Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/352

 340 dn Account of the Choktah Nation.

with every other kind of phyfic ; and it is affirmed, that by this prefcrip- tion, they foon get well.

The fmall pox with which the upper towns of the Mulkohge were in fected, was of the confluent fort, and it would have greatly depopulated them, if the officious advice of fome among us, for all the other towns to cut off every kind of communication with them, on the penalty of death to any delinquent, had not been given and purfued. They accordingly potted cen- tinels at proper places, with ftrict orders to kill fuch, as the moft dangerous of all enemies : and thele cautious meafures produced the defired effect. And by the mean mediation of feveral of our principal traders, joined with the in- tereft of their red friends, the commandant of the Alebahma fort, prevailed at laft on the Chikkafah chieftain to take the three French prifoners to him, as he would pay him to his own fatisfaction, give him prefents, and drink with him as a friend, who had buried the bloody tomohawk deep in the ground. They were delivered up, and by that means the French were enabled to difcourage thofe Mufkohge warriors, who had joined the Chik kafah in the aforefaid acts of hoftility againft the Miffifippi inhabitants. In about the fpace of three months from the time the Chikkafah left their own country with me, they arrived at the late New-Windfor garrifon, the weftern barrier of South-Carolina, and beautifully fituated on a high com manding bank of the pleafant meandering Savanah river ; fo termed on account of the Shawano Indians having formerly lived there, till by our foolim meafures, they were forced to withdraw northward in defence of their freedom.

At the requeft 'of the governor and council I rode there, to accom pany our Chikkafah friends to Charles-town, where, I believe, on my account, they met with a very cold reception : for as fomething I wrote to the two gentlemen who fitted out, and fuftained the lofs of the Sphynx-company, had been inferted in the " modeft reply to his Excel lency the Governor,' 3 formerly mentioned, in order to obtain bills of ex change on Great Britain, I was now become the great object of his difpleafure, and of a certain fett, who are known to patronife any perfons if they chance to be born in the fame corner of the world with themfelves. The Chikkafah had a very ungracious audience : On account

of

�� �