Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/356

 344 -An -Account of the Choktah Nation.

the whole country felt the ill effects of the late over-bearing and negligent conduft. Falfe colouring could ferve no longer, and a few inconfiderable parties were fent out but not finding any enemy, they were in a few months difbanded, and peaceable accounts were again fent home.

Our Settlement-Indians were at this time clofely hunted, many were killed, and others carried off. A worthy gentleman, G. H. Efq; who lived at the Conggarees, fuffered much on the occafion he was employed to go to the Cheerake country, in queft of valuable minerals, in company with an Indian commiffioner : in one of their middle towns, he retook fome of our Settle ment-Indians from the Canada-favages, whom a little before they had capti vated and carried off from South-Carolina in triumph. While they were beat ing the drum, finging, dancing, and pouring the utmoft contempt on the Englifli name, honour prompted him to prefer the public credit to his own fafety. By the earned mediation of one of the traders, the head-men of the town confented to be neutral in the affair, and ad as impartial friends to both parties. He then, with Col. F x, and fome of the traders, went in a warlike gallant manner, and regardlefs of the favages threats, took and brought to a trader's houfe, our captivated friends : they ftood all night on their arms, and at a convenient interval, fupplied thofe whom they had liberated, with neceflaries to carry them to our fettlements, where their trufty heels foon carried them fafe. The gallant behaviour of thofe gentlemen gained the applaufe of the Cheerake and each foon returned in fafety, without any interruption, to their refpeclive homes, where I wifh they had ever after continued. But Mr. G. H. having confiderably engaged himfelf in trade with the Katahba Indians, fet off afterwards in com pany with an half-bred Indian of that nation, the favourite fon of Mr. T. B. a famous old trader : in their way to the Katahba, they were intercepted, and taken by fome of the very favages who had threatened him among the Cheerake, when he releafed our domeftic Indians. The government of South-Carolina was foon informed of the unhappy affair : and they dif- patched a friendly embafiy to the lower towns of the Cheerake, requefting them to intercept and retake the prifoners, if they paffed near their coun try, and offered a confiderable reward. Our friends were carried a little to the northward of the Cheerake nation, where their captors camped feveral days, and the Cheerake held with them an open friendly intercourfe, as in defpite to the Englifh. The head men of the lower towns, not only flopped the traders and their red friends from going to refcue them, 5 but

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