Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/310

 2g 8 An Account of the Choktah Nation.

triumph, would prove a gladfome fight to our people, and enlarge their hearts towards him and his fatigued poor warriors. But he perceived no thing of this kind, of which he complained to me with very fiharp language, and returned home, highly incenfed againfl his new Englifh friends.

I have reafon to remember this too well ; for, a little after thofe white men were murdered, bufmefs calling me to Mobille by myfelf, I chofe to decline the eaftern path, and the middle one that leads by the Chakchooma old fields, as they were much expofed to the incurfions of the Mufkohge , and rode through the chief towns of the nation, along the horfe-path that runs from the Chikkafah, neareft the Miffifippi, to Mobille. \ About fix miles below the feven-towns that lie clofe together, and next to New Orleans, I met a confiderable party of the leaders and head-warriors returning home from war. We ihook hands together, and they feemed very glad to fee me. They earneftly difiuaded me from proceeding any farther, advifed me to re turn to their friendly towns, and reft awhile among them, declaring, that if my ears were mad, and would not hear their friendly fpeech, I mould furely be killed, the enemy were ranging the woods fo very thick. They were- good judges of the danger, as they knew the treacherous plan they had con certed together at Towanne, But the memory of pad times, moved them- to give me that kindly caution. I thanked them, and faid, I wifhed bufmefs allowed me to act according to their advice, and accept of their generous invitation, but it did not : however, if my limited days were not finimed, before, I would fhortly have the pleafure to fee them again. I proceeded, and met feveral parties of the fame main company, feveral miles diftant from each other, carrying fmall pieces of a fcalp, finging the. triumphal fong, and founding the Ihrill death-whoop, as if they had killed hundreds. On my refting and fmoking with the lad party,, they informed me, that their camp confifted of two hundred and fifty warriors, under great leaders, who were then returning from war againft a town of the Koo- faahte Indians, who had fettled twenty-five miles above Mobille, on the eaftern fide of the river ; that they had killed and wounded feveral of them, fufpecling them of abetting the Mufkohge, and fortunately got one of their fcalps, which the warriors of feparate towns divided, and were carry ing home, with joyful hearts.

A ftranger would be much furprifed to fee the boafting parade thefe &va,ges made with one fcalp of a reputed enemy. To appearance, more.

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