Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/355

 An Account of the Choktah Nation. 343

was at in ferving the government i but except the the trifling fum of four pounds fterling, when I was fetting off for the Indian country, I never received one farthing of the public money, for my very expenfive, faithful, and difficult fervices.

In mod of our American colonies, there yet remain a few of the natives, who formerly inhabited thofe extenfive countries : and as they were friendly to us, and ferviceable to our interefts, the wifdom and virtue of our legiflature fecured them from being injured by the neighbouring nations. The French ftrictly purfued the fame method, deeming fuch to be more ufeful than any others on alarming occafions. We called them " Parched- corn-Indians,'* becaufe they chiefly ufe it for bread, are civilized, and live moftly by planting. As they had no connection with the Indian nation?, and were ddirous of living peaceable under the Britifh protection, none could have any juft plea to kill or inilave them. But the grafping plan of the French required thofe dangerous fcout-parties, as they termed them, to be removed out of the way ; and the dormant conduct of the South- Carolina chief, gave them an opportunity to effect that part of their de- fign ; though timely notice, even years before, had been given by the Chee- rake traders, that the French priefts were poifoning the minds of thofe Indians againft us, who live among the Apalahche mountains, and were endeavouring to reconcile them to all the various nations of the Miffifippi and Canada favages ; and that there was the greateft probability they would accomplifh their dangerous plan, unlefs we foon took proper meafures to prevent it. The informers had ill names and refentment for their news, and the aflembly was charged with mifpending their time, in taking notice of the wild incoherent reports of illiterate obfcure perfons. But it afterwards appeared, that according to their teftimony, the intereft and fecurity of South- Carolina were in great danger. By the diligence of the French, their Indians entered into a treaty of friendfhip with the Cheerake : and their country became the rendezvous of the red pupils of the black Jefuits. Hence they ravaged South-Carolina, beginning at the fron tier weak fettlements, and gradually advanced through the country, for the fpace of eight years, deftroying the live ftockj infulting, frightening, wounding, and fometimes killing the inhabitants, burning their houles, car rying away their flaves, and committing every kind of devaftation, till they proceeded fo low as within thirty miles of Charles-town. The fufferers often exhibited their complaints, in the moft pathetic and public manner 5 and 5 the

�� �