Adair's History Of The American Indians - free ebook by James Adair

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Adair's History Of The American Indians

James Adair

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33 chapters

EDITOR’S PREFACE

EDITOR’S PREFACE

James Adair’s History of the American Indians , published in London in 1775, has always been regarded and treated by ethnologists and historians as reliable authority on the Southern Indians, as well as on Southern history in a period of no little obscurity. The book has long been rare, selling in 1930 at one hundred dollars a copy. Recognizing its value as source material on Southern history of the colonial period, the National Society of Colonial Dames of America, in Tennessee, determined to b

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James Adair, the Man

James Adair, the Man

James Adair has been called by various writers an Englishman, a Scotchman and an Irishman—and with some basis of fact in each case. He derived from the historic Irish house of Fitzgerald. Indeed, Fitzgerald was his true name. That family descends from Walter, son of Other, who at the time of the Domesday Survey (1086) was castellan of Windsor and tenant-in-chief of five of the counties of England. His descendants took active parts in the conquest of Ireland, where one of them in 1346 came into t

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The Book

The Book

Adair purposed a publication of his book several years before the date of its actual London publication in 1775. In the South Carolina Gazette of September 7, 1769, it was said: “An account of the origin of the primitive inhabitants and a history of those numerous warlike tribes of Indians, situated to the westward of Charles Town are subjects hitherto unattempted by any pen.... Such an attempt has been made by Mr. James Adair, a gentleman who has been conversant among the Cherokees, Chickesaws,

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PREFACE

PREFACE

The following history, and observations, are the productions of one who hath been chiefly engaged in an Indian life ever since the year 1735: and most of the pages were written among our old friendly Chikkasah, with whom I first traded in the year 1744. The subjects are interesting, as well as amusing; but never was a literary work begun and carried on with greater disadvantages. The author was separated by his situation, from the conversation of the learned, and from any libraries—Frequently in

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A HISTORY OF THE NORTH-AMERICAN INDIANS, THEIR CUSTOMS, &c.

A HISTORY OF THE NORTH-AMERICAN INDIANS, THEIR CUSTOMS, &c.

Observations on the colour, shape, temper, and dress of the Indians of America. The Indians are of a copper or red-clay colour—and they delight in every thing, which they imagine may promote and increase it: accordingly, they paint their faces with vermilion, as the best and most beautiful ingredient. If we consider the common laws of nature and providence, we shall not be surprized at this custom; for every thing loves best its own likeness and place in the creation, and is disposed to ridicule

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Observations on the origin and descent of the Indians.

Observations on the origin and descent of the Indians.

The very remote history of all nations, is disfigured with fable, and gives but little encouragement to distant enquiry, and laborious researches. Much of the early history and antiquities of nations is lost, and some people have no records at all, and to this day are rude and uncivilized. Yet a knowledge of them is highly interesting, and would afford amusement, and even instruction in the most polished times, to the most polite. Every science has certain principles, as its basis, from which it

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Argument I.

Argument I.

As the Israelites were divided into Tribes , and had chiefs over them, so the Indians divide themselves: each tribe forms a little community within the nation—And as the nation hath its particular symbol, so hath each tribe the badge from which it is denominated. The sachem of each tribe, is a necessary party in conveyances and treaties, to which he affixes the mark of his tribe, as a corporation with us doth their public seal [IV] .—If we go from nation to nation among them, we shall not find o

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Argument II.

Argument II.

By a strict, permanent, divine precept, the Hebrew nation were ordered to worship at Jerusalem, Jehovah the true and living God, and who by the Indians is stiled Yohewah ; which the seventy-two interpreters, either from ignorance or superstition, have translated Adonai ; and is the very same as the Greek Kurios , signifying Sir, Lord, or Master; which is commonly applied to earthly potentates, without the least signification of, or relation to, that most great and awful name, which describes the

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Argument III.

Argument III.

Agreeable to the THEOCRACY , or divine government of Israel, the Indians think the Deity to be the immediate head of their state. All the nations of Indians are exceedingly intoxicated with religious pride, and have an inexpressible contempt of the white people, unless we except those half-savage Europeans, who are become their proselytes. Nothings is the most favourable name they give us, in set speeches: even the Indians who were formerly bred in amity with us, and in enmity to the French, use

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Argument IV.

Argument IV.

We have abundant evidence of the Jews believing in the ministration of angels , during the Old-Testament dispensation; their frequent appearances, and their services, on earth, are recorded in the oracles, which the Jews themselves receive as given by divine inspiration. And St. Paul in his {35} epistle addressed to the Hebrews, speaks of it as their general opinion, that “Angels are ministring spirits to the good and righteous on earth.” And that it was the sentiment of those Jews who embraced

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Argument V.

Argument V.

The Indian language , and dialects , appear to have the very idiom and genius of the Hebrew . Their words and sentences are expressive, concise, emphatical, {37} sonorous, and bold—and often, both in letters and signification, synonymous with the Hebrew language. It is a common and old remark, that there is no language, in which some Hebrew words are not to be found. Probably Hebrew was the first, and only language, till distance of time and place introduced a change, and then soon followed a mi

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Argument VI.

Argument VI.

They count Time after the manner of the Hebrews. They divide the year into spring—summer—autumn, or the fall of the leaf—and winter: which the Cheerake Indians call Kogeh , Akooèa , Oolekóhstè , Kòra ; and the Chikkasah and Choktah nation, Otoolpha , Tóme palle , Ashtòra-móona , Ashtòra . Kógeh is drawn from Anantòge , the general appellation for the sun and moon; because, when the sun returns from the southern hemisphere, he covers the vegetable world with a green livery. Akooèa alludes strongl

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Argument VII.

Argument VII.

In conformity to, or after the manner of the Jews, the Indian Americans have their Prophets , High-Priests , [31] and others of a religious order. As the Jews had a sanctum sanctorum , or most holy place, so have all the Indian nations; particularly, the Muskohge. It is partitioned off by a mud-wall about breast-high, behind the white seat, which always stands to the left hand of the red-painted war-seat; there they deposit their consecrated vessels, and supposed holy utensils, none of the laity

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Argument VIII.

Argument VIII.

Their Festivals , Fasts , and Religious Rites , have also a great resemblance to those of the Hebrews. It will be necessary here to take a short view of the principal Jewish feasts, &amp;c. They kept every year, a sacred feast called the Passover, in memory of their deliverance from Egyptian {94} bondage. Seven days were appointed, Lev. xxiii.—To these they added an eighth, through a religious principle, as preparatory, to clear their houses of all leaven, and to fix their minds before they

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Argument IX.

Argument IX.

The Hebrews offered DAILY SACRIFICE , which the prophet Daniel calls Tamid , “the daily.” It was an offering of a lamb every morning and evening, at the charges of the common treasury of the temple, and except the skin and intrails, it was burnt to ashes—upon which account they called it, Oolah Kalile , to ascend and consume. The Indians have a similar religious service. The Indian women always throw a small piece of the fattest of the meat into the fire when they are eating, and frequently befo

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Argument X.

Argument X.

The Hebrews had various Ablutions and Anointings , according to the Mosaic ritual—and all the Indian nations constantly observe similar customs from religious motives. Their frequent bathing, or dipping themselves and their children in rivers, even in the severest weather, seems to be as truly Jewish, as the other rites and ceremonies which have been mentioned. Frequent washing of the body was highly necessary to the health of the Hebrews in their warm climate, and populous state—but it is usele

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Argument XI.

Argument XI.

The Indians have customs consonant to the Mosaic Laws of Uncleanness . They oblige their women in their lunar retreats , [45] to build small huts, at as considerable a distance from their dwelling-houses, as they imagine may be out of the enemies reach; where, during the space of that period, they are obliged to stay at the risque of their lives. Should they be known to violate that ancient law, they must answer for every misfortune that befalls {123} any of the people, as a certain effect of th

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Argument XII.

Argument XII.

Like the Jews, the greatest part of the southern Indians abstain from most things that are either in themselves, or in the general apprehension of mankind, loathsome, or unclean : where we find a deviation from that general rule among any of them, it is a corruption—either owing to their intercourse with Europeans, or having contracted an ill habit from necessity. They generally affix very vicious ideas to the eating of impure things; and all their prophets, priests, old warriors and war-chiefta

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Argument XIII.

Argument XIII.

The Indian Marriages , Divorces , and Punishments of adultery, still retain a strong likeness to the Jewish laws and customs in these points. The Hebrews had sponsalia de presenti, and sponsalia de futuro: a considerable time generally intervened between their contract and marriage: and their nuptial ceremonies were celebrated in the night. The Indians observe the same customs to this day; insomuch, that it is usual for an elderly man to take a girl, or sometimes a child to be his wife, because

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Argument XIV.

Argument XIV.

Many other of the Indian Punishments , resemble those of the Jews. Whosoever attentively views the features of the Indian, and his eye, and {146} reflects on his fickle, obstinate, and cruel disposition, will naturally think on the Jews. English America, feelingly knows the parity of the temper of their neighbouring Indians, with that of the Hebrew nation. The Israelites cut off the hands and feet of murderers, 2 Sam. iv. 12.—strangled false prophets—and sometimes burned, stoned, or beheaded tho

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Argument XV.

Argument XV.

The Israelites had Cities of Refuge , or places of safety, for those who killed a person unawares, and without design; to shelter them from the blood-thirsty relations of the deceased, or the revenger of blood, who always pursued or watched the unfortunate person, like a ravenous wolf: but after the death of the high-priest the man-slayer could safely return home, and nobody durst molest him. According to the same particular divine law of mercy, each of these Indian nations have either a house o

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Argument XVI.

Argument XVI.

Before the Indians go to War , they have many preparatory ceremonies of purification and fasting , like what is recorded of the Israelites. In the first commencement of a war, a party of the injured tribe turns out first, to revenge the innocent crying blood of their own bone and flesh, as they term it. When the leader begins to beat up for volunteers, he goes three times round his dark winter-house, contrary to the course of the sun, sounding the war-whoop, singing the war-song, and beating the

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Argument XVII.

Argument XVII.

The Indian origin and descent may also be in some measure discerned by their taste for, and kind of Ornaments . [72] The Israelites were fond of wearing beads and other ornaments, even as early as the patriarchal age, and the taste increased to such a degree that it became criminal, and was sharply reprehended by the prophets, particularly Isaiah. The Israelitish women wore rich garters about their legs, and against the rules of modesty, they shortened their under garments, in order to shew how

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Argument XVIII.

Argument XVIII.

The Indian manner of Curing their Sick , is very similar to that of the Jews. They always invoke YO He Wah , a considerable space of time before they apply any medicines, let the case require ever so speedy an application. The more desperately ill their patients are, the more earnestly they invoke the deity on the sad occasion. Like the Hebrews, they firmly believe that diseases and wounds are occasioned by the holy fire, or divine anger, in proportion to some violation of the old beloved speech

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Argument XIX.

Argument XIX.

The Hebrews have at all times been very careful in the Burial of their dead—to be deprived of it was considered as one of the greatest of evils. They made it a point of duty to perform the funeral obsequies of their friends—often embalmed the dead bodies of those who were rich, and even buried treasure in the tombs with their dead. Josephus tells us, that in king David’s sepulchre, was buried such a prodigious quantity of treasures, that Hyrcanus the Maccabean, took three thousand talents out of

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Argument XX.

Argument XX.

The Jewish records tell us, that their women Mourned for the loss of their deceased husbands, and were reckoned vile, by the civil law, if they married in the space, at least, of ten months after their death. In resemblance to that custom, all the Indian widows, by an established strict penal law, mourn for the loss of their deceased husbands; and among some tribes for the space of three or four years. But the East-India Pagans forced the widow, to sit on a pile of wood, and hold the body of her

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Argument XXI.

Argument XXI.

The surviving brother, by the Mosaic law, was to Raise Seed to a deceased brother who left a widow childless, to perpetuate his name and family, and inherit his goods and estate, or be degraded: and, if the issue he begat was a male child, it assumed the name of the deceased. The Indian custom [83] looks the very same way; yet it is in this as in their law of blood—the eldest brother can redeem. Although a widow is bound, by a strict penal law, to mourn the death of her husband for the space of

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Argument XXII.

Argument XXII.

When the Israelites gave names to their children or others, they chose such appellatives as suited best with their circumstances, and the times. This custom was as early as the Patriarchal age; for we find Abram was changed into Abraham; Sarai into Sarah, Jacob into Israel;—and afterwards Oshea, Joshua, Solomon, Jedidiah, &amp;c. &amp;c. This custom is a standing rule with the Indians, and I never observed the least deviation from it. They give their children names, expressive of their t

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Argument XXIII.

Argument XXIII.

Although other resemblances of the Indian rites and customs to those of the Hebrews, might be pointed out; not to seem tedious, I proceed to the last argument of the origin of the Indian Americans, which shall be from their own traditions,—from the accounts of our English writers—and from the testimonies which the Spanish writers have given, concerning the primitive inhabitants of Peru and Mexico. The Indian tradition says, that their forefathers in very remote ages came from a far distant count

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ACCOUNT OF THE CHEERAKE NATION, &c.

ACCOUNT OF THE CHEERAKE NATION, &c.

We shall now treat of the Cheerake nation, as the next neighbour to South-Carolina. Their national name is derived from Chee-ra , “fire,” [110] which is their reputed lower heaven, and hence they call their magi, Cheerà-tahge , “men possessed of the divine fire.” [111] The country lies in about 34 degrees north latitude, at the distance of 340 computed miles to the north-west of Charles-town,—140 miles west-south-west from the Katahba nation,—and almost 200 miles to the north of the Muskohge or

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ACCOUNT OF THE MUSKOHGE NATION, &c.

ACCOUNT OF THE MUSKOHGE NATION, &c.

Their country is situated, nearly in the centre, between the Cheerake, Georgia, East and West-Florida, and the Choktah and Chikkasah nations, the one 200, and the other 300 miles up the Missisippi. It extends 180 computed miles, from north to south. It is called the Creek country, [146] on account of the great number of Creeks, or small bays, rivulets and swamps, it abounds with. This nation is generally computed to consist of about 3500 men fit to bear arms; and has fifty towns, or villages. Th

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GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS; DISPLAYING

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS; DISPLAYING

Their love to their country—Their martial spirit—Their caution in war—Method of fighting—Barbarity to their captives—Instances of their fortitude and magnanimity in the view of death—Their rewards of public services—The manner of crowning their warriors after victory—Their games—Method of fishing, and of building—Their utensils and manufactures—Conduct in domestic life—Their laws, form of government, &amp;c. &amp;c. In the following pages, the reader will find as great a variety of enter

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APPENDIX. ADVICE to STATESMEN;

APPENDIX. ADVICE to STATESMEN;

The advantages of mutual affection between Great Britain, and the North American colonies—A description of the Floridas, and the Missisippi lands, with their productions—The benefits of colonizing Georgiana, and civilizing the Indians—and the way to make all the colonies more valuable to the mother country. Though Great Britain hath been many years invested with the Missisipi-possessions, and which she purchased at a very high price; little hath been done to improve them. Every friend to his cou

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