Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/238

 ACCOUNT

��OF THE

��GHEE' RAKE N A T I O N, &c.

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��E (hall now treat of the Cheerake nation, as the next neighbour to South-Carolina.

��Their national name is derived from Chee~ra, " fire," which is their re puted lower heaven, and hence they call their magi, Cheera-takge, " men poflefied of the divine fire. The country lies in about 34 degrees north latitude, at the diftance of 340 computed miles to the north-weft of Charles- town, 140 miles weft-fouth-weft from the Katahba nation, and almoft 200 miles to the north of the Mufkohge or Creek country.

They are fettled, nearly in an eaft and weft courfe, about 140 miles in length from the lower towns where Fort-Prince-George (lands, to the late unfortunate Fort-Loudon. The natives make two divifions of their coun try, which they term Ayrate, and Ottare> fignifying " low," and " moun tainous." The former divifion is on the head branches of the beau tiful Savanah river, and the latter on thofe of the eafternmoft river of the great Mifiifippi. Their towns are always clofe to fome river, or creek ; as there the land is commonly very level and fertile, on account of the fre quent warnings off the mountains, and the moifture it receives from the Waters, that run through their fields. And fuch a fituation enables therr to perform the ablutions, connected with their religious worfhip.

The eaftern, or lower parts of this country, are {harp and cold to a Ca rolinian in winter, and yet agreeable : but thole towns that lie among the

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