Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/279

 An Account of the Mufkohge Nation. 267

defpifed and infulted them, for even exhibiting their modeft prayers at the foot of the throne, for a reftoration of their rights and privileges. Some however have been convinced in the end they were wrong, and have juftly iuHfered by the anathematizing voice of God and a foederal union. That " a prince can do no ill'* is a flat contradiction of rcafon and experience, and of the Englifh Magna Charta.

Soon after Weft-Florida was ceded to Great-Britain, two warlike towns of the Koo-a-fah te Indians removed from near the late danger ous Alabahma French garrifon, to the Choktah country about twenty- five miles below Tumbikbe a ftrong wooden fortrefs, fituated on the weftern fide of a high and firm bank, overlooking a narrow deep point of the river of Mobille, and diflant from that capital, one hundred leagues. The difcerning old war-chieftain of this remnant, perceived that the proud Mufkohge, inftead of reforming their conduct towards us, by our mild remonflrances, grew only more impudent by our lenity; therefore being afraid of (baring the juftly deferved fate of the ethers, he wifely withdrew to this fituation, as the French could not poflibly fupply them, in cafe we had exerted ourfelves, either in defence of our properties, or in revenge of the blood they had (bed. But they were foon forced to return to their former place of abode, on account of the partiality of fome of them to their former confederates -, which proved lucky in its confequences, to the traders, and our fouthern colonies : for, when three hundred warriors of the Mufkohge were on their way to the Choktah to join them in a war againft us, two Kooafahte horfcmen, as allies, were allowed to pafs through their ambufcade in the evening, and they gave notice of the impending danger. Thefe Kooafahte Indians, annually fanctify the mulberries by a public oblation, before which, they are not to be eaten ; which they fay, is ac cording to their ancient law.

I am aflured by a gentleman of character, who traded a long time near the late Alebahma garrifon, that within fix miles of it, live the remains of feven Indian nations, who ufually converfed with each other in their own different dialects, though they underftood the Mufkohge language -, but being naturalized, they were bound to obferve the laws and cuftoms of the main original body. Thefe reduced, broken tribes, who have helped to multiply the Mufkohge to a dangerous degree, have alfo a fixed oral tradi tion, that they formerly came from South-America, and, after fundry ftrug-

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