Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/315

 An Account of the Choktah Nation. 303

certainly obtain that favourite point they had long wifhed for, of drawing us into an alliance with them againft the common enemy, as we muft have fome of the inward feelings of men for our loft people. Probably, the decree of that red council would have been foon put in execution had it not been for me. When I took my leave of the red chief to return, the drum was beat to convene the people to tell them the caufe of my coming to him, and re turning home ; and that as the women and children had feen me in the town, their late plan of execution muft be entirely laid afide. One of the warriors was fent to accompany me, though rather by way of efcortment. In my return I called at the before mentioned camp, and put up the whoop ; my two former watchmen, on feeing me, refembled wolves catched in a pity they hung down their heads, and looked gloomy, and wrathful. I afked them why they were amamed, and why their hearts weighed fo heavy ; they faid they were amamed for me, I was fo great a liar, and had earneftly told them fo many ugly falfhoods. I faid, my fpeech to them could hurt no honeft perfons. My head, my eyes, my heart, affured me their hearts were then like the fnakes ; and my tongue only fpoke the fpeech of honeft wifdom, fo as to fave myfelf from being bitten That it was the property of poifonous fnakes, when they mils their aim, to be enraged, and hide their heads in their hateful coil ; and concluded, by telling them I went through the woods to Yowanne, to mew them publicly I was not hurt by lurking fnakes and that I would now return to the harmlefs Chikkafah, and tell them fo on this we parted..

A timely application of proper meafures with the favages, is our only method to fecure their feeble affections. If thofe, who are employed for that falutary purpofe, juftly purfued that point, its effect would loon be openly declared, by the friendly behaviour and honeft conduct of the va rious weftern nations. But where intereft governs, iniquitous meafures are purfued, and painters can be got who will flatter the original, be it ever fo black. Some of our chiefs, with a certain military officer in Weft-Flo rida, like trembling mice, humbly voted not to demand any fatisfacYion from the favages, for that moft mocking aft of cool murder I have juft mentioned, Ivft it mould provoke them to do us more milchief. But to the honour of George Johnftone, Efqj then Governor of Weft-Florida, as a. reprefentative of the fuffering people, he defpifed fuch obfequious and pu- fillanimous councils, and infilled, in his ufual manly manner, on an equal 7 revenge

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