Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/288

 276 An Account of the Mufkohge .Nation.

faithful application, firft, of Mr. G. G. and afterwards of Mr. L. M. G. which the deputy almoft prevented by his imprudent conduct, that had nearly coft him alfo his life> and endangered the public tranquility.

In the year 1749, when I was going to Charles-town, under the provincial feal of South-Carolina, with a party of the Chikkalah Indians, the fmall-pox attacked them, not far from the Mufkohge country ; which becoming general through the camp, I was under the neceflity of fetting off by myielf, between Flint river, and that of the Okmulgeh. I came up with a large camp of Muf kohge traders, returning from the Englim fettlements : the gentlemen told me, they had been lately affured at Augufta by the Cheerake traders, that above a hundred and twenty of the French Shawano might be daily ex pected near that place, to cut off the Englim traders, and plunder their camps, and cautioned me, with much earneftnefs at parting, to keep a watchful eye during that day's march. After having rode fifteen miles, about ten o'clock, I difcovered ahead through the trees, an Indian afcend- ing a deep hill : he perceived me at the fame inftant, for they are ex tremely watchful on fuch dangerous attempts Ambufcade is their fa vourite method of attack. As the company followed their leader in a line, each at the diftance of a few yards from the other, all foon appeared in view. As foon as I difcovered the foremoft, I put np the fbrill whoop of friendfhip, and continually feemed to look earneftly behind me, till we approached near to each other, in order to draw their atten tion from me, and fix it that way, as fuppofing me to be the forernoft of a company ftill behind. Five or fix foon ran at full fpeed on each fide of the path, and blocked up two vallies, which happened to be at the place of our meeting, to prevent my efcape. They feemed as if their defign was to attack me with their barbed arrows, left they mould alarm my fup- pofed companions by the report of their guns. I obferved that inftead of carrying their bow and quiver over their fhoulder, as is the travelling cuftom, they held the former in their left hand, bent, and fome arrows. I ap proached and addrefied them, and endeavoured to appear quite indifferent at their hoftile arrangement. While I held m'y gun ready in my right hand about five yards diftant from them, their leader who flood foremoft came and (truck my bread with the but-end of one of my piftols, which I had in my left hand : I told him with that vehemence of fpeech, which is al ways requifite on fuch an occafion, that I was an Englim Chikkafah, and informed him by expreffive geftures that there were two tens of Chik- 5 kafah

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