Abstract
American Ethnological Society has reprinted in facsimile the first part of their Proceedings, originally published in 1853. The most interesting article is that contributed by W. Bartram, which was written in 1789, entitled “Observations on the Creek and Cherokee Indians,” being replies to a series of ethnological questions prepared by Dr. B. S. Barton, vice-president of the Philosophical Society of Philadelphia. The connection of this tribe with the Iroquois, of whom they formed the southern branch, has now been established by Horatio Hale and Gatschet. This paper gives a singularly interesting account of the ethnography of a tribe now practically extinct, describing their probable origin, relations with other tribes, their picture records, religious beliefs, forms of tribal government, physical characteristics, social relations, their “Chunkey-yards” or earthworks, tenures of land and conditions of property, diseases and their remedies, food and means of subsistence. In connection with the divine kings of Prof. J. G. Frazer, it is interesting to find that the King of the Seminoles threatened a certain Mr. McLatche that “if he did not comply with his requisitions, he would command the thunder and lightning to descend upon his head, and reduce his stores to ashes.” They had also a remarkable cult of the sacred fire. “The Spiral Fire, on the hearth and floor of the Rotunda, is very curious; it seems to light up in a flame of itself at the appointed time, but how this is done I know not.”
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ethnology in America . Nature 81, 268–269 (1909). https://doi.org/10.1038/081268c0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/081268c0