Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/300

 An Account of the Choktah Nation.

the ufual price. The Choktah went back to the Frenchman to excufe him- felf in not being able to deal with him, as propofed ; who perfuaded him to complain to the Governor of the pretended injuftice he had received from the merchant he did, and the ruler gladly embraced the opportunity to gratify his pride, and aggrandize his power. He immediately fent fome of his underlings, with a pofitive verbal command to the gentleman, to cancel the bargain with the Choktah, and deliver to him what he claimed, on receiving his own : the free-born Briton excufed his non-compliance, in a rational and police manner, according to his conftant eafy behaviour. Upon this, like a petty tyrant, the chief fent a file of mufqueteers for him. When he appeared before his greatnefs, he afierted the common privileges of a trading free fubject of Great Britain, with decent firmnefs ; and fet forth the ill confequences of giving the troublefome favages an example fo hurtful to trade, with other arguments well adapted to the occafion. The return was, an order to thruft the gentleman into the black-hole of the garrifon, where he was detained and treated as a capital criminal, till, by the lofs of health through the dampnefs of that horrid place, the love of life prompted him to comply with every demand. Had he waited the award of a court-martial, probably he would have had juftice done him, for, except a couple of the officers of the commander's own principles, all the reft blamed, if not defpifed him for his haughtinefs and ungenerous principles. This is a genuine fample of military governments the Canadians may expect many fuch inftances of juftice and humanity in confequence of the late Quebec ad, if it be not repealed. While this military man acted in the magifterial office, though in pain when not triumphing over thofe peaceable fubjects who would not ftoop before him below the character of freemen, to flatter his lordly ambition ; yet it was affirmed, he could not ftand the fight of the inebriated Choktah. One mftance of his paflive conduct toward them, deferves to be recorded As the centinels at the gates of his houfe, were ftrictly ordered not to refift the favages, thefe foon became fo impudent as to infult them at pleafure ; and one of them, without the kaft provocation, ftruck a foldier (while on his duty (landing centry) with a full bottle on his head, with that violence, as to break his fcull ; the unfortunate foldier languiftied, and died, by the blow, without the leaft retaliation -, though fo abfolutely needful in our early ftate of fettling that part of the continent.

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