bereaved relatives
had been wiped away with presents. In another place the same author tells how a
Cherokee, having killed a trader, was pursued ami attempted to take refuge in the
town, hut was driven off into the river as soon as he came in sight by the inhabit-
ants, who feared either to have their tow n polluted by the shedding of blond or to
provoke the English bygivinghim sanctuary (Adair, American Indians, p. 158, 1775).
In 1768 ( fconostota, speaking on behalf of the Cherokee delegates who had come to
Johnson Hall to make peace with the [roquois, said: " We come from Cbotte, where the
wise [white?] house, the house of peace IS erei I'd" (treaty record, 17hS, New York
Colonial Documents, vm, p. 42, 1 sr>7 ) . In I786the friendly Cherokee made"Chota"
the watchword by which the Americans might he able to distinguish them from the
hostile Creeks ( Ramsey. Tennessee, p. 343). From conversati.m with old ( 'herokeeit
seems probable that in cases where no satisfaction was made by the relatives of the
man-slayer he continued to reside close within the limits of the town until the next
recurrence of the annual Green-corn dance, when a general a esty was pro-
claimed.
Among the Creeks the ancient town of Kusa or Coosa, on Coosa river in Alabama,
was a town of refuge. In Adair's time, although then almost deserted and in ruins, it
was still a place of safety for one who had taken human life without design. Certain
208 MYTHS OF THE CHEROKEE [eth.ahn.19
towns were also known as peace towns, from their prominence in peace ceremonials
and treaty