The Collected Works of Benjamin Hawkins, 1796–1810

A Sketch of the Creek Country in the Years 1798 and 1799

A SKETCH OF THE CREEK COUNTRY, IN THE YEARS 1798 AND 1799. TIlE origin of the name Creek is uncertain. The tra. dition is, that it was given by white people, from the number of Creeks and water courses in the country. The Indian name is Muscogce.* 1"he Creeks came from the west. They have a tra.., dition among them, that there is, in the fork of J{ed river, ,vest of the Mississippi, two mounds of earth; that at this place, the Cussetuhs, Conetuhs and Chickasa\vs, found themselves; that being distressed by wars with red people, they crossed the Mississippi, and directing their course eastwardly, they crossed the falls of Tal-Iapoo-sa, above 1'00k-au-bat-che, settled below the falls of Chat-toho -che, and spread out from thence to Oc-nlul-gec, O-conee , Savannah, and down on the seacoast, to\\yards Charleston . Here, they first saw white people, and fronl hence they have been compelled to retire bacI\.. again, to their present settlements. The country lying between Coosan, Tallapoosa and Chat-to-ho-chc, above their falls, is broken. 'fhe so.1 is stiff, with coarse gravel, and in some places, stone. 'I~he trees are post oak, ,vhite and black oa}{, .pine, hickory and chesnut, all of them slnall. The whole is ~'ell watered , and the rivers and creel{s have rocl{y beds, clad in many places with OlOSS greatly relished by cattle, horses and deer, allugh the hands of a mason. The quantit)T of this description at the falls and in the hill sides adjoining them, ·is great; sufficient for the building of a large city. The falls above spread out, and the river widens to half a mile within that distance, and continues that width for four miles. Within this scope are four islands, which were fornlerly cultivated, but are now old fields margined with cane. 'fhe bed of the river is here rocky, shoally, and covered with moss. It is frequented in summer by cattle, horses, and deer; and in the winter, by swans, geese and ducks. On tile right bank opposite the falls, the land is brolrts of life, he gives continued proofs of unbounded hospitality; he seldom l\il~s less than two large beeves a fortnight, for his friends and acquaintances. 'j'he town is on the decline. Jts appearance proves the inattention of the inhabitants. It is badly fenced; they llave but a few plum trees, and several clumps of cassine yupon; the land is muc~ exhausted with continued culture , and the \vood for fuel is at a great and inconvenient distance, unless boats or land carriages were in use; it could then be easily supplied; the river is navigahle for boats dra\ving two and a half feet in the dry season~ frolD just above the town, to Alabanla. From the point just above the to,vn to the falls, the river spreads over a bed of flat rock in several places, \\·here the depth of water is something less than t\VO feet. This is the residence of Efau I-Ialljo, one of the great medal chiefs, the speaker for the nation at the national council. lIe is one of the best infornled men of the land, and faithful to his national engagements. He has five black slaves, and a stock of cattle and llorses; but they are of little use to hirn; the ancient habits instilled in hinl hy French and British agents, that the red chiefs are to Jive on presents frolll their white friends, is so riveted, that he claims it as a tribute due to hinl, and one that never Illust be dispensed with. At the public establishment there is a smith's SIIOP, a d\\'elling house and kitchen built of logs, and a field well fenced. l\nJ it is in the contemplation of the agent, to have a public garden and nursery. The assistant and interpreter, Mr. CornelIs, (Oche BENJAMIN HAWKINS 31s Haujo,) one of the chiefs of the Creek nation, has a farm well fenced and cultivated with the plough. He is a half breed, of a strong mind, and fulfils the duties enjoined on hiln by his appointment, with zeal and fidelity. lie has nine negroes under good governrnent. Some of his fanlily have good farms, and one of them, Zachariah McGive IS a careful, snug farnler, has good...