siOBX; - Smithsonian Institution

swanton] choctaw social and ceremonial. life 221
Ceremonials and Dances
Every Choctaw town of any size had an open place or square with
cabins about it constructed like those in the Creek towns. Councils
and ceremonies were held here but we know extraordinarily little
about these latter. Our principal French authority states that they
held the most of their feasts when the corn was green, by which he
means ripe but tender, while in the legends reference is made to a
dance held just before clearing the cornfields for planting and a
" green corn " or harvest festival lasting five days.^° But in the
absence of details these stray notes mean little or nothing. Some
modern Indians assert that the Choctaw formerly had Pishofa
dances similar to those of the Chickasaw, but others deny it. The
fact seems to be that they had gatherings at times, accompanied by
feasts and dances, in the interest of some sick person, but that they
were not identical with the ceremonies of the Chickasaw. We seem
to gain the impression that the Choctaw were decidedly less given
to ceremonialism than almost all the other tribes of the Southeast,
and this is confirmed by Wright
At the time of their formation from the earth, their Maimer prescribed no
form of worship, nor did he require any homage to be paid him. Nor did lie
then, or at any subsequent period, malce any revelation of his will for the
regulation of their conduct. And I cannot think that they ever offered sacri-
fices, or had any form of public worship, or practiced any of those ceremonies
which are common among other tribes, and whicli are supposed to favor the
belief that the Aborigines of this country are the descendants of the lost house
of Israel. They state, that they have heard of what is termed the green corn
dance among the Creeks, but deny having any knowledge that such a practice
ever existed among themselves." In some of their dances, they make use of
the word hallelujah, something in the manner mentioned by Dr. Boudinot, but
they aver that is not one of their native songs, and that it was not known in
ancient times. It was introduced among them from the Chickasaws, who
learned it from the northern Indians."
But what they lacked in ceremonialism they seem to have made up
for in social dances and feasts. Bartram says, speaking of the
Creeks, " Some of their most favourite songs and dances, they have
from their enemies, the Chactaws ; for it seems these people are very
eminent for poetry and music." ^^ The French Eelation has the
following regarding these
They have dances among them accompanied by feasts, which are almost
alike. Only the names differ; as the dance of the turkey, bison, bear, alliga-
tor. In this last thev have masks made like the head of this animal, one or
2" Mem. Am. Anthrop. Assn., vol. v, No. 2, p. 58 ; see p. 247. Consult also tlie references
to ceremonials in Lincecum's version of tlie migration legend, p. 20.
21 But see pp. 18-21 and 225-226.
22 The Missionary Herald, 1828, p. 180.
^ Bartram, Wm., Travels, pp. 503-504.