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 324 An Account of the Choktah Nation.

before they reached the Choktah country; this was to invalidate the pretenfions of two other gentlemen, towards obtaining bills of exchange on the government, according to the ftrong promiies they had, for any lofles they might fuftain in their Choktah cargo of goods, &rc. Not- withftanding the former were utter ftrangers to the Chikkafah and Choktah, and in juftice could only expect the common privilege of Britifti fubjects, yet his Excellency beftowed on them a large piece of written fheep-fkin, bearing the impreffion of the threatening lion and unicorn, to frighten every other trader from dealing with the Choktah, at their peril. The Chikkafah traders were much terrified at the unnfual fight of the en* livened pictures of fuch voracious animals. My (ituation caufed me then to be filent, on that ftrange point ; but when the chief of them, who carried thofe bees-wax-pictures, came to my trading houfe, chiefly to inlarge on the dreadful power of thofe fierce creatures, I told him, as they anfwered the defign, in making fo many trembling believers, among the Indians, I did not imagine him fo weak as to attempt to impofe his fcare-crows upon me-, but that, as his Excellency had dipped me too deep in a dangerous and very expenfive affair, and had done me the honour to fend for me to Charles-town on his majefty's fervice, at the very time I could have fecured them in the efteem of the fickle Choktah, I mould not by any means oppofe their aim of grafping the whole Choktah trade, be their plan ever fo unwife and unfair. The letter the gentleman deli vered to me was dated April 22, Anno 1747, in which his excellency ac- knowleged, in very obliging terms, that I had been very ferviceable to the government, by my management among the Choktah^ and might be af- fured of his countenance and friendfhip. As the reft of it concerned my- felf in other matters, and contained fome things of the meafures of go vernment relating to the point in view, it may be right not to publifli it : but it is among the public records in Charles-town, and may be feen in the fecretary's office. The traders, after this interview, fee off for the Choktah ; and I in a few days to South Carolina.

Soon after I arrived at Charles- town, I could not but highly refent the governor's ungenerous treatment of, and injuflice to me, in fending for me to the neglect of my trade, only to carry on his unparalleled favourite fcheme, and I foon fet off for the Chikkafah, without taking the leaft for mal leave of his Excellency. By fome means, he foon knew of my depar-

3 ture,

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