Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/303

 An Account of the Choktah Nation. 291

in with that cunning deceiver's meafures by having feen above fixty of the Mufkohge head-men and warriors, who received confiderable prefents from Geo. Johnftone, Efq; Governor of Weil-Florida, at Penfacola. They told him our liberality proceeded intirely from fear; that when they killed any of our defpicable and helplefs fwarms, they always received the like quantity, to quiet the martial hearts of their gallant young warriors ; and that the fole reafon we were fo frugal to the Chikkafah, was owing to their unwife attachment to us; but if they followed their copy, they would foon become as rich as themfelves.

If the fagacious, and gallant governor could have executed his will* they would not have thus boafted he warmly debated in council to order each of them to be fecured, as hoftages, and kept aboard a man of war in the harbour, till fatisfaction was remitted for the unprovoked, and wil ful murders that nation had committed on feveral of his majefty's peace able fubjec"ls : but his fpirited refolution was overborne by a confiderable majority of votes. However, when they got home, they told our traders that his excellency's fpeech was quite different to that of the beloved white man, meaning the fuper-intendant, for it was very (harp and wound ing ; and that his eyes fpoke, and glanced the fire alfo which was burning in his heart. No people are more obfervant of the pafiions in the ho- neft face than they. Their eyes and judgment are furprifingly piercing; and in confequence of this Governor's open, fleady, virtuous conduct, all our neighbouring nations honour and love him, to this very day,

The Chikkafah chief fent his bloody embafiy to the Choktah by a cunning and trufty uncle, who accompanied me to the late Tumbikpe-fort. I was ignorant of the mifchievous plan, till we arrived at camp, near the Great Red Captain's : there, in bed at night, I plainly overheard the whole, and faw the white fwan's wings, and others painted red and black, perfuafive and fpeaking emblems of friendfhip to the one party, and war, blood, and death to the other. They received thofe bafe tokens, accord ing to the mifchievous intention of thofe who fent them. As they are fond of novelty, the news was conveyed through the nation, with profound fe- crefy : befides, they were very much rejoiced at fo favourable an opportu nity of making peace with the Mufkohge, who awed them exceedingly, on account of their repeated lofies, which were chiefly occafioned by their want

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