Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/383

 An Account of t&e Chikkafah Nation. 371

The Chikkafah firfl informed me of his journey and fuccefs and I had it fome time after, circumftantially confirmed to me by Sir W. Johnfon. When I fpoke to the Col. himfelf on his fatigues and perils,, he modeftly replied " that while he was performing the needful duties of his office, and' acting the part of a beloved man with the fwan's wing, white pipe, and white beads, for the general good of his country, and of its red neighbours, he had no leifure to think of any perfonal dangers that might befall a well- meaning peace-maker." Having reconciled the Kufkuike Indians, whom the French garrifon had decoyed by their falfe painting of us, to remove with them over the Miffifippi, he from thence proceeded down by water to> New Orleans ; afterwards, along the gulph-flream of Mexico,, to the place from whence he fet off, amounting nearly to 5000 miles,, in the oblique- courfe he was forced to take.

In brief, able fuperintendants of Indian affairs, and who will often vifit the Indians, are the fafeft and flrongeft barrier garrifons of our colonies and- a proper number of prudent honeft traders difperfed among the favages would be better than all the foldiers, which the colonies fupport for their defence againft them. The Indians are to be perfuaded by friendly, language ; but nothing will terrify them to fubmit to what oppofes their general idea of liberty. In the difputes between governors, fuperintendants, their depu ties, and the traders, care mould be taken to keep them very fecret from the Indians, for they love fuch traders as are governed by principle., and are eafily influenced by them. Several agents of governors and fuper intendants have experienced this, when difpatched into their countries to feize either the goods or perfons of one and another trader, who was ob noxious by not putting the neck under their lordly feet. Some have hardly efcaped from being tomohawked and cut to pieces on the fpot by the en raged Indians,, for the violence offered to their friendly traders.^ When an Indian and trader contract friendfhip, they exchange the clothes then upon them,, and afterwards they cherifh it by mutual prefents,. and in general, will maintain it to the death. As early as 1736 the Georgia governor began to harrafs the licenfed traders, and fent a commiffioner to feize the goods of feveral Carolinian traders : in executing his commiffion, he was foon en circled by twenty-three Indians,, and would have been inftantly difpatched, but for the intercefilon of one of the fuffering traders, Mr. J. G- r o Tennafe. When a governor of any of our colonies,, is either weak in his

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