Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/325

 An Acwunt of the Choktah Nation.

place near their own barriers, a number of chofen warriors well pre pared, fet off in order to fave their former credit, by revenging the re peated affronts the Choktah leader had given them in every engagement:. He, in the moft infulting manner, had often challenged their whole nation to meet him and his at any fixt time of a moon, and place, and fight it out, when the conquerors mould be matters of the conquered for the Mufkohge ufed to ridicule the Choktah, by faying, they were like wolf- cubs, who would not take the water, but the thick fwamp, as their only place of fecurity againft the enemy. It muft here be remembered, that the Indians in general, are guided by their dreams when they attend their holy ark to war, reckoning them (b many oracles, or divine intimations, de- figned for their good : by virtue of thofe fuppofed, facred dictates, they will fometimes return home, by one, two, or three at a time, without the leaft cenfure, and even with applaufe, for this their religious conduit. Thus, one hundred and twenty of thefe Choktah, after having intimidated them- felves apart from the reft, with vifionary notions, left the war-camp and returned home. Our gallant friend, Mlnggo Humma Echeto^ addrefied his townfmen on this, and perfuaded them to follow him againft the enemy, faying, it was the part of brave warriors to keep awake, and not dream like old women. He told them their national credit was at (lake for their warlike conduct under him ; and that honour prompted him to proceed againft the hateful enemy, even by himfelf, though he was certain his townfmen and warlike relations would not forfake him. Forty of them proceeded, and next day they were furrounded by an hundred and fixty of the Mufkohge, feveral of whom were on horfeback to prevent their efcape. When the Choktah faw their dangerous fituation, and that they had no alternative but a fudden, or lingering death, they fought as became defperate men, deprived of hope. While their arrows and ammu nition lafted, they killed and wounded a confiderable number of the oppo- fite party : but the enemy obferving their diftrefled fituation, drew up into a narrow circle, and rufhed upon the remaining and helplefs few, with their guns, darts, clubs, and tomohawks, and killed thirty-eight. They were not able to captivate but two, whom they deftined for the fiery torture : but at night, when the carop was afleep in too great fecurity, one of them fortunately made his efcape out of a pair of wooden flocks. They -had Mattered him with the hopes of being redeemed j but he told them he was

S f 00t

�� �