Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/335

 An Account of the Choktah Nation. 72-5 ,

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Our Choktah traders having been thus induced to return to the Muf- kohge country, proceeded foon afterwards feverrty miles on almoft a nor thern courfe, and from thence to the Chikkafah about weft by north 300 miles of very mountainous land, till within forty miles of that extenfivc and fertile country afterward, on a fouthern direction to the Choktah, 160 miles. This was a very oblique courfe, fomewhat refembling the letter G reverted, its tail from Charles-town, confiding of 720 miles, and the head of 530, in all 1250 miles a great diftance to travel through woods, with loaded horfes, where they Ihifted as they could, when the day's march was over; and through the varying feafons of the year. Thefe traders were charged with great negleft, in being fo long

countries : but being defirous of enlarging their hunt, they fent off a fprightly young warrior to dilcover certain lands they were unacquainted with, which they pointed to by the courfe of the fun, lying at the diftance of about thirty miles. Near that place, he came up with a camp of Choktah, who feemed to treat him kindly, giving him venifon and parched corn to eat : but while he was eating what fome of the women had laid before him, one of the Choktah creeped behind him, and funk his tdimohawk into his head. His aflbciates helped him to carry away the vidim, and they hid it in a hollow tree, at a confiderable diftance from their camp ; after which they fpeedily removed. When the time for his return was elapfed, the Chikkafah, next day, made a place of fecurity for their women and children, under the protection of a few warriors ; and the morning following, painted themfelves red and black, and went in queft of their kinfman. Though they were ftrangers to the place, any farther than by their indications to him before he fet off, yet fo fwift and fkilful woods-men were they, that at twelve o'clock that day, they came to the Choktah camping place, where, after a narrow fearch, they difcovered the trace of blood on a fallen tree, and a few drops of frefh blood on the leaves of trees, in the courfe they had dragged the corpfe ; thefe directed them to the wooden urn, wherein the remains of their kinfman were inclofed. They faid, as they were men and warriors, it belonged to the female relations to weep for the dead, and to them to revenge it. They foon concluded to carry off the corpfe, to the oppofite fide of a neighbouring- Avamp, and then to purfue. Having depofited the body out of the reach of beafts of prey, they fet off in purfuit of the Choktah : they came up with them before day-light, furrounded their camp, attacked them, killed one, and wounded feveral, whooping aloud, " that they were Chikkafah, who never firft loofed the friend-knot between them and others, nor failed in re venging blood ; but ye are roguifh Choktah ; you know you are likewife cowards ; and that you are worfe than wolves, for they kill, only that they may eat, but you give your iriends fomething to ear, that you may kill them with fafety." They told them, as they had left their gallant relation unfcalped in a tree, they left their cowardly one in like manner, along-fide of another tree. They put up the death whoo whoop, returned, fcaffolded their dead kinfman, and joined their own camp without any interruption. The reader will be able to form a proper judgment of the temper and abilities of the Indian favage?, from thefe facts.

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