While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
Alibamu (said to be from the Choctaw alba ayauiule,
I open or clear the thicket). A
Muskhogean tribe of the
Creek confederacy that
formerly dwelt in s. Alabama. It is clear that the Alibamu and Koasati were
closely related, the language of the two being "practically identical. When
first found by the whites the home of the tribe was on Alabama r. a short
distance below the junction of the Coosa and Tallapoosa. Their early history,
owing to confusion in the use of the name, is uncertain, but according to
tradition they had migrated from a westerly locality. In the Creek legend, as
given by Gatschet, they are mentioned, under the name Atilamas, as one of 4
tribes contending for the honor of being considered the most ancient and
valorous. The chroniclers of De Soto's expedition in 1541 locate the "province"
or "town" of Alibamo a short distance N. w. of the Chicasa, in N. w. or central
Mississippi. According to the Gentleman of Elvas they found a strongly fortified
town, named Ullibahali, on Alabama or lower Coosa r. Coxe (French; Hist.
Coll. La., n, 235, 1850) says that below the Coza, or Coussa, on the same
river, are the Ullibalies, or Olibahalies, according to the French the
Allibamons. The identification with the Ullibahali would be complete if this
statement could be accepted, but Gatschet is inclined to doubt its correctness.
The history of the tribe recommences with the appearance of the French in Mobile
bay in 1701-02. Bienville found "on the banks and many adjacent islands, places
abandoned by the savages on account of war with the Conchaques [Conshac] and
Alibamons" (Hamilton, Colon. Mobile, 41, 1897) . The French soon became
involved in war with the tribe, who, joining the
Cherokee, Abihka, and
Catawba
in 1708, descended Alabama r. to attack Ft Louis and the Mobile Indians in that
vicinity, but retired after burning some villages. In 1713 the French
established Ft Toulouse in their country to hold them in check and to protect
French traders. The site of the fort was occupied in 1812 by Ft Jackson. After
the cession in 1763 by France to Great Britain the fort was abandoned, and at
that time a part of the tribe removed to the banks of the Mississippi and
established a village 60 m. above New Orleans. This band numbered about 120,
including 30 warriors. Subsequently the tribe removed to w. Louisiana, and in
1890 some were still living in Calcasieu parish, others in the Creek Nation in
Indian T., and a party of about 200 in Polk co., Tex.
Little has been recorded in regard to the character and customs of the Alibamu,
but that they were warlike in disposition is evident from their early history.
One singular custom mentioned by Pénicaut
seems to apply to the Alibamu as well as to the
Mobile Indians. They caused
their children, both boys and girls, to pass in array at a certain festival and
receive a flogging of such severity as to draw blood, after which they were
lectured by one or more of the elders. Hawkins states: "They did not conform to
the customs of the Creeks, and the Creek law for the punishment of adultery was
not known among them. They cultivated the soil to some extent and had some hogs,
horses, and cattle. Though hospitable, it was their custom when a white person
visited them, as soon as he had eaten, what was left was thrown away and
everything which had been used [by the white person] was washed. The 4 Alibamu
towns situated on Alabama r. are given by Hawkins (Sketch of Creek country,
1799) as Kanchati, Tawosa, Pawokti, and Atagi. Others give Nitahauritz as
one of the four. (A. S. G. - C. T. )
This site
includes some historical materials that may imply negative stereotypes
reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. These
items are presented as part of the historical record and should not be
interpreted to mean that the WebMasters in any way endorse the stereotypes
implied .
Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico, Frederick Webb Hodge, 1906
