Date published: 1922-01-01
Source: Early History of the Creek Indians and Their Neighbors (ID121)
Author: Swanton, John (ID85)
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Race described: Indian
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Content id: 457
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1597-01-01 - 1597-12-31

Santa Elena Indians began to be referred to as Escamacuedit

From about the time of [the 1597] massacre [of Spanish missionaries] we begin to find the name Escamacu used for the Indians of Santa Elena in preference to Orista. In the report of his expedition of 1605, Ecija speaks of the chief of Escamacu as "the principal of that land" (i. e., the land of Santa Elena), and he places "the bar of Orista" 6 leagues north of that of Santa Elena, where is the River Edisto. Nevertheless the name had become fixed upon it at a much earlier period for in a letter of Bartolome de Arguelles, of date 1586, the bay of Orista is said to be beyond that of Santa Elena to the north, 5 leagues.4 It is evident, therefore, that whatever temporary changes had taken place in the residence of portions of the Edisto tribe, changes such as are indicated in Ibarra's letter, a part of them, probably the main body, had become settled upon the stream which still bears their name by the date last given. (Swanton)

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