Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/360

 An Account of the Choktah Nation.

rum, about two miles from the town, four of them appeared, -unarmed^ ftark naked, and torn by the thickets. When we difcovered them, we concluded they had been below on mifchief. If we had not been fo nigh the town, my companion would have fired at them. We went into the town, and the traders there foon informed us of their cowardly defign.

We went as far as the mid-fettlements, and found moft of the towns much difaffeded to us, and in a fluctuating fituation, through the artifice of the French. In a few days we returned, but found they had blocked up all the trading paths, to prevent our traders from making their efcape. Juft as we defcended a fmall mountain, and were about to afcend a very fteep one, a hundred yards before us, which was the firft of the Apalahche, or blue ridge of mountains, a large company of the lower town Indians darted out from the Hoping rocks, on the north fide of the path, a lit tle behind us. As they were naked except their breech-cloth, were painted red and black, and accoutered every way like enemies, I bid my companion leave the luggage-horfes and follow me : but as he left his arms at the lower town, and was not accuftomed to fuch furprifes, it fhocked him, till they ran down upon him. On this I turned back, and flood on my arms, expecting they would have fired upon us. However, they propofed fome queftions, which I anfwered, as to where we had been, and were going, and that we were not any of their traders. Had it been- otherwife, the difpute would have been dangerous. We got over the mountain, and fafe to Tymahfe ; here we refted two nights, and found the people diftra&ed for mifchief, to which the many caufes before mentioned prompted them. The governor, in lefs than a month after this period, had the ftrongeft confirmation of the ill intention of thefe favages and their allies. Many exprefles with intelligence I fent, but the news was pocketed, and my fervices traduced becaufe I would not afllft the prime magistrate in a bad caufe, he and his, humble fervants depreciated the long feries of public fervices I had faithfully performed, and called them mere accidental trifles ; contrary to his former acknowledgments, both verbal and in writing. The French, however, had a different opinion of my fervices j they were fo well acquainted with the great damages I had done to them, and feared others I might occafion, as to confine me a clofe prifoner for a fortnight when I went to the Alebahma-garrifon, in 5 the

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