Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/323

 An Account of the Choktah Nation.

kohge, at the very time it would have been of the utmoft fcrvicc to the general intereft of our colonies to have continued it.

The commander concealed his timorous and precipitate retreat, even from me and another old trader, till the very night he confufedly fet off for Mo- bille by water, and left to us the trouble of apologizing to the favages for his mifconduft. But after he got to a place of fafety, he flourifhed away of his wifdom and prowefs. As a juft ftigma on thofe who abufe their public truft, I cannot help obferving, that in imitation of fome other rulers, he perfuaded the Indians not to pay us any of our numerous out-ftanding debts,, though contrary to what was fpecified in our trading licences. They have not courage enough to venture their own valuable lives to thofe red marts of trade, if they had, they would perfuade the Indians rather to- pay their debts honeftly, year by year, as we truft them in their want, and depend on their promife and fidelity. The gentlemen, who formerly traded with the Mufkohge, told me that the Georgia-governor, through a like generous' principle, forgave that nation once all the numerous debts they owed the traders. But as foon as the Indians underftood they would not be credited again, under any circumftances whatfoever, they contented to pay their debts, and declared the Governor to be a great mad-man, by pre tending to forgive debts contracted for valuable goods, which he never purchafed, nor intended to pay for.

Though the French Louifianians were few, and far difperted, as well as furrounded by the favages, yet clofe application and abilities in their vari ous appointments, fufficiently made up their lack of numbers. When, and. where, their fecurity feemed to require it, they with a great deal ofart fomented divifions among their turbulent red neighbours, and endeavoured to keep the balance of power pretty even between them. Though they had only one garrifon in the country of the Mufkohge, and another in that of the Chok tah, yet the commanders of thofe two pofts, managed fo well,, that they intimidated thofe two potent nations, by raiting mifunderftandings between them, and threatening (when occafion required) to fet the one againft the other, with their red legions of the north, unlefs ample fatisfaclion was fpeedily given by the offrnding party, and folemn promifes of a ftri<5t eblervance of true friendmip for the time to come. How far our fuper- intendants, and commiffioners of Indian affairs, have imitated that wife 7 : copy,

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