Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/316

 304 An Account of the Choktah Nation.

revenge of blood, and had it fpeedily granted, as far as the fituation of af fairs could poflibly allow : for by a council of the red Sanhedrim, they con demned three of the chief murderers to be killed, and formally fent down to him two of their fcalps to ftop the loud voice of blood : but the third made off to the Cheerake, by which means he evaded his juftly de- ferved fate and too nice a fcrutiny at fuch a time would not have been convenient. All the weftern Indian nations, bear the higheft regard to that paternal governor, and plain friend of all the people : and I record his conduct to do juftice to fo uncommon a character in America, as well as to engage his fuccefibrs to purfue the fame meafures, and copy after, him.

The Choktah, by not having deep rivers or creeks to purify them- felves by daily ablutions, are become very irreligious in other refpects, for of late years, they make no annual atonement for fin. As very few of them can. fwim, this is a full proof that the general opinion of the young brood of favages being able to fwim like fim, as foon as they come into the world, ought to be intirely exploded. The Indian matrons have fenfe enough to know, that the fwimming of human creatures is an art to keep the head above water, which is gained by experience ; and that their helplefs infants are incapable of it. Probably, the report fprung from their immerfing the new-born infants in deep running water by the way of purification.

The Choktah are the craftieft, and moft ready-witted, of any of the red nations I am acquainted with. It is furprifing to hear the wily turns they ufe, in perfuading a perfon to grant them the favour they have in view. Other nations generally behave with modefty and civility, with out ever leffening themfeives by afking any mean favours. But the Choktah, at every feafon, are on the begging lay. I feveral times told their leading men, they were greater beggars, and of a much meaner fpirir, than the white-haired Chikkafah women, who often were real objects of pity. I was once fully convinced that none was fo fit to baffle them in thofe low attempts without giving offence, as their own coun try-men. One, in my prefence, expatiated on his late difappointment and lofles, with the feverai unexpected caufes, and preflingly follicited his auditor as a benevolent kinfman, to aflift him in his diftrefs : but the other

kept

�� �