Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/354

 342 ^ n Account of the Choktah Nation.

very poor, I told the Governor they could travel only at a flow pace, and as the wild game was fcarce in our fettlements, hunger, and refent- inent for their unkind ufage, would probably tempt them to kill the planters (lock, which might produce bad confequences, and ought to be cau- tioufly guarded again ft ; but I was an unfortunate folicitor.

With a flow of contrary paflions I took my leave of our gallant Chikkafah friends. I viewed them with a tender eye, and revolved in my mind the fatigues, difficulties, and dangers, they had cheerfully undergone, to teftify the intenfe affection they bore to the Britifli Americans, with the ill treat ment they had received from our chief magiftrate, on account of his own dif- appointments, and fharp-felt cenfures, for fome fuppofed mifmanagement, or illicit mealiires in trade. He is reported to have been no way churlifh to feveral of the daftardly Choktah, notwithftandirig his unprecedented and unkind treatment of our warlike Chikkafah two hundred of which would attack five hundred of the others, and defeat them with little lofs. Their martial bravery has often teftified this again ft enemies even of a greater fpirit.

Not long after the Chikkafah returned homeward, I advertifed in the weekly paper, that as I intended to leave Charles-town in a fhort time, I was ready and willing to anfwer any of the legiflative body fuch queftions as they might be pleafed to propofe to me concerning our Indian affairs, before the expiration of fuch a time ; and that if his Excellency defired my attendance, and either notified it in writing, or by a proper officer, I might be found at my old lodgings. On the evening of the very laft day I had propofed to (lay, he fent me a peremptory written order to at tend that night, on public bufinefs, concerning Indian affairs ; I punctually obeyed, with refpect to both time and place. He was now in a dilemma, by reafon of his (fuppofed) felf-interefted conduct concerning the Chok tah trade, which occafioned the aforefaid modeft reply-, that arraigned his proceedings with feverity and plainnefs. As I came down with the Indians, and was detained by his Excellency, under the great feal of the pro vince, till this period, April 1750, I had juft reafon to expect that good faith would have been kept with me that I fhould have been paid ac cording to promife, at leaft for all the goods I gave the Indians, by vir tue thereof i and have had a juft compenfation for the great expences I

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