Hello everyone,
This post is going to demonstrate how we, as researchers, view a historical image and retrieve useful information about Native material culture. It's important to not only see the "big picture" or what the artist is trying to display, but also the fine details that can add to our general understanding of the period and what items were being used during that time, and what items have simply been placed by or changed by the artist.
This image is entitled "A Draught of the Creek Nation - 1757" by Bonar. As students of Southeast Native material culture, we can see many items that can add to our knowledge of Creek (Muskogee) during the mid-18th century.
First off, just looking at the center map of the Creek Nation is valuable as it shows precise locations of towns and water systems in 1757. This area is in present day Georgia and near the border of North Carolina and South Carolina. As you can see, the Creeks were not that far from the Cherokee towns of the same time. You can also see, on the right hand side of the map, the "Upper Path to Augusta", that being Augusta/North Augusta in present day Georgia/South Carolina. An important conference of Southeast Nations was held in Augusta in 1756 too.
Looking at the upper most right hand panel of the picture, you can see an image of Creek weapons (and a drum) which I think is one of the main reasons this image is so important as it clearly shows the actual items being used by the Creek in the 1750's. There are precious few images that display such important and scare things like this, and we can use this to help us determine the features and characteristics that distinguish the Southeast Nations from others.
The following weapons can all be seen : spike tomahawk, pipe tomahawk, dart tip'd spear, bow and arrows, sword/cutlass, trade gun, powder horn, ball head war club with spike, and a gunstock/falchion shaped war club with spike. The lower right hand image shows a similar shaped war club with spike being held by a Native.
You can also see a mirror framed in wood below the drum, a must have for any 18th c. Native warrior.
All these items are typical of mid-18th c. Native weapons but this image gives credit and provides documentation to them being in use by the Creek. Such information is rare and hard to find, so we should try to get as much knowledge from images like this as we can.
Hell Folks,
ReplyDeleteIt might also be pointed out that there are feathers on the "dart", (which is SPIRAL decorated (!) and that there are other items to be pointed out as well. I think the "Calumet" is noteworthy, as well as the quiver (talk about rare !), and a "domed" ended powder horn...with a couple of balls next to it (?). There is a "critter pouch" as well as a little round bottomed draw string pouch in the bottom left hand side of the scene. Do we see a powder measure (?) other "cane" (?) cylinder item??? Perhaps it is a musket cartridge? What is it and why is it there otherwise? Anyway, while we may forgive the "cupid bow" as a common Anglo artist's license thing, we also see some arrows. Although they might also be simplified...there they are. The Drum appears to be an Euro military style snare drum (which was a common gift to Native groups from various governments(, and ONE of it's sticks (?). The Pipe tomahawk seems to be a fancy "French" type?? Is that decoration on the spike tomahawk handle???
Just some thoughts.
Ken,
ReplyDeleteMost excellent observations - Thanks for posting!
I did not see the draw string pouch (with double strings) or the animal skin tobacco pouch either. I think the small object near the arrows could be a pocket knife or powder measure. The decoration on the spike hawk is hard to see so I can't say for sure.
I think the shape of the quiver looks very similar in style to the one in De Batz's "Indians of several Nations bound for New Orleans 1735."
The dart pole having feathers on the end, and being spiral designed is very interesting as well. I'm curious if the spiral is the carving or just paint design applied to the pole.
I also think the mirror board is of significant importance as it gives us a solid design to use for reproductions. Too often we see a myriad of mirror designs that cannot be historically traced to an actual object, but this design can be used to create an authentic item.