Illustration of Emblematic Mound Inclosure.--------

If we examine the various groups scattered throughout the State, this
belief is strengthened. It is found, for instance, in nearly every
group, that some one effigy is the principal one, and is placed in a
commanding position, about which the other forms are arranged. It is
also thought that the same effigy is the principal or ruling effigy over
a wide district. In illustration of this, it can be stated that in the
south-eastern part of the State the turtle is always the ruling effigy.
In any group of effigies it is the principal one. It seems to watch over
and protect the others. In subordination to it are such forms as the
lizard, hawk, and pigeon. Passing to the North, the turtle is no longer
the important figure. It is replaced by the wolf, or wild-cat. This is
now the principal form, and if the turtle is sometimes present, it is of
less importance.

So marked is the fact we have just stated that Mr. Peet says, "that
sometimes this division assumes almost the character of a river system,
and thus we might trace what seems to be the beginning in this country
of that which prevailed on classic soil and in Oriental regions--namely,
river gods and tutelar divinities of certain regions, each tribal
divinity having its own province, over which it ruled and on which it
left its own form or figure as the seal of its power and the emblem of
its worship."<50>

Looking for some explanation of this, we may find a key in the known
customs of various Indian tribes, and the lower races of men. It is
known that a tribe of Indians is divided into smaller bands, which are
called gens or clans. A gens may consist of several hundred persons,
but it is the unit of organization. It takes the place of a family among
civilized people. These various bands are generally named after some
animal. In the beginning these names may have been of no special
significance, but in course of time each band would come to regard
themselves as descendants of the animal whose name they bore. Hence the
animal itself would be considered sacred in their eyes, and its life
would seldom be taken by members of that gens.

The animal thus honored by the gens was, in the Indian dialect, the
totem of the clan. This organization and custom we find running all
through the Indian tribes. In many tribes the Indians were wont to carve
a figure of their totem on a piece of slate, or even to carve a stone in
th