Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/304

 292 An Account of the Choktah Nation.

of (kill in fwimming. Tumbikpe garrifon, a little before this time, was very unwifely removed ; but, to fupply that wrong meafure, our fuper- intendant of Indian affairs, itationed here one of his reprefentatives. He was as much unacquainted with the language, manners, and cuftoms of the Indians, as his employer: and yet wrote a confiderable volume how to regulate Indian affairs in general, and particularly in the Choktah coun try. Befides his want of proper qualifications in fo nice and difficult an office, he was in his temper fo turbulent, proud, and querulous, that his prefence inftead of quieting the favages, was more than fufficient to dif- oblige, and diftract them, in the mod friendly times. He lived in the deferted garrifon, as a place of fecurity, kept weighty pullies to the gates, and his own door (hut, as if the place had been a monaflery, which was the worft meafure he could poffibly have purfued, confidering the proud and familiar temper of thofe he had to deal with, and the late foothing treatment of the French to them. Kapteny Humma Echeto " the Great Red Captain," fent word to him he would call there, on a certain day, to confer with him on fome material bulinefs. On account of their fluctuating councils in fo weighty an affair as the intended war, he prolonged the time of going there, for the fpace of eight days -, the gentleman engaged me to flay till the affair was decided. I continued without the leaft re luctance, as I faw the black ftorm gathering, and hoped I might be able in fome meafure to difpel it. When the Red Captain came, his chief bufinefs was to demand prefects, in the fame manner they received them from the French, as the war-chiefs and beloved men were grown very, poor ; and to know whether our government would enable them to revenge their dead, by beftowing on them ammunition to continue the war againft the Mufkohge, who highly defpifed us, and frequently committed acts of hofti- lity againft our people. Contrary to my advice, he gave a plain nega tive to each of his queries, without confidering contingencies Becaufe the neighbouring town was filent, and very few of them came near the fort, he flattered himfelf that thofe dangerous tokens proceeded intirely from the cold reception, and frequent denials he had given them -, and that for the future, he could live there in a retired and eafy manner. But had he taken the trouble to go among them, as I did, he might have feen by their gloomy faces what bitter rancour was in their hearts. Next day, I difcovered at the moft unfrequented part of the fort, which was near the fouth eaft corner, on the river-fide, that the wary favages had in the night time

forced

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