siOBX; - Smithsonian Institution

26 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 103
fessedly very much alarmed. Some of the young warriors moved that the
Chahta people should rise at once and kill every Chickasha they could find
within the limits of their hunting grounds. Others who were not quite so fiery
thought that a precipitate move on the part of the Chahtas would only bring
disaster, while there were others who advocated immediate flight as the only
chance for safety.
At length, old Long Arrow, who had always been leader of the tool carriers,
arose and said
"I am old now, and cannot, if I desired, make much of a flight. I shall
remain at Nunih Waya. My bones shall sleep in the great mound. I am also
opposed to precipitate movements. Let us prepare plenty of arms and make
systematic movements. Let us organize one hundred companies, with ten active
men in each, and a prudent, brave warrior to lead each company. Let these
hundred companies be sent forward immediately, with instructions to examine
and ascertain the force and position of the enemy; but not to make battle,
except when they are attacked. Let them stay a long time, and be seen in
many places, as by accident, in the day time ; but at night, let them scatter and
sleep without fire in dark places. In the meantime, let all those who remain
in the encampment go to work and throw up a high circular earth w;j11 that
shall include the two mounds and space enough to contain all the women and
children, as well as the aged and infirm, in case of a siege. All this completed
and all the corn and other provisions that can be had stored away inside of
hunt down the enemy
the great wall, we shall be ready to increase our forces ;
and scalp them wherever they may be found."
The multitude breathed easier and looked brighter. The minko then spoke
to the people, giving them great encouragement. He said
" The great war talk of the long tried friend of the people, Long Arrow, is
full of wisdom, and his words brace the flagging spirits of the nation. His
counsels lead to safety, and his instructions and plans to victory. Let the
people not hesitate. Turn out your hundred companies of warriors. Send
them out immediately. Appoint wise men to lay off and direct the work on
the earth wall and let all that can carry a load of dirt as large as his head
be found busily engaged from day to day, until the wall is completed. Be
industrious. Let every one do his duty in this great work. Let all people be
brave and faithful and danger cannot approach you."
And the people answered and said
" It is a good talk. Lay off the ground ; we are ready for the work ; it shall
rise up as a cloud in a summer's day."
The companies were organized the same day and took their departure the
next day. Men were appointed to lay off and superintend the work on the
earthen wall. The people, old and young, stringing themselves around the
entire circle, threw up the earth from the outside of the wall to the height. of
two men, in eight days. And they left two gaps in the wall, of flve steps each.
One at the east and the other at the west, for the ingress and egress of the
people which they did not intend to close until Nunih Waya should be actually
invaded by the enemy.
The minko then organized his whole effective force and ordered them to
make arrows and war clubs as fast as possible and bring them into the mound
of the sacred pole, where he had a house erected, in which to deposit them."
The above is, of course, cut out of the middle of a very much longer
narrative, although the volume in which it is contained seems to give
^ Lincecum in Pubs. Miss. Hist. Soc, viii, pp. 521-542.