Page:Archæologia Americana—volume 2, 1836.djvu/127

 SECT. III.] SOUTHERN INDIANS EAST OP THE MISSISSIPPI. 91 had also long-continued hostilities with the Six Nations, which do not seem to have been conducted with much vigor on either side, and were terminated about the years 1744-1750, through the interference of the British government. It appears by an answer sent by them at the conferences of Carlisle of 1753, to a previous message of the Delawares, that they had at a former period entertained amicable relations with that tribe. They express in it friendly dispositions, say that they had not heard from the Delawares for a long time, and call them nephews.* The country of the Cherokees was strong ; they formed but one nation, and they do not appear to have been materially injured by their Indian wars. It would seem, that since they came in contact with the Europeans, and notwithstanding suc- cessive cessions of part of their territory, their number, at least during the last forty years, has been increased. Their war- riors were estimated at two thousand three hundred in the year 1762, by Adair, who adds, that he was informed that forty years before they had six thousand. According to a late estimate of the Indian Department, they now amount to fifteen thousand souls, including those who have already re- moved beyond the Mississippi, and exclusively of about twelve hundred negroes in their possession. The progress of civilization amongst them will be hereafter adverted to. We abstain from any observation on recent transactions connected with the intended removal of the whole tribe beyond the Mis- sissippi, this being the subject of pending negotiations, which, it is hoped, may be attended with a result satisfactory to all parties. The vocabularies of their language are amongst the most authentic we have of any Indian nation. The appended com- parative vocabulary was entirely written by Mr. Boudinot, or Mr. Ridge, Jun., both native Cherokees, who speak English as if it were their mother tongue. The Rev. Mr. Worcester has also aided our enquiries in that quarter. Dr. Barton thought that the Cherokee language belonged to the Iroquois family ; and, on this point, I am inclined to the same opinion. The affinities are few and remote ; but there with sundry other interesting Indian documents, by his son, the late John Montgomery, of Baltimore.
 * MS. papers of the late John Montgomery of Carlisle, given to me,