Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/260

 248 An Account of the Cheerake Nation*

very extenfive barrier fettlements, nothing but war-fongs and war-dances could pleafe them, during this flattering period of becoming great war riors, "by killing fwarms of white dung-hill fowls, in the corn-fields, and afleep," according to their war-phrafe.

Previous to this alarming crifis, while the Indians were applying to our colonies for that fatisfaction, which our laws could not allow them, without a large contribution of white fcalps, from Tyburn, with one living cri minal to fuffer death before their eyes, his excellency William Henry Lyttleton, governor of South-Carolina, ftrenuoufly exerted himfelf in pro viding for the fafety of the colony, regardlefs of fatigue, he vifited its extenfive barriers, by land and water, to have them put in as refpectable a condition, as circumftances could admit, before the threatening ftorm broke out : and he ordered the militia of the colony, under a large penalty, to be trained to arms, by an adjutant general, (the very worthy Col. G. P.) who faw thofe manly laws of defence duly executed. We had great pleafure to fee his excellency on his fummer's journey, enter the old famous New- Windfor garrifon, like a private gentleman, without the leaft parade ; and he proceeded in his circular courfe, in the fame retired eafy manner, without incommoding any of the inhabitants. He fully teftified, his fole aim was the fecurity and welfare of the valuable country over which he prefided, without imitating the mean felf-interefted artifice of any predeceffor. At the capital feat of government, he bufily employed himfelf in extending, and protecting trade, the vital part of a maritime colony ; in redreffing old neglected grievances, of various kinds ; in punifhing corruption wherefo- ever it was found, beginning at the head, and proceeding equally to the feet, and in protecting virtue, not by the former cobweb-laws, but thofe of old Britifh extraction. In fo laudable a manner, did that public- fpirited governor exert his powers, in his own proper fphere of action : but on an object much below it, he failed, by not knowing aright the tem per and cuftoms of the favages.

The war being commenced on both fides, by the aforesaid complicated caufes, it continued for fome time a partial one : and according to the well- known temper of the Cheerake in fimilar cafes, it might either have re mained fo, or foon have been changed into a very hot civil war, had we 2 been

�� �