siOBX; - Smithsonian Institution

112 BUEEAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 103
" They are given to pilfering, but not so much as the Chickasaws,"
and in another place, "Although they have a strict notion of distinction
in property, and even divide their lands, we never hear them
quarrel about boundaries," -^ On the other hand, Adair, who re-
sided among their bitter enemies, the Chickasaws, declares
Tliey are such proficients in the art of stealing, tliat in our store-houses,
they often thieve while tliey are spealiing to and looking the owner in the
face. It is reckoned a shame to be detected in the act of theft ; but, it is the
reward they receive, which makes it shameful : for, in such a case, the trader
bastinadoes the covetous sinner, almost as long as he seems sensible of pain.
A few years ago one of the Chikkasah warriors told me, he heard a middleaged
Choktah warrior, boast in his own country, at a public ball-play, of having
artfully stolen several things from one and another trader, to a considerable
amount, while he was cheapening goods of us, and we were blind in our own
houses.^'
Speaking of the Choctaw of Bayou Lacomb, Louisiana, Bushnell
reports that " thieves apprehended with the stolen property in their
possession were forced to return it. If they could not produce the
property, either they or their families were compelled to return goods
of equal value." -^
Whipping appears to have been the usual punishment for this
offense in later times, and is thus referred to by Cushman
For minor offenses, whipping was the punishment ; fifty lashes for the first
offense, one hundred for the second, and death by the rifle for the third offense
in case of theft, and so it is to-day (1899).
He who had been condemned to receive this punishment never attempted
to evade it; but promptly presented himself, or herself, at the designated
place of punishment. This punishment was inflicted several times at the
mission of Hebron, to which I was an eye witness. Before the hour appointed,
the neighborhood assembled around the church which stood about forty rods
distant from the mission-house, where they indulged in social conversation
and smoking ; never, however, mentioning, or even hinting the subject which
had brought them together. The culprit was as gay and cheerful as any of
them, walking with an air of perfect indifference, chatting and smoking with
the various groups sitting around on blankets spread upon the ground. Pre-
cisely at the moment designated, the Light-Horse, who constituted a sort of
ambulatory jury, to arrest, try and punish all violators of the law, would
appear. The crowd then went into the church, closed the door and commenced
singing a religious hymn, taught them by the missionaries, which they continued
until the tragedy outside was over. At the same time the culprit shouted
" Sa mintih!" (I have come!) then ejaculated " Sa kullo ! " (I am strong!)
He then elevated his arms and turned his back to the executioner and said
"Fummih!" (whip!). When he had received fifteen or twenty blows, he
calmly turned the other side to the Fum-mi (one who whips) ; and then again
his back, uttering not a word nor manifesting the least sign of pain. As soon
as the whipping was over, the church door was opened and the whole assembly
-•^ Romans, E. and W. Fla., pp. 76, 87-88.
2" Adair, Hist. Am. Inds., p. 283.
^ Bushnell, Bull. 48, Bur. Amer. Ethn., p. 26.