After the young man had passed through the hardships of his
initiation, the career of distinction stood open before him, for he
was now a tassikáya or _brave_.[97] According to Hawkins' Sketch, the
three degrees of advancement in command were as follows:
[Footnote 97: Tassikáya, contr. taskáya, pl. taskiálgi--in
Cha'hta táska, in Apalache taskáya, etc.]
The tassikáya, who after initiation appears qualified for actual
service in the field, and is promising, is appointed _leader_ (isti
pakā′dsha, or pakā′dsha) by the míko or chief of his town.
When he distinguishes himself, he obtains a seat in the central cabin
of the public square. When out on the warpath the leader was called
imísi, immíssi, q. v., and when initiated to the faculty of charming
the approaching enemy by physic and songs, ahopáya, q. v.
Warriors of the pakā′dsha class, who had repeatedly distinguished
themselves on expeditions, could be promoted, when a general war was
declared, to the charge of _upper leader_, isti pakā′dsha `láko,
or tustĕnúggi.
The highest distinction was that of the _great warrior_, tustĕnúggi
`láko, of whom there was one in every town. This dignitary was
appointed by the míko and his counsellors, and selected by them among
the best qualified warriors. His seat was at the western end of the
míkalgi cabin in the public square. In Milfort's time this dignitary
had become a civil _and_ military officer,[98] and nowadays his
functions are those of a civil functionary only.
[Footnote 98: Milfort, Mémoire, p. 237: "Aujourd'hui il est le
premier chef de la nation pour le civil et pour le militaire."]
In cases when the towns had resolved upon a general war, a leader for
all the town-tustĕnúggis was appointed in the person of a
"generalissimo," called also pakā′dsha, tustĕnúggi, or
tustĕnúggi `láko.
Among the Creeks now inhabiting the Indian Territory the nomenclature
has been altered from the above. A young man is called tassikáya after
receiving the war-title and having some employment during the busk; he
becomes tustĕnúggi after being declared as such by a vote of his
town; but in aboriginal times a young man was not called tustĕnúggi
before he had shown his bravery by the taking of at least one scalp.