Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/367

 An Account of the Chikkafah Nation. 355

to that volatile nation, the other town drew round them ftark naked, and painted all over red and black ; thus they attacked them, killed numbers on the fpot, releafed their brethren, who joined them like enraged lions, increa- fing as they fwept along, and in their turn incircled their enemies. Their re- leafe increafed their joy and fury, and they rent the fky with their founds. Their flamy enemies, now changed their boafting tune, into "Oh mor- blieu !" and gave up all for loft. Their red allies out-heel'd them, and left them to receive their juft fate. They were all cut off but two, an offi cer, and a negroe who faithfully held his horfe till he mounted, and then ran along fide of him. A couple of fwift runners were fent after them, who foon came up with them, and told them to live and go home and in form their people, that as the Chikkafah hogs had now a plenty of .ugly French carcafes to feed on till next year, they hoped then to have another vifit from them and their red friends ; and that, as meffengers, they wilhed them fafe home. They accordingly returned with heavy .hearts to the Chikkafah landing place, N. W.-on the Mifilfippi, at the diftance of 170 miles, where they took boat, and delivered their unexpected meflage: grief and trembling fpread through the .country, and the inhabitants could not fecure themfelves from the fury of thefe war like, and enraged Chikkafah. Every one of their prifoners was put to the fiery torture, without any poflibility of redemption, their hearts were fo exceedingly imbittered againft them.

Flumed with this fuccefs, many parties turned out againft the French, and from time to .time hunted them far and near : forne went to the Miffifippi, made a fleet of cyprefs-bark canoes, watched their trading boats, and cut off many of them without faving any of the people. The French finding it impracticable for a few boats to pafe thofe red men of war, were obliged to go in a fleet, carry fwivel-guns in their long pettiaugres, with plenty of men \ but always Ihunning the Chikkafah fide of the river, and oblerving the ftri&eft order in their movements by day, and in their ftations at night. The walking of a wild beaft, I have been aflured, has frequently called them to their arms, and kept them awake for the whole njght, they were in fo great a dread of this warlike nation. The name of a Chik kafah became as dreadful, as it was hateful to their ears. And had ic not been more owing to French policy than bravery, in uniting all the .Miffifippi and Canada-Indians in a confederacy and enmity againft them, Lou-

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