Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/333

 An Account of the Choktah Nation. 321

fury, they overfpread the French fettlements, to a great diftance, like a dreadful whirlwind, deftroying every thing before them, to the aftonimment and terror even of thofe who were far remote from the fkirts of the dire ful ftorm. The French Louifianians were now in a defponding ftate, as we had beaten them in their own favourite political element, in which they had too often been fuccefsful even at the Britifh court, after our troops and navies had fcoured them out of the field and the ocean. They had no reafon here to expect any favour of us, as we were only retaliating the long train of innocent blood of our fellow-fubjects they had wantonly caufed to be fhed by their red mercenaries, and their fears now became as great as their danger but they were needlefs ; for though the Alebahma French, and many towns of the Mufkohge, were in a violent ferment, when the fore- faid warriors returned home, yet by the treacherous mediation of the above- mentioned traders and their bafe aflbciates, the breach was made up. Had they been bleft with the lead fpark of that love for the good of their coun try, which the favages and French are, they could have then perfuaded the Indians, to have driven the French from the dangerous Alebahma ; and an alliance with the Chikkafah and Choktah would have effectually deftroyed the dangerous line of circumvallation they afterwards drew around our valuable colonies. And as the Cheerake, by their fituation, might eafily have been induced to join in the formidable treaty, they with encouragement, would have proved far fuperior to all the northern red legions the French were connected with.

At that time I fent to the Governor of South Carolina, a .large packet, relating the true fituation of our Indian affairs, directed on his majefty's fervice : but though it contained many things of importance, (which the French, under fuch circumftances, would have faithfully improved) and required immediate difpatch; our Mufkohge traders, to whofe care I had lent it by fome Chikkafah runners, were fo daringly bafe as to open it, and deftroy what their felf-interefted views feemed to require, and delayed the conveyance of the reft a confiderable time, to prevent others from reap ing the benefit of the trade before them. When I went down, I com plained of their mifconduct, and the Governor having promifed me a public feal, threatened them loudly j but fome after circumftances in trade made him to think it not worth while to put his threats in execution. When the French were deftitute of goods at Tumbikpe-garrifon, while

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