Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/259

 An Account of the Cheerake Nation. 247

al'fo at that time having a friendly intercourfc with the Cheerake, through the channel of the governor of South-Carolina, were, at the inftance of the watchful French, often ridiculing them for their cowardice in noc re venging the crying blood of their beloved kinfmen and warriors. At the fame time, they promifed to aflift them againft us, and in the name of the Alebahma French, aiTu red them of a fupply of ammunition, to enable them to avenge their injuries, and maintain their lives and liberties againft the mifchievous and bloody Englifh coloniftsj who, they laid, were naturally in a bitter ftate of war againft all the red people, and iludied only how to fteal their lands, on a quite oppofite principle to the open fteady con duct of the generous French, who affift their poor red brothers, a great way from their own fettlements, where they can have no view, but that of doing good. Notwithftanding the repeated provocations we had given to the Cheerake, and the artful infmuations of the French, inculcated with proper addrefs ; yet their old chiefs not wholly depending on the fincerity of their fmooth tongues and painted faces, nor on the affiftance, or even neutrality of the remote northern towns of their own country, on mature deliberation, concluded that, as all hopes of a friendly redrefs for the blood of their relations now depended on their own hands, they ought to take re venge in that equal and juft manner, which became good warriors. They accordingly fent out a large company of warriors, againft thofe Germans, (or Tied-arfe people, as they term them) to bring in an equal number of their fcalps, to thofe of their own murdered relations. Or if they found their fafety did not permit, they were to proceed as near to that fettlement, as they conveniently could, where having taken fufficient fatisfaclion, they were to bury the bloody tomohawk they took with them. 7'hey fet off", but ad vancing pretty far into the high fettlements of North-Carolina, the ambi tious young leaders feparated into fmall companies, and killed as many of our people, as unfortunately fell into their power, contrary to the wife or ders of their feniors, and the number far exceeded that of their own (lain. Soon after they returned home, they killed a reprobate old tra der ; and two foldiers alfo were cut off near Fort 'London. For thefe acts of hoftility, the government of South-Carolina demanded fatisfaftion, with out receiving any -, the hearts of their young warriors were ib exceed ingly enraged, as to render their ears quite deaf to any remonftrance of their feniors, refpecling an amicable accommodation ; for as they ex pected to be expofed to very little danger, on our remote, difperfed, and 3 very.

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