Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/265

 An Account of the Cheerake Nation. 253

have immediately proceeded to their country, to regain the hearts of thofe fickle and daring favages, and thereby elude the deep-laid plan of the French; and though Indian runners were frequency fent down by our old friendly head-men, urging the abfolute neceflity of his coming up foon, otherwife it would be too late he trifled away near half a year there, and in places adjoining, in raifing a body of men with a proud uniform drefs, for the fake of parade, and to efcort him from danger, with fwivels, blun- derbuflcs, and many other fuch forts of blundering fluff", before he pro ceeded on his journey. This was the only way to expofe the gentleman to real danger, by {"hewing at fuch a time, a diffidence of the natives which he accordingly effected, merely by his pride, obftinacy, and unfkilful- nefs. It is well known, the whole might have been prevented, if he had liftened to the entreaties of the Indian traders of that place, to requeft one (who would neither refule, nor delay to ferve his country on any important occafion) to go in his ftcad, as the dangerous fituation of our affairs de manded quick difpatch. But pride prevented, and he flowly reached there, after much time was loft..

The artful French commander, had in the mean while a very good op^- portunity to diftraclj the giddy favages, and he wifely took advantage of the delay, and perfuaded a confiderable body of the Shawano Indians to fly to the northward, as our chief was affirmed to be coming with an army and train of artillery to cut them off, in revenge of the blood they had formerly fpilled. We foon heard, that in their way, they murdered a great many of the Britifh fubjecls, and with the moft defpiteful eagernefs com mitted their, bloody ravages. during the whole war.

After the head-men of that far-extending country, were convened 'to* know the import of our intendants long-expefted embafly, he detained them from day to day with his parading grandeur; not ufing the Indian friendly freedom, either to the red, or white people, till provi* fions grew fcanty. Then their hearts were imbittered againft him, whila the French Alebahma commander was bufy, in taking time by the fore lock. But the former, to be uniform in his {liff, haughty conducl 1 ;, crowned the whole, in a longer delay, and almoft gained a. fuppofed crown of martydom, by prohibiting, in an obftinate manner, all the war-chieftains and beloved men then affembled together in the great beloved fquare, from handing. the friendly white, pipe to a certain great

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