The meaning of the name Is-te-cm-us-suk-c-kee, abbreviated to
Mus-ko-kee, or Muskogee, means the “People of the Holly Leaf
Confederacy,” referring to a shrub found in the Southern States
near the Gulf coast known as the “Gulf Holly.” The
old-time Creeks had considerable knowledge of the medicinal
virtues of the various plants and herbs of the “Old Nation” in
the East – Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. This medicinal science
covered the entire scope of their existence for healing the sick,
for counteracting evil omens and for purifying their bodies during
their council deliberations, on their hunting expeditions and war
campaigns of invasion within an enemy’s territory. The holly
leaf was a medicine used by them to purify their bodies during
religious ceremonies of the feasts, fasts, and festivals of the
first fruits, sometimes called “The Green Corn Dance.”
“Usseh” is what they termed this medicine, hence it is said
Osceola derived his name by being a great drinker of this “Usseh.”
“Em-us-suk-c-kee” is of the same character of construction
as the name Uh-chay-la-o-kee, which, abbreviated is rendered
Cha-lo-kee, hence is derived the name of “Cherokee” – the
people of the five confederacies being of two distinct national
names of one linguistic construction.
A great many names have been lost to the Mus-ko-gee language by
their emigration to a colder climate than is that of their former
homes east of the Mississippi. Many changes were made in their
customs and old-time usages after their removal west. Very few
Muskogess live who know that If-too-mic-coo was their name for the
magnolia tree, which means “king of trees.” Very few
remember the legends of the Su-wa-nee fairires, who, with shouts
of derisive laughter, mocked the lost and bewildered victims of
their rude sports, whom they had led astray by the Su-wa-nee River
to the trembling morasses of the great O-kee-fin-o-kee wilderness.
Hence, the name of the Su-wa-nee (“Echo’) River, and the
Okefinokee (‘shaking water”) Swamp.
It is a long time since we old Creeks, as small children,
watched the snow-white locks of the octogenarian as he placed his
right hand behind his ear so as to enable him to listen to the
Eolian harps away off to the Eastern twilight shades, as
evening’s dark mantle was gently thrown over Earth. We listened
in childish awe while he told the story of the
“Tul-lee-has-see” over again – the story of the Deserted
Village. And then the wild songs and moans told him of the suicide
of the whole Ya-mo-see Nation in the Pasguella bay. They had
exhausted every means in their power to save their nation from an
unhappy extinction until at last all hopes vanished and they knew
that they were powerless. ‘Twas then that they determined to die
bravely, and together. Arrayed in their brightest – hued dance
costumes, and singing their happiest songs, they danced out into
the deep waters, surrendering the free liberty of their lives to
the Great Spirit, and were every one drowned. It is said after
darkness comes each evening, for all time, the messenger of the
Great Spirit sing in response to the songs of the Ya-ma-sees- the
sweetest, strangest music ever heard by mortal man. This is heard
on Pasguella bay, any evening, for a short while just at dusk.
When the Mus-ko-gees, or Creek Indians were first found by the
European explorers and historians they were the most powerful
Nation of Indians in the Southeast of the main continent of
America, and were among the most advanced tribes in civilization.
This high state of civilization can be accounted for by their
having had an excellent code of moral laws which protected their
social conditions. They had laws of marriage and divorce. Any
infringement upon these laws was punished by cutting off the ears
of the first offense, cutting off the nose for the second and
death for the third offense. A grown man who did not do his share
of work in the corn field was denied the right to family
relations.
The Creeks’ art in engraving wood was remarkable. They
understood the art of weaving cloth, for which they used a species
of silk-weed bark fiber. They kept historic and religious records
by strands of beads which by their variety were arranged so as to
convey information. This art was not generally taught, but was
entrusted to a class of professors who were bound by the laws of
the Nation to reveal the truth, for if they should add to or take
away any part of the subject of this bead history they would
suffer the penalty of death.
Yet, alas, they failed to understand the true extent of their
power and civilization. They were fleet of foot and as strong as
the old Roman warriors. Their arrows pierced the armor of the
Spanish invaders. Yet, with all this, their ancient glory is gone
forever, and a new world has opened up for them. Kind reader, will
you bear with us the faith that the Creek Indians will meet the
present and the future with that glorious courage that is their
inheritance from the Past which they have survived.
(Published in Sturm’s Statehood Magazine, pages 86-87, 1905;
Oklahoma Historical Society. Transcribed by Barbara Cox)
James Roane Gregory
