Page:A Topographical Description of the State of Ohio, Indiana Territory, and Louisiana.djvu/229

213 increased in population. These people are said to be slovenly and dirty in their dress, but ingenious, sensible and virtuous. Late travellers, however, have represented them as paying little regard to their moral conduct, and that unnatural crimes were too frequently practiced among them. There is an inveterate enmity between the Choctaws and Creek Indians.

The Creek confederacy forms the largest and most powerful nation of Indians south of the Ohio. The nation with whom the confederacy originated, was called Muskogulge. who emigrated from the west, beyond the Mississippi, and established themselves on the ruins of the Natchez. These people made their first settlement on the Oakmulge Fields, in the State of Georgia. They gradually subdued their surrounding enemies, and then strengthened themselves by taking into confederacy the vanquished tribes. The principal nations and tribes composing this union, are the Appalachies, Alabamas, Abecas, Cawillaws, Coosas, Conshaeks, Coosactees, Chacsihoomas, Natchez, Oconies, Oakmulgies, Okohoys, Pakanas, Taensas, Talepoosas, Weetunkas, and others who have since been united with them. This confederation has rendered them formidable to all the nations around them, as well as to the white people, and has rendered them victorious over the Chickasaws. They are divided into Upper Creeks, and Middle and Lower Creeks. The Upper Creeks include all the waters of the Koose, Talepoose and Alabama rivers, and are called Abbaco. Their hunting ground extends to the Tombigby river, which is the dividing line between the Creeks and Chocktaws. The Middle Creeks include all the waters of the Chattahoose and Flint rivers, down to their junction, and although occupied by a great number of different tribes, the whole are called Coweta people, from the Cowetan town and tribe, the most warlike, and one of the most ancient of the Creek nation. The Lower Creeks take in the Appalachicola river, and extend to the point of East Florida. This division is called the Seminoles. They have fifty-five principal towns, besides many villages. The smallest towns have from twenty