The Indians

Into this fertile island of wilderness beauty and mild climate, at some time in the long ago, man made his appearance. Doubtless, Indians lived on the mainland before the time the coastal islands emerged from the sea. Then as the dry land appeared with beaches, dunes, and forests, the mainland Indians may have been the first vacationists. Indian canoes probably bore individuals, and later whole tribes for hunting and fishing on these islands. Then some remained and villages were begun. Little has been known about the aboriginal inhabitants between Savannah and the St. John river, until fortunately some progress was made sinse 1936 when the construction of the airport on St. Simons uncovered bones and skulls from grave sites and a village site. Archeologists recommended by the Smithsonian took over the excavation work to reveal important information. Over 21,000 artifacts including 35 bone or stone awls were found at the site near the airport. Approximately 3,000 post molds and some evidence of clay floors were located, indicating the large number of dwellings included in this village. Soon work and bits of pottery indicated burials before 1500, for after that date beads and bits of bright-hued glass brought by the white traders are nearly always found at Indian sites. On practically every bluff on St. Simons were shell banks which were the refuse heaps or "kitchen middens" of the Indians. They contained oyster and clam shells, broken pottery, bones of animals eaten by these Indians, bowls, drinking vessels, hoes and tools fashioned from conch and whelk shells, awls and other tools made of animal and bird bones.

These Indians were Creeks of Muskhogean stock. In figure they were tall, well shaped; their manners were dignified; their countenance open and placid, with heroism and bravery stamped on their brows. Their complexion was reddish brown, and their long coarse hair was deep black. In their actions they exhibited an air of independence and superiority. The men were very ambitious of conquest, warfare seeming to be the men's favorite pastime, but were ever magnanimous to a vanquished foe.

These Creek Indians occupying the coastal plains were far from being savages. They were politically well organized, occupied permanent villages, and were largely engaged in the cultivation of corn, beans, melons, and fruit. Tobacco was cultivated and universally used, the Indians believing that smoking was peculiarly pleasing to the Great Spirit, whom they fancied was himself addicted to this habit. The pipe was their constant companion- their solace in fatigue and trouble, their delight in hours of ease. It was a symbol of peace and friendship, and was also used in religious and political rites. Large, highly ornamented pipes, called "calumets" were employed only on occasions of ceremony. Just as among the white man it was an emblem of peace and good-will to drink from the same cup, so it was a similar idea of the Indians to take a whiff from the same pipe. The Indians regarded corn as a direct gift from the Great Spirit, and observed festivals with interesting ceremonies both when it was planted and gathered.

Their villages were crude cabins made of upright poles daubed with earth,leaves, or moss. The dwelling of the chief or mico was usually in the center of the village and was larger and more carefully finished than the houses of the common people. Next to warfare, hunting was the favorite pastime of the men, although the men assisted in making crops and in other outdoor work, so that all the drudgery was not left to the women, as was the case in some other areas. Dogs were domesticated, abounded in all their villages, and were constant companions and friends of their masters.

Of course the Creek Indians were divided into many tribes or provinces. The territory between St. Catherines and St. Andrews Sounds was the province of Guale (pronounced "Wallie"), taking its name from an old Indian chief Guale, who resided on Saint Catherine Island. As the Indians moved about they attached their names to any piece of land they occupied, until all this territory was called Guale. Even the waters between St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island the Indians called Gualauini, meaning the waters of Guale.

Each village was governed by a chief or "mico". There was also a "mico mayer" or head chief, exercising a sort of lordship over the other chieftains. Reports indicate that this coastal area was relatively well populated, with from twenty-two to forty villages. Since the Gualeans sometimes relocated their villages, it is difficult to know the exact number or to locate their exact sites. In all probability the Indians carried their village name along with them as they moved from one site to another. The southern villages around St. Simons Island seemed to number about eleven. Tolomato seems to have been the head village and the residence of the "mico mayer". Its site was near Darien. Some think it was five miles from Darien on the road beyond the Ridge on Pease Creek at a place known as "The Thicket", where there are some tabby ruins once thought to be remains of a Spanish mission. Later opinion places Tolomato on the bluff in front of the present Fort King George visitors center where excavation found both Indian and Spanish material. Since the Indians were mobile, the village Tolomato may have had various locations, while still remaining the head village and the residence of the mico mayer.

Thus these natives, breathing the soft air of a genial climate and surrounded by forests and streams that supplied them food with little effort, were relieved in great measure from any severe struggle for clothes and shelter. On a whole, these Creek Indians were a gentle, agricultural people, with pleasure-loving dispositions. With no thought of change, they lived simple lives, unconscious of civilization on the far side of the great waters and unknowing of the pale-faced warriors who would bring great changes to their way of life.

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