University of Virginia Library

16. Early Creek History

The meaning of the name of I's-te-em-us-suk-o-kee, abbreviated Mus-ko-kee or Muskogee, means the people of the Holly Leaf Confederacy, referring to a shrub found in the Southern states near the Gulf coast, known as the "Gulf Holly." The old time Creeks had considerable knowledge of the medicinal virtues of the various plants and herbs of the "Old Nation" in the East. ( Georgia, Alabama, and Florida .) This medicinal science covered the entire scope of their existence for healing the sick, for counteracting evil omens, and for purifying their bodies during their religious ceremonies, during their council deliberations and on their hunting expeditions and war campaigns of invasion within an enemy's territory.

The Holly leaf was the medicine used by them to purify their bodies during the religious ceremonies of the feasts, fasts, and festivals of the first fruits, sometimes called the "green corn dance." Usseh is what they termed this medicine, hence, Oceola derived his name by being a great drinker of this "Usseh" drink. Em-us-suk-o-kee is of the same character of construction as the name Uh-chay-la-okee, which abbreviated is rendered Cha-lo-kee, hence, is derived the name of "Cherokee," the people of the fire Confederacy being two distinct national names of one linguistic construction. The Choctaws and Chickasaws are minor town names, as Eu-faula, Okchoie, etc., with the Creeks, and Cho-tee, Hu-wa-see, etc., with the Cherokees, designated towns of those nations. The Choctaws and Chickasaws are Muskogees whose towns in the long time past had grown to the power and magnitude of two distinct and powerful nations from single towns and do not denote Confederacies of the Tribal towns, as do the Cherokees of the ancient fire towns, or the Muskogees of the ancient Holly leaf towns.

A great many names have been lost to the Muskogee language by their emigration to a colder climate than were their former homes in the East. Many changes have been made in their customs from the old time usages. Very few Muskogees live who know that "it-too-mic-coo" was their name for the Magnolia tree, which means "the King of trees." Very few remember the legends of the Su-wa-nee fairies, who with shouts of derisive laughter, mocked the lost and bewildered victims of their rude sports whom they had led astray by the Su-wa-nee [sic] River to the trembling morasses of the great Okeefinokee [sic] wilderness. Hence, the name of Su-wa-nee (echo) river and Okeefinokee (shaking water) Swamp. It is a long time since we small children watched the snow-white locks of the Octogenarian as he placed his right hand by the ear so as to better enable him to listen to the Aeolian harps away off to the Eastern twilight shades as the evening's mantle arose above the horizon, as he told the story of Tul-la-ha-see over again. (The story of the deserted village.) And then again the wild songs and moans told him of the suicide of the whole Yamasee Nation in the Pascagoula Bay. They had exhausted every means in their power to save their nation from an unhappy extinction until all hopes ended: then they resolved to die all to themselves. Arrayed in their dance costumes and singing their best songs, they danced out into the deep waters and were all drowned, as they surrendered to the Great Spirit for their free liberty of life, with happy songs and dances. It is said after darkness comes each evening, for all time, the messengers of the Great Spirit sing in response to the songs of the Yamasees, the sweetest, strangest music ever heard by mortal man. This is on Pascagoula Bay. Just a few minutes, shortly after dark, this music can be heard.

History tells its story as the best impartial authors could produce upon the honor of official records of events therein transcribed, for a guide of proper actions in the future by lessons of the past. Experience for a rule, is the true value of history, when not violated by violent prejudices against the truth. Beyond the revelations of history, but within the scope of human knowledge, the best truths rest in their richest purity. Sentiments arise from earth to heaven, and why should they not return as does the music on the waves of Pascagoula Bay ?

When the Muskogee or Creek Indians were first found by the European explorers and historians they were the most powerful nation of Indians in the Southeast of the main continent of America, and were more advanced toward civilization than other tribes of this country. This can be accounted for by their having had an excellent code of moral laws which protected their social conditions. They had laws of marriage and divorce. Any infringements upon these laws were punished by cutting off the ears for the first offense, cutting off the nose for second offense and by death for the third offense. A grown man who did not do his share of the work in the cornfields was denied the right to family relations. Their art of engraving on wood work was remarkable. They understood the art of weaving cloth, for which they used a species of silk weed bark fiber. They kept historic and religious records by strands of beads which by their variety were arranged so as to convey information. This art was not generally taught, but was entrusted to a class of professors who were bound by the laws of the nation to reveal the truth, for if they should add to, or take away any part of the subject matter of this bead history, they would suffer the penalty of death.

Yet alas! They failed to understand the true limits of their power and civilization. They were fleet of foot and as strong as the old Roman Warriors. Their arrows pierced the armor of the Spanish invaders. Yet, with all this, their ancient glory is gone forever and a new order of universal civilization has overtaken them. Kind reader, will you bear with us the faith that the Creek Indians will meet the present and future with that glorious courage that is their inheritance from the past days which they have survived.

Twin Territories, 1:1.(January 1899):236-237.