Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/347

 An Account of the Choktah Nafton. 33 r

Fuch a manner as not to fully the ancient character of our warlike fore-fathers. As the French conftantly employed their red people in acts of enmity againft our Englilh traders, as well as us, my beloved friend, Handing there before you, complained of it to the Goweno-Minggo in Charles-town, (the Governor of South-Carolina) and he gave him Hoolbo Hoorefo Para/ka Orehtoopa^ (their method of exprefiing our provincial feal, for hooJbo fignifies a picture, hoorefo marked, or painted, parajka made bread of, and oretcopa beloved, or of high note or power,) I and my warriors gladly fhaked hands with his fpeech j and fo did thofe of your own country, who afiured us, they always fcorned to be fervants to the crafty lying French. At their own defire, our old beloved men crowned them warriors, in the mod public and folemn manner. They were free either to (hut or open their ears to the Englifh beloved fpeech. And why mould we not be as free to go to war againft our old enemies, as you are againft yours ? We are your friends by treaty ; but we fcorn a mean compliance to any demand, that would caft a difgrace on our national character. You have no right to demand of me thofe ugly French prifoners. We took them in war, at the rifque of blood : and at home in our national council, we firmly agreed not to part with any of them, in a tame man ner, till we got to Charles-town. If the Muflcohge are as defirous as we, to continue to hold each other firmly by the hand, we mail never looie the friend-knot : we believe fuch a tie is equally profitable to each, of us, and hope to- continue it, to the lateft times."

When the French ambafladbr found he mufi fail in his chief aim, he- with a very fubmiflive tone, requeued the Chikkafah war-leader to give him a token, whereby he might get the other captives who were left at home : but as they ufually deny with modefty, he told him, he could not advife him to take the trouble to go there, as he believed the head-men had kept them behind on purpofe that they mould be burnt at the (lake, if any mifchance befell him and his warriors, before they returned home, on ac count of his French prifoners. Finding that his threats and entreaties both proved ineffectual, he v/as obliged to acquiefce. Soon after, we fet off, and he and his chagrined mercenaries quietly took up their travelling, bundles,, and followed us.

On that day's marcfe, a little before we entered the long fwamp, all our Chikkafah friends ftaid behind, killing and cutting up buf falo :.

�� �