Sháwano-Algonkins,
but belonging to the Creek confederacy. It stood on the left
or southern side of Tallapoosa river, three miles below
Likasa creek. The inhabitants (in 1799) retained the customs
and language of their countrymen in the northwest, and had
joined them in their late war against the United States.
Some Yuchi Indians lived among them. The "town-house" was an
oblong square cabin, roof "eight feet pitch," sides and
roof covered with pine-bark. Cf. Ikan'-hátki.

_Sáwokli_, or Great Sáwokli, Sá-ukli, a Lower Creek town, six
miles below Okóni, on the west bank of Chatahuchi river, and
four miles and a half above Wiláni ("Yellow Water") Creek
junction. The Hitchiti word sáwi means _racoon_, úkli
_town_; and both Sáwokli towns spoke the "Stincard tongue"
(Bartram). Called Chewakala in 1791; Swaglaw, etc. Among the
Hitchiti the míkalgi were appointed from the racoon gens
only.

_Sawokli-ū′dshi_, or "Little Sáwokli," a Lower Creek town
on the eastern bank of Chatahuchi river, four miles below
Okóni town; contained about twenty families in 1799. About
1865 both Sáwokli towns in the Indian Territory have
disbanded into the Tálua `láko; cf. Apalatchúkla.

_Suka-ispóka_, or Suka-ishpógi, called "Hog Range" by the
traders, a small Upper Creek village situated on the western
bank of Upper Tallapoosa river, twelve miles above Okfuski;
its inhabitants had in 1799 moved, for the larger part, to
Imúkfa. It is the place called elsewhere Soguspogus,
Sokaspoge, Hog Resort, the name meaning literally:
"hog-killing place." Cf. Lutchapóga.

_Talatígi_, now Talladega, an Upper Creek settlement in the
central district east of Coosa river. A battle was fought
there November 7th, 1813. The name signifies "border town,"
from itálua _town_ and atígi _at the end, on the border_;
cf. atígis "it is the last one, it forms the extremity." Cf.
Kúsa (1).

_Tálisi_, abbrev. Tálsi, or: "Old Town," a contraction of the
term itálua hássi; a town of the Upper Creeks on the eastern
bank of Tallapoosa river, opposite Tukabatchi, in the fork
of Yufábi creek. In Hawkins' time the natives of this place
had for the larger part left the town and settled up Yufábi
creek, and the chief, Hobo-í`li míko, was at variance with
the United States and Spanish colonial authorities. The
traders' trail from Kasí'hta to the Upper Creek settlements
crossed Yufábi creek twice at the "Big Swamp," Opil'-`láko.
The Census of 1832 calls Tálisi: "Big Tallassie or the
Halfway House."

_Tálisi, Little_, a town of the Upper Creeks, identical with
Odshi-apófa, q. v.

_Tallapoosa river_, a considerable tributary of Alabama river,
full of rocks, shoals and falls down to Tukabatchi town; for
thirty miles from here to its junction with the Coosa, it
becomes deep and quiet. The Hitchiti form of the name is
Talapúsi; cf. Okfuski. A little village named Tallapoosa
lies on the headwaters of Tallapoosa river, from which the
river perhaps received its name; cf. talepú`li _stranger_
(in Creek).

_Tálua `láko_, properly Itálua `láko, "the Great Town," the
popular name of Apalatchúkla, q. v., the latter being no
longer heard at the present time.

_Tálua mutchási_, (1) The new name for Tukabátchi Talahássi, q.
v. It is commonly abbreviated into Talmodshási "Newtown."
From itálua _town_, mutchási _new_.

(2) A Lower Creek town, on west shore of Chatahuchi river,
mentioned by Morse (1822) as: Telmocresses, among the
Seminole towns.

_Támá`li_, a Lower Creek town on Chatahuchi river, seven miles
from Odshísi (Morse, Report, p. 364). Hawkins writes it
Tum-mult-lau, and makes it a Seminole town. Probably a
Cheroki name; there was on the southern shore of Tennessee
river, between Ballplay creek and Toskegee, a settlement
called Tommotley town in early maps; cf. Jefferys' Atlas of
N. America (map of 1762).

_Taskígi_ or Tuskíki, a little, ancient Upper Creek town, built
near the site of the former French Fort Toulouse, at the
confluence of Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers. It stood on the
high shore of Coosa river, forty-six feet above its waters,
where the two rivers approach each other within a quarter of
a mile, to curve out again. On this bluff are also five
conic mounds, the largest thirty yards in diameter at the
base. The town, of 35 warriors, _had lost its ancient
language_ and spoke the Creek (1799). The noted A.
MacGillivray, head chief of the Creeks in the latter part of
the eighteenth century, or as he was styled, "Emperor of the
Creek Nation," lived at Taskígi, where he owned a house and
property along Coosa river, half a league from Fort
Toulouse; Milfort, Mémoire, p. 27. On the immigration of the
tribe, cf. Milfort, pp. 266. 267.

The name of the town may be explained as: "jumping men,
_jumpers_," from Cr. tāská-is, tā′skäs _I jump_
(tulúp-kalis in Hitchiti); or be considered an abbreviated
form of táskialgi _warriors_; cf. taskáya _citizen_ (Creek),
and Hawkins, Sketch, p. 70. But since the town formerly
spoke another language, it is, in view of the frequency of
Cheroki names in the Creek country, appropriate to regard
Taskígi as linguistically identical with "Toskegee," a
Cheroki town on Great Tennessee river, southern shore,
mentioned by several authors, and appearing on Lieutenant H.
Timberlake's map in his Memoir, reproduced in Jefferys'
Topography (Atlas) of North America, dated March, 1762.

_Tchúka `láko_, or "Great Cabin" of the public square, (1) A
Lower Creek town on Chatahuchi river, settled by Okfuski
Indians.

(2) A place of the same name is mentioned in the Census of 1832
as an _Upper_ Creek town.

_Tokogálgi_, or "tadpole place," a small Yuchi settlement on
Kitchofuni creek, a northern affluent of Flint river,
Georgia, which joins it about 31° 40´ Lat. Beaver dams
existed on branches of Kitchofuni creek; cf. Hawkins, p.
63. The present Creeks call a _tadpole_ tokiúlga.

_Tukabátchi_, an Upper Creek town built upon the western bank
of Tallapoosa river, and two miles and a half below its
falls, which are forty feet in fifty yards. Opposite was
Tálisi town, q. v. Tukabatchi was an ancient capital,
decreasing in population in Hawkins' time, but still able to
raise one hundred and sixteen warriors. The town suffered
much in its later wars with the Chicasa. Cf. Hú`li-Wáli. The
traders' trail crossed the Tallapoosa river at this place.
Bartram (1775) states that Tuccabatche spoke Muscogulge, and
the Census of 1832 considers it the largest town among the
Creeks, with three hundred and eighty-six houses. Here, as
at a national centre, the Sháwano leader, Tecumseh, held his
exciting orations against the United States Government,
which prompted the Upper Creeks to rise in arms (1813).
Tugibáχtchi, Tukipá'htchi, and Tukipáχtchi are the
ancient forms of the name (Stidham), which is of foreign
origin. The inhabitants believe that their ancestors fell
from the sky, or according to others, came from the sun.
Another tale is, that they did not originate on this
continent; that when they arrived from their country they
landed at the "Jagged Rock," tcháto tchaχàχa `láko, and
brought the metallic plates with them, which they preserve
to the present day with anxious care. In Adair's time (cf.
Adair, History, pp. 178. 179, in Note) they consisted of
five copper and two brass plates, and were, according to Old
Bracket's account, preserved under the "beloved cabbin in
Tuccabatchey Square" (A. D. 1759). Bracket's forefathers
told him that they were given to the tribe "by the man we
call God," and that the Tukabatchi were a people different
from the Creeks. The plates are mentioned in Schoolcraft's
Indians, V, 283 (C. Swan's account), and rough sketches of
them are given in Adair, 1.1. They appear to be of Spanish
origin, and are produced at the busk. The town anciently was
known under two other names: Ispokógi, or Itálua ispokógi,
said to mean "town of survivors," or "surviving town,
remnant of a town"; and Itálua fátcha-sígo, "incorrect town,
town deviating from strictness." With this last appellation
we may compare the Spanish village-name _Villa Viciosa_.

On national councils held there, cf. Hawkins, Sketch, p. 51 (in
the year 1799) and Milfort, p. 40 (in the year 1780) and p.
266.

_Tukabátchi Talahássi_, or "old town of Tukabatchi," an Upper
Creek town on west side of Tallapoosa river, four miles
above Niuyáχa. Since 1797 it received a second name, that
of Tálua mutchási or "new town." The Census list of 1832
calls it Talmachussa, Swan in 1791: Tuckabatchee Teehassa.