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I
THE
HISTORY
OF THE
AMERICAN INDIANS.
•m
•I
,4!
if
TO
I i
rtrarrn i.jjiM a.,iiE.'i h.BJUi iKari lhi
\ '
THE
HISTORY
OF T II i:
AMERICAN INDIANS;
PARTlCUr. ARLY
Thofe Nations adjoining to the M I S S I S I P P I, E A S T and
WEST FLORIDA, GEORGIA, SOUTH and
NORTH CAROLINA, and VIRGINIA:
CONTAINING
An ACCOUNT of their Origin, Language, Manners, Religious and
Civil Customs, Laws, Form of Government, Punishments, Conduct in
War and Domestic Life, their. Habits, Dii;t, Agriculture, Manu-
factures, Diseases and Method of Cure, ami other Particulars, fufTi-
cient to render it
COiMPLETE INDIAN SYSTEM.
WITH
Observations on former Historians, the Condudl of our Colony
Governors, Superintendents, Missionaries, &c.
also
AN APPENDIX,
containing
A Defcription of thn Floridas, and the Missicippi Lan'ds, with their PRoni;L.
TioNS — The Benefits of colonifing Georgiana, and civilizing the Immans
And the way to make ail the Colonics more valuable to tiie Mother Count' •.
With a new Map of the Country referred to in the I liilorv.
By JAMES ADAIR, Efquire,
A Traper with the Indians, aiid llefiJcnt in their Country for Forty Years.
LONDON:
Printed for Edward and Charles Dii.j.v, in the Poultrv.
J\IDCCLXX\',
I
m
'f
II
V o
The Hon. Colonel George Craghan,
George Galphin, and Lachlan M'Gilwray,
E S CtU IRES.*
Gentlemen,
TO you, with the grcateft propriety <-he following
fheets are addrefled. Your diftinguifhed abili-
ties — your thorough acquaintance with the North Ame-
rican Indians language, rites, and cuftoms — your long
application and fervices in the dangerous fphere of an
Indian life, and your fucccfsful management of the fa-
vage natives, are well known over all the continent of
America.
You often complained how the public had been
impofed upon, either by fiditious and fabulous, or very
fuperficial and conjectural accounts of the Indian na-
* The late Sir Wm. Johnfon, Baronet, was another of the Author's
friends, and flood at the head of the MS. Dedication,
A tions
it;
DEDICATION.
tions — aiul ;is often wiflied me to devote my Iclfurc
hours to the drawing up an Indian fyftem. You can
witnefs, that what I now fend into the world, was
compofcd more from a regard to your requefl, than any
forward delirc cf my own, The profped: of your pa-
tronage infpired me to write, and it is no fmall plea-
fure and honour to me, that fuch competent judges
of the feveral particulars now prefcnted to public view,
expreffed themfelves with fo much approbation of the
contents.
You well know the iiprightnefs of my intentions as
to the information here given, and that truth hath been
my grand ftandard. I may have erred in the application
of the rites and cuftoms of the Indians to their origin
and defcent — and may have drawn fome conclufions,
exceeding the given evidence — but candor will ex-eufe
the language of integrity i and when the genuine prin-
ciples, cuftoms, &c. of the Indians are known, it
will be eafier afterwards for perfons of folid learning,
and free from fecular cares, to trace their origin, clear
up the remaining difficulties, and prbduce a more perfedl
hiftory.
Should my performance be in the lertft degree inftru-
mental to promote an accurate inveftigation and knowledge
DEDICATION,
of the American Indians •— their civilization— -and the
happy fettlement of the fertile lands around them, 1
fliall rejoice ; and the public will be greatly obliged to
you, as your requeft incited to it ; and to you I am alio
indebted for many interefting particulars, and valuable
obfervations.
I embrace this opportunity, of paying a public tefti-
mony of my gratitude, for your many favours to me.
Permit me alfo to celebrate your public fpirit —
your zealous and faithful fervice of your country —
your focial and domeftic virtues, 8cc. which have en-
deared you to all your acquaintance, and to all who
have heard your names, and make you more illu-
ftrious, than can any high founding titles. All who know
you, will readily acquit me of fervility and flattery, in
this addrefs. Dedications founded on thefe motives, are
the difgrace of literature, and an infult to common fenfe.
There are too many inftances of this proftitution in
Great Britain, for it to be fuffered in America. Num-
bers of high feated patrons are praifed for their divine
wifdom and godlike virtues, and yet the whole empire is
difcontented, and America in ftrong convulfions.
May you long enjoy your ufual calm and profperity !
that fo the widow, the fatherlcfs, and the ftranger may
A 2 always
1^
DEDICATION.
always joyfully return (as in paft years) from your hof-
pitable houfes— while this Dedication ftands as a fmall
proof of that fincere attachment with which I am,
Gentlemen,
Your moft obedient,
Humble Servant,
JAMES ADAIR.
P R E-
y
P R E F A C E.
TH E following hiftory, and obfervation?, are the produdioa
of one who haih been chiefly engaged in an Indian life ever
fince the year 1735 : and moil of the pages were written among
our old friendly Ghikkafah, with whom I firfl: traded in the year.
1744. The fubjeds are interefting, as well as amuiing ; but never
was a literary work, begun and. carried on with more diiadvantages.
The author was feparated by his fituation,, from the coiiverfatiaa
of the learned, and from any libraries — Frequently interrupted
alfo by bufinefs, and obliged to conceal his papers, through the
natural jealoufy of the natives ; the traders letters of correfpond*
ence always excited their fufpicions, and often gave ollence. — Ano-
ther difficulty I had to encounter, was the fecrecy and clofenefs of
the Indians as to their own affairs, and their prying difpofition
into thofe of others — fo that there is no poffibility of retirement
among them.
A view of the difadvantages of my fituation, made me reludant
to comply with the earneft and repeated folicitations of many wor-
thy friends, i?o give the public an account of the Indian nations
with whom I had long refided, was To intimately connected, and
of whom fcarccly any thing had yet been publithed but romance,
and a mafs of fidion. My friends at lafl: prevailed, and on pera-
fing the (heets, they were pleafed to approve the contents, as con-
veying true information, and general entertainment. Having no
ambition ' 1 appear in the world as an auth and knowing that
my hiflory differed eflentially from all forme, ablications of tlic
kind; I firft refolved to fupprefs my name; but my friends advifed
mc to own the work, and thus it is tendered to the puLHc
in the prcfent form.
3 1'Jie
I,
^Il
R E
A
E.
ii
The performance, hath doubtlefs imperfeflions, humanum eft
rrriirc. Some readers may think, there is too much of wlut re-
lates to myfelf, and of the adventures of fmall parties among the
Indians and traders. Cut minute circumflances are often of great
confequence, efpecially in difcovering the defcent and genius of a
people — defcribing their manners and cuftoms — and giving proper
information to rulers at a diflance. I thought it better to be efleemed
prolix, than to omit any thing that might be ufeful on thefe points.
Some repetitions, which occur, were neceflary — The hiftory of the
feveral Indian nations being fo much intermixed with each other,
and their cuftoms fo nearly alike.
One great advantage my readers will here have ; I fat down to
draw the Indians on the fpot — had them many years flanding be-
fore me, — and lived with them as a friend and brother. My inten-
tions v^'ere pure when I wrote, truth hath been my flandard, and I
have no finifter or mercenary views in publifhing. With inexpref-
fible concern I read the feveral imperfect and fabulous accounts of
the Indians, already given to the world — Fidlion and conjecture
have no place in the following pages. The public may depend on
the fidelity of the author, and that his defcriptions are genuine,
though perhaps not fo polinied and romantic as other Indian hifto-
ries and accounts, they may have feen.
My grand objefts, were to give the Literati proper and good ma-
terials for tracing the origin of the American Indians — and to in-
cite the higher powers zealoufly to promote the befl interefts of the
Britifli colonies, and of the mother country. For whofe greatnefs
and happinefs, I have the moft ardent defires.
The whole of the work is refpedlully fubmitted to the candor
and judgment of the impartial Public.
CON-
CONTENTS.
p-
p-
p-
p-
p-
i8
35
37
P- 74
p. 8o
y/ IliflGi-y of the North American Indians, their cujlonis, i^c.
Obfcrvations on their colour, /-''7/f, temper, and drefs. Page l
Ohfervations on the origin and defeent of the Indians — p. lo
Olfervations, and arguments, in proof of the American Indians bein^ defcended
from the Jczvs.
Argument I. 'Their divifwn into tribes — —
II, Their ivorfjip of Jehovah — —
III. Their notions of a theocracy — —
IV. Their belief in the minijlration of angels —
V, Jheir language and diaktls — —
VI. Their manner of counting time — ^-.
VII. Their prophets and high priefts —
VIII. Their fcfiivals, fajls, and religious rites —
IX. Their daily facrifice — ■*—
X. Their ablutions and anointings — • —
XI. Their laws of uncleannefs — —
XII. Their abjtinence from unclean things — —
XIII. Their marriages, divorces, and punifljment of adultery
XIV. Their feveral punifhments — —
XV. Their cities of refuge — - —
XVI. Their purifications, and ceremonies preparatory to zvar
XVII. Their ornaments — —
XVI! I. Their manner of curing thefick — —
XIX. Their burial of the dead — —
XX. Their mourning for their dead — —
XXI. Their raifing feed to a deceafed brother —
XXII. Their choice of names adapted to their eircumjlances and the
times — — — P- '9*
XXIII. Their own traditions, the accounts of cur Englijh writers, ard
the teflimonies which the Spanifh and other authors have giveny
concerning the primitive inhabitants cf Peru and Mexico.
l: p. iq-l,
P-
P-
P-
P-
P-
P-
P-
P-
P-
94
115
120
146
15S
^59
p. 169
p. 172
P- ^77
p. 186
p. 189
CONTENTS.
f:ln Account of the Katahhc, Cheer ake, Mujkoghe or Creeks, Cboktd\ mi J
Chikkflfah Nations : with cccafional remarks on their Laixs, and the Con-
du5I of our Governors, Superintendents, Mijfionaries, cfr.
Account of the Katahba Nation, ^c. — — P- 2 2 ?
Account of the Checrake Nation, i^c. — — p. 226
Account of the Mujkohge Nation, i3c. — — P- 257
Account of the Choktah Nation, idc. — — p. 282
Account of the Chikkafah Nation, i^c. — — p. 352
General Obfervations on the North- American Indians -, dif playing their Love to
their Country — Their Martial Spirit — Iheir Caution in f'^ar— Method of
Fighting — Barbarity to their Captives — Inflames cf their Fortitude and
Magnanimity in the view of Death — Their Reward of public Services —
The manner of Crowning their fVarriors after Vi^ory — Their Games — Me-
thod of Fifhing, and of Bvilding—Their Utenfils and Manuf azures— ConduSl
in Domeftic Life — Their Laws, Form of Government^ ^c.^c. I?- 375
APPENDIX.
Containing a Defcription of the Floridas, and the Miffiftppi Lands, with their Pro-
duSlions — The Benefits of colonifing Georgiana, and civilizing the Indians — And
the way to make all the Colonies more valuable to the Mother Country, p. 45 1
i >
A HIS-
J^^l.
HISTORY
OF THE
NORTH-AMERICAN INDIANS,
THEIR CUSTOMS, &c.
Obfervatiom on the colour., Jl:)ape^ temper^ and drcfs of
the Indians of America,
45»
IS-
TH E Indians are of a copper or red-clay colour— and they de-
light in every thing, which they imagine may promote and increafe
it : accordingly, they paint their faces with vermilion, as the beft
and mod beautiful ingredient. If we confidcr the common laws of nature
and providence, we fhall not be furpriiied at this cuftom -, for every thing
loves beft its own likenefs and place in the creation, and is dlfpofed to
ridicule its oppofite. If a deformed fon of burning Africa, was to paint the
devil, he would not do it in black colours, nor delineate him with a fhaggcd
coarfe woolly head, nor with thick lips, a fliort flat nofe, or clumfy feet,
like thofe of a bear: his devil would repreient one of a difix;rcnt nation or
people. But was he to draw an agreeable piflure, — according to the African
talk', he would daub it all over with Iboty black. All the Indians are fo
ftrongly attached to, and prejudiced in favour of, their own colour, that
they think as meanly of the whites, as we pofllbly can do of them. The
Englifh traders among them, experience much of it, and are often very glad
to be allowed to pafs multcr with the Indian chieftains, as fellow-brethren
'V,
B
of
'ill
V
(I i
I (
• t On the colour of the Indians of America, - •■- ■
of the human fpecics. One indance will lufficiently (hew in what flattering
glafl'es they view tiiemrdvcs.
Some time part, a large body of the Englifh Indian traders, on their way
to the Cboktiib country, were el'corted by a body of Creek and Choktah
warriors. The Creeks having a paiticiilar friendfhip forfomeof the traders,
who had treated them pretty liberally, took this opportunity to chide the
Choktahs, before the traders, in a fmart though friendly way, for not
allowing to the Englifii the name of human creatures: — for the general
name they give us in their moft favourable war-fpeecbes, refcmbles that of
a contemptible, heterogeneous animal.
The hotter, or colder the climate is, wliere the Indians have long refided,
tlie greater proportion have they either of the red, or white, colour. I took
j)articular notice of the Shawano Indian<:, as they were pafling from the
northward, within fifty miles of the Chikkafah country, to that of the
Creeks j and, by comparing them with the Indians which I accompanied to
their camp, I obferved the Shawano to be much fairer than the Chikkafah •;
though I am fatisfied, their endeavours to cultivate the copper colour,
•were alike. Many incidents and obfervations lead me to believe, that the
Indian colour is not natural -, but that the external difference between them
and the whites, proceeds entirely from their cuftoms and method of living,
and not from any inherent fpring of nature ; which will entirely overturn
Lord Karnes's v.'hole fyftem of colour, and feparate races of men.
That the Indian colour is merely accidental, or artificial, appears pretty
evident. Their own traditions record them to have come to their prefent
lands by tliJ way of the weft, from a far diftant country, and where there
was no vai legation of colour in human beings ; and they are entirely
ignorant which was the firfl: or primitive colour. Befides, their rites,
cuftoms, &c. as we fhall prefently f.?, prove them to be orientalifts : and,
as the difference of colour among th'- human Ipecies, is one of the principal
caufes of feparation, Itrife, and bloodftied, would it not greatly refled on the
goodnefs and jullice of the Divine Being, ignominioudy to brand numerous
tribes and their pofterity, with a colour odious and hateful in the fight and
opinion of thofe of a different colour. Some writers have contended, from
• S is not a note of plurality with the Indians ; when I mention therefore either their na-
tional, or proper names, that common error is avoided, which writers ignorant of their lan-
guage conilantly commit..
the
On the C'Jour of the Indians af America . 3
tlie divcrfity of colour, that America was not peopled from any p.iit of AHa,
or of the olil world, but that the natives were a il-paratc creation. Of this
opinion, is Lord Kanies, and which lu- labours to ellablifii in Ins Lite pub-
lication, entitled. Sketches of the Uijlory cf Man. But his reafunin;; on this
point, for a local creation, is contrary both to revelation, and i'arts. His
chief argument, that " ther'." is not a fingle hair on the bo.ly of any American,
nor the lead appearance of a beard," is utterly dclUiute of foundation, as
can be atteiled by all who have had any communication v/ith tbem — of this
more prefently. — Moreover, to form one creation cjf •Kl.nits, a fccond creation
for the yellows., and a third for the bkcks, is a v/eaknels, of wliich infinite
wifdom is incapable. Its operations are plain, eaiy, conllant, and perfed.
The variegation therefore of colours amony the human race, depends upon
a fecond caufe. Lord Kames himfelf acknowledges, ti'.at " the Spanifli in-
habitants of Carthagena in South- America lofe their vigour and coloui- in a
few months."
\Vc are informed by the anatomical obfervations of our American phyfi-
cians, concerning the Indians, ihat they have difcerned a certain fine cowl, or
web, of a red gluey fubftance, clofe under the outer (kin, to which it reflefls
tlie colour -, as the epidermis, or outer iliin, is alike clear in every difi'erent
creature. And experience, which is the beil nedium to difcover truth, chives
tlie true caufe why this corpus nuicoium, or gluifn v/eb, is red in the Indians,
and white in us; the parching winds, and hot fun-beams, beating upon
their naked bodies, in their various gradations of life, necefi"arily tarnifi-i
their fkins with the tawny red colour. Add to this, heir conftant
anointing themfelves with bear's oil, or greafe, mixt with a certain red root,
which, by a peculiar property, is able alone, in a fev; years time, to produce
the Indian colour in thofe who are white born, and who have even advanced
to maturity. Thefv: metamorphofes I have often feen.
At the Shawano main camp *, I faw a Penfylvanian, a white man by
birth, and in profeffion a chrillian, who, by the inclemency of the fun,
• In the year 1747, I headed a company of the diccrfil, brave Chikkrifali, wiih the
eagles tails, to the camp of the Shawano Indian.-, to apprehend one Peter ijliarice, (,i
Frenchman) who, by his artful paintings, an.! the fiipine conduct of the Penfylvanian j;overn-
ment, had decoyed a large body of the Shav.aiio from the Engl ilh, to the Trench, int.rclt.
Hut fearing the confequences, he went round an hundred milea, toward the Chceral..' nation,
with his family, and the head warriors, and tlicieby evaded the danger.
B .-- and
■:&
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4 On the colour and temper of the Indians of America.
and his endeavours of improving the red colour, was tarniflied with as deep
nn Indian hue, as any of the tamp, though tliey had been in the woods
only the fpacc of four years.
\Vc may eafily conclude then, what a fixt chunge of colour, fuch a con-
ftant method of life would produce : for the colour being once tiioroughly
eltabliflicd, nature would, as it were, forp.ct hcrlelf, not to beget her own
likcnLfs. Btfides, may we not Kii-'pofe, that the imagination can imprefs the
animalculii;, in tlie time i>f copulation, by its flrong fubtile power, witJi at
Icall fuch an external fimiiituUe, as we ipeak of? — The I'acred oracles, and
chrifiian rtgifl'.rs, as wtU as Indian traditions, fupport the fentimcnt-, —
the colour of Jacob's cattle refcnibled that of the peeled rods he placed be-
fore them, in the time of conception. We have good authority of a Spanifli
lady, who conceived, and was dclivcreil of a nt-gro child, by means of a
black pifture that hung on the wall, oppofite to the bed w here flie lay. There
is a record among the Chikkafah Indians, that tells us of a white child with
Haxen hair, born in their country, long before any white people appeared in
that part of the world •, which they afcribed to the immediate power of the
Deity impreffing her imagination in a dream. And the Philofophical Tranf-
aflions afflire us of two white children having been born of black parents.
But waving all other arguments, the different method of living, connedcd
•with the difference of climates, and extraordinary anointings and paintings,
will effeft both outward and inward changes in the human race, all round
the globe : or, a different colour may be conveyed to the foetus by the
parents, through the channel of the fluids, without the leaft variation of the
original ftamina. for, though the laws of nature cannot be traced far,
where there are various circumftances, and combinations of things, yet her
works are exquifitely conftant and regular, being thereto impelled by
unerring divine Wifdom.
As the American Indians are of a reddilh or copper colour, — fo in general
they are fl:rong, well proportioned in body and limbs, furprifingly a(ftive
and nimble, and hardy in their own way of living.
They are ingenious, witty, cunning, and deceitful ; very fiiithful indeed to
their own tribes, but privately dilhoneft, and mifchievous to the Europeans and
chriftians. Their being honeft and harmlefs to each other, may be througlv
fear of refentment and reprifal — which is unavoidable in cafe of any injury.
7 They
ll
■1 -i
On the temper aridJJjape of the Indiiins of America,
They are very clofe, and retentive of their fecrcts ; never furgct iiijiiri':'? ;
revengeful of blood, to a degree of difhradion. They arc tiinoious, and,
confcqucntly, cautious •, very jealous of encroachments from tlcir cliriilin
neighbours j and, likewife, content with freedom, in every turn of fortune.
They are poffefTed of a ftrong coin prehcn five judgment, — can form furprif-
ini'ly crafty fchemes, and condu(5t them with equal ;• union, filencc, and
addrel's ; they admit none but diftinguilhed v.-arriois, an 1 old bdovfd meii,
into their councils. They are flow, but very pcrfevcring in ihcir under-
takings — commonly temperate in eating, but excclFively im.moderat • in
drinking. — They often transform themlelves by liquor into the likcicfs of
mad foaming bears. The women, in general, arc of a mi! 1, amial^le, foft
difpofition : exceedingly modeft in their behaviour, and very fcldom noify,
either in the fingle, or married ftate.
The men are expert in the ufe of fire arm.";, — in fliooting t!ic bow, — and
throwing tlie feathered dart, ard tomohav,!:, into tlic flying enemy. They
rcfem.ble the lynx, with their fharp penetrating black eyes, and arc exreed-
incly fwift of footj efpecially in a long chaie ; they will ftretc!; away, through
the rough woods, by the bare track, for two or three hundred miles, mi purluit
of a flying enemy, witli the continued fpecd, and cagernds, of a {tancli
pack of blood hounds, till they flied blood. When they h;;v(^ alliyed this
their burning third, they return home, at their leilure, unlets they chance
to be purfued, as is fometimes the cafe -, whence the traders fay, '* that an
Indian is never in a hurry, but when the devil is at his heels."
It is remarkable, that there are no deformed Indians — however, they are
generally weaker, and fmaller bodied, between the tropics, than in the higlier
latitudes -, but not in an equal proportion : for, though the Cl.ikkafah and.
Clioktah countries have not been long divided from each other, as appears
by the fimilarity of their language, as well as other things, yet the Chikkaiah
are exceedingly taller, and ftronger bodied than the latter, thougl\ tlieir
country is only two degrees farther north. Such a fmall difference of latitude,
in fo healthy a region, could not make fo wide a difference in the conlli-
tution of their bodies. The former are a comely, pleafant looking peo-
ple •, their faces are tolerably round, contrary to the vifage of the other.-,
which inclines much to flatnefs, as is the cafe of mod of the other Indian
Americans. The lips of the Indians, in general, are thin.
Thtir
111
', IT
f»l
t On t'.h'f'trpe tf the hulinHS i/'Aiiurici.
'i'luif eyes nro rin.iU, fh.irp, ami black •, and ihcir hair i, l.ml:, coarfo,
nnil ilarkilli. I lu'vcr law any witii curled hair, but one in ilic Clu)kr;ili
country, whc.c was alio another wiili red hair-, probably, they were a mix-
ture ot" the French and Indian"!. Komanciny travellers, and their credulous
eopyilb, report tiieni ro l)e imbarks, and as perlbns rwpuleresy and they ap-
pear lb to Itrangers. Hut both fexes pluck all the hair off their bodie%
^Mth a kind of tweezers, niatle tbrmerly of clani-lhclls, now of middle- fized
wire, in ihe lliape of a pun-wonn •, which, being twiflcd round a fmall (lick,
and the entis fallened therein, after beinp; properly tcm.pered, keeps its
Ibrm : holding this Indian raxor between their fore-finger and thumb, they
deplume tlienifelves aiter the inaniur of the Jewifh novitiate prielts, and
piDl'clytes. — As tlie ibrmer could not otlicrwife be purified for the fundion
cif liis iacerdotal otilce ; or the lat'tCr, be adrniit'ed to the benefit of reli-
^,ioi!3 communion.
Their cliief r.V.yj- is very fimple, like that of the patriarchal age -, of
choice, many of th.eir old head-men wear a long wide frock, matis of tl'.e
fl<ins of wild bt'aih, in honour of that antient cullom : It mull be necellity
that forces them to :Iie pincliing fandals for their feet. They feem quite ealy,
and indillercnt, in every various fcene of life, as if they were utterly diverted
of palVions, and the fenfe of feeling. Martial virtue, and not riches, is their
invariable flandard for preferment •, for they neither efteem, nor defpifc any of
their people one jot more or lefs, on account of riches or drefs. They compare
both thele, to paint on a warrior's face ; becaufe it incites others to a Ipiric
of martial benevolence for their country, and pleafes Ins own fancy, and
the eyes of fpeclators, for a little time, but is fweated off, while he is per-
forming his war-dances ; or is defaced, by the change of weather.
They formerly vv-,jrc fliiris, made of dreft deer-fl<ins, for their fummer
Nifiting drefs : bi;t their winter-hunting clothen were long and fliapcy,
made of tl;e JKinn of panthers, buxiks, bears, beavers, and otters j r!ie
llelhy fides outward, fometimes doubled, and always foftened like velvet-
cloth, though they retained their fur and hair. The needle', and thread they
ufed formerly, (and now at times) were fifh-bones, or the iiorns and bones of
(leer, rubbed iliarp, and deer's finew-, and a ibrc of hemp, that prows among
t'li.m fpuntaneoiifly, in rich open lands. Tl^e wonif^n's d^-eis confilis only in a
broad
On the drffs of the Indians of America. 7
broad foftcncd flin, or fevcral Imall (Iv'ns fcwcd together, which tlicy wrap
anil tye round their waift, reaching i\ little- bi-lov/ tlicir knees : in cold
weather, tlu-y wrap thciiiftlves in the Ibftencd flcins of butulo calves, with
the wintcry Ibag^ui wool inward, never forgetting to anoint, and tic up
their hair, ex cpt in tl: :r time of niomning. The men wear, for orna-
ment, anil ilic conveniencici of hiuitiiig, thin deer-fl-vin boots, well
fmokcd, that reach lb high up their thighs, as with their jackets to fecur..'
them from the brambles and braky thickets. They few them about:
five inches froni the edges, which arc formed into t -fTcls, to which they
fallen fawns trotters, and finall pieces of tinkling metal, or wild turkey-
CQck-fpurs. Tlie beans ull-d to fallen the like to their war-pipes, with
the addition of a piece of an enemy's fcalp with a tuf*- of long hair hang-
ing down from the middle of the llcm, each of them painted red : and they
ftill obfcrvc that old ciiftom, only they choole bell-buttons, to give .1
[];reater found.
The young Indian men and women, through a fondnefs of their ancient
drefs, v/rap a piece of cloth round them, that has a near refemblance to the
old Roman toga, or prsetexta. 'Tis about a fathom fquure, bordered
iK:\i::\-\ or eight quarters deep, to make a fliining cavalier of tlie hcMi
moncie, and to keep out both the heat and cold. With this frantic appa-
rel, the red heroes fwaddle themfelves, when they are waddling, whooping,
and prancing it away, in their fweltery town-!ioufes, or fiippoled fynlie-
(Ilia, around the reputed holy fire. In a fweating condition, tliey wii! thus
incommode thcmlclves, frequently, foi- a whole night, on the fame princi-
ple of pride, that the grave Spaniard's winter cloak muft fwcac hiir, in fum-
mer.
They have a great averfion to the wearing of breeches -, for lo that cuf-
tom, they affix the idea of helplefi'iiefs, and effeminacy. I know a Ger-
man of tliirty years (landing, chielly among the Chikkafah Indians, who
becaufe he kept up his breeches with a narrow piece of cloch that reached
acrofs his flioulders, is diftinguiflied by them, is :i,re all his countrymen, by
the defpicable appellative, Kifli-Kini Taral-.; , or Tied Jrfe. — They efleem
the Englifti much more than the Germans, becaufe our limbs, they lay, arc
lefs reftrained by our apparel from manly exercife, than theirs. The Indian
women alfo difcreetly obferve, that> as all their men fit down to make
7 water,.
;'■. il
8
On the drefs of the Indians of America.
water, the ugly breeches would exceedingly incommode them ; and that,
if they were allowed to wear breeches, it would portend no good to their
country : however, they add, (hould they ever be fo unlucky, as to have
that pinching cuftom introduced among them, the Englifh breeches would
beft iuit their own female pofture on that occafion ; but that it would be
exceedingly troublefomc either way. The men wear a flip of cloth, about
a quarter of an cU wide, and an ell and an half long, in the lieu of
brccclK's ; which they put between their legs, and tye round their
haunches, with a convenient broad bandage. The women, fuice the time
•we firfl: traded with them, wrap a fathom of the half breadth of Stroud
cloth round their vvaift, and tie it with a leathern belt, which is commonly
covered with bra!"s runners or buckles : but this fort of loofe petticoat,
reaches only to their hams, in order to flicvv their cxquifitcly tine propor-
tioned limbs,
They make their flioes for common ufe, out of the fliins of the bear and
elk, well drcffcd and fmoked, to prevent hardening ; and thofe for orna-
ment, out of deer-fl<ins, done in the like manner: but they chiefly go
bare-fo ted, and always bare-headed. The men fatten feveral diflereni forts
of beautiful feathers, frequently in tufts ; or the wing of a red bird, or
tl;c fl^in of a fmall hawk, to a lock of hair on the crown of their heads.
And every diflc'rcnt Indian nation when at war, trim their hair, after a
difiVrtnt manner, througli contempt of each other; thus we can diftin-
guiih an enemy in the svoods, fo far off as we can lee him.
The India'^s ^:^tren tlicir heads, in divers forms : but it is chiefly the crown
of the hi-'ad ilicy dcnrefs, in ordtr to beautify thcmfelvcs, as their wild fancy
terms it ; for they cid! w:. hug bcdds, by way of contempt. Tbx Choktah
Indian? flatcn rhcir fore-ieads, from the top of the head to the eye-brows
with ;i linail bi.; cf und ; which gives them a hideous appearance -, as
tlie fore'iead naiu'-ally flioots upward, according as it is flattened : t'ais,
the riling of the noil', iiiltead of being equidiflant from the begin-
n''!i ' 01 li.'- cl^.in, to t!:at ni the hair, is, by their wild m.echanifm, placed
a grear d; al nearer t> the one, and farther from the otlier. The Indian
nations, n.und South-Carolina, and all the way to New iVIexico, (pro-
p:r'v cuii'. '.i i^.It'rh.iko) to viTevfl this, fix the tender infant on a kind of
cradle, where his iect are tilted, above a foot higher than a horizontal po-
fition.
' ' !
On the drefs of the Indians of America. ^
fltion,---his head bends back into a hole, made on purpofe to receive ic
vhcre M bears the chief part of his weight on the crown of the h d ^ i
a Ml ag of land wKhout being in the lead able to n.ove hi.I T
n. , 1 re embhng a fine cartilaginous fubllance, in its infant fla is cf
pable of talong any .mpreffion. By this preflbre, and their t'u 'fluten
u,g the crown ot the head, they confcqt.ently ^akc tl,ei ds th ,
and the.r faces broad : for, when the fn^ooth channel of nlr ffto pptj
-one place, ,f a deftruflion of the whole fyRen. doth no 1 reby en
ue .t breaks out ,n a proportional redundancy, in another. Ma wl no
to th.s cuaom, and as a necefTary efi^eft of this cauHs attribute their fickle
yd, and cruel te.npcrs ? efpecially, when we conned therewith bo ,'
alie education, and great exercife to agitate their animal fpirits W en
thebra>n, .n cooler people, is difturbed, it neither reafons, nor determi eT
vvuh proper judgment? The Indians thus look on ev^y thinlaZ d
hem, through the.r own falfe medium; and vilify our head', becturth -
have given a wrong turn to their own. ^
I
Ohjtrvalmt
[ 10 ]
1
f
Ohfervations on the origin and defcent of the Indians*
\
- ;)
s
THE very remote hi (lory of all nations, is disfigured with fable, and
gives but little encouragement to diftant enquiry, and laborious re-
fearches. Much of the early hiftory and antiquities of nations is loft, and
fome people have no records at all, and to this day are rude and uncivi-
lized. Yet a knowledge of them is highly interefting, and would afford
amufement, and even inftrudlion in the moft poliflied times, to the moft
polite. Every fcience has certain principles, as its bafis, from which it
reafons and concludes. Mathematical theorems, and logical propofitions,
give clear demonftrations, and neceflary conclufions : and thus other Ici-
ences. But, hiftory^ and the origin of tribes and nations, have hitherto been
covered with a great deal of obfcurity. Some antient hiftorians were igno-
rant ; others prejudiced. Some I'earchers into antiquities adopted the tra-
ditional tales of their predeceflbrs : and others looking with contempt orr
the origin of tribes and focieties, altogether exploded them, without invef-
tigation. My defign is, to examine, and if polliblc, afcertain the genea-
logy and defcent of the Indians, and to omit nothing that may in the leaf:
contribute to furnifh the public with a full Indian Si-STi;M.
\ n
In tracing the origin of a people, where there are no records of any kind,
either written, or engraved, who rely folely on oral tradition for the fupport
of their antient ufagcs, and have lolt great part of them — though the under-
tnking be difBculr, yet where feveral particulars, and circumftances, ftron"-
nnd clear, correfpond, they not only make room for conjedure, but cherilh
probability, and till better can be offered, muft be deemed conclufive.
1
All the various nations of Indians, feem to be of one defcent ; t'lcy call
a buffalo, in their various dialeds, by one and the fame name, " Tanafa."
And there is a ftrong fimilarity of religious rites, and of civil and
martial cuftoms, among all the various American nations of Indians we
7 have
On the origin and defcent qfthe Indians.
II
\
\
\
have any knowledge of, on the cxtenfive continent j as will foon be
fhewn.
Their language is copious, and very exprefiive, for their narrow orbit of
ideas, and full of rhetorical tropes and figures, like the orientalifts. In
early times, when languages were not fo copious, rhetoric was invented to
fupply that defecft ; and, what barrennefs then forced them to, cultom now
continues as an ornament.
Formerly, at a public meeting of the head-men, and chief orators, of
the Choktah nation, I heard one of their eloquent fpeakers deliver a very
pathetic, elaborate, allegorical, tragic oration, in the high praife, and for
the great lofs, of their great, iudicious war-chieftain, Shu-lits hum ))uijh-
tii-be, our daring, brave friend, red Jhoes. The orator compared him to
the fun, that enlightens and enlivens the whole fvltem of created beings :
and having carried the metaphor to a confiderable length, he expatiated on
the variety of evils, that neceflarily refult from the difappcarance and ab-
fence of the fun •, and, with a great deal of judgment, and propriety of
expreflion, he concluded his oration with the fame trope, with which he
began.
They often change the fenfe of words into a different fignification from
the natural, exaflly after the manner alfo of the orientalills. liven, tiieir
common fpccch is full of it ; like the prophetic writings, and the book of
Job, their oration- are concife, ftrong, and full of fire ; which fuf-
ficiently confutes the wild notion which fome have efpoufed of tlie North
American Indians being Pra:-Adamites, or a fcparate race of men,
created for that continent What ftronger circumftantial proofs can
be expefted, than that they, being di.s)oined from the reft of the woilJ,
time immemorial, and deftitute alfo of the ufe of letters, Diould have,
and ftill retain the ancient ftandard of fpeech, conveyed down by oral
tradition from father to fon, to the prefent generation? Befidcs, th.ir
perlbns, cuftoms, &c. are not fingular fom the reft of the world ; wiiich,
probably, they would, were they not tlefcendtd from one an.l tl;e fame
common head. Their notions of thino-s are like ours, and their oriiaiiic d
Itrufture is tlie fame. In tliem, the foul governs tlie body, according to the
common laws of God in the creation of Adam. God einplovcd fix-
days, in creating the heavens, this earth, and the iniiumcrabic l|;ccies
C ?. of
i
I ff/i
12
On the origin and defcent of the Indians.
¥
of creatures, wherewith it is fo amply furniflied. The works of a being,
infinitely perfeft, muft entirely anfwer the dcfign of them : hence there
could be no necefflty for a fecond creation -, or God's creating many pairs
of the human race differing from each other, and fitted for different cli-
mates : becaufe, that implies imperfeftion, in the grand fcheme, or a wane
of power, in tht execution of it — 1-lad there been a prior, or later formatioa
of any new clafs uf creatures, they muft materially differ from thofe of the
fix days work •, for it is inconfiftcnt with divine wifdom to make a vain,
or unnecefiary repetition of the fime ad. Rut tlie American Indians nei-
ther vary from the rcll of mankind, in their internal conilrudion, nor ex-
ternal appearance, except in colour; which, as hath been fliewn, is cither
entirely accidental, or artificial. As the Mofdc account declares a comple-
tion of the manifellatiuns of God's inffaite wiiUom and power ia creation,
within that fpace of time; it follows, that the Indians have lineally defcended
from Adam, the firil", and tlie great parent of all the human fpecies.
Both the Chikkafih and Choktah Indians, call a deceitful perfon, Seenti^
a fnake : and they frequently fay, they have not Sccnte Soolijh, the fnake's
tongue i the meaning of which, is very analogous to "31, a name the He-
brews gave to a deceitful perfon -, which probably proceeded from a tra-
ditional knowledge of Eve's being beguiled by the tempter, in that fliape;
for the Indians never affix any bad idea to the prefent reptile fraternity,
except that of poifonous teeth : and they never ufe any fuch metaphor,
as that of a fnake's teeth.
1
i
^;i \
1.
Some have fuppofed the Americans to be defcended from the Chiticfe :
but neither their religion, laws, cuftoms, &c., agree in the kaft with
thofe of the Chinefe : which fufficiently proves, they are not of that
line. Befides, as our beft fliips now are almoft half a year in failinr^
to China, or from thence to Europe -, it is very unlikely they fliould
attempt fuch dangerous difcoveries, in early time, with their (fuppofed)
fmall veflels, againft rapid currents, and in dark and fickly monfoons ;
efpecially, as it is very probable they were unacquainted with the ufe
of the bad-done to direft their courfe. China is above eight thoufand
miles diftant from the American continent, which is twice as far as acrofs
the Atlantic ocean. — And, we are not informed by any antient writer,
vf their maritime Ikill, or fo much as any inclination that way, befides
7 fmall
'\
On the or'gtn and def cent of the Indians.
'3
I
finall coading voyrffrcs. — The winds blow likcwife, with little vari.^.tion,
from call: to v.cH, within the latitudes of thirty and odd, north and Ibvith,
and thcrt-torc they could not drive them on the American coalt, it lying di-
rccUy contrary to fuch a courle.
Ni-ither could perfons iuil to America, from the north, by the way of
Tai;ary, or ancient Scythia •, that, from its f;fuation, never was, or can
be, a mariiin-e power, and it is utterly imprai^icable for any to come to
America, by lea, from that quarter. Befides, the remaining traces of their
religious ceremonies, and civil and martial culloms, are quite oppofite to
tiij like velligts of the old Scythians.
i
:
Nor, even in the moderate northern climates, is to be feen the lead
vellige of any ancient (lately buildings, or of any thick fettlements. a^ are
faid to remain in t!;e lefs healthy regions of Peru and Mexico. Several of
the Indian nations afTure us they crolled the Miflifippi, before they made
their prefent northern fettlements ; whieh, connected with the former
arguments, will fulliciently explode that weak opinion, of the American
Aborigines being liaeally defcended from the Tartars, or ancient Scy-
thians.
'^5
d
It is a very difficult thing to dived ourfelvc^, not to fiy, otiier perfons,
of prejudices and favourite opinions; and I expert to be cenfured by fome,
foroppofipg commonly received fentim.ents, or for meddling with a difjiuto
ngitattd asrciig trie learned ever fmce the firll difcovery of America. But,
Truth is my objecT: : and I hope to olTer ibmc things, whicli, if tliey do
not fully fol'.-e the problem, may lead the way, and enable others, poClf-
fmg ftrcnger iudgmenr, more learning, and more leifure, to accomplifli it.
As I before fuggcftcd, where we have not the light of hiftory, or records,
to guide U5 througli the da.k ma/x of antiquity, we mull endeavour to
l:nd it cut by prob;!lile arguments-, and in fuch fubjciSls of enquiry, where
r.o material oqiedioi'i can be raifcd againfl: probability, it is ftrongly con-
clufive of the truih, and nearly gives the thing fought for.
Dfs
-r,
es-
all
From t!ie mod exact obfervations I could make in the long time T
traded among the Indian Americans, I was forced to believe them lineally
defcended from the Il'raelitcs, cither while they were a maritime power.
or
. ' if
14
On the origin and defcent of the Indians,
or foon after the general captivity •, the latter however is the moft pro^
bable. This deicent, I (hall endeavour to prove from their religious rites,
civil and martial culloms, their marriages, funeral ceremonies, manners,
Ir n^uage, traditions, and a variety of particulars. — Which will at the fame
time make the reader thoroughly acquainted with nations, of which it may
be faid to this day, very little have been known.
-.
1
ObfervationSf
i
it'!
[ 15 ]
pro-
rites,
iners,
fame
: may
«
OhfervationSy and arguments^ in proof of the Amerka7i
Indians being defended from the Jews,
ANumber of particulars prefent themfelvcs in favour of a Jewifli defccnr.
But to form a true judgment, and draw a folid conclufion, t!:e fol
lowing arguments muft not be partially feparated. Let them be diitinftly
confidcred — then unite them together, and view their force collcflively.
tiouSf
ARGUMENT I.
As the Ifraelites were divided into Tribes, and had chiefs over them, fo
the Indians divide themfelves : each tribe forms a little community within
the nation — And as the nation hath its particular fymbol, fo hath each tribe
the badge from wliich it is denominated. The fachem of each tribe, is a
neceilliry party in conveyances and treaties, to which he affixes the mark of
his tribe, as a corporation with us doth their public feal *. — If we go from
nation to nation among them, we fhall not find one, wlio doth not lineally
diftinguifli himfelf by his refpeiftive family. The genealogical names wliich
they aflume, arc derived, either from the names of thofe animals, whereof
the cherubim are faid in revelation, to be compounded •, or from fuch crea-
tures as are mod familiar to them. They have the families of the eagle,
f anther, tyger, and buffalo ; the fiimily of the bear, deer, raccon, tcrlcife,
fnake, ffi ; and, likewife, of the ivimi. The lad, if not derived from the
appearance of the divine glory, as exprefled by the prophet Ezekiel, may
• Men) of the ancient h iliens followed ilie Jewifli ciirtom of dniding tlicuifclves into
tribes, or families. The city cf Athens was divided inta ten parts, or tribes, and
which the Greeks called Phuk, a tiibe. They named each of the heads that prcfuled over
them, Archegos, Archiphulogos, Siz. And writers inform us, that the Eaft Indian pn"-ans
have to this day tribes, or calls ; and that each cad chufes a head to maintain its privilccs,
to promote a firiifl obfervance of their haws, and to take care that every thing bo managed
with proper order. The ancient heathens mimicked a great deal of the JewiTa ceremonial
law.
be
1(1
'i6 Or: ijj ujl-aii cj the American Ind'uins fi om the Jeios.
hz of Tyr'uin cxtracliori. Wc arc told in the fragment of Sanchoniathon,
that tlie Tyrinr,'; wcrfliippcd fire, and the a:rial wind, as gods; and that
'Jfovis, the for. of llyiirouranias, built a facrud pillar to each of them: {'o
i!iat, if it i;i not of Ifiaoliiifli cxtradion, it may bt; derived from the Tyrians
their neighbours — as may, likewife, the appellative name ofy^j •, efpecially,
as the Indians, ibmctimes, invoke the eagle, and the fifli, when they are
curing ilieir fick. The Tyrians v/ere the people, in e^rly times, who, above
al! otlr.Tj, enriched thenifs-lves in the natural element of the Jiih.
1 iic Indians, however, b.ar no religions refpeifl to tl-.c animals from
which they derive tlie names of their tribes, but will kill any of ti;c fpecits,
wl'.en opportunity ferves. Tin" ccv:/ indeed, feveral of thcni do nor care to
meddle with, believing it unlucky to kill tliem -, wliicli is tlie fo'e reafon that
few of tlie Indians fiioor at th^t crearure, throu^di a notion of fpailing their
puns. ConfK'erlng the proximity of Tyre to Kpypt, pruliably this miglit
be a cuftom of Egyptian extraction \ though, at the i'amc time, they are fo
far from elleeming it a deity, they reckon it themofb aboniinaule quadruped
of the v;hole creation.
^'M'
1 ;
m
There is no tribe, or individual, among them, however, called by the
name cpcffiim *, which is with the Cheeralce ftiled feequa ; and with the
Chikkalah and Choktah Indians, ficokka, fynonymous with tliat of a bog.
This may be more material than at firfl: appears, as our natural hiflories tell
lis, th.at the opofium is common in other parts of the world. Several of
the old Indians affure us, they formerly reckoned it as filthy uneatable an
animal, as a hog; although they confefs, and we know by long obfervation,
that, from the time our traders fettled among them, they are every year
more corrupt in their morals ; not only in this inftance of eating an impure
animal, but in many other religious cuftoms of their forefathers.
When we confider the various revolutions thefe unlettered favages arc
likely to have undergone, among themftlves, through a long-forgotten
mtafiire of time ; and that, probably, they have been above twenty centu-
ries, without the ufe of letters to convey down their traditions, it cannot
be reafonably expeifted they fliould ftill retain the identical names of
» A creature that hath a head like a hog, and a tail like a rat.
-
their
f
'§.
T/jcir divifion into tribes and fiimllies ,
»7
their primo-genial tribes. Their main cuftoms corrcfponding witli thofe
of the ItVaelites, iiiHiciently clears tlic iubjeft. '" fulcs, as hath been
liinted, they call ibme of their tribes by the names of the cherubimical
figures, that were carried on the four principal ftandards of Ifrael.
\
I iiave obfcrved with much inward fatisfa(5lion, the community of goods
that prevailed among them, after the patriarchal manner, and tliat of the
primitive cliriftians ; efpecially with thofe of their own tribe. Tliougli
they are become exceedingly corrupt, in mofl: of their ancient com-
mendable qualities, yet they are fo hofpitable, kind-hearted, and free,
that they would fliare with thofe of their own tribe, the lall part of
their provifions, even to a fingle ear of corn ; and to others, if they called
when they were eating-, for they have no ftated meul-time. An open gene-
rous temper is a {landing virtue among them \ to be narrow-hearted, efpe-
cially to thofe in want, or to any of their own family, is accounted a great
crime, and to refleft fcandal on the reft of the tribe. Such wretcheil mifcrs
thty brand with bad charadlers, and willi them the fate of Prometheus, to
have an eagle or vulture faftened to their liver : or of Tantalus, Qarving in
the t: ..lit of plenty, without being able to ufc it. The Cheerake Indians
have a pointed proverbial cxprelTion, to the fame eftedt — Sinnawah na ivora ;
" The great hawk is at home." However, it is a very rare thing to find
any of them of a narrow temper : and though they do not keep one promif-
cuous common ftock, yet it is to the very fame effc(ft ; for every one has his
own fiimily, or tribe : and, when one of them is fpeaking, either of the
individuals, or habitations, of any of his tribe, he fays, " He is of my
houfe •," or, " It is my houfe." Thus, when King David prayed tliat the
divine wrath might only fall on his houfe, he might mean the tribe of
Juilah, as well as his own paiticular family, exclufive of the aggregue body
of Ifrael.
of
^
When the Indians are travelling in their own country, they enquire
for a houfe of their own tribe ; and if there be any, they go to it, and arc
kindly received, though they never (aw the perfons before — they eat, drink,
and regale themfelves, with as much freedom, as at their own tables -, which
is the folid ground covered with a bear-fkin. It is their ufual cuftom to
carry nothing along with them in their journies but a looking-glafs, and red
paint, hung to their back — their gun and fhot pouch — or bow and quiver
D full
?'W
>)di
! !
1 8 On the dcfcent of the American Indians from the Javs.
full of barbed arrows ; and, frequently, both gun and bow : for as they are
generally in ;i iliue of war againfl: each other, they are obliged, us foon as
able, to cany thofe arms of defence. Every town has a Itate-houli:, or
fynedrion, as the Jewifli fanhedrim, where, almoft every night, the head men
convene about public bufinels •, or the town'n-pcople to feaft, fing, dance,
and rejoice, in the divine prcfcnce, as will fully be dcfciibed hereafter. And
if a llranger calls there, he is treated with the greatcft civility and hearty
kindnefs — he is fure to find plenty of their fmiple home fare, and a large
cane-bed covered with the foftened (kins of bears, or buH'aloes, to deep on.
But, when his lineage is known to the people, (by a Itated cullom, they
are flow in greeting one another) his relation, if he h.is any tlicrc, ad-
drcfll's him in a familiar way, invites him home, and treats him as his kinf-
man.
When a warrior dies a natural death, (which feldom happens) the war-
drums, mufical inftruments, and all other kinds of di^erflon, are laid
afide for the fpace of three days and nights. In this time of mourning
for the dead, I have known fome of the frolickfome young fparks to
afk the name of the deceafed perfon's tribe ; and once, being told it was
a racoon, (the genealogical name of the family) one of them fcoffingly
replied, " then let us away to another town, and cheer ourfelves with thofe
who liave no reaion to weep -, for why ihould we make our hearts weigh
heavy for an ugly, dead racoon ?"
f^^l
But notwithftanding they are commonly negligent of any other tribe but
their own, they regard their own particular lineal defcent, in as ftrift a.
manner as did the Hebrew nation.
ARGUMENT II.
By a llrid, permanent, divine precept, the Hebrew nation were ordered
to worfiiip at Jcrufalem, Jehovah the true and living God, and who by the
Indians is H'lkd 2'ohe'wah -, which the feventy-two interpreters, either from
ignorance or fuperftition, have tmndated Jdonai ; and is the very fame as the
Greek Kurios, fignifying Sir, Lord, or Mafter ; which is commonly applied
to earthly potentates, without the leaft fignification of, or relation to, that
moft great and awful name, which defcribes the divine effence, who naturally
and
'
j
Their notions of a Deity cor'
and nccefliirily exifts of himfdf, without beginning or end. I'ht- a nt
heathens, it is well known, worfhipped a plurality of gods — Gutls v ich
they formed to thcmftlvcs, according i heir own liking, as variou-. •• iN
countries they inhabited, and as numerous, with fome, as the days of the year.
But thefe Indian Americans pay their rcli['/ious devoir to Loak-ljhloboollo-Aba.,
*' the great, beneficent, fupremc, holy Ijiirit of lire," who rcfidcs (as they
think) above the clouds, and on earth alio wiih unpolluted people. He is
with them tiie fole author of warmth, light, and of all animal and vegetable
life. They do not pay the lead perceivable adoration to any images, or to
dead perfons ; neither to the celelbal luminaries, nor evil fpirits, nor any
created being whatfoever. Tiicy are utter Ilrangers to all the geiUires
praLliild by tiie pagans in their religious rites. They kil's no idols ; nor, it
they were placed out of their reach, would they kifs tlieir hands, in token of
reverence and a willing obedience.
The ceremonies of the Indians in their religious worfliip, are more after
the Molaic inltitution, than of pagan imitation: which could not be, if the
m.ijurity of the old natives were of heatlienifli dcfcent •, for all bigots and
enthufialls will fight to death for the very fliadow of their fuperilitious wor-
fliip, when they have even loft all the fubllance. There yet remain fo many
marks, as to enable us to trace the Hebrew extraction and rites, through all
the various nations of Indians ; and we may with a great deal of probability
conclude, that, if any heathens accompanied them to the American world,
or were fettled in it before them, they became profelytes of juftice, and
their pagan rites and cuftoms were fwallowed up in the Jewifli.
i
To illuftrate the general fubjcft, I fliall give thr Indian opinion of fume
of the heathen gods, contrafted with that of the pagan.
The American Indians do not believe the Sun to be any bigger than it
appears to the naked eye. Converfing with the Chikkafaii archi-magus, or
hlgh-prieft, about that luminary, he told me, " it might pollibly be as broad
and round as his wintcr-houle ; but he tliought it could not well exceed it."
We cannot be furprized at the llupidicy of the Americans in this refpect,
when we confider the grofs ignorance which now prevails among the general
part of the Jews, not only of the whole fyflem of nature, but of the eiicntial
meaning of their own religious ceremonies, received from the Divine Majefty.
I) 2 — And
20
Oft the dcfcent of the Atmrlcan Indians from the few s.
\ '\.
— And alfo when we rcflctfl, that the very learned, and mod polite of the an-
cicni Romans, bclie\cd (not by any ncw-invcntcd mythology of tlicir own)
that the fun was drawn round the earth in a chariot. Their philofi pliic fy-
ftem was not very difllmilar to that of the wild Americans ; for Cicero ttlk
us, Epicurus thought the fun to be lefs than it appeared to the eye. And
Lucretius fays, Tautilhis i!!c fol, " a diininutive thing." And, if the IfracI •
itcs had not at one time thougiu the fun a portable god, they would not
have thought of a chariot for it. 'I'his they derived from the neighbouring^
heathen-, for we are told, that they had an houfe of the fun, wh' re thej*
danced in honour of him, in circuits, and had confccrated fphc rical figures ;
and that they, likewife, built a temple to it ; for " they purified and fanifli •
fied themfelvcs in the gardens, behind the houl'e, or temple of Achad." In
Ifa. xvii. 3, we find they had fiin-ima^eSt whicli the Hebrews called chuw-
nioiim., made to rcprefcnt the fun, or for the honour and worfliip of it: and
the Egyptians met yearly to worlliip in the temple of Beth-Shemefli, a houlc
dedicated to the fun. Moft part of the old heathens adored all the ccltdial
orbs, efpecially the fun ; probably they firll imagined its enlivening rays im-
mediately iflued from the holy fire, light, and fpirit, who either refidcd in,
or was the identical fun. That idolatrous ceremony of the Jews, Jofiah
utterly aboliihcd about 640 years before our chriftian a:ra. The facred te;.t
fays, " lie took away the horfes, wliich the kings of Judah had given to
the fun, and he burned the chariots of the fun with fire." At Rhodes, a
neighbouring idand to Judaea, they confecrated cliariots to the I'un, on ac-
count of his glorious fplendour and benign qualities. Macrobius tells ur.,
that the Afl^yrians worfliipped Adad, or Acliad, an idol of the fun -, ard
Strabo acquaints us, the Arabians paid divine homage to the fun, &c. But
the Indian Americans pay only a civil regard to the fun : and tlie more in-
telligent fort of them believe, that all the luminaries of the heavens are
moved by the llrong fixt laws of the great Author of nature.
In 2 Kings xvii. 30, we read that the men of Babylon built Succoth-Bc-
noth, " tents for young women ;" having confecrated a temple to Venus,
they fixed tents round it, where young women proftituted themfclves in ho-
nour of the goddefs. Herodotus, and other authors, are alfo fufficient
witnefies on this point. Now, were the Amercains originally heathens,
or. not of IfracI, when they wandered there from captivity, in queft of
7 liberty,.
Their notions of a Ddfy {{IJJImilar to the heathens.
21
liberty, or on any other acciileiital account, t!iat vicioin prccctlcnt was fo
well calculated for America, where every place was a thick arbour, it is very
improbable they fliould have difcontinued it : But they arc the very reverie.
To commit fuch afts ot" pollution, while tliey arc performing any of their reli
gious ceremonies, is deemed fo provol ng an impiety, as to occafion even
r.ie fuppofed finner to be excluded iVom all religious communion \vi:Ii the
reft of the people. Or even was a man known to have gone i:i to his own
wife, during the time of their faftings, puritications, &c. he would alfo be
feparated from them. There is this wide difference between the impure and
obfccne religious ceremonies of the ancient heathens, and the yet penal, and
ftridi: purity of the natives of America.
The heathens chofe fuch gods, as were moft fuitablc to their inclinations,
and the fituation of their country. The warlike Greeks and Romans wor-
iliip[)ed Mars the god of war ; and the favage and more bloody Scythians
deified the SzvorJ. The neighbouring he.'.thens round Judiva, each built a
temple to the fuppofed god that prcfidcd over their land. Riinno)!^ w.n
the Syrian god of pomegranates : and the Philiftincs, likewifc, erected a
temple to Dngo>u who had firll taught ihem the ufe of wheat i which li.c
Greeks and Romans changed into Ceres, the goddefs of corn, from tlio
Hebrew. Geres, which fignilies grain. But tj-.e red Americans firmly be-
lieve, that their war-captains, and tlieir reputed prophets, gain fucceli, over
their enemies, and bring on feafonabic rains hy tiie immediate rtfl.vtion
of the divine fire, co-operating with them.
I
We arc informed by Cicero, that the maritime Sidonians adored fpa :
and by the fragment of Sanchoniathon, tliat th.c Tyrians worOiipped the
(I'-mcnt oi fre, and the <erial wind, as gods : — probably having forrrotten
that the firft and laft names of the three cclcftial cherubic emblems, only
typified the deity. Ancient hiftory informs us, tliat Zoroafter, who lived
An. M. 34S0, made light the emblem of good, and darknefs the fymbol
of evil — he taught an abhorrence of image?, and inflrucled his pupils to
worfliip God, under the figurative likenefs off.re: but he affertcd two con-
trary original principles ; the one of good, and the other of evil. He allowed
no temples, but enjoined facrificing in th.' open air, and on the top of an
hill. The ancient Perfians kept up their reputed holy fiic, without fufiering
it to be extinguilhed > which their pretended fucceflbrs obferve wicli the
UricleOl
I
M
'11 M
I
On the defcent of the American Indians f rem the Jevis.
llriftcft devotion, and affirm it has been burning, without the leafl inter-
mifl'.on, icvcral thoiiHind years. But the Indian Americans are fo tar from
the idohxtry of the Sidonians, that they efteem fifli only as they are -ifefu! to
thf fupport of human life ; though one of their tribes is called the fiJI: :
— th'.y are fo far from paying any religious worfliip to the aerial wind,
like tlie Tyrians, that they often call the bleak north-wind, cxplicatively,
very evil, and accurfed •, which they probably, would not fay, if they de»
rivfd the great eftccm they now have for the divine fire, from the aforefaid
idolairous nations: neither would they wilfully extinguilh their old fire,
before the annual facrifice is offered up, if, like the former heatliens, they
paid rclij,iuus worfhip to the elementary fire ; for no fociety of people would
kill their own gods, unlcls the papilts, who go farther, eve;i to cat him.
The Indians efieem tiie old year's fire, as a mod dangerous pollution, re-
garding only the fuppofed holy fire, which the archi-magus annually renews
for the people.
They pay no religious worfliip to ftocks, or ftones, after the manner of
the old eailern pagans •, neither do they worfiiip any kind of images what-
focvcr. And it deferves our notice, in a very particular manner, to invali-
date the lule dreams of the jefuitical fry of South.- America, that none of
all the various nations, from Hudfon's Bay to the MilTifippi, has ever
been known, by our trading people, to attempt to make any image of the
great Divine Being, whom they Vv-orlhip. This is confonant to the Jewifh
oblervance of the fecond commandment, and diredlly contrary to the ufage
of al! ilif ancient heathen world, who made corporeal reprcfcntations of their
deities — .md their conduct, is a reproach to many reputed chrillian temples,
which are littered round with a crowd of ridiculous figures to reprefcnt
God, fpurious angels, pretended faints, and notable villains.
Tlic ficred penmen, and propliane writers, afllire us that the ancient hea-
tliens had lalcivious gods, particularly ra'^SD, 2 Cbrou.w. i6. which was the
abominable i'riapus. But I never heard that any of our North-American In-
dians had images of any kind. There is a carved human ftatue of wood, to
which, howcvLT, they pay no religious homage : It belongs to the head war-
tuwn of the upp^r Muflvohge country, and feems to have been originally de-
figned to p-rpctuate the memory of fome diftinguifhed hero, who defervcd
ell of his cou.itry ; for, when their cuffeena, or bitter, black drink is about to
7 be
1
i
Their avsffion to images.
H
<
be diank in die fynedrion, they frequently, on common ocrnfiJiT?, -.vill bring
it tliere, and honour it with the firil concli-fhell full, by the hand of the chief
religious attendant : and then they return it to its former place. It is ob-
fervable, that the fame beloved waiter, or holy attendant, and his co ailju-
tant, equally obferve the fame ceremony to every pcrfon of reputed merit,
in that quadrangular place. When 1 pall that way, circumftanccs did not
allow me to viev/ this fingular figure •, but I am afTured by Icvcral of the
traders, who have frequently feen it, that the carving is modcd, and very
neatly finillied, not unworthy of a modern civilized artill. As no body of
people we are acquainted with, have, in general, fo great a fliare of ftrjng
natural parts as tholb favages, v.t may v.ith a great deal of probability fup-
pofe, that tlicir tradition of the fecond commandment, prevented them from
having one, not to fay the fame plentiful variety of images, or idols, as
have the popifli countries.
Notwithltanding they are all degenerating apace, on account of their
great intercourfe witli foreigners, and other concurring caufcs -, I well
remember, that, in the year 1746, one of the upper towns of the aforefaid
Muiliohge, was lb exceedingly exafperated againft fomc of our Chikkafah
traders, for having, when in their cups, forcibly viewed the nakednel's of
one of their women, (who was reputed to be an hermaphrouite) that they
were on the point of putting them to death, according to one of their old
laws againft crimes of that kind. — I'ut llvcial of us airiRed by fun-ie of ilie
Koofah town, refcued them from their jult demerit. Conncding togciher
thefe particulars, we can fcarctly defire a Rrons.'cr proof, that they have iioc
been idolaters, fmce tlicy firil came to America •, much lefs, that they
erected, and worfliippcd any fuch lafcivious and obfccne idols, as the hea-
thens above recited.
1; '
I
-'n
The Sidonians and Philiftines worfliippcd Afhtaroth, in the figure of tlie
cdejlial hvmiinrics ; or, according to others, in the form of a yZw/ ; but tlie
Americans pay the former, only, a civil regard, becaufe of the beneficial
influence with which the deity hath imprefled them. And they reckon
Jfjeep as defpicablc and helplefs, and apply the name to perfons in that pre-
dicament, although a ram was the animal emblem of power, with the an-
cient eaftcrn heathens. The Indians Ibmetimes call a nafty fellow, Chookphe
ktijUoonuiy
[ml
24 On the defcent of the American Indians from the Jeivs.
kufocina, " a (linking fheep," and " a goat." And yet a goat was one of
the Egyptian deities ; as likewife were all the creatures that bore wool •, on
which account, the facred writers frequently term idols, " the hairy," The
defpicable idea which the Indians affix to the fpecies, fliews they neither ufe
it as a divine fymbol, nor have a defire of being named Dorcas, which,
with the Hebrews, is a proper name, exprefTive of a wild flie goat. I fliall
fubjoin here, with regard to Aditaroth, or Ailarte, that though the ancients
believed their deities to be immortal, yet they made to themfelves both male
and female gods, and, by that means, Aftarte, and others, are of the fasmi-
nine pendcr, Tril'megllUis too, and the Platonics, affirmed there was deus
mafculo fa:;mineu3-, though differenL fexes were needful for the procrea'Joii
of human beinffs.
5
. m
' t|!
Inflead of confulting fuch as the heathen oracles — or tlie Tcrapliim — the
Dii Penates — or Dii Lares, of the ancients, concerning future contingencies,
the Indians only pretend to divine from their dreams ; which may proceed
from the tradition they ftill retain of the knowledge their anccfl:ors obtained
from iieaven, in vifions of the night. Job xxxiii. " God fpcaketli once, yea
twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vifion of the night,
when deep fleep fallech upon men, in fiumberin^'^ upon tl:e bed, then he
opcneth the ears of men, and fealeth their indruftion." Vv'lien we confider
how well ftocktd with gods, all the neighbouring nations of Judaea were;
efpecially the maritime powers, fuch as Tyre and Sidon, Cartilage and
Egypt, which continually brought home foreign gods, and entered the.m into
their own Palladia •, and that thefe Americans are utterly ignorant both of the
gods and their worfhip, it proves, with fufficient evidence, that the gentle-
men, who trace them from either of zhofe ftates, only perplex themfelves
in wild theory, without entering into the merits of the queftion.
As the bull was the firft terredrial cherubic emblem, denoting fire, the an-
cient Egyptians, in length of riine, worlbipped Apis, Serapis, or Ofiris,
under the form of an ox ; but, when he grew old, they drowned him, and
lamented his death in a mourning habit; which occafioned a philofopher
thus to jeft them, Si Dii fun t, cur planptis ? Si morlui, cur adoratis ? " If
they be gods, why do you weep for them ? And, if they are dead, why do
you worfhip them .'"' A bull, ox, cow, or calf, was tlie favourite deity of
the
\
]
l
tkey pay no religious veneration to the dead.
n
the ancient idolaters. Even when Yohewah was condu»5ling Ifrael in tiie
>vildcrnels, Aaron was forced to allow them a golden calf, according to the
ulage of the Egyptians : and at the defeftion of the ten tribes, they wor-
fliipped before the emblematical images of two calves, through the policy
of Jeroboam. The Troglodites ufed to flrangle tlieir aged, with a cow's
tail : and fome of the li,aft-Indians are faid to fancy tliey fliall be happy, by
holding a cow's tail in their hand when dying : others imagine the Ganges
to wafli away all their crimes and pollution. The Indian Americans, on tiie
contrary, though they derive the name of cattle from part of the divine
efilntial name, (as ihall be tlkwliere obferved) and ufe the name of a
buffalo as a war appellative, and the name of a tribe -, yet their nrg^ird to
them, centres only ui il.cir ufefulnefs for the fupport of human life: and
they believe they can ji.iorm their religious ablutions and puriilcations, in
any deep clean waur.
The fuperftitious lieathcns, whom the Hebrews called, I'cJoiiim, pretence J
tlut the bones of thole they worfliipped as gods when alive, revcal'.'d
both prefent and future things, that were othervvife concealed : and tiie
hieroglyphics, the prieftly legible images, which the Egyptians iiilcrlbcd
on the tombs of the deceafed, to praife their living virtue, and incite youth to
imitate them, proved a great means of inducing them in procefs of time to
worlliip their dead. But the Americans praife only tlie \ irtues of their dead,
as fit copies of imitation for the living. They firmly believe that tlie hand
of God cuts off the days of their dead friend, by his pre-determined pur-
pole. They are lb far from deifying ii^-llow-creatures, that they prefer none
of their own people, only according to the general ftandard of reputed
merit.
TheChinefe, likewife, thougli they call God by the appelUuive, CbiVn Ti,
and have their temples of a quadrangular form, yet they are grofs idolaters -,
like the ancient Egyptians, inllead of offering up religious oblations to tlie
great Creator and I'rtiijrver of the univerie, tliey pay them to the piclures of
their deceafed ancellors, and cred temples to them, in folitary places without
their cities — likewife to the fun, moon, planets, fpirits, and inventors of
arts; efpecially to tlie great Confucius, notvvithilanding lie ftriiflly prohibittd
thclikc idolatrous rites. And the religious modes of the ancient inhabitants
E
of
a6 Ofi the defcent of the American Indians from the yews.
;;v)
of Niphon, or the Japanefe, are nearly the fame; which are tliametrically
oppofite to the religious tenets of the wild Americans.
The diviners among the Philiftines pretended to foretel thinj Sj by the
flying, chirping, and feeding of wild fowls. The Greeks and Ronans called
fowls, Niincii Deorum. And Calchas is faid to have foretold to Aga-
memnon, by the number of fparrows which flew before him, how many
years the Trojan war fhoiild lafl:. The Aflyrians worflnipped pigeons, and
bore the figure of them on their ftandards, as the facred oracles fliew us,
where the anger of the pigeon, and the fword of the pigeon, points at tiie
deftroying fword of the AfP/rians. But, tliough the American woods fwarin
with a furprizing variety of beautiful wild fowl, yet the natives do not make
the Icafl pretenfion to auguries. They know it is by a certain gift or
indinil, inferior to human reafon, that the birds have a fufficicnt knowledge
of the fcalbns of the year. I once indeed obferved them to be intimidated
at tlie voice of a fmall uncommon bird, when it pitched, and chirped on a
tree over their war camp. But that is tiie only trace of fuch fupcrllition, as
I can rccoUeifl: among them. Inftead of calling birds the mcflengers of the
gods, they call the great eagle, Oook ; which feems to be an imitation of
Elcha. — This may be accounted for, from the eagle being one of the che-
rubic emblems, denoting the air, or fpirit. They efteem pigeons only as
they are lulutary food, and they- kill the turtle-dove, though they apply it
as a proper name to their fem.aie children.
Tlie Babylonians were much addifled to auguries : and they believed
them to be unerring oracles, and able to direct them in doubtful and ar-
duous things, Ezck. xxi. 21. Thole auguries always dircdcd their conduft,
in every material thing they undertook •, fuch as the beginning and carrying
on war, going a journey, marriage, and the like. Bur, as we lliall loon
fee, the Americans, when they go to war, prepare and fanctify tliemrdves,
only by fading and ablutions, that they may not defile their fuppofed
holy ark, and thereby incur the refentment of the Deity. And many of
tlum firmly believe, that marriages are made above. If the Indian Ame-
ricans were defcended from any of the Itates or people above mentioned,
tliey could not well have forgotten, much lefs could they have fo cfTentially
departed from their idolatrous worfliip. It is hence probable, they came here,
7 foou.
'
No traces of idolatry among :bcm.
27
foon after the captivity, w!ien the rcr7,ion of the Hebrew nation, refpefting
the worfhip of Deity, was in ics purity. And if any of tlic ancient hea-
thens came with them, they bccar.-.u profelytes of habitation, or juRicc —
hereby, their heathenifli rites and ceremonies were, in procefa of time,
intirely abforbed in the religious ceremonies of the Jews.
Had the nine tribes and half of Ifr.iel which were carried off by Shalma-
nefer, Kiny of ..Mryn::, and fettled in iVIedia, continued there long, it is
veiy probabk, .:,i,i\ by inteniiarrying with the natives, and from their natural
ficklenci's and proncncis tj idolatry, and the force of example, they would
have adopted, and bowcu bcr.re the goJiS of the Mcdcs and the Aflyrians,
and carried tiiem along with riicm. B'.ic there is not a trace of this idolatry
among tlic Imiians. The fcverc aflliCLiuns th' ', underwent in captivity,
doubtlefs h'.'mbled their hearts, and reclaimed them from the lervice of
the calves, and of Baalam, to tlie true divine worlliip — a glimpfe of which
th(.-y ilil! retain. And that tlie full fettlers came to America before the de-
ftruCtion of the firlt temple, m:iy be inferred, as it is certain both from
Piiilo and Jofephus, tliat t'^e fecond temple had no cherubim. To reflect
ye. {^rearer light on the fubj'.ft, I fliall here add a few obfcrvations on t!;e
Indi:.ni iuppofed religious cherubic emblems, the cherubimical names of
their trib'/s, and from whence they, and tlie early heathens, may be Iuppofed
to have derived them.
h
When the goodnefs of Deity induced him to promife a faviour to fallen
man, in paraditif, he Itationcd flaming cherubim in the garden. The type I
fliall leave ; but when mankind became intirely corrupt, God renewed his
promile to the IfraeHtes, and to convey to pofterity the true divine worlliip,
ordered them to fix in the tabernacle, and in Solomon's temple, chcruhir.'.,
over the mercy- feat, — the very curtains which lined the walls, and the veil
of the temple, likewilc, were to have thofe figures. The cherubim are laid
to reprefent the nances antl offices oi I'ohezvah Elohim, in redeeming loft man-
kind. The word □'213, is drawn from D, a note of refemblance, and l";.
a great or mighty one ; z. e. the " fimilitude of the great and migiity One,''
whole emblems were the bull, the lion, the man, and the eagle. The pro-
phet Ezekiel has given us two drauglits of the cherubim (certainly not
without an inftrudlive defign) in his two vifions, defcribed in the firlt
F. 2 and
m
'Ill ^
! im
m
m
•I r
If .1
M
i -^
28 O;; //'d' defccnt of the American Indians from the Jews.
and tenth chapters. In chap. x. vcr. 20, he afllu'es us that " he knew
tlicy were the cherubim." They were uniform, and had thofe four com-
pounded animal emblems; "Every one had four faces — DOS," appear-
ances, habits, or forms ; which pafTage is illuilratcd by the fimilar divine
emblems on the four jm incipal ftandards of Ifrael. The ftandard of Judab
bore the image of a liou ; F.phraini's liad the likenels of a bull; Reuben's
Jiad the figure of a ;;m«'s head ; and Dan's carried the picture of an eagle^
with a ferpcnt in his talons *: Each of the cherubim, according to the pro-
phet, had the head and face of a man — the likencfs of an eagle, about the
ihoulders, with expanded wings ; their necks, manes, and breafts, refem-
blcd thofe of a lion •, and their feet thofe of a bull, or calf. " The iole of
their feet was like the fole of a calf's foot." One would conclude, from
Ezekiel's vifions, and r/nl. xviii. 10. — Pf. xcix. i. " lie rode upon a
chtrub, and did- fly :" — " The Eord reignetli, let the people tremble : he
fitteth between ,he cherubim, let the earth be moved," — that Elohim chofc
the cherubic en blems, in condefcenfion to man, to difplay his tranfcendenc
glorious title cf King of kings. We view him feated in his triumphal cha-
riot, and as i'.i the midll of a formidable war camp, drav/n by thofe four
creaturco, the bull, the lion, the man, and the eagle ; ftrong and defcriptive
emblems of the divine cflence. What animal is equal to the bu'l, or ox>
for ftrength, indefatigable fervice, and alfa for food ? ^n caltern countries,
they were always ufed to plough, and beat out the grain, befides othc-
lerviccs omitted in modern times ; the lion excels every otiier animal in
courage, force, and prowefs : man far furpafles all other creatures, in un-
derfl:anding, judgment, and wifdom ; and there is no bird fo fagacious, or
can fly fo fwift, or foar fo high as the eagle, or that bears fo intenfe a love
to its young ones.
Thefc are the emblems of the terrejlrial cherubim :■ and the Pfalmifl: calb
them Merabha Hafliekina, " The chariot of Divine Majefty :" " God fitteth
between, and rideth upon, the cherubim," or divine chariot. The celejlial
fberubim wcrejire, lights and air, or fpirit, which were typified by the bull, tlic
lien, and the eagle. Tliofe divine emblems, in a long revolution of time.
'j
• The Man, which the lion on the (landard of Judah, and the head on Reuben's, typified,
\jas, in the fulncfs of time, united 10 the divine efl'ence.
7 induced
s
\
their rcllgkus chcnihic embums. 29
induced the ancients by degrees, to divide tlu-m, and make images of tli«
divine peifons, powers, and aflions, \\\yx\\ they typified, and to citcem
tliein gods. They confecrated the ouil's head to tl-c liie, the l/jn's to light,
and the eagle's to the air, which they wo.ihipped as gods. And, in pro-
portion as they loll the knowledge ot the emblems, thty nuikipiicd anti
compounded their heads with tholl* of dilllrenc creatures. The Egyptians
commonly put the head of a lion, luwh, or eagle, and fomctimes that of
a ram, or bull, to their images ; fo.ViC of which rcf(.mbkd the human
body. Their Apis, or Ofiris, gave rife to Aaion's, and apoftatc Ifrael's,
golden calf: and their fphynx had three head. Diana of J^phcfus was
iriformis •, Janus of Rosne, bii'onnis, and, for. ,c limes, quadriformis \ and
Jupiter, .Sol, Mercury, Proicrpine, and Cerberus, were iriple-iieaded.
Hcfiod tells us, the ancient heathens hi'.d no lefs thin tliiriy thouland
gods. It is well known that the ancient lieatlien'?, el'peci.Uly the Greeks ar.d
Romans, abounded with male and ianale deities ; and commonly in humati
tftigy. As they imagined they could not lafely trull themlelvcs to the care
of any one god, they therefore chofe a multiplicity. 1 hey multiplied and
changed them iVom ciiildhood to old age. '1 he Romans proceeded lo far,
as to make Cloacina the guardian goddefs of each houfe-of-olHce. The hea-
thens in general, ap[iointed one god to prefide over the land, and anotlicr
over the water •, one for the mountains, and another for the valleys. And
tliey v^ere lb dil'iident of the power of their gods, that they cl.ofe a goJ, c ■
goddels, for each part of the body-, contrary to the religious fyllem of ihcir
belt ])oets and philolopliers, and tiuit of the prefent favage Americans : tlie
IbrnKT aftirm.ed, j'apuni' dcminahitur aftrls^ &c. ; " A wife, good man, will
always be ruled by divine reafon ; and not pretend to 1 e drawn to this or
that, by an over-bearing power of the ftars, or fortune :" and tlie Litter
afl'ert, " that temporal good or evil is the neceflary effedl of their own cor, •
duft ; and that the Deity prciides over life and death."
1 % '
If the fu-fl inftitution of the cherubic emblems was not religious, nor de-
rived from the compounded figures of the fcripture cherubim, how is it thac
fo many various nations of antiquity, and far remote from each other, flioukl
Jiave chofen them as gods, and fo exadly alike ? Is it not mod reafonablc-
i.o fuppofc, tliat as tliey loft tlic meaning of thole fymbolical figures, and
tliei"-
■
■ 'l«
30 On the (kfcent of the American Indlaus from the feivs.
their archetypes, fire, light, and air, or fpirit, which rcprefented the attri-
butes, names, and offices of Yohciuah Elohim^ they divided them into fo
m.my various god.s, and paid them divine vvorfhip. Yet, though the Indian
Americans have the ivippofed cherubimical figures, in their fynliedria, and,
through a ftrong religious principle, dance there, perhaps every winter's
night, always in a bowing polture, and frequently fing Haklu-Tah To HcWab,
I could never p;.Tceive, nor be informed, that they fubllitutcd them, or the
iimiiitude of any thing whatfoever, as objects of divine adoration, in tlie
room of the great invifible divine eflcnce. They ufe the feathers of the;
eagle's tail, in certain friendly and religious dances, but the whole town will
contribute, to the value of 200 deer-ikins, for killing a larj^e eagle ; (the
bald eagle they do not efteem) ; and the man alio f^ets an honourable title
for the exploit, as if he had brought in tlie Icalp of an enCiny, Now, if
they reckoned the eagle a god, tliey would not only refufe jierlbnal profit:;,
and honours, to liim who killed it, but affurcdly inllicl on him tlie fevereil
puniOiment, for committing fo atrocious and facrilegious an aef.
I. ..
\ \
I have feen in feveral of the Indian fynhedria, two white painted eagles
carved out of poplar wood, vvitli their wings ftretched oi;r, ar.d raifed five
feet off the ground, (landing at the corner, clofe to their red and white
imperial feats : and, on the inner fide of each of the deep-notched pieces of
wooi.1, v.'here the eagles Itand, iVt Indians frequently paint, with a chalky
clay, the figure of a man, with buftalo horns — and that of a panther, with
the fame colour; from which I conje(5lure, efpecially, connected with their
other rites and cultoms loon to be mentioned, that the former emblem was
defigned to defcribe the divine attribute?, as that bird excels the reft of the
feathered kind, in various luperior qualities ; and that the latter fymbol is a
contradlion of the cherubimical figures, the man, the bull, and the lion.
And this opinion is corroborated by an eftabliflied cuftom, both religious
and m.irtial, among them, whiti) obliges them to paint thole lacred emblems
anew, at the firft fruit-offering, or the annual expiation of fins. Every one
(;f their war leaders muft alfo make three fuccel'sful wolfiJJj caynpr.igns^ with
t'.icir reputed iioly/ark, before he is admitted to v/ear a pair of a young
bufi"alo-buirs horns on his forehead, or to fing the triumphal war fbng, and
to dance with the fame animal's tail (ticking up behind him, while he fings
To To^ &c.
.'ow
I
I'hcir religious cherubic emblems. 31
Now we know it was an iifiial cullom with the cailern nations, to afiix
horns to their gods. The Sidonian goddels Allitaroth was Inrncd : and
Herodotus iVys, the Egyptians painted their Venus, or Ifis, ai'tcr the lame
manner: and tlu- G-'cek Jo, (which probably was Yo) !iad horns, in alluHon
to the bull's he .., the chiet' einbkm ot tl.e cekll.al cherubic fire, rcpre-
fenting Yo (He Wah) as its name plainly indicates. A horn was, like-
wife, a Peilian eiiiblenj of power *.
I
i
the
That the Indians derived thofe fymbolical reprefentations from the com-
pounded figures of tlic cherubim, feems yet more clear, from the jMvfcnt
cherubic names of tl.eir tribes, and the prc-emiiicnce they f'jrmerly bore
over the rcll:. At prefent, indeed, the moft numerous tribe commonly'
bears the higheft eomniand ; yet ihcir old warriors alRire us, it was not lo
even wichin their own remembrance. 1 h^: title of the tld k'aved wen, or
archimaj^i is Oiil! hereditary in i\\<:. paii.'hcr, or tygcr family : j^s North-
America biict:-. nij lions, the panther, of any animal it contains, is the
neareit ernblem of it. The Indian name of tach cherub, bodi terrelbial
anti celelli>.l, rctkcts great liglu on the prefent lubjtdf ; for they call the
butfalo (buhy I'andja ■■, tlie panther, or fuppofed lion, Kcc-IJJ:4o, or Kcc-O,
" the cat ut God i" tne man, or human creature, I'a-rx'e ; and the eagle,
OoJ/e ; fire is Leak ; the iolar light, /IjJjtdhulc ; and air, Mul\ile, in aliufion
to ''D, water, an*.: ht^., the omnipotent-, the note of alpiration is inferted, to
give tiie word a fuller arid more vehement found. I'heir eagle and buffalo
tribes relirmoie two other cherubic names or eniblems, Tiicy liave one tliev
call Spbiiiie, the meaning of which tliey have lolt ; perhaps it might havu
Qgnified tlie hian.
Near to the red and white imperial feats, they have the reprelentarion oi
a full moon, and either a half moon, or a breufl- plate, raifed five or fix feet
high at the front of the broad feats, and painted with chalky clay •, fome-
times black paintings are intermixed. Bur, let it be noticed, liiat in the
and
* The mctaplioricilcxprcdior.s, and emblematical reprefentations, of the law and the pro-
phets, are generally faitcd to the ufar.es of tlie ealkrn countries. And this metaphoi-, of a
horn, is commonly fo ufed, through all the divine regiilcrs, multiplying the number of
horns of the objeft they are defcribing, to denote its various, great, and perfcft power ; unlefa
where fevcn is mentioned as a number of peifeiliun, as iu St, John's figurative, magnificent,,
and fublime defcription of Chrill.
rami-
Ill
!
mm
M--.^r'
''4
O.'i tb: dij'ccnt of the /liner iwi Indians from the fexvs.
fi
time of their moll religious excrcifcs, or their other friendly rejoicings there,
ihey do not pay the leall adoration to any of thofe exprefllve emblems ; nor
feem to take any notice of them : which is the very reverfe to the ufage of
all the ancient heathen world. Hence one would conclude, that they not
only brought with them the letter, but the meaning of thofe reputed che-
rubimical figures, which were defigncd to rcprefent the infeparable attri-
butes of Tchewab.
It is univerl'iUy ap;recd, by the chriftip.ii world, th.ic every religious ob-
fervance of the ancient lieadicns, which the Mol'aic law approved of, was at
firit derived from divine appointment -, and as we are allured in the firit
pages of the facred oracles, concerning Cain, Gen. iv. i6. " that he went out
trom \.\\t prefciitc of the L.crd" we learn, that God, in that early Hate of the
world, cho.'e a place for his more immetliate prefence, — DME), his fices, ap-
|)i.aranrcs, or I'urms reliding in, or between, the cherubim. We mav, there-
fore, reafonablv conclude, from the various gods, and religious wurlhip of
the ancient heatr.ens, and from the remaining divine embltins, and family
names of the Indian Americans, that the former deduced thole emblems
they deifyed, from the compounded cherubim in paradl'e : ami that tiie
Indians derived their cherubic figures, and names of tribis, iVom tlie clieru-
bim tliat covered the mercy-feat, in the tabernacle, and in Solomon's tem-
ple, alluded to and delineated in fevcral parts of the fiicred oracles.
A R G U M E N T III.
Agiecable to tr.c thcocracv, or divine government of Ifrael, the Indians
think the Deity to be the immediate head of tlieir Hate.
All the nations of Indians arc exceedingly intoxicated with religious pride,
and have an inexprefiible contempt of the white people, unlefs we exce[)t
tiiofe half-favage Europeans, who are become their profelytes. N'olhh.'j^s is
the moll favourable name they give us, in their fet fpeeches : even the Indians
who were formerly bred in amity with u?, and in enmity to the i'Vench,
uled to call us, in their war orations, i'oltilk ookprcojl\ " The accurfed peo-
ple." But they flatter themfclves with the name hotttik oretcopdh, " The be-
loved peo,-!e,'* becaule their luppofed anceltor.s, as they afFirni, v/ere under
the immeuuite governaienc of the I ■city, who was prcfent with ihem, in a
very
T/jcir belief of being under a theocnn-)'.
33
very iiarticular manntr, and direcfled tlicm by pioi'liets •, v.Iule ihc rclL of
the world were aliens and out-laws to the covtiiant.
When the archt-nw^us, or any one of their marii, is perliiadinp the people,
at their religious lulemnities to a (Iriifl obl'crvance of the old beloved, or di-
vine fpeecli, he always calls them, " The beloved," or holy jx-ople, agree-
able to the Hebrew epithet, Ammi, during the theocracy of Il'rael : he urges
them, with the greatell energy of expreH'on he is capable of, a Ibong voice,
and very expreffive geftures, to imitate the noble aftions of their great ami
virtuous forefathers, which they jierforined, in a furprizing manner, by
their holy things, and a ftrict obfcrvance of the old, beloved Ipeech.
Then, he flouridies on their beloved land that flowed with milk and honey,
telling them they had good, and the bed: things in the greatcfl plenty :
and rpeaks largely of tlieir prefent martial cuUoins, and religious rites,
which they derived from their illuilrious predecelfors, — Ihictiy charging
them not to deviate, in the leall, out of tliat old, beloved, beaten path, and
they will iurely meet with all the luccefs that attended their beloved foic-
fathers.
I have heard the fpeaker, on thefe occafions, after quoting the war
actions of their diftinguiflied chieftains, who fell in baulc, urging the m as a
copy of imitation to the living — afiure the audience, that fuch a death, in
defence of their beloved land, and beloved things, was fur preferable to fomc
of tiieir living j'/iflures, tliat were only fpending a dying life, to the fliame
ar.d liangcr of tlie fociety, and of all their beloved thin;i,s, while the others
died by tlieir virtue, and rtill continue a living copy. Then, to foften the
thoughts of death, he tells them, they who died in battle arc only gone to
fleep with their beloved forefathers-, (for they always collc-'il the bones^ —
and mentions a common proverb they have, Neetak bitahab, " 1 he days ap-
pointed, or allowed him, were finiflicd." And this is their firm belief; for
they aHlrni, that there is a certain fixt time, and place, when, and where,
every one muft die, without any poflibility of averting it. They frequently
lay, " Such a one was weighed on the path, and made to be light /'
afcribing life and death to God's unerring and particular providence ;
which may be derived from a religious opinion, and proverb of tlie Hebrews,
that " the divine care extended itlelf, from the horns of the unicorn, to
tlie very feet of tiie lice." And the more refined part of the old hejthens
hL-licvcd the like. The ancient Cjrceks and Romans, who were givac copiers
F i.'f
J -I
^s.;
I!
i!
■!
ii
m.
"SI
^,4 Ofi I he ilij'wnt of t/jL- American Indumsfrom the Jeius.
ut' the rites and cudoms of the Jews, believed there were three dertinies who
prdidcd over human life, and had each of them their particular office ; one
lukl tl.o diltafl'of life, while another fpun the thread, and Atropos cut it off:
.1 llronf^ Init v/ild pidture of the divine fire, light, and fpirit. When Virgil
is praifing the extraordinary virtue of Ripheus, who was killed in defence
of his native city, Troy, he adds, Diis aliter vifum eji, — fubmittin^; to the
<;ood and wife providence of the gods, who thought fit to call him off tlic
ll.-.'ie. However, lie fecms to be perplexed on the fubjedt i as he makes fatr
,ometitnc3 ronditional ;
Si Wilis fi cur a fuijftt^
Nee pater oi)iiiipotens Trojam uee fata vclahajH
Stare, ■ - •
<• If the ufu.-.l pv:>p.cr ca:e luv.l been taken, neither Jupiter nor fate wnulii
have hindcrc.l Tr'"*}' from IVrmding r.: this time." Rur, if the time of
lying was un '.Ircrabl y P.vcd, accordinr; to the Indian fyltem, or tliat of our
latallHs, h'.'W wouM its v:<raries reconcile the fcheme of divine Providence ?
\.!-.i::i mu'.l l-.; in conformity to truth, reafon, and goodnefs, — and how
e::;il.'.'':i the nauirc of moi \\ go;xl i'jul evil ? Cn their principle, f-.Ii" mur.lcr
vroulu be a n'TL-lIKry ad of a pafTive being fet on work by the fir'l mover ;
and hi. oMigaticris would be proportionable, only to his powers {.tul f:icu!-
ties; whicii v/r.ii!.! ercome the fuppofed criminal from any juft futi re piinifh-
ir.eiic for ;",.:!ci.'e. But relii!;ion, and true reafon, deny the premil'i^s, an.!
i.'uy livjmfil'.Cu rs'ili r.oc own the conlequence.
Tt !'•, their opinion of the TrtrocRACV, or, that God ciiole them out
if :-,il liic \>A of mankind, as liis jicculur and beloved people, — which ani-
mates bodi tlic white j-iw, r.nd the red Atnerican, with that fleady hatred
j^ainiL .1!! tli; worLl, cxcc.n- t.'icmfcivcs, and renders them hated or defpifed
by .ill. T^-' ..■)'t.irr''.cy of the former, in Ihutting tiieireycs againft t!ie facred
oracles, vii',.:!! -we. very cxplici and clear in the original text, and of which
'.ley wc •€ tlii' truftees, incites both our pity and reproof; whereas the others
?.!''ere!ice to, :md (Irung retention of, the rites and cuftoms of their
, . . ;•/ atrrad our admiiation.
^ - . •» ■-» ,
Vuc .•'^.nv. lican Indians are fo fiir from ht'mg Atheijis, as fomc godlefo
'• iiupeato, hivt P.iUtered themfelves, to excufe their own infidelity, thatthty
■A-, '• th ; ftrciic facred name of God, that defcribes his divine eflence, and
7 i:v
1 heir firm l>t'liif of God's government 0/ the ii;o-ltI.
3:
by which he manifcftfd IiiniSl'U' 10 MdIcs — ami arc fiiirJy pcrfiiadcd thoy
now hvc uiuier tlie immaliate govcrr.siKnt of the Dciiy. I !ic afccnlioii 01
the fmoUc of their vidim, as a Iwcet Tavoiir in I'chcx'iihy (of wliich l.crc.u'Kr)
is a full proof to the contrary, as alio that tluy woilhin Go^l, in a ftiKikt'
anil cloud, believing hiai to rcfulc above t'l'.' cIouiN, and in the fIs.f.ic»T: (,'
the, fiipi-ofeil, holy annual fire. It is no way niatciial tu ?*:< any cert.!';
place for tiu: rtfidcnce of llini, who is omnipitftnc, and who liilKiin', '.'v,:'
iyfl,"in of beings. It is not efllntial to future happiiuls, whctlitr v,e be.. •. .
his cliicf place of alioile is in €x!o tertio, faradifo terrcjiri, r cUiucf.iO i^y..\ ,
God hath placed confcience in u'i fur a inunitor, wiiurl";, aii.. ju !;^;r. ~I; .:.
the guilty or innocent mind, that accules, or exciilts us, to 1 iini. ff luy
farther knowledge was required, it would be revealed •, but St. I'.iul icudi-
cufly conceals the mylleries he faw in the cntpyrcal heavtas.
The place of the divine refidence is commonly laid to be above tiic cloud's ;
but that is bccauie of the iliitance of the place, as well as our uticr i^'no-
rance of the nature of Elohim's exigence, the omnipicUnr fpirit of thi' i.ni-
vcrfc. Our finite minds cannot comprehend a being who is infinite. Thi.,
inlcrutable labyrinth occafioned Simonides, a difcrect heathen poet and phi-
lofopher, to requefl: Hiero, King of Sicily, for feveral days fuccefTively, tu
grant him a longer time to delcribe the nature of the Deify ; and, at the end,
to confefs ingenuoufly, that the farther he waded in that deep myftcry, the
more he funk out of liis depth, and was Icfs able to define it.
If we trace Indiart antiquities ever fo far, we Ihall find that not one i t
them ever retained, or imbibed, atheiftical principles, cx..cpt fixli vvhcii*
interefl: as to futurity it notorioufly appeared to be — wiiu'e pradiccs mad<
them tremble whenever they thought of a juft and avenging Ciod : but ihefe
rare inftances were fo far from infefting the reft, that tlicy were the more
confirmed in the opinion, of not being able either to live or die well, without
a God. And this all nature proclaims in ever;- part of the univcrfe.
m
\ -'
ARGUMENT IV.
We have abundant evidence of the Jews believing in tiie mwijlratiou of
angelsy during the Old-Teitament difpenfation •, their frequent appearances,
and their fervices, on earth, are recorded in the oracles, which the Jews
thcmfelves receive as given by divine infpiration. And St. Paul in \\v^
F 2 epift'.e
.1
36 Gn the dijccnt of the Amciican Indians from the J civs.
epiillf addrcfTed to the Hebrews, fpeaks of it as their general opinion, that
" Angels arc minillring ipirits to the good and righteous on earth." And
that it was the fentiment of thole Jews who embraced chriftianity, is evident
from /lits xii. where an angel is laid to deliver Peter from his imprifonmenr,
and when the maid reported that Peter ftood at the gate knocking, his
friends doubting, laid, " It is his angel." Women alio are ordered to have
their heads covered in religious aHemblies, becaufe of the prefence of the
angels, and to oblervc lilcncc, the modeft cuftom of the eaftern co'jntries.
ihe Indian fentiinents and traditions are the fame. — They believe the highc:
regions to be inhabited by good fpirits, whom they call Hottttk IJhtoljoolio,
and Ndna Iptobo-jllo^ " holy people," and " relations to the great, iioly
One." The Ihtiuk cokproofc, or Nana cokprocfe^ " accurfed people," or
" accurlcil beings," they lay, pollefs the dark regions of the weft ; tlie for-
mer attend, and favour the virtuous ; and the latter, in like manner, accoin-
pany nnd have power over the vicious : on which account, when arv of their
relations die, they immediately fire off feveral guns, by one, two, and three at
a time, for fear of being plagued with the lall troubleibme neighbours : all
the adjacent towns alfo on the occafion, whoop and halloo at night ; for
they reckon, this offenfive noife fends off the ghofts to their proper fixed
place, till they return at fome certain time, to repoflTefs their beloved trad
of land, and enjoy their terreftrial paradife. As they believe in God, fo they
firmly believe tliat there is a clafs of higher beings than men, and a future
flate and exi Hence.
r't
There are not greater bigots in F.urope, nor perfons more fuperftitious,
than the Indians, (cfpecially the women) concerning the power of witches,
■wizards, and evil fpirits. It is the chief fubjecl of their idle winter night's
chat : and botli they, and feveral of our traders, report very incredible and
fiiocking ftories. They will affirm that they have fecn, and diftindly, mod
furprizing apparitions, and heard horrid fhrieking noiles. They pretend, ic
was impoffible for all their fenfes to be deluded at the fame time ; cfpecially
at Ckwitige., the old wade town, belonging to the Mujkohge^ 150 miles S. W.
of Augulla in Georgia, which the South-Carolinians deftroycd about the
year 1715. They ibenuoufly aver, that when necelTity forces them to en-
camp there, they always hear, at the dawn of the morning, the ufual noife
of Indians iinging tiieir joyful religious notes, and dancing, as if going
down to the river to purify themfelves, and then returning to the old town-
lioufe : with a great de 1 more to the fame cffedl. Whenever I ha-'e been
there..
'Xbelr belief of the exijlence and viinijlyatiju of angels .
."</
there, however, all hath been filcnt. Our noiiy bacchanalian company miglit
indeed have drowned the noile with a greater of their own. But as 1 have
gone the tedious Chikkaiali war path, through one continued defart, day and
nigi'.t, much ot'tcner than any ot thi. refl of the traders, and alone, to tiic
Chilckafah country, fo none of thofe frlgiitful Ipirits ever a, pc.ircd to, nor
any tremendous noife alarmed me. But thoy lay t'lis was " bccaufe I am
an obdurate iniidel that way."
The Hebrews feem to have entertained ncit'i.)ns pretty much refcmbling
ilie Indian opinions on this head, from four,- jiaflages iii their rabbins, ar.d
which they ground even on the fcriptuiec *. We reaii //</. xiii. ?.\. " IJiir
wdd bealls of thedeiart fliall lie there, and tlu-ir houfcis Ihall be full of dole-
ful creatures, and owls Ihall dwell there, and fuyrs Hull dance there J ."
Several warriors have told me, that tl'.cir N:uui Ijhtoboollc, '• concomitanc
holy ipirits," or angels, have forewarned liicm, as by iniuition, of a dan-
gerous ambufcade, which muft have been attended wiih certain death, when
they were alone, and feemingly out of d,;ngcr •, antl by virtue of the im-
pulfe, they immediately darted off, and, with extreme dillicuky, efcapcd tlie
crafty, purfuing enemy. Similar to this, was the opinion of many of the Jews,
and feveral of the ancient and rcfmed Iieathtns, and is t!ie fentiment of n-,o-
derns, that intiinations of this kind, ior man's prefervation and Iclicity,
proceed from (jod by the inllrumentality of good angels, or fupcric/r ir,vi-
f:ble bciniis, wliich he employs for that purpofe — who can fo imprefs the
imagination, und intluence the mind, as to follow the fuggcdions, but no: fo
as to dellroy the liberty of the will. — Thus Homer introduces Minerva ai
fuggefting what was proper for the perlbns flic favoured — and other fuperior
beings ; but they deliberated on the counfel, and chofc that which appeared
to be right.
ARGUMENT V.
The Indiati language^ and dinkols, appear to have the very idioni and ge-
nius of the Hchreiv. Their words and fentences arc expreflivc, concife, em-
• Lev, xix. 31. I Sam. xxviii. 3, ^tc. Ifa. viii. ig.
t- l!oci)arc Cuppofcs that ifi^m lignify I'.-il.l f.i's ; and that D^nX is not any particular cr"a
turf, 1-.U the cr)ing or howling of wild be-lls. liis opinion is coiifirreed l>> iiiaiiy jtiditiL ii.i
write;;.
7 F
m^ ii
y.iatici',
38 On the defeat of the American Indians from the Jews.
phatical, fonrrnus, and bold — and ofccn, both in letters and f-f nification.
fynonynoiis wkii tht; Hebrew language. It is a common ar.d old remnrk,
that there is no language, in which fome Hebrew word'; are not to be found.
Probably Ildrciv was the finl:, and only lanc;uagc, till dillar.ce of time and
place introduced a change, and then foon followed a mixture of 'tliers. The
accidental pofition of the chara^flers, might alfo coincide with fome Heb-ew
words, in various dialefts, without the lead intention. As the true pronu;i-
ciation of the Hebrew ciir.raders, is lofl. in a confiderable degree, it is t< o
difficult a taili, for a ficllful Hcbraif]-, to alccrtain a fatislv.(5lory identity of
langua;;e, between the Jews, ai. 1 American Aborigines; much more fo to
an Indian trader, who profelfes but a fmall acquaintance with tiie Jiebrew,
and that acquired by his own application. However, I will endeavimr to
make up the deficiency oi Hdreiv, v.itli a plenty of good folid LuHnu rods.
The Indian nouns have neither cafes nor dcclenfions. They arc invariably
the lame, through both numbers, after ilie Hebrew manner. In their verbs,
they likewife fometimes ufe the preterperfefl, inttead of the prefcnt tcnfo of
the indicative mood ; as Blahfas Jialre, Apeefahre, " Ycllerddy I went and
iliw i" and Eemmako Aiahre., Apesfahre, " Now I go and fee." Like tlie
Hebrews, they have no comparative, or fuperlative degree. They exprefs
a preference, b/ the oppofite extremes ; as Cbekttjieene, " You are virtuous-,"
Sdbakfe, " I am vicious." But it implies a comparative degree, and figni-
fi:s, " You are more \irtuousthan I am." By prefixing the adverbs, which
cxprefs little, anil much, to the former words, it conveys the fame meaning ;
the former of wliich is agreeable to the Hebrew idiom. And a double re-
peiition of the fame adjeftive, makes a fuperlative, according to the Hebrew
manner •, as Lawzva, Lau;wa, " moft, or very many." To add hah to the
rnd of un adjeclive, unlefs it is a noun of multitude like the former, makes
It alio a fuperlative; as Hckfe to bah, " They are moil, or very wicked."
fhkfe fignifies vicious, probably when the vicious part of the Ifraelites were
under rhe hand of the corredor, the judge repeated that word : ta, is a note
cf plurality, and hah an Hebrew accent of admiration ; which makes it a
fuperlative. To join the name of God, or the leading vowel of the myftc-
rious, great, divine name, to the end of a noun, likewife implies a fuperla-
tive ; as Ilnkfe-ifi.Ho, or Hakfe-o, ** He, or fhe, is very wicked." The former
rrethod of fpeech exaflly agrees with the Hebrew idiom ; as the original
rcyt (hews, in innumerable inllances.
Wiicii
'The idiom iV^d genua of their language, -y^
When the Hebrews compare two things, and would fignify a parity be-
tween them, they double the particle of refemblancc ; " I am as thou art ;
and my people as thy people :" And the Indians, on account of that original
defeiflive lUindard of fpeech, are forced to ufe the like circumlocution -,
as Che Ah'A'ajlj, *' I am like you i" a;v-l Sahottuk Chehcttuk toonh, he. for
llottuk fiiTniiies people, and the S exprefies the pronoun my, or mine : and
It likewife changes an adive, into a piifTive verb. Alihougli tliis Indiai.
and Hebrew r.iethod of fpeech, is rather tedious and dcftdive, yet, at the
fam.o time, they who attain any tolerable fkill in the diakJis of the one,
and laiv^uage of the other, will difcovcr the fenfe plain enout^h, when a
comparifoa is implied.
There is not, perhaps, any one langua\;e or fixec'i, except the Hebrew,
and the Indian American, which h^.s net a ^jcat many prepoli Lions.
The Indian ., '^l<e the Hebrew?, Ivxw ucn;- in fcparatc and exprefs \v'ord:;.
They are Forced to join certain cl; •.r.'.;^ers lo v, .^nls, in order to fuppiy that
areai defed. The Hcbi\.>.- confonants, called frrviles, were tools to fupply
the place oi :;■,<.; prepofitions. The InJ.ian?, for v/unt of a futiicient number
of radical words, are forced to ap;.'ly the fame noun and verb, to fignify
ma.'iy thinjrs o" a various nature. With clic Checrake, Ecankke, fignifies a
f^-:/oticr, cap/hi; Jla'j:, n:v!, p.'??, fjecl/c, dec. ; which occi-fions the In'han
dialcCis to ';■: vcr) -. :;">:uIl t") P:rn;igcr:-. The Jtwifli Rabbins tell us, that
the IJehrew langc '^l■e tontal.Tj only a 'ew more than a thoufand primitive
words, of v.'l ich their v;I,>;ic langu.u.;e is formed. So that the fame
word very often denotcj vanouj, tIiou|_;h net contrary things. I'ut there is
c;;; r;i lical ir.cainng, "..Iiich will agree to every fcnfe that word is ufed in.
i'.y cullotn, a Hebrew noun frequently fupplicd the place of a pronoun j
by which n-.ean.~, it caufcd a tedious, and fometimes an ambiguous circum-
locution. From this original defedlive (tandard of fpeech, the Indians iiave
forgotten all their pronouns, except two primitives and two relatives ; as,
^hu::;rl', £^^■?, and Jfjiw:, Tu : the latter bears a great many figniHcations,
I,' jl!: as fuigular and plural, viz. EeUpa and Eeako ; which fignify he, (he,
thii, that, &c. : And they are likewife adverbs of place ; as here, there, &c.
Win Ilt'M!, fignifies he or fliej ^JM Jrii, we; and IJIK, Jnozva, he, ike,
him, her, &c.
:r
I'
Pi
1*1
Th'
t .
(hi
On the dcfccnt of the American Inu'.ansfrom the J civs.
The Hebrew language frequently iites hyperboles, or magnifying num-
bers, to denote a long fpace of time : the Indians, accordingly, apply the
words, Ncetnk ahoobah, " all days," or, in other words, " fur ever," to a
long feries of years. With the Jews, fitting, fignificd dvveliin<^- •, and,
with the Indians, it is the very Jame ; for, when they afli a perfon where
he dwells, they fay, Katcmuk IJIAeneek [chunk /"), which is literally, " where
do you fit?" And when they call us irreligious, they fay AVina U-bat, " No
thing," or literally, " a relation to notliin^ ;" for NToia fignifies a relation :
and the other is always a negative adverbial period ; which fecms aifo to
jirocced from a religious cuflom of the Hebrews, in giving defpicable bor-
rowed names to idols ; as to □"'^rQ, Baalim, "• Particles of air," meaning, iw-
thitig. To which the Pfalmift alludes, laying, " I will not take up their
names in my lips." And St. Paul fays, " We know that an idol is nothing.'*
'J'his exprefflon the Indians apply, in a pointed metaphor, to the w'iite peo-
ple, but never to each other.
Like the Hebrews, they feldom, if ever, double the liquid Lonfonant R ;
for they generally feem defirous of fluifrling over it, at any rate : And they
often give it the found of L \ but, if it precedes a word, where the other
conlbnant loon follows, they always give it itr. proper found, contrary to
tiie ulage of the Chinefe: as the name of a (lone, they often call, Tahle,
inftead of '■Tahre -, but the Indians fay, " '■TtiLre lakkana, literally, " Yellow
ilone," /. e. gold.
The Hebrews fubjoincd one of their lerviles, to words, to cxprefs the
pronoun relative, thy or thine: And as tliat particle was alfo a note of re-
I'emblance, it ihews tlie great fterillty of tliac language. As a ipecimen —
They laid -I''2^<, (Abiche) " your father," and yz\ii, (Ameche) " Your
n:!Other," &:c. Only that tl^e Hebrew period is initial, in fuch a cafe, to the
Indian nouns, they always ufe the very fame niethod of expreffion. This I
iliall illuflrate with tv,o words in the diale^ls of the Chikkafali and Chee-
rake — as Chinge and C/Outokta, " your father -," /Ingge and Aketohla figni-
fyint
iViV ia;!-Lr,'' in i\l
,iT.i
:e^<:c in ix. Alba, of the fame import ; Ilk
\\\W Chijuke \\?A CAiache^c.h, " your mother;" for Sn/ke and AkacLee fignify
"• ny mother," in imitation ofnriN*, Afiw. Alio Sets Kipj fignifies podex meus,
Clifj Kill, j.j 'c.x tuu;:, anJ Kijh Kijh, podex illius , v.'hicli I giicfb to be an
opprobrious
The idiom of their language.
41
I
opprobrious allufion to Kifli the father Of Saul, for the fon's afTuming the
throne at the end of the Jewilh theocracy. In their adjeflives and verbs, they
ufe the fame method of fpeech •, as Nahoorefo Chin-Chookoma^ " Your book is
good." The former word is compounded of X3 {Na) now, or the prefent
time, and Hoorefo., delineated, marked, or painted. Aia fignifies to go^ and
JWaia-Cha, " Go along," or Maia, the fame •, for, by prefixing D to it, it im-
plies a requifite obedience. In like manner, /ipeefab, to fee, and Peesacha, look,
or " fee you." And, when that particle is prefixed to a verb, it always exprefles
the accufative cafe of the fame pronoun ; as Chepeefahre., " I fa-.v you," and
Chepeefahras^ " I fliall fee you." Each of the Hebrew charaflers are radicals ;
although half of them are ferviks, according to that proper term of the
fcholiafts ; for, when they are prefixed, inferted, or fubjoined, either at the
beginning, middle, or end of a radical word, they ferve to form its various
augments, inflexions, and derivatives. According to this difficult ftandard
of fpeech, the Indian nouns, moods, and tenfes, are varioufly formed to ex-
prefs different things. As there is no other known language or dialect,
which has the fame tedious, narrow, and difficult principles -, muff we not
confider them to be twin- born fifters ? The want of proper fkill to obferve
the original fixed idea of the Indian words, their radical letters, and the due
founds in each of them, feems to have been the only reafon why the writers
on the American Aborigines, have not exhibited the true and genuine pro-
perties of any one of their dialers •, as they arc all uniform in principle :
fo far at leaft, as an cxtenfive acquaintance reaches.
4
The Hebrew nouns are either derived from verbs, or both of them are
one and the fame -, as nana, (Beroche) " Blefling," from 113, (Beroch)
« to blefs," and in "lai, (Dabar Daber) " he fpoke the fpeech." This
proper name fignifies " loquacious," like the Indian Sekakec, fignifying the
" grafshopper." The Indian method of expreffion, exactly agrees with
that Hebrew mode of fpeech -, for they fay Ammbdle Anumbok (kis) " I
fpake the fpeaking ;" and Anumbok En:tmhole {kis), " he fpoke the fpeak-
ing, or fpeech." And by inferting the name of God between thele two
words, their meaning is the very fame with thofe two firft Hebrew words.
I fhall fubjoin another word of the fame Ibrt — Hookfeeleta fignifies " a fluJt-
ting inftrument ;" and they fay J/lAookJeelctd, or Hookfeeleta, IJfj-hookfcetos,
or Hcokfeeta Cha, " You (hall, or, ffiut you the door." Their period of the
hi\ word, always denotes the fecond perfon firgularof the imperative mood;
G and
i;i;r
li'i i
ii; i
42 On the defcent of the- American Indians from the fetas*
and that of the other preceding it, either the firft or fccond perfon fingular of
the indicative mood -, which is formed fo by a fixed rule, on account of the
variegating power of the ferviles, by affixing, inferring, or fuffixing them, to
any root. According to the ufage of the Hebrews, they always place the
accufativc cafe alfo before the verb ; as in tiie former Indian words.
With the Hebrews, r^'^TS fignificd " a prayer," or a religious invocation,
derived from n'73, Phelac, " to pray to, or invoke the Deity." In a ftrong
refemblance thereof, when the Indians are performing their facred dance,,
with the eagles tails, and with great earneftneis invoking To He Wah to-
blefs them with fuccefs and profperity, Phale fignifies, " waving," or in-
voking by waving, Ippbille, you wave, PJoalicba, wave you, jiphalale, I
waved, Apbalelas, I will wave, &c. Pl'almodifls Teem to have borrowed the
notes /(^i, la, from the aforcfaid Hebrew words of praying, finging to, or
invoking Elohim. bv^y (Phoole) " to work," is evidently drawn from the
former Hebrew word, which fignifies to invoke (and probably to wave the
feathers of the cherubic eagle before) To He Wab. The greateft part of the
L.evitical method of worfliipping, confided in laborious mechanical exercifes,
much after the Indian manner; which the popifh priefts copy after, in a
great many inftances, as pulling oft" their clothes, and putting on others ;,
imagining that the Deity is better pleafed with perfons who variegate their
external appearances, like Proteus, than with thofe who worfhip with a fteady,,
fincere difpofition of mind ; befides a prodigious group of other fupcrftitious
ceremonies, which are often fliamefuUy blended with thole of the old
pagans..
As the Hebrew word N3, Na, fignifies the prefent time — fo when the
Indians dcfire a perfon to receive fomething from tliem fpeedily, they fay,
Aa (ihort and gutturally) eejcba, " take it, now." He replies Unta, or
Omeb, which are good-natured afiirmatives. The pronoun relative, " you,"
which they term Ijhna, is a compounded Hebrew word, fignifying (by ap-
plication) the perfon prefent, or " you."
With the Hebrews, "irr nn, Hara Hara, fignifies, " mod, or very, hot ;"
the repetition of the word makes it a fuperlative. In a ftrict refemblance of
that word, and mode of fpecch, when an Indian is baffled by any of their
7 humorous
3
i f
Tk-c idiom and fimilarity of their hingu(tge.
4]
luimorous wits, he iays, in a loud jelling manner, Jlrra Hara, or Ha!a
Hala, according to their capacity of pronouncing the liquid R : and it fig-
nifies, " you are very hot upon me :" their word, which expreffes " Iharp,"
conveys the idea of bitter-heartedncfs with them ; and that of bitternefs
they apply only to tlie objects of tafie.
:^
With the Cheerake, Chikkafuh, and Choktah Indians, Nannc fignifies
*' a hill ;" and Namcb, with the two lafl-nicntioned nations, " a fifli i" and
UiicKiha^ " a mountain." But tliey call an alligator, or crocodile, Naumh
Chtinchal/a, literally, " the fifli like a mountain j" which the EngliHi lan-
guage would abbreviate into the name of a mountain-fiili ; but, inflead of a
hyphe. x\ fe the Hebrew j, a note of rclemblance, which feems to
poin' • the \ unge from which i. ^ .icrived it. In like manner, A a
fignifies to walk, and Ectte, wood ; but Ectte CLnvi'ia, any kind of wheel ;
which is confonant to the aforefaid Hebrew idiom -, with many others cf the
like nature : but a fpecimen of this fort mull fuffice.
The Hebrew and Indian words, which cxprefs delineating, writing, decy-
phering, marking, and painting, convey the fame literal meaning in both
languages \ as Exod. xvii. 14. iS'i' aro {Cbethcba Sepbcire) " delineate this
with delineations ;" and, with the Indians, Hoorefo is, in like manner, the
radical name of books, delineating, ."kc. ; and Octchna that for numbering,
inftcad of reading. l"he nearefl: approach they can make to it, is, Anumbole
hoorefo JJhanumhUas., " You fnall fpcak the fj^cech, which is delineated."
u
They call a razor, Bafpoo Shnpbe, " A (having knife ;" and Shaphe always
fignifies to (have •, probably, becaufe when they firfl: began to Ihave them-
felves, they were ridiculed by the higher, or more religious part of tiie peo-
ple, for imitating that heathenifh cuflom. The Hebrew nsty {Shaphe)
fignifying lip, confelTion, or wordiip ; which divine writ ailurcs ui, the dc-
fcendants of Noah changed, when they oppofcd the divine will of fettling
various parts of the earth, and built the great tower of Babel, as an emblem
of greatnefs, to get them a name *.
* Skin fignifies an eye; and Skeejhiiphit, one-eyed; as If proceeding from the divine anger
They often change i into ti.
lil
'II,
IP--'
G 2
Lonk
44 On the defccnt of the American Indians from the Jews.
Leak fiffnifics fire, and Lock IptohooHo, " the holy or divine fire," or the
anger of Ifhtohoollo, " the great, holy One " which nearly agrees with
the Hebrew an"?, that which flumes, or I'corches with vehement heat. And
it is the fcriptiire method of conveying to us a fenfible idea of the divine
wrath, according to the cherubic name Mnk, which likewife fignifies fire.
But the Perfians worfiiipped the burning fire, by the name of Oromazes ;
and darknefs, or the fpirit, by that oi /Iramamiis -, quite contrary to the re-
ligious fyftem of t!ie Indian Americans : and the aforefaid Indian method
of exprefTjon, fecms exactly to coincide with the Hebrew idiom.
Bak-JJ.eab-ma is the name of their Indian flap, or broad flip of cloth
with which the men cover their naked nefs ; but the word they ufe to ex-
jirefs our fort of breeches, is a compound, Balaphooka, derived frorr>
the Hebrew bti2, which fignifies, behind-, and the Indian Naphooka, a coat,
any kind of clothes, or covering -, Baloka fignifies, behind ; filently telling
us, they formerly wore a difl^erenr fort of breeches to what they ufe ..u pre-
fcnt. They likewife fay, Neeppe-Phii ka^ " A flelli- covering."
The father of King Saul was called Kifh, " podexj" which fignifies alio the
rear of an army, or the hindermoft perfon, according to the Hebrew idiom.
Thus the Indians, by Kijh^ exprcfs the podex of any animal — the hindermoft
perfon — the gavel-end of an houfe, and the like. Kip Kijli, is with them a
fuperlative, and, as before hinted, ufed to convey the contempt they have
for that proper name. May not the contemptible idea the Wefl:-Florida-
Miffifippi Indians affix to the name of KiHi, be on account of his fon's fuc-
cefTion to the throne, at the end of the theocracy of Ifrael, and beginning a
defpotic regal government ?
The Indians, according to the ufage of the Hebrews, always prefix the
fiibftantive to the adjedtive -, as Netak Chookdma, " A good day ;" Nakkaus
and Eho Chookbma, " A good, or goodly man and woman." The former
of which is termed, in Hebrew, Toma Tobe, fignifying, according to our
method of falutation, a good-day, a merry feafon, a feftival day, &c. And
the Indian appellatives are fimilarly expreft in Hebrew, Behtobe and JJhe-
Tobe, " A good, goodly, difcreet, or wife man and woman." Chookbmay
with the Indians, is the proper name of a comely woman, when A is prefixed
to it J as A-(hockma, ^' My goodly, or beautiful :" they ufe it for a warrior,
when
Their names of the Deify.
45
when it is compounded without the A; as Chookoma himniaJJjlahe, " One
who killed a beautiful, great, red, or war-chieftain •," which is compounded
of Chookoma^ comely, Humma, red, !:>>*, JJIj., fire, and Abe, a contraftion
of "^nK, Abeky fignifying grief, or forrow. Hence it appears, tliat becaufi!
the Hebrews affixed a virtuous idea to Tobe, goodly ; t!ie Indians call white
by the fame name, and make it the conftant emblem of every thing that is
good, according to a fimilar Hebrew cuftom. Of this the facred oracles
make frequent mention.
I
The Jews called that, which was the mod excellent of every thing, the
fat ; and the Indians, in like manner, fay, Ocjlo Neehe, " The fat of the
pompion," Tranche Neebe, " The fat of the corn. Neeha is the adjeftivc,
fignifying fa(, from which the word Necta, " a bear," is derived. They
apply the word hearty only to animate beings.
As tlie Deity is the foul of every fyftem — and as every nation, from the
remotefl: ages of antiquity, believed that they could not live well, without
fome god or other -, when, therefore, we clearly underfland the name, or
names, by which any fociety of people exprefs their notions of a deity, we
can with more precifion form ideas of the nature of their religious worflilp,
and of the objeft, or objedts, of their .adoration. I (hall therefore here give
a plain defcription of the names by which the Indian Americans fpeak of
God.
\k
JJhtohoollo is an appellative for God. IHitohoolIo points at the great-
nefs, purity, and goodnefs, of the Creator in forming '.yw* and i<'i"N :
it is derived from IJJjlo, great, which was the ufual name of God
through all the prophetic writings ; likewife, from the preftnt tcnfe of
the infinitive mood of the aftive verb, Ahoollo, " I love," and from the
prefer tenfe of the pafTive verb, Tloolloy which fignifics " fanclifying,
fanflified, divine, or holy." Women fet apart, they term, IIoollo, i. e.
fanJtifying themfelves to IlhtohooUo : likewife, Netakhoollo fignifies " a fanc-
tified, divine, or holy day \* and, in like manner, Ookka IIoollo, " water
fanftified," &c. So that, IJhtohoolloy when applied to God, in its true radical
meaning, imports, " The great, beloved, holy Caufe -," which is exceedingly
comprehenfive, and more exprelTive of the true nature of God, than the He-
brew name Adonaiy which is applicable to a human being. Whenever the
Indians
'.4- M
Ml
ii;
f 'iT
'
it
46 On the d'fccnt of the American Indians from the Jeivs.
Iiuii.ins apply the cpitlu t, compoiinik'il, to any of their own religious men,
it ligiufjfs Uk- great, holy, btlovecl, and laiidilied men ot" the Holy One.
'1 hey m.ikc this divine name point yet more flrongly to the fiiprcnie
author ot nature ; ibr, as 32^, fignities father -, and as the oniniprefent
Spirit of rhe univcrfe, or the holy father of mankind, is laid to dwell above,
they therefore call the immenfe fpace of the heavens, ,ilt7, Al.'ij't\ and
yp>at.)ra : and, to liilVmguilh the King of kings, by his attributes, from
their own Min^^o Ijhto, or great chieftains, they frequently name him
Minggo IJhto Aba, &c. \ IJIjto Aba, &cc. ; M/nggo Abu, &c, ; and, wiicn they
arc ftriving to move the paflions of the audience, IJIjlohoolIo Aba. The He-
brew fervants were not allowed to call their mafter or miftrefs at*, Abba^
till tliey were adopted; to wliich cullom ^t. Taul alludes, Rom, viii. 15.
They have another appellaiirc, which with them is the myftcrious, eflen-
tial name of God — the tctragranir.mtou, or great four-lettered name — which
they never mention in comn.on fpcech, — uf the time and place, when, and
where, they mention it, they are very pariicular, and always with a folema
air.
ii."
There is a fpecics of tea, that grows fpontaneoufly, and in great plenty,
along tf?e fea-coafl: of the two Carolinas, Georgia, and b'.all and Well Florida,
which we call Tupcn, or Cujj'eena : the Indians tranfplant, and are ex-
tremely f nd of it •, rhey drink it on certain Aated occafiuns, and in their
moil religious Iblemnities, with awful invocations : but the women, and chil-
dren, ai d thoii: who have not fuccefsi'ully accompanied their holy ark, pro
Aris et Focis, dare I'ot even enter the facred fquare, when they are on this
religious duty ; othv.">vile, they would be dry fciatched with fnakes teeth,
fixed in tlie middle of a iplit reed, or piece of wood, without the privilege
of warm water to fupple tlie itifFened fliin.
When this beloved liquid, or fuppofed holy drink-offering, is fully
prepared, and fit to be drank, one of their Magi brings two old confecrated,
large conch-fliells, out of a place appropriated for containing the holy things,
and delivers them into the hands of two religious acrendants, who, after a
wild ceremony, fill them with the fuppofed fanftifyiiig, bitter liquid : then
.they approach near to the two central red and white feats, (which the
traders
i
\
i
i
i
T/jeir names of the Deity,
47
traders call the war, and beloved cabbins) flooping with their heads and
bodies pretty low •, advancing a few fteps in tliis poftiire, they carry their
ihcUs with both hands, at an inlt.ini, to one of the moft principal men on
thofc red and white feats, faying, on a bafs key, Y'aii, quite Ihort : tlien,
in like manner, they retreat backward, facing each otiier, with their heads
bowing forward, their arms acrcfs, rather below tijeir brealV, and their
eyes half llnit -, tluis, in '. very grave, lokmn manner, they fing on a ftrong
bafs key, tlu- awful monofyllabk', O, for the fpacc of a minute : tlien they
ilrike up majcdic lli;, on tlie treble, with a very intent voice, as \on% as
their breath allows them ; and on a bafs key, with a bold voice, and fliorc
accent, they at h'X utter the ftrong myfterious found, Wah, and thus fuiilh
tiic great fung, or moll foiemn invocation of the divine eflence. The notes
togetlitr compofe their facred, myfterious name, Y-0-Ilii-\VAH.
That this feems to be the true Hebrew pronunciation of the divine eflen-
tlal name, nin\ JtnovAii, will appear more obvious from the found tiiey
feem to have given their charaflers. The Greeks, Wiio chiefly cojiied tlieir
alpliabct from tlie Hebrew, had notjed, but lora, very nearly refembling the
found of our i^. l"he ancient Teutonic and Sclavonian dialcdls, liave }'(ib as
an affirmative, and ufe the confonant /'Finftead of Z'^. Tlie high importance
of the fubjeifl-, nceeffarily would lead thefe fuppoied red Hebrews, when fe-
parated from other people in America, to continue to repeat tlie favourite
name of God, YO Hii Wah, according to the ancient pronunciation.
ly
1
Contrary to the ufage of all the ancient heathen world, the American In-
dians not only name God by feveral itrong compounded appellatives, ex-
preillve of many of his divine attributes, but likewife lay Yam at the
beginning of their religious dances, with a bowing poilure of body ; then-
they fing Yo Yo, He He, and repeat thofe facred notes, on every reli-
gious occafion : the religious attendants calling to Yah to enable them
humbly to fupplicate, feems to point to the Hebrew cuftom of pronouncing,
,T, 2V;/;, whici\ likevvife fignifies the divine effence. It is well known
what facred regard the Jews had to the four-lettered divine name, Co as
fcarcely ever to mention it, but once a year, when the high-priell went into
the holy fandluary, at the expiation of fins. Might not the Indians copy
from them, this facred invocation ? Their method of invoking God, in a
Iblenin.
f.
fe;
4? Ofi the (I'fcent of the Amokan Imi' ins from the J civs.
folemn hymn, with that reverential depo'tnient, rid fpcnding a full breath
on cacli o\ the two firll: fyllables of the awful t'ivinc name, hath a lurpriz-
ing an:\logy to the Jewidi cuftom, and fuch as no other nation or people,
even with the advantage of written recorils, have retained.
It may be worthy oi notice, that they never proftrate themfelvcs, nor bow
their bodies, to eacli other, by way of falute, or homage, though ufual with
the cailcrn nations, except when they are making or renewing peace with
Grangers, who come in the name of Yah i then they bow their bodies in
that relif;ious fulemnity — but they always bow in their religious dances,
becaufe then they fing what they call divine hymns, chiefly compofed of tlie
great, beloved, divine name, and addreflcd to Yo He Wah. The favoured
perfons, whom the religious attendants are invoking the divine elTcnce to
bk'fs, hold up the fliells with both hands, to their mouths, during the awful
facred invocation, and retain a mouthful of the drink, to fpirt out on the
ground, Tj a fuppofed drink-offering to the great felf-exiftent Giver j which
they offer at the end of their draught. If any of the traders, who at tliofc
times are invited to drink with them, were to negleft this religious obferv-
ance, they would reckon us as godlefs and wild as the wolves of the defart *.
After the fame manner, the fuppofed holy waiters proceed, from the higheil
to the lowed, in their fynedrion : and, when they have ended that awful fo-
lemnicy, they go round the whole fquare, or quadrangular place, and col-
ledl tobacco from the fanftified finners, according to ancient cuftom i " For
tlicy who fcrve at the altar, mull live by the altar."
The Cheerake method of adjuring a witnefs to declare the truth, (Irongly
corroborates the former hints, and will ferve as a key to open the vowels
of the great, myftcrious, four-lettered name of God. On fmall affairs, the
judge, who is an elderly chieftain, afl<s the witnefs, CheeakZhga (Jko ?) " Do
you lie ?" To which he anfwers, Anja Kai-e-koh-ga^ " I do not lie." But
• The M'ifaic law injoineJ the offering of libations ; as Excd. xxix. and Numb. xv. And
the heathens c-fpec. illy the ancient Greeks and Romans, mimicked a great deal of the Mofaic
inftitution. They obfcrved the like ceremonies in their idolatrous facrifices. The priells
only tallctl, and then fpilc feme wine, milk, or other liquor, in honour of the Deity, to
whom tlic facriiice was offered Alexander is faid to have facrificed a bull to Neptune, and
to have duown a golden veHel ufed for the libation, iato the fea.
7 when
I
I
Their vitinmr of adjuration.
49
i
when the juilge will fcarch into ibmetliing of matf rial confcqucnCff, and ad-
jures the witncl's to Ipcak the naked truth, concerning the point in qucftion,
he fays " O E A (Jio ?)" " What you have now faid, is it true, by tlii«
ftrong emblem of the belovt-d name of the great fclf-exiftent God ?"
To which the witncl's replies, O K A, " It is true, by this (Irong pointinf^
fymbol of YO He Waii." When t!\e true knowledge of the ad'air in dil-
pute, feems to be of very great importance, the jud'ji;e fwears the witneis
thus: O E A — Yah (Jl'o?) This moft ilicrcd adjuration imports, " Have
you now told me the real truth by the lively type of the great awful name
of God, which dcfcribes his neccflary cxiftcncc, without beginning or end -,
and by his rdf-exillcnt literal name, in which I adjure you." The witneis
anfwers, O E A — Yah, " I have told you the naked truth, wliich 1 niofl:
folemnly fwear, by this ftrong religious pidure of the adorable, great, di-
vine, felf-exiftent name, which we are n. t to prophane ; ai d I likewiie attcft:
it, by his other beloved, unfpeakable, iacrcd, eflcnti J name."
Jut
i
When we confider that tlie period of the adjurations, according (o their
idiom, only alks a queftion •, and that the religious waiters 'jy Yah, with a
profound reverence, in a bowing pofture of body, imme '.'.i.ciy before they
invoke YO He Wah, — the one retleds fo much light .ipon thee:' it, as
to convince me, that the Hebrews, both invoked n/l pronounced tL Jivine
tctragrammaton, YO He Wah, and adjured t eir witneftes to give true
evidence, on certain occafions, according to the Indian ufage ; oilierwiil*,
how could they poiTibly, in a favage ftate, have a cuftom of fo nice ami
ftrong-pointing a ftaiidard of religious caution ? It feems exaiftly to coincitlc
with the condu(ft of tiie Hebrew witnelTes even now on the like religious
occafions — who being fworn, by the name of the great living God, opt-nly
to declare the naked truth, hold up their right hand, and aniwcr, :D^«
:^H, Aneti y/wf«, or " very true ;" " I am a moft faithful witnefs." The
Hebrew word fignifies faithful, and by being repeated twice, becomes a fu-
perlative, and O E A — Yah is one of the higheft degree.
I
fiv
len
St. John, in his gofpel, accordinj3 ;0 the Hebrew method of adjuration,
often doubles the ylnien. And the fame divine writer, at the beginning of
each of his feven epiftles, in dcfcribing the glorious and tranfcendant qua-
lities of Jefus Chrift, and paiticularly in the epifile to the cinirch of
Laodicea, points at the i'aioe cuftom, " Thefe things faith the Jweii, the
fjithful and true witnefs, the beginning of the creation of God."
H The
m
50 On the dcjcent of the American liuVuins from the fcws.
I'he Cheerake ule another cxprefiloii, whicli bears a ftron[^ analogy to the
former metlujd ui" adiuratiun •■, thougli it is not lb lacrcd in tlicir opinion,
bccaufc (-f one letter picfixeJ, and anotlicr fubjuined. 'J he judjre, in fmall
contrciveii'ics, alks the wiriv-ls, -I o e u (jko?) To which he anlwers, 'To e ti,
or To e u lab, " It is very true," or " a moll certain truth," Such an ad-
dition of T,ny letter, or letters, to the vowels of the liippofcd divine, four-
lettered name, feeir.s to proceed from a Ihict religious cultom of propor-
tioning them to t'.ie tircumilances of perlbns and things, lelc, otherwife,
they Ihouid blalpheiVie, or prophane the emblems of the great divine name.
And the vowel U Items to allude to ins*, /. t". Oni; — a name of God,
figuratively — for, in tlieir dialect, when it is a period, it makes a fuperla-
tive, according to their ufage in applying the rell of the divine appella-
tives, fymbols, or names.
They cftecm To c u hab fo ftrong an aiTent to any thing fpokcn, that
Cbc.'jto Kauhic " the old rabbet," (the name of the interpreter) who for-
merly accompanied I'even of their head warriors to London, allured me, they
held there a very hot debate, in their fubterranean lodgings, in the dead
hours of tlie night of September the 7th, 1730, whether they fhould not
kill liim, nr,i.l one of the war-chieftains, becaul'e, by his mouth, the other
anfvcred To e u hab to his Majelly's fpeech, wherein he claimed, not only
their land, but all the other iinconquered countries of the neighbouring
nations, as his ri;-ht aiid property. When they returned home, they were
tried again, by the national tanhedrim, for having betrayed the public faith,
and fold t'lieir country, for acknowledged value, by firm compact, as repre-
fentatives of their country ; they having received a certain quantity of goods,
and a decoying belt of white wampum : but, upon krious deliberation,
they wore honourably acquitted, becaul'e it was judged, the interpreter was
bound, by tlie like oath, to explain their fpeeches; and that furprife, inad-
vertence, Iclt-love, and the unul'ual glittering Ihow of the courtiers, extorreJ
the lacre.l aflent. To e u hab, out of the other's mouth, which fpoiled the
force of It -, bein.T much afraid, lell they fliould fay tbmcthing ami!'?, on
account of the dilTen.iit idiom of the l'"nglilh, and Indian American dia-
lects *. As there is no alternative between a falihood, and a lie, they
ufually
* The ilrcni; fduimcnts, natural wit, and intciifc love of liberty, which the Indians flievv
themftlvci poilciicJ ui, la a iii^h di-grcc, iiiould dircd our ccloiiilh to jmrfuc a dillcrent me-
thod
4
n
7 heir manner oj' adjuration.
5'
ufually tell any perfon, in plain language, " You lie," as a friendly negative
to his reputed untrutii. '1 lie cliecrhil, inolfenlive old rabbet told me, lie
had urged to them, with a great deal of earneftnet's, that it was certain
death by our laws, to give his Majefty the lie to his tV.cc -, and cautioned
them to guard their mouths very ftrongly from uttering luch dangerous
language: otherwife, their hearts would become very I.LM\y, and even
Ibrrowful to death j as he would be bound as lumly by our holy books, to
relate the bare naked truth, as they were by repeatin^;; '7c c u ah, or even
0-E-A— Yah.
The Chikkafah and Choktah method of adjuring a witncfs to give true
evidence, is fometiiing limiJar to the former atteltation, by 'I'o e « bah : when
tliey alk them, whether they do not lie, they adjure them thus, ChiUooj'ka
ke-e-ii Chua? The termination implies a quelHon of tiie feeond perlon, fin-
gular number, and the whole oath fignifies literally, " Do not you lie ? Do
you not, of a certain truth ?" To which he anfwers by two flrong nega-
tive afleverations, Aklcojka Ke-c-uquc-llo, " I do not lie •, I do nor, of a
certain truth." AVhcn tiie Choktah are averring any thing alked of them,
they aflert it, by faying Yah. This fliews their ignorance of the vowels of
the fuppofed divine four-lettered name, in coiiiparifon of tlie Cheerake ;
and that they are become lefs religious, by prophaning the divine name.
Yah •, which conlinns me in the opinion, tiiat the Cheer.ike Indians were
a more civilized people than any of the other neighbourini^ InJians.
We are told that the northern Indians, in the time of their rejoicings, re-
peat YO Ha Man- ; whicli, if true, evinces that their corruption ativances,
in proportion as they are dillaiii; from Sout!i-.\meric.i, and w.inted a
€ ,
n
■f ;
i'l
ii
' •;
1 .1
tliod of contrailing Inilinu lovcnnnts thm tliry !iavc comimni) ufcJ. i ;!.1, Irt tliem ciifiJer
the rencral gooj of the coiDiiiunity, wha dujlc iliem for tliai c.).'. ; : lu! thin tn:!l.c .i plain
.ngretiuciit with the Iiulims, aJaptc.l t.> tlicir (ixc.l notion of Iil)Lr;y, an ' the good of tiuir
country, without i.ny ilchiding fophifni). If tln'v do not keen thcf,.' cil-nii'.! points of
amity in\icw, v r fli'jl! fiic attain, ;is h:i:li ticoir.ia ; fcr, by a childil': trc,:;y with the
Muficchnc Indi.i'.is, whe i di-fi.':iti'J An. i-|<, its moll nortlK'in l.nr .Liriis r.rc conlini'd
to till.- liead of tlie tbl)inj; and flowing of S-Vannah riv r. Wc c-c I . d to have /luurilliej
off vciy commodious Indan trcaiif^ in the c'juif-hri:,, witli t'/.- ^Tuffiohg(•, which the
comnumity know nothing of, c.\cc;l a fow plr.in coniaun p.'-rlisiiiaib, r.i liity ionic ycarj
fjncc declared.
1 1 1 friendly
i'-
5? On the defcent of the American Indians from the J:zjs.
friendly intcrcourfe with thofe who had an open communication with thofc
Ibiithern regions *. Living in moderate high latitudes, would naturally pre-
vent them from finking into effeminacy, and infpirt them with martial tem-
pers, (as we are told of the Chili Indians) without being originally a
bloodier people than any of the fouthern nations. However, we fliould be
fparing of credit to what unfkilful writers have carefully copied from each
other, and tranfmitted to the learned world.
I Hiall hereafter, under another argument, Hiew, that the Indians va-
rioufly tranfpofc, fliiorten, and lengthen, each fyilable of the great divine
name, YO He Wah, in a very extraordinary manner, when they are fiiiging
and dancing to, and before, the divine eflence : and that they commonly
derive f :h words as convey a virtuous idea, from, or compound them
with that divine, eflential name.
'f ■
il
I fhall now (liew a farther parity, between the Hebrew language, and the
Aboriginal American dialefts.
Pujlokocjh figniPes an infant, Neetta a bear, Najfooba a wolf, &c. By
joining the word OoJ]3i^ to the end of the names of animals, it makes a
• They who have a defire to fee the genuine oratory of the Indians, may find it partly ex-
hibited to the public, by the laborious Mr. Colden, mollly in the maimer, as I am told, he
found it in the council-books. As that gentleman is an utter ftranger to the language and
cufloms of the Indians it was out of his power to dojuflice to the original. Their Ipecch, in
general, abounds with bolder tropes and figures than illiterate interpreters can well compre-
hend, or explain. In the moll eflential part of his copied work, he committed a very mate-
lial blunder, by writing in the firft edition, the Indian folemn invocation, YO Ha Han.
I was well affured by the intelligent Sir William Johnfon, and the (kilful, benevolent, pious,
and reverend Mr. John Ogilvie, that the northern Indians always pronounce it YO He A 'Ah ;
and fo it is inferted in the fecond edition. In jufticc to this valuable luminary of the church,
and the worthy laity of the city of New-York, I mull obferve, that, while the rcll of his fa-
lerdotal brethren were much blamed for neglcfting their office of teaching, and iiifleaJ
thereof, were militating lor an tpifiopate, that gentleman was univerfally beloved by
all ranks of people. He fpcnt his time, like a true fervant of God, in performing the
various duties of his facred oflice ; and had the utmoU plcafure in healing breaches, both
in public fociety, and in private families. Great numbers of the poor negroe flaves, were
inllru^ed by him in the principles of chrillianity, while the other clergymen were carneftly
employed in difturbing the qiiici ^t the public, for the fake of their favourite Peter's pence.
I diflinftion ;
The parity cf their language.
53
diftindlion i a? 'NaJJ'GobocJhe, a wolf-cub, Neett''-ooJhe a bear-cub : but though
the word Oophe fignifies a dog, as an exception to their general method
of fpeech, they call a puppy Ooph ijljik, becaufe he is fo domeftic, or ib-
ciable, as p*^% to kifs, or fondle. In like manner, PiJJA fignifies milk ; and
Pifiik a woman's bread, or the udder of any animal -, as the young one.":,
by kining, or fucking, (hade the brealt, '3, with their month, and thert by
receive their nourifliment. With the Hebrews, "]3y {Ocphecha) fignifies
active, or reftlefs : which, according to the Indian idiom, expreflcs tlie
quality of a dog; Ocphe is therefore tlie name of this animal, and their
period denotes a fimilarity, according to the ufage of the Hebrews.
Shale and Skatera, fignify to carry, Sbapore, a load. The former word
confifts of SLetb and yj/e. Illeh imports dead, and Kuneha loft. They fay Shat
Kaneka, to carry a thing quite away, or to Canaan. — Likewife, Illi-ht Kunc/jn,
literally, dead, and loft, or probably, gone to Canaan. Several old Iiidi.m
American towns are called Kanaai -, and it hath been a prevailing notion
with many Jews, that when any of their people died in a ftrange land, they
paflicd through the caverns of the earth, till they arrived at Canaan, their
attradlive centre. And the word Oobea, likewife imports dead, or cut oft'
by O E A, or Tohcwah ; for they firmly believe, as before hinted, they
cannot outlive the time the Deity has prefcribed them. They likewife fav,
Haffe Ookklllle Check, " the fun is, or has been, cauied to die in the water,"
i. e. lun-fct. When they would fay, " Do not obfcure, or darken me,"
they cry JJh-ookklHc Chlnna, verbatim, " Do not occafion JJh, me, to become
like the fun, dead in the water." Tliey call the new moon, Ilajfe Aiuahta,
" the moon is called upon to appear by Yohevvah :" which plainly fliews,
that they believe the periodical revolutions of the moon to be caufed, and
the fun every day to die, or be extinguilhed in the ocean, by the conftant
laws of God. When we aftt them, if to-day's fun is drowned in the wefterri
ocean, how another can rile out of the eaitern ocean to-morrow ? they only
reply, Pllla Tammu or Tamim mung \ or fuch is the way of God with his
people. It feems to be a plain contradlion of n^ and \'2*2K Ammi; which
was the name of Ifrael during the theocracy. Befides, Aeemmi fignifies, " I
believe ;" as the peculiar people believed in Yohewah. And it likewife
imports, " I am tlie owner of, &c." — according to the Hebrew idiom,
the words and meaning nearly ag^ree.
EtUt
n
Ijlv
'•iiiri
'■:l-
M
4t
54 On the (kfccnt of the American Indians from the Jews.
Eclle. fignifies wood ; anJ they term any kind of chcft, box, or trunk,
Eette Oobe -, and frequently, Oohe ; whiJ; leems to point to the " ark of the
purifier," tliat was fo fatal to the laity even to touch •, a ftrong emanation
of the holy fire, ligiit, and fpirit, refiding in it, as well as in that which the
pri-.'lts carried to war, againll the devoted enemy.
The Chikkafah fettled a town, in the upper, or mod weftcrn part of the
Mufl-cohge country, about ^uv miles eartward of thiirown nation, and called
it Ooe-dfa ; whicli is derived from O J''- A, and Jfi^, " there," or " here, is ;"
i. c. " YO I In \V.\it prefides m this place." Au(.\, wlien a perfon is rc-
niuving from his former dwelling, they aik him, Ijh ooc a {turn ?) " a:e ycni
removing hence, in the n.uva', or urdcr t'le patronage, of YO He W'y^n r"
And it both fignifies to afcend, and remove to another place. As, C) K A,
Aba, the omniprefent father of mankind, is faid to dwell above, lb the Indian
hopes to remove there from hence, by the boui'.ty i.^ innoliuollo, the great
iioly One : according to their fixed ilandard of fpetch, had they made
.nny nearer approach to O E A, the ftrong religious emblem ot the beloved
four-lettered name, it would have been reckoned a prophanation.
Thutchlk fignifies a fiar, and Oonna " he is arrived :" but Thiilchik Ocnnncbe,
" the morniiig-ftari" becaufe he is the forerunner of liglit, and rcfemblcs the
fun that refieds it. And Oun»ahah fignifies to-morrow, or it is liay. The
termination denotes tlieir gladnels, ,hat the divine li^^ht had vilirrd them
nga'n : and, when they are allcing if it is d.iy, they lay Qnna lie {tak ?),
The lail monufyllable only afi.s a cjuellion ; and t!ie f.rniininc gender treble
note is tfie mid fy liable of the great divine name — which may retkcl
lome light uj'on the former obilrvations.
Although the Hebrews had a proper name for tt.e human foul, calling it
V.'S: i yet in Prcv. xx. 27, it is called mn'' "i:, " The candle, or lamp of
Cjod ■" and figuratively ap[)lied, it conveys a llrong idea of the human
fo;il : I'hus tlie Indians term ir, P^aiin IJJ.ttoLwolio, " f Muething of, or a
relation to, the great holy Or.e •," very analogous 10 tlie former method
of exprefiing the rational principle, in allufion to tlie celellial chcri.bic
name ti'N*, /IJhL\ V re, as they Ulieve tlie Deiry refiiies in the new year's,
fiippokd \v\\ file. Ik-caufe IJIj^ Man, received l;is breath from the
iliune infpiraiiun of the beneficent creator Y.ui, they tcr:n ti.e human
1 fpecies,
The parity of ibclr lan^u(ige, 55
fpecics, in their flrong-poiiuiiig lanfzuagc, T'ah-Jcc ; which, though dif-
ferent from the divine, tfT ntial, fou;-hturcd niir.t.% in found has n\ Y.\n,
for its radix. But, bec.uill- t!ic monkey mimic? 2'ahi"d\ or the rational
creati'in, more than ai.y oilv.r brute, in fcatines, fliapc, gcilure, and
actions; in proportion ii ilie finiilituile, tl'.ey give Iiini a fimdar name,
Shaiv-ive. This indeed malu s .«. ii'mt approach to Jjh and 7\il.', and to Tahice ;
but it wants the radix of b'-t!i, sii ! '-■i.ifcquently bears no fignification of
relation to either. W'-ile they ii'j:C, tliac the regularity of the actions of
the brute cieaiures aruund tnem, txprefici •. nii c underllanding or Inllincl ;
they deny their being endued with any portion of t:ie reafoning, and living
principle, but bear ordy a faint allufion to Nana IJJjtoboollo, the rational
foul. 1 lie PKi;: intelligent among them, fay tlie hun-.an foul was not made
of clay, liis.e the brute creation, whole foul is only a corporeal fubli:ance,
attenuated by heat, and thus rendered invifible.
Through a feeming war-contempt cf each other, they all ufe a favou-
rite termination to their adjecT:i\es, (very rarely to their fub(lantives)
and Ibnietinies to their verbs ; Specially v.b.en tiicy are ilourilhing away,
in their rapid war-fpccclits, v.hich on fuch occafions they always repeat
with great vehemence. I fliall give a l'peci:nen of two words, in the dia-
leifts of our fniithern Indians. RI is the favourif^ period of tlic Katahba
Indians; as .'^A./V-rV, or IFahrc-'/i, " C^ood," and Mr.reicmv:hr'I, ovJt'cb-
retav:ub-r'i., " beil," or very good •, /;*;,.'', the l.'.il fyllable of the great di-
vine name, is evidently the radix, and magnifies the virtuous idea to a
fuperlative. In hke manner, Shc^aye-iydlri, " no: bad," but Sheekare-r'i,
fignihes " bad.' With thcfe Indian-, ibieU' is the name of a buzzard,
which they reckon to be a mofl impure fowl, as it lives on jjutriu carcalles j
upon whicli :.:.o\/:.t, they ciicofe tliat word to convey a vieiou'; idea.
m;
5^V5 is the founding termination of the Checrake ; as Sedjla-qus., " good,"
— and 0-/t' ?^, "bed," or very good. Here tlK^y feCiii to have ftuiioully
chofen the vowels : — As the following wortis will illullrate, Tonute-ff,
" very honert," or virtuous, and }'-0-L', " I'.vil," or very bad. 'I'o cor-
roborate the I'.ints I "ave, conccninff tl.e Indian names of monkev,
and the human fpecies, let it be oblerved, that though their words con-
vey a virtuous or vicious idea, in proportion as they are conllitutcd our of
any
,„:a
iili
5-6 On the dcfccni of the American Indians from the Jews.
any of their three divine names, Yohewah, Yah, and Ishtohoollo ; or
contain the vowels of the great facred name, yet the aforefaid word Y-O-U,
is fo far from being a deviation from that general cullom, it is an
cmphatical, and emblematical term to exprefs evil, by the negative of good ;
for, as it is the only fiibllantive or adjc(5live of that word, it is a
ftrong exprcfTive fymbol of the nature, and phyfical caufe of moral evil, by
feparating 2'0, the firft fyllable of the divine four-lettered name into two
I'yllables ; and adding U, as a fupcrlative period, to make it malum ma-
lorum.
SIxh is the founding criterion of the Mufkohgc, or Creek Indians, — a
kind of cant jargon, for example ; HecU/a-JJjeh, fignifies " good," and
IJeettla-ivab-E-J}}eL\ " very good " according to their univcrfal ftandard of
fpeech, it becomes a fuperlative, by fubjoining tliat part of the divine name
to it. With the Chikkafah and Choktah, Hecitla fignifies dancing -, pro-
bably becaufe that religious exercife was good and highly pleafing to them,
when, according to ancient cuftom, they dancod in their fymbolical circles,
to, and before, YO He Wah. With the former, Apidlowbage-Jheh., exprefles
" bad," or evil, thereby inverting the divine letters.
Skch is the favourite termination of the Chikkafah and Choktah — as
Cbookbmajkeb, " good," Cbookhnaflo-Jkeb (alluding to IJJho) " very good;"
and Oikproo-Jkeb, " bad." Likewife, Ockproojlo, " worlt," or very bad ; for,
by annexing the contraded initial part of the divine name, IJhtoboollo, to
the end of it, it is a fuperlative. Thefe remarks may be of fervice to the
inhabitants of our valuable and extenfive barriers, in order to difcover the
nacional name of thofe lavages, who now and then cut them off.
Ockproo-fe, with thofe Indians, fignifies " accurfed ;" the two laft letters
make only ifamecb, which implies a neuter paffive : and, as Ookproo is the
only fubftantive or adjcclive they ufe to exprefs " evil," by doubling the
leading vowel of the four-lettered divine name, both at the beginning and
end of the word ; may we not conjeQure at its origin, as glancing at the in-
trodu(ftion of fin or evil by man's overadling, or innovating, througli a too
curious knowledge, or choice ? " Y^e fliall be as gods," and, in order to
£.iin the refcmblance, they ate what was forbidden.
The
The idiom and parity of tL^Jr huiguage.
S7
" \
The greater number of tlieir compoonded words, (and, I believe, every
one of them) which convey a virtuous or pure idea, cither have fomc
iyllables of the three divine names, or vifibly glance at tlicm •, or h.ivc
one or two vowels of the fiicred name, Yo He Wait, and generally
begin with one of them ; which I fliall exemplify, with a few Chikkafah
and Cheerake words. IJfe-Aho-zwuc., " Deer," I'civafa, Buffalo, wliich as ic
begins with the divine name. Yah, contains no more of their beloved
vowels : in like manner, jyc.hka^ " cattle ■'' Ifhke-Oocb'a, "■ a mother."
This lad feems to be drawn from T/Z'^, the mother of all mankind. 1.16
and Enekia fignify " a woman." The latter is derived from the aiflive verb,
Akckiiibahy fignifying " to love ardently," or like a woman j Nakkane Ajkai^
" a man." From this word, the Chikkafah derive Niikke, the name of an
arrow or bullet : and with the Cheerake J/kai lignifies " to fear ;" as all the
American brute animals were afraid of man, &c.
1 M
I fi
■k:i^
Words, which imply either a vicious or impure idea, generally be-
gin with a confonant, and double thofc favourite vowels, either at the
beginninfi and end, or in the middle, of fuch words-, r.s Nt'jjhcl/a ircbcca^
" a wolf." With the Chikkaiaii, Ea£ocba fignifies " bewildered i" Patche,
" a pigeon," and Putche Eajfooba, " a turde-dove." Soore and Sbceke
are the Chikkafah and Cheerake names of a " Turkey-buzzard ■" Cboola
and Choocbola^ " a fox " Shockqua and Seequa, an " opoffum," or hog j
Ockooine, " a polecat ■" Ookc- ■:na, " a badger ;" Chockpbc and Cheefto^
"• a rabbet." The lad word is derived from the dcfeiftive verb Chejii^
" forbear," or, do not meddle with ; and rabbets were prohibited to the
Ifraelites. In like manner, Ooppa and Ockockco, " a night-owl i" Oopbe and
Kecra^ " a dog •" Naboolla and U-ncbka, " white people," or " impure ani-
mals." The Chikkafah both corrupt and tranfpofe the lad part of the divine
name, lihtohooUo ; and the Cheerake invert their magnifying termination
t/, to convey an impure idea. /\nd through the like faint allufion to this
divine name, lloollo fignifies " idols piftures, or images •" a fliarp-pointcd
iarcafm ! for the word, lloollo^ fignifies alfo " mendruous women," who
were for the time an equal abomination to the Ifraelites, and with whom
ihey were to have no communion. Thefc two words feem to bear the fame
analogy to each other, as b\i, AU a name of God, and ^'7^<, Akh^ fignifying
the covenant of the holy One to redeem man, and ^"71*, Aloah^ execrated,
or accurfed of God, a^ idols were.
I With
rii
>
5? On the dejccnt of the American lud'ians from the fczi's.
With the Clieciake, ylivwn, or Anima, fignifics " water," and /lii:moi,
" a river-," not much unlike die Hebrew. They likewile term lair, Hawai
;uul both the conjiin(ftiori copulative, and " to marry," is Tawa. The name
of a wife hJivab; whiJi wriucn in Hebrew, makes mn, Eve, or Ewd>, the
name of our general motlier. So that the Indian name of a wife, is literally
S:ihI emphatically, ins And, " One ablokitely needful for the well-being of
Jj.i; or man i" Jj7:iau.a 'tihi?) fif^njiies "have you married?" We gain
additional light from the flrong fignificant appellative, JJIi-ke, " a mother;"
wlii'-h is an evident r.ontradion of I^ja^ the mother of 2'awe, or man-
kind, with their favourite termination, Jke, fubjoined ; the word becomes
thus fmoGtlicr thr.n to pronounce it at its full length, Ijha-Jke. V we
confidcr that the Hebrews pronounced \ Van, when a ronfonant, as W, here
is a very Itrong, exprc-nive gradation, through thofe variou" woids, up to
the divine, necclTary, And, who formed and connedled ever^ .yftem of be-
ings i or to the Hebrew divine original, YO He Wait : at the fame time,
we gain a probable rcaibn why fo many proper names of old InJ.ian places,
in South-Carolina, and elfewhere, along the great continent, begin with our
Anglo-Saxon borrowed ch.; raftt-T, W \ a.^ JVampee, IVatboo, Wappoo, IVad-
vio/a, JVnjfamefaby &c. Chance is fluctuating, and can never adl uni-
formly.
To elucidate the aforefaid remarks, it may not be amifs to obfervc, that,
according to the Ifraelitifh cuftom both of mourning, and employing
mourners for their dead, and calling weeping, the lifting up of their voices
to God, the Choktah literally obfervc the lame cuftom ; and botii they and
the Chikkafah term a perfon, who through a pretended religious prin-
ciple bewails the dead, Tab-ah, " Ah God!" and one, who weeps
on other occafions, Tahma, " pouring out fait tears to, or before God;"
which is fimilar to v:in\ When a perfon weeps very bitterly, they fay,
TiibmiJJjto, which is a compounded word, derived from n\ and '3% with
the initial part of the divine name, Iptchcollo^ fubjoined, to magnify
the idea, accordinf^ to the ufaL'c of the Hebrev/s. When the
divine penman is dcfcribing the creation, and the flrong purifying
wind, whi(.h fwept ,^long the furface of the waters, he calls it, " the
iir, or fpirit •" and, more fignificantly, " the wind of God," or a
very great wind : and, in other parts of the divine oracles, great hail, a
7 great
^he idiom and parity of their langun^f.
59
N
great lion, and the like, are by the fame figure, called the hail of God.
They alio apply the furnv.r words, I'ab-ah^ I'ab-ma, and the liki-, to
exprefs the very fame idt;is tlirough all the mooiis and tcnfcs ; as
Cheyaaras, " 1 fliall wci'p for you " Saiva Clryaara Aiva, " Wii'c, I wiil
not weep for you." And wlu-n the violence of il.eir grief for the deceafcd,
is much abated, the women fiequcntly, in their plaintive notes, repeat
To He {ta) tVab, Yo He (ta) M'tb, Yo He ta Ha, Yo He ta Heh ; with a re-
ference probably to the Hebrew cullom of immoderately weeping and wail-
ing for their dead, and invo!:in;^ tlie name of God on llich dolefu' occafions •,
and which may have induced tlicfe fuppofed red Hebiev/s to believe the like
conduct, a very effential part of religious duty. Neetdk Yob-ab fignifics " a
fait day," becaufe they were then humbly to fay j^b, and affli(ft their fouls
before Yam. In like manner, Yah- Abe Hgnifies " one who weeps for hav-
ing killed, or murdered another." Its roots are n', Y(d\ their continual war-
period, and, '^a^<, Abele., fignifying " forrow or mourning ;" for, as killing,
or murdering, is an hoftile ait, it cannot be drawn from n3«, which fignifics
brotherly love, or tender afixxHion. Niiua-Yab-Ahe defcribes a perfon weep-
ing, while another is killing him. Now, as Nana is " a relation," 2'ab
" God," and Abe as above, the true meaning fcems to be, " One, like
bleeding Abele, weeping to God." Likewife their name for fair, Haiva,
may inform us, that though at prefent they ufe no Hxlt in their religious
cflfcrings, they forbore it, by reafon of their diftant fituation from the
fea-fliore, as well as by the danger of blood attending tiie bringing it
through an enemy's country •, for, acconiing to the idiom of their lan-
guage, if they had not thought fait an cflential part of the law of Hicri-
ficature, they moft probably, would not have derived it from the two laft
fyllables of the great divine name i whereas they double the confonanr,
when they exprcis water, without drawing it from the clear fountain of liv-
ing waters, YO He Wah.
.' ■•
iiM-i;;
With tlie Hebrews, as before obfcrved *, "rrj, 1'epbalc, fignifies " Jluk-
ing or pulling of the hand, cohefion, conjunction, or entering into fociety •,"
and " praying, or invoking." In conformity to that original ftandard,
when tlie Indians would exprefs a ftrong, lading friendHiip, they liave no
• Page 4?.
I 2
otiicr
6o On the defcent of the American Indians from the Jcivs.
other way, than by faying, Aharattle-la pheena chemanumbok, " I fliall firmly,
fluke hands with your ditcourlc, or Ipetch."
"When two nations of Indians are making, or renewing peace with each
cihcr, the ceremonies and lijlcnmities they ufe, carry the face of great an-
tiquity, and are very ftriking to a curious Ipcdator, wliich I lliall here relate,
fo far as it fuits tlie prcftnt lubjccl. When ftrangers of note arrive near
the place, where they defign to contracfl new friend liip, or confirm their old
amity, they lend a mtllcngcr a-head, to inform the people of their amicable
intention. He carries a fwan's wing in his hand, painted all over with ftreaks-
of white clay, as an exprelTive emblem of their embjlly. The next day, when
they have made their friendly parade, witii firing olf their guns and whoop-
ing, and have entered the beloved fquare, tiieir chieftain, who is a-hcad of the
rcit, is met by one of t.'v.' old beloved men, or magi, of the place. Mc
and the vifitant approach one another, in a bowing pofture. The former-
fays, To^ Ijh la cbu Angghna? ••' Are you come a friend in the name of
God ?" Or, " Is God with you, friend .'"' for, Yo is a religious contraftion
oi 2'oleiL'ah, — IJh " the man," La a note of joy, Chu a query, and /Inggcna
" a friend." The other replies, 2'ah — /lrahre-L\ Jnggaia, " God is with
me, I am come, a friend, in God's name." The reply confirms the mean-
ing of the queftionaiy falutc, in the manner before explained. The
magus then grafps the flranger with both his hands, around the wrifl of
his right hand, whici. holds ibme green branches — again, about tlie elbow
— then around the arm, clofe to his flioulder, as a near appro.u h to the
heart. Then his immediately waving the eagles tails ovci' the head of
the ftranger, is the ftrongelt pledge of good faith. Similar to the Hebrew
word, Phale with the Indians, fignifics " to wave," and likcwile to
fhake-, for they fay, Skcoba — Phdle^ " lliaking one's head." How far tlie
Indian oath, or manner of covenanting, agrees with that of the Ilebrew.s,
on the like iolenin occafion, I refer to the iiirelligent re.u! r. Tliiir method
of embracing each other, feems to rcfemble alfo that cuflom of the Hebrews,
when a ftranger became fiirety fur another, by giving him his wijit ; to
which Solomon alludes, " If thou lull ftrieken hand with the ftranger, &:c."
— Their common metiiod of greeting each other, is analogous with the
above j the hoft only fays, lj}}-la Cbu? and the gueft replies, Arahre-O,
;-' I am come in the name of O E A," or Yo He Wah.
When
T/jcir nervous and emp/jatical^yle.
6t
When is joined to the end of words, it always denotes a k;perlative,
according to their univerrai fi^^urative abbreviations of the great beloved
name-, thus with the Chikkal'ah, Iffe^ "deer," and Ijfi-O, " very great
deer ;" 7'iimija, " a buffalo,*' J'nnas-0, " a very extraordinary great bufialoi'*
which is, at kvilt, as ftrong a liiperiative, as bn n'3 bn, fignifyinjj " the
houfe of the Omn potent," or " the temple."
With the Cheerake Indians, y/ (zvab ta) howive fignifies " a great ikcr-
killcr :" it is compounded of /l/jotvwe, " a deer," Jl'ab — the period of the
divine name, and Ta, a note of plurality. The title, " the decr-kilkr of
God for tiie people," was, fincc my time, v 'y honourable among them, as
its radical mc.ning likcwife imports. Kvery town had one lukmniy
appointed-, hini, whom they faw the Deity had at I'undry times blefild with
better fucccl's than the reft of his brethren, in iup) lying them witli an holy
banquet, that they might eat, and rejoice, before the divine eflence. But
now it feems, by realbn of their great intertour.c vvitli foreigners, they
have left off th.at okl ibcial, religious cultom ; and even their former noted
hofpitality. I would alio obferve, that though neceffity obliged them to
apply the bear's-greafe, or oil, to religious ufes, they have no fuch phrale
as {f^ah ta) etona \ not accounting the bear lb clean an animal as the
deer, to be olfcrcd, and eaten in their religious friendly fealls -, where they
folcmnly invoked, ate, drank, lung, and danced in a circular iorm, to, and
before, YO Me Waii.
The Indian dialers, like the Hebrew language, have a nervous and em-
jili.uical manner of expreffion. — The Indians do not perlonify inanini.u' ob-
jeffs, as did the oriental heatliens, but their ftyle is adorned w;th in-i.iges,
co'np.iiifons and ftrong metaphors like the Hebrews •, and equal in allego-
ries to any of ti.e eallcrn nations. According to the ages of antiquity, their
war I'pieches, and public oration?, always aifume a poetical turn, not unlike
the found of the mealtires of tiie 1 1 k-brated Anacreon and Pintlar. Their
poetry is feklon exaft in numbers, rhymjs, or iiicafure : it may ivi
compared to profe in mufic, or a tunable way of fpeaking, Tiie period is
always accompanied with a founding vehemence, to inforce their mulical
fpeech : and the mufiC is apparently defii^ned to pleafc the car, and affesSl
the paffions.
After
!'i:.
- i
t l|
62 On the d'il'oit of the jlmericnn Indians from tic 'Vi-a-s.
After wlu\t hath been fiiid of their liun^iiap,c, it may b^- prop'/i : ■ - •)
flurvv how they accent the conlonanti : I flull range thfm ir. the on r <u'
oiir alphabet, cxcjit tliolc thc'y pronounce after our m.mner. When C/I
b?f?ins a woni, or is prejixed to a vowel, it conveys a foft loiinl, as C/ji'ki,
" high •" but otlierwife it is guttural ; as is D, wlfich is cxprelicd by fix-
ing the tip of the tongue between the teeth, as Dtiici^ for David. G' is
idways giuturnl, as we accent Co. They cannot pronounce ilii \ and tliey
have not the ///', neither can it be cxprclVed in their dialers, as tlieir lead-
ing vowels bear the force of guttural confonants. I'hey have not the Joij,
as I can any way recolletl, or [;,ct information of-, nor cmi they repeat it,
any nearer than Cl>of. Tliey pronounce A', as in Ko i L and A', as D — .V,
by fixing the tongue to the lower teeth; 7 like 7^, as in the old Hibernian,
or Celtic aflinviative, 7'f7. I'hey cannot pronounce/', or A'-, they call the
governor of Moveel, (Mobille) Ciovjctio- ?>Ioivceub : and they have not a
word whicli begins or cn<\i v/ith A". KS are always diviiled into two fyllables ;
a'^ IL:k-fi\ *' mad," &c. They have not the letter Z •■, mucii lefs any fuch
hailh found as '/z, although they have 'i/. As they ule the Hebrew confj-
nants i'and //'', in their molt folemn invocation YO Hi; VVah, inftead of the
prcfent Hebrew Jod and Vau •, lb they leem to exclude them intirely out of
their various dialects : the pronunciation therefore of the i lebrew charaders,
which are fuppofed to convey the other founds, they are unacquainted Vv^icli ;
and thole which fecm to be tranlpofed, may be clearly afccrtained by perfons
of proper capacity and leifure, by comparing a fulncitnt number of 1 icbrew
and Indian words together. The Indian r.ccents, Oo, i-.nd 0, .';^y, and 7/,
may, prove a pretty good key to fpecul:'.tive enquirers.
Tl often occur in their words ; as Tluirih, " to bleed with a lancet, to
bore, fcoop, or make any thing hollow •," and Ileeltla, " to dance." And
the South- Americans, we are told, had llkewife the fame found, as in that
national name, Tlajkala: it feems to have been univerfal over ihc extenfive
continent. And, from a fimilarity of the Hebrew manners, religious
rites, civil and martial cudoms, we have a itrong prefumptive proof,
that they ufed the aforefaid double vowels, and likewife a fingle vowel,
as a termination, to give their words a foft accent : and it is plain to me,
thai the Hebrew language did not found fo harll:, as it is now commonly
expre»Ted, but like the American dialcds it was intcrfpcrfed with vowels,
and
i
tbe'tr nervous and empf.uttical JlyU,
^'3
anil a vowtl was commonly fiibjoini'd to lai li wonl, for the f.ikc of a fofc
tadcncc \ as ^IkU^ and AU^ inllead ot' "pahJ, Abel., aiul "tn, Al^ &:c.
The Englifh chara(5lcr!i cannot be broiif'Jit any nearer to the true pro-
nunciation of the Indian words, than as above fft down: fo that former
writers have noiorioully Arayed, by writing conie(n.i;rally, or taking; thiii;;s
on the wing of fame. What Indian wonls we had, bein^ exceedingly
mangled, either by the fault of the prefs, or of torturing pens, licrt colore
induced Ikilful perfons to conjcdure them to be hicroglyphical charaders,
in imitation of the ancient J 'gyptian manner of writing their chronicles.
The Indians t:iprefs themfelves with a great deal of vehemence, and with
fliort paufes, in all their fet fpeeches ; but, in comm')n dircourie, tliey ex-
prefs themlelvcs according to our ufual method of fpeech, only when they
fcold eacli other : whicii I never obferved, unlefs they were intoxicated with
ipiritous liquors, or talu.'Uy overheard a hulba.iii when lober in his own fa-
mdy. They always a^l the part of a (loir philofopher in outwartl appear-
ance, and n'-vtr fpeak above their natural key. And in their philolopliic
way of realoning, their language is the more fliarp and biting, like keen
irony and facyr, that kills whom it praifes. They know, that thus
they corrcfV and fubdue the firfl: boilings of anger ; which, if unchecked,
proves one of the molt dangerous pafTions to which human nature is
fubjecft. So that remote favages, who have heard only tl;e jariinf
fcreeches of nigiit-owls, and the roaring voices of ravenous beads of prey,
in this refpeft give Icffons, and fct a worthy exam})lc to our moll civiHzed
nations.
I have heard feveral eloquent Indian leaders, juft as they were rcadv
to let off for war, to ufe as bold metaphors and alkgories in ticir
fpeeches — and images almoft as full and animating, as the eloqui-nt
penman of the old divine book of Job, even where lie is paintmsr,
with his ftrong colours, the gladnefs and contempt of tiie beautiful
war-horfe, at the near approach of the enemy. I heard one of their
captains, at th.c end of his oration for war, tell the warriors that (IckhJ
outermoll, he feelingly knew their guns were burning in thnr hamis -, their
tomohawks thi'!\y to drink the blood of their enemy ; and their trully
arrows
• 'if
■t
i
64. On th: dcfcent of the American Indians from the Jc-os.
arrows impatient to be on the wing; and, left delay fliould burn tlieir hearts
an/ longer, he gave them the cool retVefliing word, " Join tlie holy ark,
and away to cut off the devoted enemy." They immediately Ibiinded the
Ihrill whoo-whoop, and ftnick up the folemn, awrul long, I'o, &:c.
• M'
m
In Virginia, refides the remnant of an Indian tribe, who call tlicmfelves
Si |)6nc ; which word, with the Egyptians, fignifies the time of putting tlieir
wine into vcfiels ; derived, according to mythologills, from Scpban, " to in-
clofe or conceal." From thence they formed the Hditious Ti/ipkone, the pu-
nirtier of fins, anim;\ted with hatred ; and alfo the icil of their pretended
furic?, from the like circumllances of the yjar. Our eaily American writers
have bellowed on thefe Indians an cmptrror, according to tiie Spnnilli copy,
■calling him PavcluUjii — contrary to the imiian method of cndiiig their pro-
per names with a vowel ; and iiave pidurcd them as .1 ilparate body of fierce
idolatrous canibals. We hov,e\t.r find tliem in the prefent day, of the fame
temper and religious tenet?, as the reft of the Indian Americans, in propor-
tion to their fituation in life. Confitlering the nearnff; of I'gvpt to judea,
they might have derived that appellative from the Egyptians, — cfpecially,
as here, and in feveral of our American colonies, (particularly on the north
fide of Sufquihana liver, in Penlylvania) are old towns, called Knmci.
There was about thirty years ago, a remnant of a nation, or fubdivided
tribe of Indians, called Katuai ; which refembles the Hebrew proper name,
3>23, {Canr.ati, or Cbaiioona). Their proper names always end with a vowel;
and they Icldom ule a confonant at the end of any word *. I cannot recoiled
* \( wc ccr.fiJcr the proximity of thofe Indians to a thick-fcttlcd colony, in which there are
many j^cntlcnien of cmiiiciit learning' '' *^''" ^TP^ar not a little furprizing that the name Ca-
naaiiii.s, in tiie original iangu.igc, according to the Indian method of e.xprelling it, as above,
did not excite the attention of the curious, and prompt them to fome enquiry into the lan-
guage, ritti, and cullnms, of tliofe Aborigines : whicli had they circdcd, would have
jullly procured them thofe culogia from the learned world, which their fociety profufely
bellowed on the nrtful, iir.jiroved ftrokes of a former pri.ne magiilrate of South-Carolina,
whofe conducl in Ir.'.'iaii affair--, was fo e.vceediiif'ly fin^,i'.!.ir, if not foiciid and faulty, (as [
publicly proved whm he prcfilcd thcie) that another year's fuch manaqement would have
caufed the Chcerake to remove to the I'lencli btiricr, or to have invi.ed the French to fettle
a gariifon, where the late unfortunr.te Fort-Loudon llood. Hut a true Britifti adininiftraticti
fucceeding, in tlie very critical time, it dellroyed their immature, but moll dangerous
tlueatenirg fchefc. This note I infcrt here, though rather out of place, to (hew, that the
northern gentlemen have not made all thofe obfervations and enquiries with regard to the
Indians, which might have been reafonabiy cxpedled, from fo numerous and learned a body.
7 any
IS3CM<I.U>U«
Tbcir opinion cf thunder and lightning.
65
any exceptions but the following, which are fonorous, and feem to be
of an ancient date \ Ookkah, " a fwan •," Ilputak, " a wing i" Kooflmk^
" iccds i" Sheenuk, " fand •," 67j/7//>, " the Ikies ;" Phutchik, " a ftar ;'•
Soonaky " a kettle;" Skin, " the eye ," Ji-eep, " a pond ;" and from which
they derive the word Ji-ee-fe, " to bathe," which alludes to the eaftern me-
thod of purifying themfelves. llluk fignifics " a hand :" and tiiere are a few
words that end withyZ>-, as Soslijfjy " a tongue," &:c.
.'1
r
I 1!
The Indians call the lightning and thunder, Eloha, and its rumbling
noife, Rowah, which may not improperly be deduced from the Hebrew.
To enlighten the Hebrew nation, and imprefs them with a reverential awe
of divine majcfty, God fpoke to them at Sinai, and other times during
the theocracy, with an awful or thundering voire. The greater part of
the Hebrews feem to have been formerly as ignorant of philofopliy, as are
the lavage Americans now. They did not know that thunder proceedetl
from any natural caufe, but from the immediate voice of Elohim, above the
clouds : and the Indians believe, according to this Hebrew fyftem of phi-
lofophy, that Minggo IJJjto Eloha Alkaiajio, " the great chieftain of the thun-
der, is very crofs, or angry when it thunders :" and I have heard them fay,
when it rained, thundered, and blew (harp, for a confiderable time, that the
beloved, or holy people, were at war above the clouds. And they believe
that the war at fuch times, is moderate, or hot, in proportion to the noife
and violence of the ftorm.
! ,v.-
I have feen them in thefe ftorms, fire off their guns, pointed toward the
(ky; fome in contempt of heaven, and others through religion — tlie former,
to (hew that they were warriors, and not afraid to die in any fliape •, much
lefs afraid of that threatening troublefome noife : and the latter, becaufe
their hearts dirciftcd them to aflilt IfitohooUo Eloha *. May not this
* The firft lunar eclipfe I faw, after I lived with the Indians, was among the Cheerakc,
An. 1"36 : and during the continuance of it, their conduct appeared very furpr' 1; to one
who had not feen the like before ; they all ran wild, this way and that way, li. Ijnatics,
firing their guns, whooping and hallooing, beating of kettles, ringing horfc- ..li, and
making the mod horrid noifes that human beings pofilbly could. This was the I'tleft of
their natural philofophy, and di.Mie to aflill the fufl'ering moon. And it i? an opinion of fome
of the Ha.l-Indians, that edipfcs are occafioncd by a great monftcr r '"jmbling a bull- frog,
which now and then gnaws one edge of the fun and moon, and woui.. totally dcllroy them,
only that they frighten it away, and by tiii: means preftrve them and their light.
K
proceed
\W1
1^ 'iA
\H •'!■•
I I
€6 On tie defcent of the American Indians from the Jews,
proceed from an oral tradition of the war which the rebellious angels waged-
againft the great Creator •, and which the ancient heathens called the war of
the giants ? Nothing founds bolder, or is more exprelTive, than the Chee-
rake name of thunder, Eetttaquaro/ke. It points at the effedls and report of
the battles, which they imagine the lioly people are fighting above. The
fmall-pox, a foreign difeafe, no way connatural to their healthy climate,
they call Oomtuquaray imagining it to proceed from the invifible darts of
angry fate, pointed againft them, for their young people's vicious conduiflr.
When they fay, " I fliall fhoot," their term is, Ake-rocka. The radix of
this word is in the two laft fyllables j the two firft are exprelTive only of the
firft perfon fingular -, as Jkeeohoofa, " I am dead, or loft •" and Akeeoboofcray
*' I have loft." Rooka feems to have a reference to the Hebrew name for
the holy Spirit.
m
'I
m \
I
i
The moft fouthern old town, which the Chikkafah firft fettled, after the
Chokchoomah, Choktah, and they, feparated on our fide of the Miflifippi,
into three different tribes, they called 2'anekay thereby inverting Tahkd»e,
the name of the earth ; as their former brotherhood was tlien turned into en-
mity *. The bold Creeks on the oppofite, or north fide of them, they named
Tahnabe, " killing to God," or devoting to death ; for the mid confonanc
exprefles the prefent time. And their proper names of pcrfons, and places,
are always expreflive of certain circumftances, or things, drawn from roots,
that convey a fixed determinate meaning.
With the Mufkohge, Algeh fignifies " a language," or fpeech: and, becaufe
fcveral of the Germans among them, frequently fay Tah-yah^ as an affirmative,
they call them Tah-yah Algeh., " Thole of the blafphemous Ipcech j" wliicb
ftrongly hints to us, that they ftill retain a glimpfe of the third moral com-
mand delivered at Sinai, " Thou fiialt not take the name of the Lord thy
God in vain," or apply the name of Yohewah, thy Elohim, to vain, or
created things.
• They call the earth Yahkane, becaufe Yah formed it, as his footftool, by the power
ef his word. In alliifion alfo hereto, Nakkane lignifies a man, becaufe of the mother-
earth ; and Nakke a bullet, or arrow. When the Cheerake aCt a perfon, Is it not fo }
they fay, Wahkane ■ I'he divine eflcntial name, and Kane, are evidently the roots of thcfc
words.
Thefe
Objhiiitkns en their UifigU:-i;.
67
l
i
Thcfe I.'Kliar.s to inculcate on their young people, th.it YO He Wam is
the Autlior cf vegetation, c.iU the growth of vegetables, IVahraah^ " moved
by Yoiiewah •," toi /lab fignifics to walk, or move-, and the comonant is aa
expletive of diftindion. In like manner, IVah-ah fignifies, that " the
fruits are ripe," or moved to their joy, by Yohewah. They likewife call the
flying cf birds, fFdhkuab ; ps Yolicwah gave tliem tliat fwift motion. And,
when young pigeons are well feathered, they lay, Putcbe hiJhJJjc oolphotahdh —
Patche figniiics " a pidgeon," Hip^jhc^ " leaves, hair, or feathers," oolpha^
or oolphoy " a bud," /<?, a note of plurality, and /v.V^ of admiration, to makv
it a plural fuperlative. But, when the pigeons, in winter, fly to a moderate
climate in great clouds, they ufe the word, PFah-a/.\ which in every other
application defcribes vegetation, and fay, Patche IVah-ah^ " the pigeons are
moved to them by Yohewah •" which fecms to allude to the quails in the
wildernefs, that were miraculoudy fent to feed the Ifraelites.
1
Clay bafons they call Ai-am-bo\ and their old round earthen forts, Alamho
Chdah, this laft word fignifying " high," or tall : but a ttockade, or wooden
fort, they term, Hoorcta ; and to infwamp, Book-Hoore^ from Eookje^ " a
fwamp," and Hooretay " a fort, or place of difficult accefs." High waters,
conveys to them, an idea only of deepnefs •, as Ookka phcbe^ " deep
waters." And they fay, Ookka chookbma intda, " The water glides, or moves
along pleafantly, or goodly." Tliat the word Intdn, has 2''a-ah for its ra-
dix, is apparent from their name for a rapid current, Tchnrde, " it runs
with a very extraordinary force i" the mid conlbnant is placed there,
to give the word a I'uitable vehemence of expreffion — and the word is
compounded of ns Tab, and bn. Ale., two names of God. In like manner,
Tahnbd fignifies " a pleurify," fever, and the like ; becaufe they reckon,
when Yah fays ha in anger, to any of their vicious people, he irniViediately
fires the blood, and makes it run violently t'.;': gh all the veins of the body.
Ajhtakiue fignifies the rtficc^on of t.ie .;'.le:i..l hm'inaries, which is com-
pofed of two of the divine names •, as r>i, y/'Z', the celcllial, cherubinii-
cal name of God, fignifying fire, /^, a ror.iraJlion cf t!ie conjunrtion copu-
lative, and "PM, Ale, the ftrong, or on npoieat. They fay a river, or warm
viftuals, is A-flm-pa -, that is, the former is become fordable, and the latter
eatable. They here divide Ajh into two fyllables \ and the termination alludes
to the word, .,'////, which fignifies eating.
K 2
Fduh
"I ;
68 On the dcfcent of the American Indians from the Jeivs,
Pi'uih fignifies to raife the voice, Vocifero — for *3, Phi, fignifies " the
mouth," and .^ub, " to move." Opite is the name of a war-leader, be-
caufe he is to move his mouth to O E A, or invoke YO He Wah, while
he carries the beloved ark to war, and is fandifying himlelf and his party,
that they may obtain fucccls againft the enemy. But Pae-Minggo fignifies
a far-off, or diftant chieftain. Pa yak Matuhuh, is the high name of a war-
leader, derived from Paab, to raife the voice to Yam, and Tahuby
" finiflied," meaning his war-gradation : tiie M prefixed to it, makes it a
fubftantive, acr<:""''.:ng to the ufage of the Hebrews. Any thing liquid they
term Oohhe, from Ookka and cbe : and Ookcbaab fignifies " alive." It h
drawn, from Ookka^ " water," Ch, a note of refemblance, and Aab, " mov-
ing •," i. e. a living creature relembles moving water. In like manner,
Cokcbti fignifies to awake out of fleep ; and alfo to plauL any vegetable
fubftance, alluding to their three different ftates — they firfl: were enabled
to move about — tlicn reft, or fieep is necefiury, and alio being planted in t!;e
earth — but they hope that in due time, they fliall be moved upward, after
they have flept a while in the earth, by the omnipotent power of I'ah.
They have an idea of a refurreftion of the dead body, according to the
general belief of the Jews, and in conformity to St. Paul's philofoph'cal
axiom, that conupuou pitr.edes generation, and a rcfurre<-tion.
■ \
N
Kccnta fignifies " a beaver," Ookka *• water," and Ihenna " a path ;"
but, for a i'mooth cadence, they contract ti;em into one word, Kecmook-
het'tna; whicli very exprcllively fignifies " i beaver-uair.."
P
The Indian compounded words, are generally pretty long-, but thofe
that are radical, or fimple, are mortly fhort : very few, if any of them, ex-
ceed three or four fyllables. And, as their dialeds are guttural, every word
contains fome conlonants j and thefe are the eflential charaftcriftics of lan-
guage. Where they deviate from this rule, it is by religious emblems ;
which obvioufiy proceeds from liie great regard they paid to the names of
the Deity ; efpecially, to the four-lettered, divine, eflTential name, by ufing
the letters it contains, and the vowels it was originally pronounced with, to
convey a virtuous idea ; or, by doubling, or tranfpofing them, to fignify
the contrary. In this they all agree. And, as this general cuftom mufl
proceed from one primary caule, it feems to afliire us, they were not in a
1 favae';
Ohfcr'vattons on their language.
«9
favage ftate, when they firfl: feparated, and variegated their dialects, with fo
much religious care, and exaft art. Bhnd chance could not dired fo great
a number ot' remote and warring favage nations to fix on, "lul unite in To
nice a religious ftandard of fpcecii. Vowels arc inexprefl'ive of things, they
only typiiy them; as Oo-E-A^ " to afccnd, or remove:" — E /l, a moll
facred affirmation of the truth. Similar to thefe are many words, contain-
ing only one confonant : ^n^'To-e-u, " it is very true ," O-fe-ii, " very goodj'*
T-O-U, " evil, or very bad " T-u-a, " he moves by the divine bounty -,"
Nan-ne I'a, " the divine hill, or the mount of God," &c. If language was
not originally a divine gift, which fome of our very curious modern pliilo-
fophers deny, and have taken great pains to ft ' afide ; yet human beings
are poflefied of the faculties of thinking and fpeaking, and, in propor-
tion to their ideas, they eafily invented, and learned words mixed, witli
confonants and vowels, to exprefs them. Natural laws are common and
general. The fituation of the Indian Americans, has probably been tlic
means of finking them into that ftate of barbarifm we now beliold — Yet,
though in great meafure they may have loft their primitive language, not
one of them exprefifes himfclf by the natural cries of brute-animals, any far-
ther than to defcribe fome of the animals by the cries they make; which we
ourfelves fometimes imitate, as Cheo-qua-le-'jun/oo, the nr.me they give that
merry night-finging bird, which we call " Whip her will my poor wife,"
^much like our cuckoo) fo termed from its mufical monotony. No lan-
guage is exempt from the like fimple copyings. The nervous, polite, aiul
copious Greek tongue had the loud-founding Biio Bono, which the Romans
imitated, by their bellowing Boz'es Bourn -, and tlie Indians fay Pa-a, figni-
fying the loud noifc of every kind of animals, and tlieir own loud-founding
war IVhou PVhoop. Where they do not ufe divine emblems, their words
have much articulation of confonants. Their radicals have not the infepa-
rable prope:ty of three confonants, though frequently they have; and
their Vvurds are not fo long, as fti angers con'iedurally draw them one. In-
ftead of a fimple word, we too often inleit the wild pifture of a double,
or triple-compounded one ; and the conjugation of their verbs, utterly de-
ceives us. A fpeclmen of this, will fhew it with fufficient clearnefs, and
may exhibit fome ufeful hints to the curious fearchers of antic]uity.
A-no-wa fignifies " a rambler, renegadoc, or a perfon of no fettled place
of abode." A-no'-iui!/.', the fiift perfon, and IJh-na, the fecond perfon
Angular,
*
ff.
f
70 On the defcent of the American Indians from the Jews,
fingular, but they have not a particular pronoun for the third j they dlQin-
guifli it by cuftom. Si-a, or Sy-ah, is " I am •" Chee-a, or Chy-dh, " you
are i" and Too-zvah, " he is." Jy-ab fignifies " to go -," Ay-a-fa^ " I remain j"
IJh-i-a-fay *' you remain j" Jfa, " he remains." AOO-E-A is a ftrong
religious emblem, fignifying " I climb, alcend, or remove to another place
of refidence," It points to A-nb-wab, the firll perfon fingular, and O-E-A, or
YO He Wah ; and implies, putting themt'elvcs under his divine patronage.
The beginning of that mod facred fymbol, is, by ftudious fl<ill, and a
thorough knowledge of the power of letters, placed twice, to prevent them
from applying the facred name to vain purpofes, or created things. In
like manner they fay, Naf-fap-fe-0 IJh-00-E-A., " You are climbing a
very great acorn-tree," meaning an oak -, for Naf-fe is the name of an acorn ;
and the mid part of that triple compounded word, is derived from Ap-jcla^
*' to help j" Cbe-ap-pc-la A-wa^ " I do not help you." The termination,
accordiiig to their fixed idiom, magnifies it to a fuperlative. i^.oo-ran-he-qua^
a uGCcd old camping place, fourteen miles above the fettleincnt of Ninety JiXt
and ' ghty-two below the Cheerake, fignifies, in their dialeft, " the Ui,'?;e
whiif oaks." Oof-fak is the name of a " nickory-nut," and Oof-fak Ap pe-0.,
-*s above. Oot-te fignifies " a chefnut i" Noot-te, " a tooth ;" Soct-te, " a
pot " ?.nd Oo-te, " to make a fire," which may be called an Indian type
for ea. ng boiled chcfnuts.
When they fay, " He is removing his camp," they exprefs it in a mod
religious manner, Al-be-na-00-E-A. Al-be-nds-le fignifies " I camped ;"
Al-le-uus-Ie-cbu, " I fiiall, or will, camp :" but, according to their religious
mode of fpeaking, Al-bi-na A-00-E-A-re, exprelfcs the former, and All^e-
na A-00-E-A-rn-chi\ the latter phrafe ; likewile, Al-be-na 00-E-As fignifies
Crtjlra Moveto, imperatively. It is worthy of notice, that as they have no
pronoun relative to exprefs the third perfon fingular, they have recourfe to
the firft fyllable of the eflential word, 'foowab, " He is." In allufion to that
word, they term the conjunction copulative, Ta-wah^ and Tce-U-fl^aby " refb-
ing." So mixed a train of nice and exaift religious terms, could not
be invented by people, as illiterate and favage as the Indians now are,
any more than happen by accident.
,.a i
Though they have loft the trict meaning of the!- religious emblems, ex-
cept whrt a very few of us ocrvonally revive in the retentive memories of
ihcii old 'nquificive magi ; yet tradition diredls them to apply them pro-
perly.
Obfervations en their language.
71
perly. They ufc many plain religious emblems of the divine names, Yo-
HBWAH, Yah, and Ale, — and thele are the roots of a prodigious number of
words, through their various dialefts. It is I'urprizing they were unnoticed,
and that no ufc was made of them, by the early voluminous Spanirti
writers, or by our own, for the information of the learned world, notwith-
ftanding the bright lights they had to direct them in that sera, when the de-
corations of their holy temples and pricfts, their religious ceremonies, and
Cicred hymns of praife to the Deity, of which hereafter, fo nearly corref-
ponded with the Ifraelitifh, and might have been readily difcovered by any
who eyed them with attention. In our time, by reafon of their long inter-
courfe with foreigners, we have neceflarily but a few dark traces to guide
our inquiries, in the inveftigation of what muft have been formerly, Ihining
truths.
I n^
I muft beg to be indulged with u few more remarks on their verbs. — If
we prefix //j to /i-a, " to move," it becomes A-fd-ay " to offend." The mo-
Bofyllables JJh and Cbe., varioufly denote the fecond perfon fingular •, but when
the former is by cuftom prefixed to a verb, the latter then exprelTcs either the
accufative or ablative cafe fingular of the pronoun relative i as Ijh-a-fd-cihy
•' you are offended, or moved to fay Ah " IJh-a-fd-a->re^ *' you were dii"-
pleafed :" but Che-a-fd-ah fignifies " I am difpleafed with you;" and Che-a-
fd-a-re " I was offended by you i" Cbe-a-fd-a-cbee-le is " I occafion, or have
occafioned you to be difpleafed," literally, " I produce, or have produced
offence to you ;" and Cke-a-fd-a-chee-la ylwa, " I fhall not caule you to be
difpleafed." In like manner, they fay A-dn-ha, which fignifies " I defpifc,"
or literally, " I move ha ;" for the mid letter is inferted for dulimflion-fake,
according to their idiom. So A-chin-ha-chu, " I Ihall contemn you ■"
A-chin-ha-chee-lu A-way " I fhall not caufe you to become delpicablc."
Chce-lc fignifies literally, " to bring forth young." So that the former me-
thod of cxprefTion is very fignificant v and yet it flicws a Itcrility of lan-
guage, as that fingle word is applicable to every fpecies of female anin: is,
fowls not excepted : Thus, Phoo-Jhe Chee-le^ " the birds lay." Oe-fie (:gni-
fies " a young animal," of any kind — and likcwife an egg. When men-
tioned alone, by way of excellence, it is the common name of an infant ,
but when the name of the fpecies of animals is prefixed to it, it def;.ribes
the young creature. An-pupj-koojh oo-Jhe^ is what the tender mother fays to
her well-pleal'ed infant. The two words import the lame thing. 'I'he for-
mer reiembles the Hebrew, and the latfcr is likewile a Ivibft.nritive , they
i fay
/I
t
i"
7? On the dcfccnt of the American Indians from the Jews.
hy Choolloc-Jkc Teeth-hl-a-ta-hdh, "the fox-cubs are run ofF-," — Choo-la bcinp;
the name of a fox. Pbut-choos-oo-flje JFahkd-as, " let the young cluck fly
away •," and Phoo-fooJIje Hifli-fH Ool'pl\i-qut-fa, •' tlie young wild bird's
hairs, or feathers, are not fprung, or juddcd." Pafe (ignifies the hair of a
man's head, or the mane of animals. Sha-le fignifics pregnant, liteially,
" to carry a burthen •," as Oo-pje Shu-le., " llie bears, or carries, an infant j"
but, when it is born, Shoo-le is the name for carrying it in their arms.
This bears off from the divine radix, with great propriety of language.
/;« prefixed to a verb, denotes the malculine and feminine pronouns, ilium
and illam As this is their fixed method of fpeech, the reader will eafily un-
derftand tlie true idiom of their language. Sal-le fignifies " I am dead,"
Cbil-lc, you, &rc. Il-leh^ he, ^c. And this is likewife a fubltantive, as Il-let
Min-te, " death is appro:iching," or coming : M:n-tc-cba fij:nifies " come
you i" and A-niiit tc-la Jzva, or ylc-Dii/i-i.i-qini-c/jii, " I will not come."
The former word, Shd-Jt, " to carry a burthen," or, flie is pregnant,
fcems to be derived from fU and bik : and, as A-JJod-k, Ip-J/ja-te, and
E-p.Ki-lt\ are the firfV, fccond, and third pcrfons fingular of the prefcnt tcnfe,
the latter may allude to her conception by the power of the Deity : and it
alfo points to "rvi', Sha-wu-le, or Saul, " the grave, or fepulchre," out of
which the dead AkiII come forth to a new world of light. In like manner
Chee-lc " to bring fortli," or A-cbee-la-le, " I brought forth," appears to
be derived from D, a note of relemblance, and bn. Ale, the fruitful Omni-
potent. All the American nations, like the Jews, entertain a contemptible
opinion cf tlieir females that are barren — fterility they confidcr as proceed-
ing from the divine anger, on account of their conjugal infidelity.
m
\u
To enable grammarians to form a clear idea of the Indian method of va-
riegating their verbs, and of the true meaning they convey, we mufl: again
recur to the former eficntial word, or rather divine emblem, A-ah, " he
moves." They fay Aas, " let him move," and Ee-wa-ko, or Bid-fas A-d-
/i-n\ " I now move," or " yeftcrday I moved i" for, like the Hebrews,
thcv fometimcs ufe the preterperfeft, inftead of the prcfent tenfe. Ad-a-ru-
cL'u is the firfl: perfon fingular of the future tcnfe, in the indicative mood.
A-d-ta-hab expiefil's the third perfon plural of the prefcnt tenfe, and fame
mood. A-u-ta-bdh-ta-ku-a fignifies, by query, " have ye, or will yc move ?"
It is their n)echod of conjugating their verbs, that occafions any of their
radical
Obfcrvations on their langnage.
7i
radical or derivative verbs to exceed three or four fyllablcs -, as \vc fee by
this, which, though compofcil only of two vowels, or lliort iyllables, is yet
fo greatly delkiMcd. With them two negatives make an allirmative, as
Mbijh-ko qua, " I (liall not drink v" add tlie ftrong negative termination
Atcii, it is, " I will certainly drink." An ailirmative quclliun frequently
implies a ftrong negative ; as ^li a-rd-ta-ii*a, literally, " will, or IhouKI, I
go ?" that is, " I really will nor, or fliould not go ;" and on the contrary,
a negative query imports an a''hrmative aflertion -, as yl-kai u-qiut-ta ko-a^
" fhould not I [',0 ?" or, " I frrely lliould go." Ec-u ko J-pdrel Sa-kai c
qiia-tn ko a, is literally, " if I ate, iliouli! not 1 be latisfied ?" wiiit!) implies,
" if I ate, I Jhould be fully fatisfied. To drinking, tliey apply a word tliat
fignifics content ; and indeed, they are moll eager to dritik any fort ot fpi-
ritous liquors, when their bellies are quite 'ull. When they are tireil with
drinking, if we fay to any of thcin, Un-ia ''n^-^d-ua Chena b'ljh-ko-la Chuy
" Well, my friend, I will drink with you i Lbe a-\o'^k pa chce-rc 1 co gc.ty
" for, indeed, I rejoice in your company ;" he replies, Ilai-a, Ook-ka
Hoo-me Ili/lj-ko Sa-n-ck tara\ which is, " No-, lor I am content with
drinking bitter waters." Tlie/ conftantly preiix the ftibllantive before the
adjedivc, and place the accufative cafe before the verb. If wc tranllatc
the following words, Ook-ka Pan^gc HuiK-ma Law-iva A-bifi ko Ic Bla fas^
they literally fignify, " yefterday I drank a great deal of red-grape water,"
meaning claret. Thus they lay, 1ik-kc-ba, In^-glccfljc I'ren jhe lie lap
A-hing ga Eteche, " formerly, when the Ivnglifli and French fought againit
each other j" Frcn Jhe hig-glee-Jljc A be-tu L\" the French were killed by the
Knglilli."
The verbs are feldom defective, or iir.perfccl : thou'?;h they may fc'in to
be fo to perfons who do not unJerlland tl'.e idiom of t!; ir langu.ige, tliey arc
not; tliey only atipe.u- as fuch by the near relemlilar.ce of words, which (")n-
vey a different meaning — ni A-kai-a., " i go," Sa-k.ii a, " I am fatisfied with
eating," and Salkai-i^ " I am an:;ry, crofs, vexed, or diflurbcd in mind •,"
Sbee-a^ Cbe-kai-a, and Cbil-kai-a. in the fccond perlon •, /ha, l( k,i! a, and
Al-kai-a, in tlie third perfon Hngular. A pec -fa fignifics " to lev," and
A!-pcc-fa, " ftrait, even, or rie;ht ; Al-po'-i-ak, the general nair.e of
mercantile goods, I fubjoin, as fuch a word is uncommon with tlsem ; tlicy
icldom ufe to harlh a termination. I fliall here clofe this argument, and hope
L enoii''!i
I M
i ;
I'^i
f
74 On the dcfcent cf the Attiencan Indians from the ye'u;:.
ciK-ugh hath been faid to give a dear idea of the principles of the Indiait
language and diukds, ith pttiTiis and idiom, and ftron;^ fimilarity to, and
near coincidence with the Hebrew — which will be not cafily accounted fur,
but by coniukriny tiic American Indians as ticiccnded from the Jews..
A R G U M li N T Vl
If
They count Timh after the manner of the I febrews,
They divide the \ c.r into fpring — fumincr — autumn, or the fail of the
leaf — and winter: wliii . the Cheeral<:e Inui.ins call Kc/?jb, AkoocOy Odckobjlc,
Ko'ra; and tlie Chikhal.u'i and Chokiah nation, Oioclpha, Tome pa//e, /IJbtora-
vidciia, Jptli-ii, Kd^th is ih uvn from A)iant6gt\ the general appellation fur
the fun and moon i btcaufe, when the fun letuhr- from the fouthern hemi-
fplierc, he covers the v-retab! world with a green livery. Akooca tlludes
llrongly to rhc eflentiai ilvine name, as we have fcen in the former argu-
tnent. WilIi regard to OokkobJIc, " the iall of the leaf," as they call a
buzzard, S/^cre, or .S'ci.' •, and as Soolekohjle fjgnifies troublefome, offenfive,
dilagrecible, the word fignifies, that " the fall of the year is as dif-
agreeable a fight, us that of a Inizzard." AVrt, as with the Hebrews, figni-
fies the winter ; and is likewile the name of a bone : and by joining Hah,
an Hebrew ncrc of admiration, to the end of it, as Kcra-Hu/p, it becomes
the psoper name of a n.ui, fip 'ying, " all bones," or very bony. 0:dal-
f/.-, " the 'prinp; feafor " is derived from Oolpha^ the name of a bud, or
to Ihoot out i ';;cau!c tiu;i tlie folar heat cuufcs vegetables to bud aiul
fpring. Tdiiul) fignifies " the folar ligiit," and Pal/e, " warm or hot •/*
ylfi:tonu " winter," and Moona, " prefently," &c.
They number \\w\x years by any of thole four periods, for they have no
name for a year-, and they fubdivide thefe, and count the year by lunar
niontlis, like the ifratlites, v, ho counted by moons, as their name fuflicienily
teftiiies •, for tluy called them □«m% the plural of nT, t!ic moon.
Tlie Indians have no diftimft proper name for the fun and moon •, one
«vord, with a note oi diftinclion, exprelfes both — for example; the Cheerakc
call
1'beir manner of counting time.
7S
call tlic fiin F.uf-fi A-nan-td-ge^ " the tlay-mcon, or l\in j" an.i t!i- I.uut,
Neuf-fe /l-nan-to-ge, or " the nif.^hc-kin, or moon." In like m.ni.cr, t c
Chikkalali and Choktah term tlie one, Ncctuk-'nJj'Jjt ;.:ul the other, Xeciniak-
Iliijjeb i for Ndi'/iik n^iiilics " a tlay," aiui I^iiiii:a.i:, " ;i ni^ht."
Here I cannot forbear remarking, tliat the Indi.^ns c.ll the penis ct' any
animal, by the very fame name, I/ajj'i- •, with tiiis dilllrence only, tiiat the
termination is in this inftance pronounced fliort, wlitrtas tiie other is long,
on purpofe to di(liii[ uilh the words. '1 his bears a Hrong analogy to wl:at
the rabbins tell us t,i' the purity of the Hebrew laiiyuag-, t!ut " it is !>
chafle a tongue, as to have no proper names for the parts of ytncratioii."
The Cheerake can boalt of the fame decency of ftyle, for t!iey call a corr.-
houfe, IP^aluhre and tiic penis I any creature, by the very fame name \
intimating, tiiat as the fun anil n^ influence and ripen tlie fruits t!iat are
llored in it, fo by the help .errs and 15acc!uis, \'cnus lies warm,
whereas on the contrary, fine Ccnn iif B,'.abus,f>i^ct I'inus.
\ 'I
:! W
They count certain very remarkable things by knots of various colours and
make, after the manner of the Suuih-Amcrii, an Aborigines j or by notthol
ftpiare (licks, which are like wife diltributed among the head warriors, an. I
other chieftains of dilTerenc towns, in order to number tlio winters, &c. — the
moons alfo — their fleeps — and the days when they travel -, and efpecially cer-
tain fecret intended acls of hollility. Under fuch a circumllance, if one d.;y
elaples, ea'ch of them loolcns a knot, or cuts off a notch, or elfe makes on-*,
according to previous agreement -, wliieh thole who are in the trading way
among them, call broken days. Thus they proceed iLiy by day, till the
whole time is expired, which was marked out, or agreed upon ; and they
know witii certainty, the exact time cf any of the afortl'.iid period:,, v;i-cn
they are to execute their fecret purpnfes, be they ever fo various. T'u" au-
thors of the romantic Spanifli iullories of Peru and Mexico, have wonder-
fully llretelied on tliefe kr.ottvJ, or marked firings, and notched fquarc
Hicks, to fliew their own fruirlVd inventions, and draw the attention and
furprize of the learned world to their magnified bundle of trilles.
The metliod of counting time by weeks, or fevenths, was a very ancient
cuftom, pradifed by the Syrians, Egyptians, w id ir.oft of the oriental nations \
L 2 and
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76 On the defccnt of the American Indians from the Jews.
and it evidently is a remain of the tradition of the creation. The Creator,
indeed, renewed to the Hebrews the old precept of fanftifying the feventh
day, on a particular occafion. And chriftianity promoted that religious
obfervance in the weftern world, in remembrance of the work of redemp-
tion. The Greeks counted time by decads, or tens ; and the Romans by
nones, or ninths. The number, and regular periods of the Indians public
religious feafts, of which prefently, is a good hiftorical proof, that they
counted time by, and obferved a weekly fabbath, long after their arrival
on the American continent.
f^
!1
m
They count the day alfo by the three fenfible difFerences of the fun, like
the Hebrews — fun-riie, they term, Hajfc kootcha weenie., " the fun's com-
ing out j" — noon, or mid-day, Tabcokbre; — and fun-let, Hajp Oobea, lite-
rally, " the fun is dead -," likewife, Hoffe Ookka'tora, that is, " the fun is
fallen into the water ■" the laft word is compounded of Ockka, water, and
Elora, to fall : it fignifies alfo " to fwim," as inftinft would diredl thole to
do, who fell into the water. And they call dark, Ookklille — derived from
Ookka, water, and Illeb, dead ; which fhews their opinion of the fun's difap-
pearance, according to the ancients, who faid the fun flept every night in
the weftern ocean. They fubdivide the day, by any of the aforefaid three
ftandards — as half way between the fun's coming out of the water; and in
like manner, by midnight, or cock-crowing, &c.
They begin the year, at the firft appearance of the firft new moon of the
vernal aequinox, according to the ecclefiaftical year of Mofcs : and thole
fynodical months, each confift of twenty-nine days, twelve hours, and forty
odd minutes ; which make the moons, alternately, to confift of twenty-nine
and of thirty days. They pay a great regard to the firft appearance of every
new moon, and, on the occafion, always repeat fomc joyful founds, and
ftretch out their hands towards her — but at fuch times they offer no public
liicrifice.
Till the 70 years captivity commenced, (according to Dr. Prideaux, 606
years before the Chriltian sra) the IlVaelites had only numeral names for
the folar and lunar months, except n'SN and a'^J/IMH ; the former fignifies
a green ear of corn -, and the latter, robuft, or valiant, And by the firft
name,.
I (hull
It
ilk u
Their method of counting.
77
name, the Indians, as an explicative, term their paffhver, which the trading
people call the green-corn dance. As the Ifraelites were a fcni'ual people,
and generally underftood nothing but the Ihadow, or' literal p;irt of the
law i fo the Indians clofely imitate them, minding only that traditional part,
which promifed them a delicious land, flowing with milk and honey. The
two Jewifh months juft mentioned, were a^quinodtial. Abib, or tlieir prefent
Nifan, was the feventh of the civil, and the firfl; of the ecclefndical year,
anfwering to our March and April : and Ethanim, which began the civil
year, was the feventh of that of the ecclefiallical, the fame as our September
and Ovftober. And the Indians name the various feafons of the year, from
the planting, or ripening of the fruits. The green-eared moon is the mo{l
beloved, or facred, — when the firfl: fruits become fantflified, by being an-
nually offered up. And from this period they count their beloved, or holy
things.
When they lack a full moon, or when they travel, they count by deeps ;
which is a very ancient cuftom — probably, from the Mofaic method of
counting time, " that the evening and the morning were the firft day."
Quantity they count by tens, the number of their fingers •, which is a
natural method to all people. In the mercantile way, they mark on the
ground their numbers, by units ; or by X for ten ; which, I prefume they
learned from the white people, who traded with them^ They readily add
together their tens, and find out the number fought. They call it 2''akd-ne-
Tlapba, or " fcoring on the ground," But old time they can no way trace,
only by remarkable circumfl;ances, and sras. As they trade with eaciv
Other, only by the hand, they have no proper name for a pound weight.
i Jlr
! ii'
! il
m
The Cheerake count as high as an hundred, by various numeral names v
whereas the other nations of Eafl; and Weft-Florida, rife no higher than
the decimal number, adding units after it, by a conjunftion copulative ;
which innmates, that nation was either more mixed, or more fkiUul, than
the refl: : the latter feems moft probable. They call a thoufand, Skoch
Chooke Kaicre, " the old," or " the old one's hundred :" and fo do tlic
red, in their various dialects, by interpretation •, which argues their former
dcill in numbers.
'fl ^
yS 0/; the d:J'ii!:t cf the American Indians from the fcjis.
I fhall here give a fj-'ecimen of the Hebrew method of counting, and
that cf tlic Cbtc-ake, Chikkafah, and Mufl^ohge or Creeks, by which fomc
farihcr anaio'-;y will aj-pcar between the favagc Indians, and their fuppoied
Ifraclitifli brethren. I'he Hebrew charaders were numeral figures : tliey
counted by them alphabetically, N (i), 2 (2), and fo on to the letter ■•, the
tenth letter of the alphabet, and which ftands for ten ; then, by prefixing ♦
to thole letters, they proceeded with tiieir rifing numbers, as N'' (11),
a' 1^1?.), y ('3)> "'^ ('+)) &c. They had words alio of a numeral power, as
ini* ( i), ^I'V (2), ^'ih'^ ( j), J';i"il< (4)> &c. We fliall now fee how the Indian
method of numbering agrees with this old ftandard, as well as with the idiom
of the Hebrew language in fimilar cafes.
The Cheerake number thus : Scguo i, I'alr:: 2, Choch 3, Nankke 4,
Ipki 5, Soctare 6, Karekoge 7, Subnayra S, ^^obruiyra cj, Skoih lo, Sccitoo 11,
TaratGo 12, &c. And here we may fee a parity of words between two
of the Indian nations ; for t!ic Mullcohge term a ftone, Tahre ; which
glances at the Hebrew, as they not only built witli fuch materials, but
vifed it as a word of number, exprefilve of two. In like manner, Ifljk^
" five," fignifies a mother, which fecms to Ihcw that their numeral word",
were formerly fignificant ; and that they arc one (lock of people.
The Ciiikkaiah and Choktah count in this manner — Chephpha i, T.'oogalo 2,
Tootchena 3, Oojln 4, lathlahe 5, IlaHuahle 6, Untoogalo 7, Untoolchcna b',
Cbakkdle 9, Pokoolc 10, Pokoole Aazva Chephpha^ " ten and one," and fo on.
The Cheerake have an old v/alle town, on the Georgia foutli-weft branch cf
Savannah river, called I'oogalo; which word may come under the former
obfervation, upon the numerical word two : and they call a pompion,
Oofio^ which refemblcs Oofta., four.
^
I'l
The Cheerake call twenty, Tahre Skceh, " two tens :" and the Chikkafah
term it, Pokoole 'Toogalo^ " ten twos :" as if the former had learned to num-
ber from the left hand to the right, according to the Syriac cuftom ; and
the latter, from the right to the left hand, after the Plebrew manner. The
former call an hundred, Skoeh Chookc ; and, as before cbferved, a thoufand,
Skoeb Chooke Kaiere, or '• the old one's hinidrcd ;" for with them, Kaiere figni-
fies " ancient," or aged ; whereas Eli, or Eti-u, expreUcs former old time.
7 May
'their method of countings
79"
May not this have fome explanation, by the " Ancient of days," as exprcflcd
by the prophet Daniel — ma^^nifying the number, by joining one of the
names of God to it — acconlin;.' to a iVeq'ient ruftom of the Hebrews ? This
feems to b: illuflr;ir,\i with kiffioient ckarrcfs, by the numerical metl.ocl of
tlie Chikkafah — for they call ww hiin.lred, Pokcole Tathkepa ; and a thou-
fand, Pokoik 'i'dthiccpa 'tair'cpa IJiH-) ; the lall of wliich is a ftrong double
fupcrlative, according to the ufage of the Hebrews, by a repetition of
the principal wonl ; or by affixing the name of God to the end of it,
X-O hughten tlic number. liijto is one of their names of God, expref-
five of niajcfty, or greutneTs j and Soottatlj'eepa *, the name of a drum, dc-
rivL'd from Scotlc, an eanhcn pot, and iTtJ/WtY/rt, perhaps the name or num-
ber of Ibme of their ancient It-oions.
CD
The Mufl;ohge metliod cf counting is, Hcimnai i, Ilckko'.c 2, Toctcbcva 3,.
Oljla 4, Cbahdpe 5, Eepahge 6, Ilcolophdge 7, Checncpa S, Ohfiape 9, Po-
i^uk 10, tec. 1 am k)rry that I have not fufficicnt fl^ill in the Muflcohrc
dialtfty to make ^ny iifcful obfervations on this head ; however, the reader
can eafily difcern the parity of language, between their numerical words, and
thofe of the Chikkafah and Choktah nations ; and may from thence con-
clude, that they were formerly one nation and people.
■If
: .ill''
..il! ;
'1 i":^*l
f?
. i: !tr:
I have feen their fymbols, or fignatures, in a heraldry way, to count or
didinguifli their tribes, done with wiiat may be called wild exadnefs. The
Choktah ufe the like in the dormitories of their dead ; which feems to argue,,
that the ancienter and thicker-fettkd countries of Peru and Mexico had for-
merly, at leaft, the jie of hieroglyphic characters; and tiiai; they painted
the real, or figurative images of things, to convey their ideas. The prefent
American Aborigines feem to be as (kilful Pantomimi, as ever were thofe
of ancient Greece or Rome, or the modern Turkilli mutes, who defciibe
the meaned things fpokcn, by gefture, adion, and the pafTions of the face.
Two far-dillant Indian nations, wlio underdr.nd not a v/ord of each otl;er's
language, v.'ill intelligibly converfe together, and contraft engagements,
without any interpreter, in fuch a furprizing manner, as is fcarccly credible.
As their diaksfls are guttural, the indications they ufe, with the hand or
• The double vowels, c« and cr, are aUvny; to he joined in one fyllable, and prononncci.t
fingers,.
!ong;.
8o
On the uifccnt of the Amer'tmn l/ulhms from tbc yews.
fingers, in common dircourff, to accompany their ipeecli, is the reafon that
Itranjicrs ima[',inL' they make only a gaggling noik', like what wc are told or
the Hottentoi.s wiihoiu any articulate Ibiind ■, whereas it is an ancient ciil-
tom of the eailcrn countries, which probably the firll emigrants brought
with them to America, and (till retain over the fai-extended continent *.
ARGUMENT VII,
|;i»'
li>i
In conformity to, or after the manner of the Jews, the Indian Americans
have their Prophets, High-Priests, and others of a religious order. As
the Jews had a //■ivl/uiii JhuSloruiii, or moll holy place, fo have all the
Indian nations •, particularly, the Muflcohge. It is partitioned off by a
mud-wall about breaft-high, behind the white feat, which always ftands
to the left hand of the red-painted war-feat ; there they depofit their confe-
crated veflels, and fuppofed holy utenfils, none of the laity daring to ap-
proach that facred place, for fear of particular damage to themfelves, and
general hurt to the people, from the fuppofed divinity of the place.
With the Mufkohge, Hifch Lalage fignifies " cunning men," or perfons
prefcient of futurity, much the fame as the Hebrew feers. Checratahcge is
the name of the pretended prophets, with the Cheerake, and nearly 3- -
preaches to the meaning of ^'33, NebitU the Hebrew name of a prophet.
Chcera is their word for " fire," and the teimination points out men pofleft
of, or endued with it. The word feems to allude to the celeftial cherubim,
fire, light, and fpirit, which centered in O E A, or Yohewah. Thefe In-
dians call tlieir pretended prophets alfo Loa-che, " Men refembiing tlie holy
fire," or as Elohim •, for the termination exprefies a comparifon, and
Loa, is a contraction of Loak., drawn from n'7K, Eloah, the fingular num-
ber of DTi'^i*, Elohim, tiie name of the holy ones. And, as the Mufl-cohge
If!-
* The firll numbering was by their fingers ; to which cudom Solomon alludes, Pi-cv.'iW. 16.
" length of days is in her right hand." The Greeks called this, ATcT5/virr«/y.o'^?/i', becaufe
they numbered on their live fingers : and Ovid fays, Scu, quia tot digitis, per qms mmerare J'o-
hmui ; likewifc Juvenal, Sua dextrd computat aitnos. Others numbered on their ten fingers, as
we may fee in liede de ratione temporum. And the ancients not only counted, but are faid
to fpeak with their fingers, Piov. vi. 13, ' The wicked man he teacheth with his fingers."
And Nxvius, in Tarentilla, fays, dat digito literas,
7 cull
Thi'ir prophets, bigb-pricjls,
3i
call the noife of tliunder, Erowab, To the Cheerake by. inverting it, IFornh,
" He is -," thereby alluding to the divine eflence : and, as thole term the
lightning Elua, and believe it immediately to proceed from the voice of ///.
toholto Eloa Aba^ it fliews the analogy to the Hebrews, and their fenti-
ments to be different from all the early Teathen world.
The Indian tradition fays, that their forefathers were pofieired of an ex-
traordinary divine fpirit, by which they foretold things future, and con-
troulcd the common courfe of nature : and this they tranfmittcd to their
offspring, provided they obeyed the facred laws annexed to it. They be-
lieve, that by the communication of the fame divine fire working on their
Louche^ they can now effed: the like. They fay it is out of the reach of Nana
Ookproo, either to comprehend, or perform fuch things, becaufe the beloved
fire, or the holy fpirit of fire, will not co-operate with, or adluate Hottuk
Cokproofe, " the accurfed people." IJhtohooUo is the name of all their
prieftly order, and their pontifical office defcends by inheritance to tlie
eldeft ; thofe friend-towns, whic i are firmly confederated in their exercifes
and plays, never have more than one Archi-?}iagus at a time. But lamenefs,
contrary to the Mofaic law, it mufl: be confeffed, does not now exclude him
from ofHciating in his religious fundion •, though it is not to be doubted, as
they are naturally a modeft people, and highly ridicule thofe who are inca-
pable of procreating their fpecies, that formerly they excluded the lame and
impotent. They, who have the leaft knowledge in Indian affairs, know,
that the martial virtue of the favages, obtains them titles of diftindion -, but
yet their old men, who could fcarcely corred their tranfgrefTing wives,
much lefs go to war, and perform thofe difficult exercifes, that are elTen-
tially needful in an adlive warrior, are often promoted to the pontifical dig-
nity, and have great power over the people, by the pretended fanftity of the
office. Notwithftanding the Cheerake are now a neil of apoftate hornets,
pay little refpeft to grey hairs, and have been degenerating fafl from
their primitive religious principles, for above thirty years pafl — yet,
before the lail war. Old Hop, who was helplefs and lame, prefuled over
the whole nation, as Archi-magus, and lived in Choate, their only town
of refuge. It was entirely owing tj the wifdom of thofe who then pre-
fided in South-Carolina, that his dangerous pontifical, and reg.il-like
power, was impaired, by their letting up Attn Kulla Ktdla, and fup-
porting him fo well, as to prevent the then eafy tranfition of an Indian
M Jiigh-
Ka On the dcfccnt of the American Indians from the 'Jcii^s.
higli-pritllhood into a French American bioody chair, with a bvinch of red
and black beads \ where the devil and they could as eafily have inllruifted
them in the infernal Frencli catechiihi, as they did the Canada Indians :
as— Who killed Chriil ? .////uvr, The bloody Englifn j S:c. *
To dilcovcr clearly the origin of the Indian religious fyftem, I miifl: oc-
rafionally quote as inuth iVom the Mofaic intUtution, as the favages feem
to copy alter, or imitate, in their ceremonies ; and only the faint image
of the Hebrew can now be expcdled to be difcerned, as in an old, im-
perfcdt glals. The prieflhood originally centered with the firfl male born
of every family : wiih the ancient heathens, the royalty was annexi^d to it,
in a direift line •, and it defcended in that manner, as low as tlie Spartans
and Romans. Bur, to fecure liVael from falling into heathenifli cudoms aiad
v;orfhip •, God in the time of Mofes, fet apart the Levites for religious fer-
viccs in the room of the firll-born •, and one high-priell, was elcL^ed
from the family of Aaron, and anointed with oil, who prefidcd over the
rell. This holy office defcended by right of inheritance. However, they
were to be free of bodily defects, and wer . by degrees initiated to their
holy office, before they were allowed to ferve in it. They were confecrated,
by having the water of purifying fprlnkled upon them, wafliing all their
body, and their clothes clean, anointing them with oil, and offering a
facrifice.
It is not furprizing that the drefs of the old favage Archi-magus^ and that
of the Levitical high-prieft, is fomewhat different. It may well be fuppofed,
they wandered from captivity to this far-dillant wildernefs, in a diilreft condi-
tion, where they could fcarcely cover themfelves from the inclemency of heat
and cold. Befides, if they had always been pofTciled of the greateft affluence,
the long want of written records would fufficiently excufe the difference ;
becaufe oral traditions are liable to variation. However, there are fome
traces of agreement in their pontifical drefs. Before the Indian Archi-
magus officiates in making the fuppofed holy fire, for the yearly atonement
• A wrong belief has .1 moft powerful efficacy in depraving men's morals, and a right one
has a great power to reform them. The bloody Romi(h bulls, that France fent over to their
Indian converts, clearly prove the former ; and our peaceable conduit, as plainly ihcwed the
latier, till liritannia fcnt out her lions to retaliate.
7 ©f
7/je ornaments of their higb-priejl.
83
of fin, the Sagan clothes liim with a white ephod, which is a waiftcoat
without llccvcs. When he enters on that Iblcmii duty, a beloved attendant
ipreads a white-drtil buck-fkin on the wliite feat, wiiicii flands dole to the
i'uppolld holiell, and then puts fome white beads on it, that arc given him
by tlie people. Then the Archi-magus wraps around his flioulders a con-
fecrated Ikin of the i'ame fort, which reaching acrofs under his arms, he
ties behind his back, with two knots on the legs, in the form of a figure
of eight. Another cuftom he obferves on this folemn occafion, is, inftead
of going barefoot, lie wears a new pair of buck-fkin white maccafenes made
by himlelf, and Hitched with the Hnews of the fame animal *. The upjjcr
leather acrofs the toes, he paints, for the fpacc of three inches, v.ith a few
ftreaks of red — not with vermilion, for that is tiieir continual war-
emblem, but with a certain red root, its haves and ftalk refcmbling the
ipecacuanha, which is their fixed red fymbol of holy things. Thelc flioes he
never wears, but in the time of the fuppofed paflbver ; for at tlie end of it,
they are laid up in the beloved place, or holiell, where much of the like
Tort, quietly accompanies an heap of old, broken earthen ware, conch-fliells,
and other confecrated things.
The Mofaic ceremonial inflitutions, are acknowledged by our beft writers,
to reprefent the MefTiah, under various types and fliadows •, in like manner,
the religious cuftoms of the American Indians, feem to typify the fame •,
according to the early divine promife, that the lied of the woman r.iouUI
bruifc tiie head of the ferpent ; and that it fliould bruife hi;; heel. — I'he
Levitical high-prielt wore a breoft-plate, which they called llofriliim, and on it
the Urifit and Thummim, fignifying lights and perfecflions ; for they are the
plurals of IIX, Aivora, (which inverted makes Erozi-a) and n~"ip, Tlwruh,
r^'iii
4
' 'i'^
4;
• Obfcrvant ubi fefta mero r i -^ t'abbata rcges,
Et vctus indulget fenibus cii.-.r,''iHa porcis.
Juvenal, Sat. vi.
When the high-priell entered into the hollcd, on the day cf expiation, he clothed himfeli"
in whire; and, when he finillied that day's fervice, he laid afide thofe clothe- and Ictt
them in the tabernacle. Lev. xvi. 23.
When the Egyptian priefts went to worOiip in their temples, they woic flioes of white
parchment. Herodotuj, Lib. ii. Cap. v.
M 2 tlie
■1
i
1 :
v^
84 On the dcj'cent of the American Indians from the 'yeius.
the law, as it dircifted tlu'in under dark fliadows, to Mefliah, the lamp
of light and perf'c(ftions. In refcniblance of this facred pedtoral, or bread-
plate, the American /Irchi-magus wears a breaft-plate, made of a white
conch-fhcll, with two holes bored in the middle of it, through which he
puts the ends of an otter-Hcin ftrap, and faftens a buck-horn white button to
the outlidc of each, as if in imitation of the precious Hones of Urim, which
miraculoufly blazoned from the high-prieft's breafl, the unerring words of
the divine oracle. Inftead of the plate of gold, which the Levite wore on
his forehead, bearing thefe words, niH'' "h dp, Kadejh li 2'oheiaab, " holy,
or feparate to God," the Indian wears around his temples, either a
wreath of fwan-feathers, or a long piece of fwan-fl<in doubled, fo as only
the fine fnowy feathers appear on each fide. And, in likenefs to the
I'iara of the former, the latter wears on the crown of his head, a tuft of
white feathers, \.hich they call Tatera. He likewife faftens a tuft of blunted
wild Turkey cock-fpurs, toward the toes of the upper part of his macca-
fenes, as if in relemblancc to the feventy-two bells, which the Leviti-
cal high-priell wore on his coat of blue. Thofe are as ftrong religious
pontifical emblems, as any old Hebrews could have well chofen, or re-
tained under the like circumftances of time and place. Thus appears the
Indian Archi magus — not as Merubha Begadim, " the man with many
clothes," as they called the high-prieft of the fecond temple, but with
clothes proper to himfelf, when he is to officiate in his pontifical
fundion, at the annual expiation of fins *. As religion is the touchftone of
every nation of people, and as thefe Indians cannot be fuppofed to have
been deluded out of theirs, feparated from the reft of the world, for
many long-forgotf'n ages — the traces which may be difcerned among
them, will help to corroborate the other arguments concerning their
origin.
li-j
Thefe religious, beloved men are alfo fuppofed to be in great favour with
the Deity, and able to procure rain when they pleafe. In this refpedt alfo,
we fhall obferve a great conformity to the praftice of the Jews. The He-
brew records inform us, that in the moon Abib, or Nifan, they prayed for
* The only ornaments that diftinguiflied the high-ptieft from the reft, were a coat with
feventy-two bells, an ephod, or jacket without fleeves, a breaft-plate fet with twelve ftones,
a liiien mitre, and a plate of gold upon his forehead.
1 die
Their pritjU method of fecking fiafmablc rami.
S3'
tlie fpring, or latter rain, to be lb fcafonablc and fuffii:ient as to give them a
gootl harve(t. An.l the Indian Americana liavc \\ tradition, that thi-ir tbrc-
tathers fouglit for and obtained I'ucli fcalbnable rains, as gave tlicm plentit'ul
crops ; and they now feek thein in a manner agreeable to tl\c fhadow ot
tliis tradition.
When the ground is parched, their ram-makers, (as they arc commonly
termed) are to mediate tor the beloved red people, with the bountiful holy
Spirit of fire. But their old cunning prophets are not fond of entering on
this religious duty, and avoid it as long as they poll'ibly can, till the mur-
murs of the people force them to the lacrcd attempt, for the fecurity of
their own lives. If he fails, the prophet is fliot dead, becaufe tliey are fo
credulous of his divine power conveyed by the holy Spirit of fire, thai:
they reckon him an enemy to the ftate, by averting the general good, aiul
bringing defolating famine upon the beloved people. But in general, he is
fo difccrning in the ftated laws of nature, and fl\ilful in prieftcraft, that he
always feeks for rain, either at the full, or change of the moon ; unlefs the
birds, either by inftinft, or the temperature of their bodies, fliould ilircft
him otherwife. However, if in a dry feafon, the clouds, by the veering of
the winds, pafs wide of their fields — while they are inveighing bitterly
againft him, fome in fpeech, and others in their hearts, he foon changes
their well-known notes — he a/Tumes a difpleafed countenance and car-
riage, and attacks them with bitter reproaches, for their vicious conduft in
the marriage-ftate, and for their notorious pollutions, by going to the women
in their religious retirements, and for multifarious crimes that never could
enter into his head to fufpeft them of perpetrating, but that the divinity
his holy things were endued with, had now fufit;red a great decay» although-
he had faded, purified himfelf, and on every other account, had lived an
innocent life, according to the old beloved fpeech : adding, " Loak IJfjto-
hoollo will never be kind to bad people." Me concludes with a religious
caution to the penitent, advifing them to mend their manners, and the times
■will mend with them : Then they depart with forrow and lliame. The
old women, as they go along, will exclaim loudly againfl: the young
people, and proteft they will watch their manners very narrowly for the
time to come, as they are fure of their own fteady virtue,
1£
.,J
\ \
86
On the dijl\'ut fj tijc AinoutVi Indians from tbj y>':i's.
If a two-yt-ars drouplit lia[>; ens, ilic fyiihedrlm, at tlic c.iriull I'llicltation
of the niortilieil linicrs, tonvcno in a boJy, and nuki; proper enquiry
into tlic true caui'c of their calamities •, bccaul'c (lay they) it is better
to ipoil a tew r(j;',vi:rn people, tlian a tew roi^uifli people fl-.ouUl fpoii Uottuk
Orctccpch : TIic lot loon falls upon Jonas, and he is immeciiatdy fwallowed
iij). Too nni(.!i ram is equally dangerous to tlu.l'e red prophecs. — I was lately
toKl by a pentleniaii of tiillinj^uilhed tharaVler, that a famous rain-ivakcr of
the Mull.ohge was fliot tleatl, becaufc the river over-flowed their fields to
a great height, in the middle of Augud, and dcllroyed tiieir weighty iuir-
velt. They afcribcd the mifchicf to his ill-will ; as the Deity, they fay, doth
not injure the virtuous, and defigned him only to do good to the beloved
people.
I
!!^
In the year 1747, a Nachee warrior told me, that while one of their
prophets was uling his divine invocations for rain, according to tlie faint
image of their ancient tradition, he was killed with thunder on the ipot ;
upon which account, the fpirit of prophecy ever after fubfided among
them, and he became the lafl: of their reputed prophets. 'I'hey believed
the holy Spirit of fire had killed him with fome of his angry da'ting
fire, for wilful impurity j and by his threatening voice, forbad them to
renew tlie like attempt — and jullly concluded, that if they all lived well,
they flnould fare well, and have proper fealbns. This opinion coincides
with that of the Ifraelites, in taking fire for the material emblem of Yo-
hewah ; by reckoning thunder the voice of rhe Almighty above, according
to the fcriptural language ; by efteeming thunder-ftruck individuals under
the difpleafure of heaven — and by oblerving and enforcing fuch rules
of purity, as none of the old pagan nations obferved, nor any, except the
Hebrews.
As the prophets of the Hebrews had oracular anfwers, fo the Indian
magi, who are to invoke YO Hii Wah, and mediate with the fupreme
holy fire, that he may give feafonable rains, have a tranfparent ftone, of fup-
pofed great power in afllfting to bring down the rain, when it is put
in a bafon of water ; by a reputed divine virtue, inipaflcd on one of
tiie like forr, in time of old, which communicates it circularly. I'liis
flone would fuffer a great decay, they aflert, were it even i\:ev by their
own laity ; but if by foreigners, it would be utterly defpoiled of its divine
commu-
Tbclr pr'icjls vutbod of fcckhig fccfonahle ruins.
87
cOin.nuaicaiive power. Dotli not this alliuie to tlic precious blazoning
(tones of Uriin and Thumniiiii ?
i^..-- "!'
In Tymalife, ii lower Clipcr.ikc town, livod one of tluir reputed great
divine men, who never informed the people of his feekiny fur rain,
but at the ciiange, or full (,f the mnoii, unUTs th<re was lome pro-
inir.ng fip.^n of the chanre of the weather, either in the upper re;',iv>ns, or
from the feathered kalenJcr ; fuch as the quackinj'; of ducks, the croakin'i;
of ravens, and iVom tlie moillnefs of the :.ir felt in their quills ; conli.--
qucntly, he feldom iaileil of fuecefs, whirli l>i;jhly increaicil iiis name,
and profits •, for even when it rained at other times, they afcribed it to the
intercefTion of their rijreat Lelo\'ed man. Rain making, in the Cheerake
mountain", is not I'o dangerous an office, as' in the ricii level lands (;f tlic
Chikkaiith country, near the ^'Ii^i^ppi. The alvn'e CT.eerake piophet had a
carbuncle, near as bin; as an tgp;, which they faiil he fi.und wliere a great rattle-
fnake lay dead, and that it fparkled with fuch I'urprizing luflre, as to illund-
natc his daik winter-houfe, like llrong Hadies of continued li[i!itnin;.r, to tlic
great terror of tl.e v/eak, v,!;o duifl net \.\\t'v\ any account, approach
ihe dreadful fire-darting place, for fear of fi:d !en death. When he died, ic
was buried along with him accortling to cufloip, in tlic town-Iumic of Ty-
mahfe, under the great beloved cabbin, which Hood in the wcflernmofb part
of that old fabric, where they who will run the riHc of fearching, may luckily
find it •, but, if any of that family deteftcd th,em in difturbing tlie bones of
their deceafed relation, ti.ey would rcfent it as the bufdl pel of holliiity.
The inhuman conduft of the avaricious Spaniards tow.'.vd the dead i'eru-
vians and Mexicans, irritated the natives, to the higiieft pitcli of diftradion,
againft thofe ravaging enemies of humanity. The intenfe love the Indians
bear to their dead, is the reafon that fo few have fallen into the Iiands of our
phyficians to diflcft, or anatomill*. We will hope alfo, that frt)m a prin-
ciple of humanity, our ague-charmers, and water-cafters, who like birds of
night keep where the Indians frequently haunt, would not cut up their fel-
low-creatures, as was done by the Spanifli butchers in Peru and Mexico.
Not long ago, at a friendly fcu'A, or feafl: of love, in Weft-Florida, dur-
ing the time of a long-coptlnued drought, I earneftly importuned the o' !
rain-maker, for a fight of the pretended divine ftone, which he had affiired
me he was poflefled of; but lie would by no means gratify my requeft. Ho
told
\^'
i
S8 On the dcfcent of the American Indians from the 'J civs.
told me, as I was an infidel, literally, " one who (hakes hands with the
accurfcd ipecch," and did not believe its being endued with a divine power,
the fight of it could no ways benefit me -, and that, as their old unerring
tradition afllired them, it would fufler very great damage in cafe of com-
pliance, he hoped I would kindly acquiefce; efpecially, as he imagined, I
believed every nation of people had certain beloved things, that might be
cafily fpoiled by being polluted. I told him I was fully fatisfied with the
friendly excufe he made to my inconfiderate requeft -, but that I could
I'carcely imagine there were any fuch beloved men, and beloved things, in lb
extremely fertile, but now fun-burnt foil. Their crops had failed the year
before, by reafon of feveral concurring caufes: and, for the moft part of the
fummer fealbn, he had kept his bed through fear of incurring the punifli-
ment of a falfe prophet j which, joined with the religious regimen, and
abftemious way of living ho was obliged ftriflly to puriue, it fweated him
io feverely, as to reduce him to a fkcleton. I jelled him in a friendly way,
faying, I imagined, the fupveme holy fire would have proved more kind
to his honed devotees, than to ficken him fo feverely, efpecially at that
critical feafon, when the people's food, and his own, entirely depended on
his health ; that, though our beloved men never undertook to bring
down feafonable rains, yet we very feldom failed of good crops, and
always paid them the tenth bafl>:et-full of our yearly produce ; becaufe,
ihey perfuaded our young people, by the force of their honeft example,
and kind-hearted enchanting language, to fliun the crooked ways oi Hottuk
Kdlnkfe, " the mad .light people," and honeftly to fliake hands with the
old beloved fpecch — that the great, fupreme, fatherly Chieftain, had told
his Loncbe to teach us how to obtain peace and plenty, and every other
good thing while we live here, and when we die, not only to fliun the
accurled dark place, where the fun is every day drowned, but likewife to
live again for ever, \ery happily in the favourite country.
Me replied, that my fpeech confided of a mixture of good and ill ;
the beginning of it was crooked, and the conclufion ftraight. He faid, I
had wrongfully blamed him, for the effed of the diforderly conduft of the
red people and himfelf, as it was well known he faded at different times for
iTcveral days together j at other times ate green tobacco-leaves ; and fome
days drank only a warm decoftion of the button fnake-root, without allowing
any
A converfation iv'ub one of their pr'ujh.
89
any one, except his religious attendant, to come near him \ and, in every
other refpcfl, had honellly oblerved the auderc rules of his religious place,
according to the beloved fpeecli that IfljtohoQllo EUa Aha gave to the Loi'uhc
of their forefathers : but Loak IJJjtohoollo was forcly vexed wich molt of
their young people for violating the chaftity of their neighbours wives, and
even among the thriving green corn and peafe, as their beds here and there
clearly prov^.U tluis, they fpoiled the power of his holy things, ami
tempted Mim^go IJJjto Eloa, " the great chieftain of the thunder," to bind
up the clouds, and wichold the rain. Befides, that the old women were lefs
honrft in paying their rain-makers, than the L'nglilh women behaved to their
belcned men, unlefs 1 had fpoken too well of tliem. The wives of this and
the other perfon, he faid, had clieated him, in not paying him any portion
of the Lift year's bad crop, which their own bad lives [greatly contributed to,
as that i -nurious crime of cheating him of his dues, fufficlcntly teflified;
not to nil.; lion a late ciiflom, they liad contracted fincc the general
peace, of plantnig a great many fields of beans and peafe, in diltant places,
after the fummcr-crops were over, on the like dilhoneft principle •, likewife
in afllrming, that when the firft harveft was over, it rained for nothing -,
by that means tliey liacl blackened ihe old beloved fpeech, that Jfljlohoollo
Eloa of old I'poke to Ins Loache, and conveyed down to liim, only that
they might paint their own bad aiflions white. He concluded, by faying,
that all the chieftains, and others prellnt, as well as myfelf, knew nov/ very
well, from his honeft fpeech, the true caufe of the eartli's having been fo
ftrangely burnt till lately j and that he was afraid, if the licarts of thole
light and mad people he complained nl', tlid not Ipee.lily grow honed-, the
dreadful day would foon come, in which JXak Tjljltbccllo would fend PLkI-
tbik Keeradh Iptb, " tiic great blazing liar," TabLr.ie ceklhma., T.cak kachachc^
" to burn up half of tlie earth with fire," Vhcrinmi y'iubc, " from the
north to the fouth," Hcijf\: oohca pera, " toward t!ie fetting of tlie fun," where
they fhould in time arrive at the dreadful place of darknefs, be confined
there hungry, and otherwife forely diftreft among hin":n;.f fnakes and many
other frightful creatures, according to the ancient tri'c fpeech tliat Ijlto-
hoollo Ala fpokc to his beloved houdc.
Under this araiumeni, I will alfo mention mother '' rikino; refemblanre to
the Jews, as to their TniiES. — As the fuerdutal oAk. vvas fixed in the tribe
N of
1ir
:i'
■At'
-5.
It
go On the defcent of the American Indians from the Jeius,
of Levi, they had forty-eight cities allotted them from the other tribes. And
Mofes alTures us, in Dent. xiv. 2S, 29, that thofe tribes paid them alfo once
in three years, the tithe, or tenth of all they poflefled, which is fuppofed to
be about the thirtieth part of their annual poflcfTions -, by which means they
were reafonably maintained, as fpiritual pallors, and enabled to fulfil the
t'xtenfive and charitable application of their dues, as enjoined.
It hath been already hinted, that the Indian prophets undertake by the
emanation of the divine fpirit of fire, co-opetating with them, to bring down
proper rains for crops, on the penalty of looling their own lives ; as the
Indians reckon that a regular virtuous life will fufficiently enable their great
beloved men to bring bkflings of plenty to the beloved people ; and if they
negleft it, they are dangerous enemies, and a great curfe to the community.
They imagine his prophetic power is alfo reftriftive as to winter-rains, they
doing more hurt than good ; for they JLiftly obferve, that their ground fel-
dom fuffers by the want of winter-rains. Their fentiments on this head, are
very ftrong ; they fay, Ijhtohocllo Aha allows the winter-rain to fall un-
fought, but that he commanded their forefathers to feek for the fummer-
rain, according to the old law, otherwife he would not give it to them. If
the feafons have been anfwerable, when the ripened harveft is gathered in,
the old women pay their reputed prophet with religious good-will, a certain
proportional quantity of each kind of the new fruits, meafured in the fame
large portable back-bafkets, wherein they carried home the ripened fruits..
This ftated method they yearly obferve ; which is as confonant to the Levi-
tical inftitution, as can be reafonably expefled, efpecially, as their traditions
have been lime out of mind preferved only by oral echo.
Modern writers inform us, that the Perfees pay a tithe of their revenues
to the chief Deftour, or Arcliimagus of a city or province, who decides
cafes of confcicnce, and points of law, according to the inftitution of Zoro-
after — a mixture of Judaifm and paganifm. Their annual religious ofi'ering
to the Archimagi, is a mifapplication of the Levitical law concerning tithesj^.
contrary to the ufage of the American Aborigines, which it may be fuppofed
they immediately derived from tlie Hebrews ; for, as the twelfth tribe was
devoted to the divine fcrvice, they were by divine appointment, maintained
at the public expencc. However, when we confider that their government was
7 o£
'■!(
^J heir pay mtnt of titba to their pncjh.
9 J
of a mixed kind — firft a theocracy — then by nobles, and by kings — and a<
other times by tiieir high-pricll, it feems to appear pretty plain, that tlie Deity
raifed, preferved, and governed thofe people, to oppofe idolatry, and con-
tinue, till the fulnels of time came, the true divine vvorfliip on earth, under
ceremonial dark fliadows, without exhibiting their government in the leafl,
as a plan of future imitation. Befides, as Mefliah is come, according to the
predidions of the divine oracles, which reprefented him under various
ftrong types and fliadows, furely chriftians ougiit to follow the copy of thcii
humble Mailer and his holy difciples, and leave the fleecing of the flock to
the avaricious Jews, whofe religious tenets, and rapacious principles, fup-
port them in taking annual tithes from each other ; who afietSl to believe
that all the Mofaic law is perpetually binding, and that the prcdided Shilo,
who is to be their purifier, king, prophet, and high-priefl:, is not yet come.
The laia of tithing, was calculated only for the religious ccconomy of the
Hebrew nation •, for as the merciful Deity, who was the immediate head of
that ftate, had appropriated the Levites to his ftrvice, and prohibited them
purchafing land, left they fliould be feduced from their religious duties,
by worldly cares. He, by a moft bountiful law, ordered the ftate to give
them the tithe, and other offerings, for the fupport of themfelves and their
numerous families, and alio of the widow, the fatherlcfs, and the llranger.
:i^;
> t
i'li;-
^ -HI.;
I fhall infert a dialogue, that formerly paficd between the Chik-
kafah Loiiche and me, which will illuftrate both this, and other par-
ticulars of the general fubjefl ; and alfo Ihew the religious advantages
and arguments, by which the French ufed to undermine us with the
Indians.
We had been fpeaking of trade, which is the ufual topic of difcourfe
with thofe craftfmen. I afked him how he could reafonably blame the
Englifli traders for cheating Tekape kummc.h, " the red folks," even al-
lowing his accufations to be juft ; as he, their divine man, had cheated
them out cf a great part of their crops, and had the aflurance to claim it as
his religious due, when at the fame time, ii • had fliaked hands with the
ftraight old beloved fpeech, or ftriftly ob> d the ancient divine law,
his feeling heart would not have allowed him to have done fuch black
and crooked things, efpecially to tiie hclplefs, the poor, and the aged;
N 2 it
1 '1
92 On tie di'fcent of the American Iiid'uins from the fcivs.
it rather would have ftrongly moved him to ftretch out to them a kind and
helping hand, according ro the old beloved fpeech of Ijhtohoollo Ma to his
llotluk IJJjtohoollo, who were fufficiently fupported at the pviblic expence,
and ftridly ordered to fiipply with the grcatefl: tendernefs, the wants cf
others.
lie fmartly retorted my objedions, telling me, that the white people's
excufes for their own wrong condndt, were as fuli'e and weak as my com-
plaints were againft him. The red people, he faid, faw very clearly through
fuch thin black paint -, though, his facred employment was equally hid
from them and me •, by which means, neither of us could reafonably pre-
tend to be proper judges of his virtuous conduft, nor blame him for the ne-
celTary effl-ft of our own crimes ; or urge it as a plea for cheating him out
of his yearly dues, contrary to the old divine fpeech, for the crops became
light by their own vicious condufl, which fpoiled the power of his holy
things. So that it was vifible, both the red and white people were
conjmonly too partial to themfelves ; and that by the bounty of the fupreme
fatherly Chieftain, it was as much out of his power, as diftant from his
kindly heart, either to wrong the beloved red people, or the white nothings;,
and that it became none, except mad light people, to follow the crooked
fteps of Hottuk Ookproofe, the accurfed people.
As there was no interruption to our winter-night's chat, I afked him in a
friendly manner, whether he was not afraid, thus boldly to fnatch at the di-
vine power of diftributing rain at his pleafure, as it belonged only to the
great beloved thundering Chieftain, who dwells far above the clouds, in the
new year's unpolluted holy fire, and who gives it in common to all nations of
people alike, and even to every living creature over the f ice of the whole
earth, becaufe he made them — and his merciful goodnefs always prompts
him to fupiply the wants of all his creatures. He told me, that by an ancient
tradition, their Lcd(he were poflefled of an extraordinary divine power,,
by which they foretold hiddea things, and by the beloved fpeech
brought down fhowers of plenty to the beloved people •, that he very
well knew, the giver of virtue to nature refided on earth in the un-
polluted holy fire, and likewife above the clouds and the fun, in the
fliape of a fine fiery fubftance, attended by a great many beloved peo-
|)le ', and that he continually weighs us, and meafures out good or bad
things
1.' «
m 'f
French tricks to feduce the Indians to their inter cji.
9?
tilings to us, according to our a<5tions. He added, that ihoiigh the former
beloved fpeech had a long time fubfided, it was vfiy rcalbnable they
lliould ftill continue this th. t old beloved cuftom •, efpecinlly as it was both
profitable in fupporting many of their helplcfs old belovi-d men, and very
produdive of virtue, by awing their young people from violatinj^ the ancient
laws. This fhewed him to be cunning in prieltcrafc, if not pofTcired of a
tradition from the Hebrew records, that their prophets by tlie divine power,
had, on material occafions, a(fted beyond the ftatcd hws of nature, and
wrought miracles.
My old proplietic friend told me with a good deal of furprize, that
though the beloved red people had by fome means or other, loll the
old beloved fpeech •, yet Frcnjhe Lakkane ookprco, " the ugly yellow
French," (as they term the MifTilippians) had by fome wonderful merliod
obtained it ; for his own people, he adurcd me, had fcen them at New
Orleans to bring down rain in a very dry fcafon, when they were giving out
feverai bloody fpeeches to their head warriors againft the F.nglini Chikknfih
traders. On a mifchievous politic invitation of the French, feverai of the
Chikkafuh had then paid them a vifit, in t!ic time of an alarming drought
and a general faft, when they were praying for feafonable rains at mafs.
When they came, the interpreter was ordered to tell them, that the French
had holy places and holy things, after the manner of the red people — that
if their young people proved honeft, they could bring down rain whenever
they ftood in need of it — and that this was one of the chief reafons which
induced all the various nations of the beloved red people to bear them fo
intenfe a love ; and, on the contrary, fo violent and inexpreffible an hatred
even to the very name of the Englifli, becaufe every one of them was marked
with Amimhole Ookkproo, " the curfe of God."
The method the Chikkafah prophet ufed in relating the affair, has fome
humour in it — for their ignorance of the chriftian religion, and inftitutions.;;.,
perplexes them whea they are on the fubjeft j on which account I fliall
literally tranfcribe it.
He told me, that the Chikkafah warriors during three fucceffive day?,
accompanied the French Lodche and IfitohooUo to the great beloved houfc,
where a large bell hung a-top, which ftrange fight exceedingly furprized
7 them j.
m
'i
I I!'
'III
1 1
94
On the ilcfccnt of the American Indians from the Jcii'S.
fci*^
t!iem •, for, inflcad of being fit for a horfc, it would require a great many
ttiii horfcs to carry it. Around the infide of the beloved lioufe, tliere was
a multitude of iie and flie beloved people, or male and female faints or
angels, whofe living originals, they affirmed, dwelt above the clouds, and
helped them to get every good thing from Ijhtohoollo Aba, when they earneflly
crave their help. The French beloved men fpoke a great deal with much
warmth j the reft were likewife bufily employed in imitation of their Ifjlo-
hoollo and Louche. At one time they fpoke high, at another low. One chole
this, and anotiier chofe that fong. Here the men kneeled before the images
of their fhe- beloved people ; there the women did the like before their i'a-
vourite and beloved he-pidtures, entreating them for fome particular favour
which they flood in need of. Some of them, he laid, made very wild mo-
tions over their heads and breafls ; and others flruck their flomachs with a
vehemence like their warriors, when they drink much Ookka Honima, " bitter
waters," or fpirituous liquor ; while every one of them had a bunch of
mixed beads, to which they frequently fpoke, as well as counted over ;
that they loved thefe beads, for our people ftridly obfcrved, they did
not give them to tiieir Lociche and TJIjtohoollo^ as the red people would have
done to thofe of their own country, though it was very plain they de-
fcrved them, for beating themfelves fo much for the young people's roguiih
aftions •, and likewife for labouring fo ftrongly in pulling off their clothes,
and putting them on again, to make the beloved phyfic work, which
they took in fmall pieces, to help to bring on the rain. On the third
day (added he) they brought it down in great plenty, which was certainly
a very difficult performance; and as furprizing too, that they who are
always, when opportunity anf»vers, perfuading the red people to take up the
bloody hatchet againfl their old fleady friends, fhould ftill have the beloved
fpeech, which IjljtohooUo Aba Eloa formerly fpoke to his beloved Lcacbe.
Thus ended our friendly dilcourfe.
ARGUMENT VIII.
Their Festivals, Fasts, and Religious Rites, have alfo a great re-
femblance to thofe of the Heb-cws. It will be neceflary here to take a fhort
view of the principal Jewifli feafts, &c. They kept every year, a facred
read called the PalTover, in memory of their deliverance from Egyptian
bondage.
Their fejihals, religious rites, &c.
9S
bondage. Seven days were appointed, Lev. xxiii. — To thefe they added
an eighth, through a religious principle, as preparatory, to clear their lioufcs
of all leaven, and to fix their minds before they entered on that religious
duty. The name cf this fedival is derived from a word which fignifics
to " pafs over •," becaufe, when the deftroying angel flew through the
Egyptian houfes, and killed their firft-born, he palled over thofe of the
Ifraelites, the tops of whofe doors were ftained with the blood of the
lamb, which they were ordered to kill. This folemnity was inftituted with
the ftrongell injunftions, to let their children know the caufe of that ob-
fervancc, and to mark that night through all their generations.
Three days before this facred feftival, they chofe a lamb, without fpoc
or blemidi, and killed it on the evening of the fourteenth day ofvlbib,
which was the firft moon of the ecclefKiftical, and the feventh of the civil
year ; and they ate it with bitter lierbs, without breaking any of the
bones of it, thus prefiguring the death of MeiTiah. Tliis was tlie realbn
that this was the chief of the days of unleavened bread, and tliey were
llriftly forbidden all manner of work on that day ; bcfides, no uncir-
cumcifed, or unclean perfons ate of the pafchal lamb. Thofe of the peo-
ple, whom diieafes or long journies prevented from obferving tlie palTover
on ihat day, were obliged to keep it in the next moon.
On tlie fixteenth day, which was the fecond of the pafTover, they offered
up to God a ilieaf of the new barley-harveft, becaufe it was the carlieft
grain. The prieft carried it into the temple, and having cleaned and
parclied it, he grinded or pounded it into flower, dipt it in oil, and then
waved it before the Lord, throwing fome into the fire. The Jews were for-
bidden to eat any of their new harveft-, till they had offered up a flieaf, the
grain of which filled an omer, a fmall meafure of about five pints. All
was impure and unholy till this oblation was made, but afterwards it be-
came hallowed, and every one was at liberty to reap and get in liis harveft.
On the tenth day of the moon Ethanim, the fiifc day of the civil year^
they celebrated the great faft, or feaft of expiation, afilidled thtir fouls, and
ate nothing the whole day. The high-prieft offered fevcral I'acrificcs, and
having carried the blood of the victims into the temple, lie iprinkled it
upon the altar of incenfc, and the veil that was before the holicQ i anti went
into
! i
;1^
iT
' *•'
! I
k
iii'.
96 On the drfccnt of the American Indians from the Jeivs.
into that mofl: facrcd place, where the divine Shekinah refidcd, carrying a
ccnil'r fmoking in his hand with incenfe, which hindered him from having
a clear fight of the ark. But he was not allowed to enter that holy place,
only once a year, on this great day of expiation, to offer the general facri-
fice both for the fins of the people and of himfclf. Nor did he ever mention
the divine four-lettered name, YO He WaH, except on this great day,
when he bkfled the people.
ilfi I
m
Kaf
Becaufe the Ifraelites lived in tabernacles, or booths, while they were in
the wildcrnels ; as a memorial therefore of the divine bounty to them,
tliey were commanded to keep the feaft of tabernacles, on the fifteenth
day of the montli Tifri, which they called Rojh Ho/afia/j, or llofiianab, \t
laded eight days j during which time, they lived in arbours, (covered with
green boughs of trees) iinlefs when they went to worfliip at the temple,
or liing HoJIjaniyo around the altar. When they were on this religious duty,
they were obliged each to carry in their hands a bundle of the branches
of willows, palm-trees, myrtles, and others of different forts, laden with
fruit, and tied together with ribbons ; and thus rejoice together with the
appointed fingers, and vocal and inftrumental mufic, in the divine prefence
before the altar. On the eighth day of the feaft, one of the prieits brought
fome water in a golden veffel, from the pool of Siloam, mixed it with
wine, and poured it on the morning-facrifice, and the firft fruits of their
latter crops which were then prcfented, as an emblem of the divine graces
that ihould flow to them, when Shilo came, who was to be their anointed
king, propher, and high-priell — The people in the mean time finging out
of Ilaiah " with joy fliall ye draw water out of the wells of falvation."
Let us now turn to t!ic copper colour American Hebrews. — While their
fanftified new fruits are dreffing, a religious attendant is ordered to call
fix of their old beloved women to come tu the temple, and dance the be-
loved d.'.ncc with joyful hearts, accorc.ing to the old beloved fpeech. Tliey
cheerfully obey, and enter the iuppofed holy ground in folemn proceffion,
each carrying in her hand a bundle of fmall branches of various green trees;
and they j' in the ianie number of old magi, or priefts, who carry a cane in
one liupid ;-.dorned with white fe:uhers, having likcwife green boughs in their
other hand, whi-rh they pullec' from their holy arbour, and carefully place
there, encircling it with fever;, 1 rounds. Thofe beloved men have their heads
di-effed
■^.
^
7heir religious Jejiivali, fafis, &c.
97
drofled with while plumes •, but the women are decked in their flnefl:, and
anointed with bear's-greafe, having fmall tortoife-lhells, and white peb-
bles, faftened to a piece of white-dreft deer-(kin, which is tied to each of
their legs.
The eldefl: of the priefts leads the facred dance, a-head of the innermoft
row, which of courfe is next to the holy fire. He begins the dance round
the fuppofed holy fire, by invoking Yah, after their ufual manner, on a bafs
key, and with a fliort accent-, then he fings YO YO, which is repeated by the
reft of the religious procelTion j and he continues his facred invocations and
praifes, repeating the divine word, or notes, till they return to the fame point
of the circular courfe, where they began : then He He in like manner,
and Wah Wah. While dancing they never fail to repeat thofe notes j and
frequently the holy train ftrike up Halelu, Halelu ; then Ilaleluiah, Haklu-
Tah, and Aleluiah and Alelu-Yah, " Irradiation to the divine cflence,"
with great carneftnefs and fervor, till they encircle the altar, while each
ftrikes the ground with right and left feet alternately, very quick, but well-
timed. Then the awful drums join the facred choir, which incite the old
female fingers to chant forth their pious notes, and grateful praifes be-
fore the divine effence, and to redouble their former quick joyful fteps, in
imitation of the leader of the facred dance, and the religious men a-head of
them. What with the manly ftrong notes of the one, and the (hrill voices
of the other, in concert with the bead-lhells, and the two founding, drum-
like earthen vefTels, with the voices of the muficians who beat them, the
reputed holy ground echoes with the praifes of Y. > 1 e Wah. Their
finging and dancing in three circles around their facred fire, appears to have
a reference to a like religious cuftom of the Hebrews. Ai.d may we not rea-
fonably fuppofe, that they formerly underftood the pfalms, or divine hymns ?
at leaft thofe that begin with Halelu-Tah ; otherwife, liow came all the inha-
bitants of the cxtcnfive regions of North and South- America, to have, and
retain thofe very expreflive Hebrew words ? or how repeat them fo diftindly,
and apply them after the manner of the Hebrews, in their religious accla-
mations ? The like cannot be found in any other countries.
In like manner, they fing on other religious occafions, and at their feafts
of love, Ale-To Jlt-To; which is ^N, the divine name, by his attribute of
omnipotence ; and % alluding to niH''. They fing likewife Ilewah Hewahy
which is mn " the immortal foul j" drawn from the divine efiTential name,
O as
1
n
n
t '
98 0/i the dcfcciit of the American Indians from the fcws.
as deriving its nitional foculties from YofinwAH. Thofe words that they
fing in their religious dances, they never repeat at any other time •, which
feems to have greatly occafioned the lofs of the meaning of their divine
hymns -, for I believe they are now fo corrupt, as not to underrtand cither
the fpiritual or literal meaning of what they fing, any further than by
allufion.
i ' ' '
Tn tlicir circuiting dances, they frequently fing on a bafs key, /llue Altu\
Ahh'e^ Aliihe, and Altiwiih Aluwah, which is the Hebrew m'^M. They like-
wife fing Shiln-To Shilh-Td, ShilU-He SbiluHe, Shilu-lVah Shilh-lVah, and
Shilu-Hiih Shilh-Wh. They tranfpofe them alfo feveral ways, but with the
very fame notes. The three terminations make up in their order the four-
lettered divine name. Hah is a note of gladnefs — the word preceding it,
i^l'iih, feems to exprefs the prcdiifted human and divine m'?"^, Shiloh, who
v/as to be the purifier, and peace-maker.
They continue their grateful divine hymns for the fpace of fifteen
minutes, when the dance breaks up. As they degenerate, they lengthen
their dances, and Ihorten the time of their fafts and purifications j infomuch,
that they have fo exceedingly corrupted their primitive rites and cuftoms,
within the fpace of the lall thirty years, that, at the fame rate of declen-
fion, there will not be long a poflibility of tracing their origin, but by their
dialeds, and war-cufloms.
At the end of this notable religious dance, the old beloved, or holy wot-
men return home to haften the feaft of the new-faniftified fruits. In the
mean while, every one at the temple drinks very plentifully of the CuflTeena
and other bitter liquids, to cleanfe their finful bodies j after which, they go
to fome convenient deep water, and there, according to the ceremonial law
of the Hebrews, they wafli away their fins with water. Thus fanftified,
they return with joyful hearts in folemn procefiion, finging their notes of
praife, till they enter into the holy ground to eat of the new delicious fruits
of wild Canaan *. The women now with the utmoft cheerfulnefsj bring to
* They ate fo ftriflly prohibited from eating fair, or fleni-meat, till the fourth day, that
during the inte.val, the very touch of cither is accounted a great pollution : after that period,
they are deemed lawful to be eaten. All the hunters, and able-bodied men, kill and barbecue
wild game in the woods, at leall ten days before this great fellival, and religioufly keep it
for that facrcd ufc.
the
^hcir religious fe/} hah ^ fojis, (§c.
99
the outfulc of the facred fquare, a plentiful variety of all tliofc good tilings,
with which the divine fire has blcfled them in the new year •, and the reli-
gious attendants lay it before them, according to tiieir ftaicd order and
reputed merit. Every feat is fervcd in a gradual fuccefTion, from tlie white
and red imperial long broad feats, and the whole fquare is foon covered ;
frequently they have a change of courfes of fifty or fixty different forts, and
thus they continue to regale themfelves, till the end of the fcdival ; for they
reckon they are now to feaft themfelves with joy and gladnefs, as the divine
file is appeafed for paft crimes, and has propitioufly fanftified their weighty
harvcft. They all behave fo modeftly, and are pofTened of fuch an extra-
ordinary conilancy and equanimity, in the purfuit of their religious myfte-
ries, that they do not fliew the lealt outward emotion of plcafurc, at the fiifi:
fight of the fanflified new fruits ; nor the leall uncafinefs to be tailing thofc
tempting delicious fat things of Canaan. If one of them adted in a contrary
manner, they would fay to him, Che-Hakfet Kaneha, " You refemble fuch
as were beat in Canaan." This unconcern, doubtlefs proceeded originally
from a virtuous principle ; but now, it may be the mere effect of habit : for,
jealoufy and revenge excepted, they feem to be diverted of every menial
paffion, and entirely incapable of ahy lafting afftdlon.
I 'i
I Ihall give an inftance of this. — If the hufband has been a year abfent on
a vifit to another nation, and fliould by chance overtake his wife near home,
with one of his children (kipping along fide of her •, inftead of thofe fudden
and ftrong emotions of joy that naturally arife in two generous brealts at
fuch an unexpefted meeting, the felf-interefted pair go along as utter
ftrangers, without fceming to take the leaft notice of one another, till a con-
fiderable time after they get home.
The Indians formerly obferved the grand feftival of the annual expiation of
fin, at the beginning of the firft new moon, in which their corn became full-
eared i but for many years paft they are regulated by the feafon of their har-
veft. And on that head, they fliew more religious patience than the Hebrews
formerly did ; who, inftead of waiting till their grain was ripe, forced
their barley, which ripened before any other fort they planted. And they
arc perhaps as fkilful in obferving the revolutions of the moon, as
ever the Ifraelites were, at leaft till the end of the firft temple ; for during
that period, inftead of meafuring time by aftronomical calculations, they
O 2 knew
.A,
1 00 On the dcjcent of the American Indians from the Jews.
,m
knew it only by the phafcs of the moon. In like manner, the fuppofed red
Hebrews of the American defarts, annually obferved their feftivals, and
Neetak Tah-ah, '• lays of afflifting themfelves before the Deity," at a pre-
fixed time of a certain moon. To this day, a war-leader, who, by the
number of his martial exploits is entitled to a drum, always fanftifics him-
fclf, and his out-ftanding company, at the end of the old moon, fo as to go
off at the appearance of the new one by day-light i whereas, he who has
not fulBciently diftingiiiflied himfelf, muft fct out in the night.
As the firft of the Neetak HooIIo, precedes a long ftrift fad of two
nights and a day, they gormandize fuch a prodigious quantity of Ih-ong
food, as to enable them to keep inviolate the fucceeding faft, the fab-
bath of fabbaths, the Neetak Tab-ab : the feaft lafts only from morning
till fun-fet. Being great lovers of the ripened fruits, and only tantalized
as yet, with a near view of them; and having lived at this feafon, but
meanly on the wild produtls of nature — fuch a faft as this may be truly
faid to afflict their fouls, and to prove a fufficient trial of their religious
principles. During the ftftival, lome of their peopV arc clofcly cm-
ployed in puttin;^ their temple in proper order for the annual expiation ;
and others are painting the white cabbin, and the fuppofed holieft, with
white clay •, for it is a facred, peaceable place, and white is its emblem.
Some, at the fame time are likewife painting the war-cabbin with red clay,
or their emblematical red root, as occafion requires j while otiiers of an in-
ferior order, arc covering all tlie feats of the beloved fquare with new mat-
tielTcs, made out of tlie fine fplinters of long canes, tied together with
iLigs. In the mean time, feveral of them are bufy in fweeping the temple,
clearing it of every fuppofed polluting thing, and carrying out the allies from
t!ie hearth which perhaps had not been cleaned fix times fince the laft
vcar's general offering. Several towns join together to make the annual
hicrifice ; and, if the whole nation lies in a narrow compafs, they make but
one annual offering : by which means, either through a fenfual or religious
principle, they ftrike off the work with joyful hearts. Every thing being
thus prepared, the Jrcbi-magus orders fome of his religious attendants tcv
dig up the old hearth, or altar, and to fweep out the remains that by chance
might either be left, or drop down. Then he puts a few roots of the but-
ton-fnake-roor, with fome green leaves of an uncommon fmall fort of tobacco,,
r.nd a little of the new fruits, at the bottom of the fire-place, which he
I orders,
II!
*thcir religious /ejlivah, fa/Is, ^c.
102
orders to L covered up witli white marley clay, and wtticd over with clean
water •.
Immediately, the magi oiler them to make a thick arbour over the altar,
with grcci branches (jf the various young trees, which the warrior.-, had dc-
fignedly cholcn, and laid down on the oiitfidc of the fiippol'ed holy grounil :
the women, in the interim are buly at home in cleanin<^ out their houfcij,
renewing the old hearths, and clcanfing all their culinary vefllls, that they
may be fit to receive the pretended holy fire, and the lanftificd new fruits,
according to the purity of the lawi led by a contrary conduit, they fliould
incur damage in life, health, future crops, &c. It is frcfh in the memory
of the old traders, that formerly none of thefe numerous nations of Indians
would eat, or even handle any part of the new harveft, till fume of it h;ut
been offered up at the yearly fcftival by the /Ircbi-nwj^us, or thofe of
his appointment, at their plantations, though the liglit harvelt of the paft
year had forced them to give their women ami cliildren of the ripening
fruits, to fullain life. Notwithftanding they arc vifibly degenerating, both
in th:?, an-i every other reliaious obfervanee, except what concerns war ;
yet their laagi and old warriors live contentedly on fuch harfli food as nature
affords them iti the woods, rather tliati tranfgrels that divine precept given
to their forefathers.
'Hi
-'1
,
• -1
'*'
M
Having every thing in order for the facred folcmnity, the religious
waiters carry ofi^thc remains of the feaft, and lay them on the outfide of the
fquare ; others of an inferior order carefully fweep out the fmalleft crumbs,
for fear of polluting tlie firft-fruit ofi-'ering ; and before fun-fet, the
temple mull be clearetl, even of every kind of vefiel or utenfil, that had
contained, or been vifed about any food in that expiring year. The women
carry all off, but none of that lex, except half a dozen of old beloved
women, are allowed in that interval to tread on the holy ground, till the
fourth day. Now, one of the waiters proclaims with a loud voice, for all
the warriors and beloved men, whom the purity of the law admits, to come
and enier the beloved I'quare, and obferve the fait \ he likewife exhorts all
• Under ilio palladijm of Troy, were places i igs of the like nature, as a prefervative
I'rom evii ; but che above practice leems to be prctry much tempered with the Mofaic infti-
tution ; for God commanded them to make an altar of earth, to facrifice thereon.
jfW. x;i. 24.
t the
-il
J 02 On the defccnt of the American Indians from the Jews.
the women and children, and thofc who have not initiated themfclves in war,
to keep apart from them, according to law. Should any of them prove
difobedient, the young ones would be dry-fcratched, and the others ftript of
every thing they had on them. They oblerve the fame ftridl law of purity,
•in their method of fanctifying themfelves for war, in order to obtain the
■divine protecftion, afTiftance, and fuccefs. But a few weeks fince, when
a large company of thefe warlike favages were on the point of fctting
off to commence war againfl: the Mufkohge, fome of the wags decoyed a
heedlefs trader into their holy ground, and they ftript him, fo as to oblige
him to redeem his clothes with vermilion. And, on account of the like
trefpafs, they detained two Indian children two nights and a day, till their
obftinate parents paid the like ranfom.
Their great beloved man, or Archi-magus, now places four centinels, one
at each corner of the holy fquare, to keep out every living creature as im-
pure, except the religious order, and the warriors who are not known
to have violated the law of the firft-fruit-offering, and that of mar-
riage, fince the laft year's expiation. Thofe centinels are regularly relieved,
and firm to their facred truft -, if they difcerned a dog or cat on the out-
limits of the holy fquare, before the firft-fruit-offering was made, they
would kill it with their arrows on the fpot.
They obferve the faft till the rifing of the fecond fun ; and be they ever
fo hungry in that facred interval, the healthy warriors deem the duty fo
awful, and the violation fo inexpreflibly vicious, that no temptation would
induce them to violate it i for, like the Hebrews, they fancy temporal evils
are the neceffary effeft of their immoral condufV, and they would for ever
ridicule and reproach the criminal for every bad occurrence that befel him
in the new year, as the finful author of his evils -, and would fooner
fhoot themfelves, than fuffer fuch long-continued ftiarp difgrace. The reli-
gious attendants boil a kifficient quantity of button-fnake-rooc, highly im-
bittcred, and give it round pretty warm, in order to vomit and purge
their finful bodies. Thus they continue to mortify and purify themfelves,
till the end of the faft. When we confider their earneft invocations of the
divine efl'ence, in this folemnity — their great knowledge of fpecific virtues
in fimples — that they never apply the aforefaid root, only on religious occa-
fions — that they frequently drink it to fuch excefs as to impair their health,
^ an^
l^heir religious feJiivaUt fujis, &c.
lo:
and fometimes fo as to poifon themfelves by its acrid quality — a:ui uke iiuo
th« account, its well-known medicinal property of curing the bite of the
r. ; ft dangerous fort of the ferpentine generation -, muft not one think, thnt
the Aboriginal Americans chofe it, as a ftrong emblem of the certain cure
of the bite of the old ferpent in Eden.
That the women and children, and thofe worthlefs fellows wiio have
not hazarded their lives in defence of their holy places and holy things,
and for the beloved people, may not be entirely godlefs, one of tlie old be-
loved men lays down a large quantity of the fmall-leafcd green tobacco, on
the outfide of a corner of the facred fquare •, and an old beloved woman,
carries it off", and diftributes it to the finners without, in large pieces, which
they chew heartily, and fwallow, in order to afflift their foul,'-. She com-
mends thofe who perform the dury with cheerfulncfs, and chides thofe who
feem to do it unwillingly, by their wry fices on account of the bitternefs
of the fuppofed faniflifying herb. She diftributes it in fuch quantities, as
(he thinks are equal to their capacity of finning, giving to the reputed,
worthlefs old He-hen-pickers, the proportion only of a child, becaufe flic
thinks fuch fpiritlefs pidlures of men cannot fin with married women ; as all
the females love only the virtuous manly warrior, who has often fuccefsfully
accompanied the beloved ark.
fn the time of this general faft, the v/omen, children, and men of weak
conftitutions, are allowed to eat, as foon as they are certain the fun
I as begun to decline from his meridian altitude •, but not before that pe-
rod. Their indulgence to the fick and weak, feems to be derived from di-
vine precept, which forbad the offering of facnfice at the coft of mercy ;
;ind the fnake-root joined with their fanftifying bitter green tobacco, feeni
to be as ftrong exprefTive emblems as they could have poflibly chofcn, ac-
cording to their fituation in life, to reprefent the facred inftitution of
eating the pafchal lamb, with bitter herbs ; and to fliew, that though the
old ferpent bit us in Eden, yet there is a branch from the root of Jeffe, to
be hoped for by thofe who deny themfelves their prefcnt fweet tafte, which
will bs a fufficient purifier, and effect the cure.
I i'i
*!# i
iJ^
The whole time of this faft may with truth be called a faft, and to the
Atchi-tnagus^ to all the inagiy and pretended prophets, in particular -, for, by
ancient
• i
■Jf
[H V^\
104 On the dcfcent of the American Indians from the Jews.
ancient ciiftom, the former is obliged to eat of the fanflifying fmall-leafed
tobacco, and drinl: tlie fnake-root, in a fepurate hut for the fpace of
three days and nights without any other fubfiftence, before the folemnity
begins; befides his full portion along with the reft of the religious order, and
the old war-chieftains, till the end of the general faft, which he pretends
to obferve with the flridleft religion. After the firft-fruits are fandlified,
he lives moft abftemioully till the end of the annual expiation, only
fucking water-melons now and then to quench thirft, and fupport life, fpit-
ting out the more fubftantial part.
■t;;
II
\
I' '
By the Levitical law, the priefts were obliged to obferve a ftrider fandity
of life than the laity-, all the time they were performing the facerdotal offices,
both women and wine were ftriftly forbidden to them. Thus the Indian
religious are retentive of their facred mylleries to death, and the Archi-magtis
is vifibly thin and meagre at the end of the folemnity. That rigid felf-
denial, feems to have been defigned to initiate the Levite, and give the reft
an example of leading an innocent fimple life, that thereby they might be
able to fubdue their unruly pafTions •, and that by mortifying and purifying
himfelf fo exceffively, the facrifice by paffing through his pure hands, may
be accepted, and the holy Spirit of fire atoned, according to the divine law.
The fuperannuated religious are alfo emulous in the higheft degree, of ex-
celling one another in their long fafting ; for they firmly believe, that fuch
an annual felf-denying method is fo highly virtuous, when joined to an obe-
dience of the reft of their laws, as to be the infallible means of averting evil,
and producing good things, through the new year. They declare that
a fteady virtue, through the divine co-operating favour, will infallibly infure
them a lafting round of happinefs.
At the end of this folemn f?,ft, the women by the voice of a crier,
bring to the outfide of the holy fquare, a plentiful variety of the old
year's food newly dreft, which they lay down, and immediately return
home 1 for every one of them know their feveral duties, with regard both
to rime and place. The centinels report the affair, and foon afterward the
waiters by order go, and reaching their hands over the holy ground, they
bring in the provifions, and fct them down before the famidied multitude.
Though moft of the people may have feen them, they reckon it vicious and
mean to fliew a gladnefs for the end of their religious duties •, and Ihameful
to
'ill
^beir religious fefihals, fajist G?<r.
»0S
to haften the holy attendants, as they are all capable of their facrcd offices.
They are as ftrid obfcrvcrs of all their let forms, as the Ifraelitcs were of
thofe they had from divine appointment.
Before noon, the temple is fo cleared of every thing the women brought
to the fqiiare, that the feftivaf after that period, refembles a magical enter-
tainment that had no reality in it, confifting only in a dclufion of the ferifes.
The women then carry the veflels from the temple to the water, and warti
them clean for fear of pollution. As foon as the fun is vifibly declining
from his meridian, this third day of the fad, the /irchi-nutsus orders a
religious attendant to cry aloud to the crowded town, that the holy fire is
to be brought out for the facred altar — commanding every one of them
to ftay within their own houfes, as becomes the beloved people, without
doing the leaft bad thing— -and to be fure to extinguifh, and throw away
every fpark of the old fire ; otherwife, the divine fire will bite them feverely
with bad difeafes, ficknefs, and a great many other evils, which he fenten-
tioufly enumerates, and finifhes his monitory caution, by laying life and
4,eath before them-
Now every thing is huflied. — Nothing but filence all around : the Arcbi-
magus, and his beloved waiter, rifing up with a reverend carriage, fteady
countenance, and compofed behaviour, go into the beloved place, or holiefl-,
to bring them out the beloved fire. The former takes a piece of
dry poplar, willow, or white oak, and having cut a hole, fo as not to
reach through it, he then fliarpens another piece, and placing that with
the hole between his knees, he drills it brilkly for feveral minutes, till
it begins to fmoke — or, by rubbing two pieces together, for about
a quarter of an hour, by friflion he coUefts the hidden fire -, which
all of them reckon to immediately iflue from the holy Spirit of fire. The
Mufkohge call the fire their grandfather — and the fupreme Father of man^
kind, Efakata-Emijhe., " the breatli mafter," as it is commonly explained.
When the fire appears, the beloved waiter cheriflies it with fine chips,
or Ihaved fplinters of pitch-pine, which had been depofited in the
holieft : then he takes the unfullied wing of a fwan, fans it gently, and
cheriflies it to a flame. On this, the /tchi-magus brings it out in an old
earthen veflfel, whereon he had placed it, and lays it on the facred altar,
which is under an arbour, thick-weaved a-top with green boughs. It is
obfwvable, that when the Levitcs laid wood on the facred fire, it was un-
i* iawfvjl
Mill
!.1
^i
'"l"' '
\ 11
•;-i.i»l
^n
ic6 On the dcfcent of the American Indians from the feivs.
lawful for them either to blow it with bellows, or their breath. The
Magians, or followers of Zoroadcr, poured oil on their ilippofed holy fire,
and left it to the open air to kindle it into flame. Is not this religious cere?
mony of thefe defolate Indians a ftrong imitation, or near rcfemblance of the
Jewifh cuftoms ?
If '•
, !
Their hearts are enlivened with joy at the appearance of the reputed holy
fire, as the divine fire is fuppofed to atone for all their pafl: crimes, except
murder : and the beloved waiter fliews his plcafure, by his cheerful indufliry
in feeding it with dry frefh wood -, for they put no rotten wood on it, any
more than the Levites would on their facred altars. Although the peo-
ple without, may well, know what is tranfading within, yet, by order, a
crier informs them of the good tidings, and orders an old beloved woman
to pull a bafket-fuU of the new-ripened fruits, and bring them to the be-,
loved fquare. As flie before had been appointed, and religioufly prepared
for that folemn occafion, flie readily obeys, and foon lays it down with a
cheerful heart, at the out-corner of the beloved fquare. By ancient cuftom,
flie may either return home, or Hand there, till the expiation of fin 'hath
been made, which is thus performed — The Archi-magits, or fire-maker,
rifes from his white feat and walks northward three times round the holy
fire, with a flow pace, and in a very fedate and grave manner, flopping now
and then, and fpeaking certain old ceremonial words with a low voice and a
rapidity of exprefiion, which none underftand but a few of the old be-
loved men, who equally fecrete their religious myfteries, that they may
not be prophaned. He then takes a little of each fort of the new har-
vefl:,,* which the old woman had brought to the extremity of the fup.
pofed holy ground, rubs fome bear's oil over it, and offers it up toge-
ther with fome flefli, to the bountiful holy Spirit of fire, as a firfl:-fruit
offering, and an annual oblation for fin. He likewife confecrates the but-
ton-fnake-root, and the cufleena, by pouring a little of thofe two ftrong
decocftions into the pretended holy fire. He then purifies the red and white
feats with thofe bitter liquids, and fits down. Now, every one of the out-
laws who had been catched a tripping, may iafely creep out of their lurking
i-.oies, anoint theiiifelves, and drefs in their finefl:, to pay their grateful
thanks at an awful diftance, to the forgiving divine fire, A religious
waiter is foon ordered to call to the women around, to come for tlie facred
fire : they gladly obey. — When they come to the outfide of the quad-
rangular holy ground, tlie Aichi magus addreflTcs the warriors, and gives
thera
T/jcir religious fcjlivalsi f<l/lst
107
them all the particular pofitive injuniflions, and negative precepts they yet
retain of the ancient law, relating to their own manly (tation. Then !ic
changes his note, and iifes a much fliarper language to the women, as fuf-
fpeding their former virtue. He firft tells them very carneRly, that if
there arc any of them who have not extinguiflied the old evil fire, or have
contracTied any impurity, they mu(l forthwith df-part, left the divine fire
fliould fpoil both them and the people •, he charges them to be fure not to
give the children a bad example of eating any unfanL^ified, or impure food,
othcrwife they will get full of worms, and be devoured by famine and dif-
eafes, and bring many other dangerous evils both upon themftlves, and all
the beloved, or holy people. Tliis feems to allude to the theocratic go-
vernment of the Jews, when fuch daring criminals were affiifted with imme-
diate and vifible divine punilliment.
In his female lefture, he is fliarp and prolix : he urges them with much
earneftnefs to an honeft obfervance of the marriage-law, which may be
readily excufed, on account of the prevalent pafllon of felf-intereft. Our
own chriftian orators do not exert themfelves with half the eloquence or
eagernefs, as when that is at flake which they mofl: value. And the old
wary favage has fenfe enough to know, that the Indian female virtue is
very brittle, not being guarded fo much by inward principle, as the fear of
fhame, and of incurring fevere punifhment ; but if every bufh of every
thicket was an huiidred-eyed Argos, it would not be a fufficient guard over
a wanton heart. So that it is natural they fliould fpeak much on this part
of the fubjefl, as they think they have much at ftake. After that, he jid-
drefTts himfcif to the whole body of the people, and tells them, in ra«
pld bold language, with great energy, and expre/Tive geftures of body,
to look at the holy fire, which again has introduced all thofe fliameful
adulterous criminals into focial privileges ; he bids them not to be guilty
of the like for time to come, but be fure to remember well, and ftrongly
fhake hands with the old beloved ftraight fpeech, otherwife the divine fire,
which fees, hears, and knows them, will fpoil them exceedingly, if at
any time they felapfe, and commit that deteftable crime. Then he enu-
merates all the fuppofed lefler crime?, and moves the audience by the great
motives of the hope of temporal good, and the fear of temporal evil, afTuring
them, that upon their careful obfervance of the ancient law, the holy fir^
will enable their prophets, the rain-makers, to procure them plentiful !iar-
vefts, and give their war-leaders vidtory over their enemies — and by tlie
P 2
commu-
m
,'M
' ''M
^m
'^^ 1 \M
n ■ I
m
f
■ m
'-ii'-- M
lo8 On the defcctit of tbi American Indians from the yews,
communicative power of their holy things, health and profperity are certain:,
but on failure, they are to expeift a great many extraordinary calamities,
iuch as hunger, uncommon difeafes, a fubjedlion to witchcraft, and cap-
tivity and death by the hands of the hateful enemy in the woods, where the
wild fowls will eat their flefli, and beads of prey deftroy the remaining.
bones, fo as they will not be gathered to their forefathers — becaufe their ark
abroad, and beloved things at home, would lole their virtual power of
averting evil. He concludes, by advifing them to a ftrict obfervance of
their old rites and cuftoms, and then every thing Ihall go well with them.
He foon orders fomc of the religious attendants to take a fufficient quantity
of the fuppofed holy fire, and lay it down on the outfide of the holy ground,
for all the houfes of the various aflbciated towns, which fometimes lie feve-
ral miles apart. The women, hating fharp and grave leflbns, fpeedily take
it up, gladly carry it home, and lay it down on their unpolluted hearths,
with the profpedl of future joy and peace.
l!£s .
While the women are running about, and getting ready to drefs the
fandified new-fruits on the facred fire, the Jrchi-magus fends a religious
attendant to pull fome cufleena, or yopon, belonging to the temple;,
and having parched it brown on the altar, he. boils it with clear running
■water in a large earthen pot, about half full-, it has fuch a ftrong
body, as to froth above the top by pouring it up and down with-
their confecrated vefifels,. which are kept only for that, ufe : of this they
drink now and then, till the end of the feftival, and on every other reli-
gious occafion from year to year. Some of the old beloved men, through a.
religious emulation in fandlifying themfelves, often drink this, and other bit-
ter dfcodlions, to fuch excefs, as to purge themfelvcs very feverely — when
they drink it, they always invoke YO He Wah.
If any of the warriors are confined at home by ficknefs, or wounds,
and are either deemed incapable or unfit to come to the annual expiation, ,
thfey are allowed one of the old confecrated ccnch-lhells-full of their
fanftifying bitter cuffeena, by their magi. The traders hear them often
difpute for it, as their proper due, by ancient cuftom : and they often repeat
their old religious ceremonies to one another, efpecially that part which
they imagine moft, affefts their prefent welfare v the aged are fent to in-
ftruifl the young ones in thefe particulars. The above allowance, feems
to-be derived from the divine precept of mercy, in allowing a fccc-J oafl*-
ovcr
Their religious fijlivals, faj}s, &c. !*o
over in favour of thofe who could not go, or were not admitied to rlu;
firft i and the latter cuftom, to be in obedience to tlie divine hw, v.hich
Uieir fiippofed progenitors were to write on the polls of the doors, to wear
as frontlets before their eyes, and teach to their children.
Though the Indians do not ufe fiUt in their firft-fruit-oblation till the
fourth day ; it is not to be doubted but they formerly did. They reckon
fJiey cannot obferve the annual expiation of fins, without bear's oil, both to
mix with that yearly offering, and to eat with the new fanflified fruits ;
and fome years they have a great deal of trouble in killing a fufRcient quan-
tity of bears for the ufe of this religious folemnity, and their other facred
rites for the approaching year j for at fuch feafons they are hard to be found,
and quite lean. The traders commonly fupply themfelves with plenty ot
this oil from winter to winter i but the Indians are fo prepoflefied with a
notion of the white people being all impure and accurfed, that they deem
their oil as polluting on thofe facred occafions, as Jofephus tells us the
Jews reckoned that of the Greeks. An Indian warrior will not light
his pipe at a white man's fire if he fufpedls any iinfanftificd food has been
dreflfed at it in the new year. And in the time of the new-ripened fruits,
their religious men carry a flint, punk,, and fteel, when they vifit us, for
fear of polluting themfelves by lighting their pipes at our fuppofed Leak
ookproo/e, " accurfed. fire," and fpoiling the power of their holy things. The
polluted would, if known, be infallibly anathamatized, and expelled from
the temple, with the women, who are fufpedled of gratifying their vici-
ous tafte. During the eight days feftival, they are forbidden even to touch
the Ik.in of a female child : if they are detefted, either in cohabiting with,
or laying their hand on any of their own wives, in that facred interval,
they are ftripped naked, and the offender is univerfally deemed fo atrocious
a criminal, that he lives afterwards a miferable life. Some have (hot them-
fclves dead, rather than ftand the ftiame, and the long year's continual re-
proaches caft upon them, for every mifchance that befalls any of their
people, or the enfuing harveft, — a neceflary effedl of the divine anger, they
fay,, for fuch a crying fin of pollution. An inftance of this kind I heard'
happened fomc years ago inTald/e, a. town of the Mufkohge, feven miles -
above the Alebama garrifon.
When we confider how fparingly they eat in their ufual way of liv-
ipg,. it is forprizing t& fee what a vaft quantity of food they confume
5 onii
mi'
I f I'iP'
"W
.■If ^ t;
■ 1 10 On the dcjcent of the Amcncan Indians from ibc jcicj.
on their fcfUval days. It woiiUl equally fiirprizc n flrangcr to fee liov/
exofedinf^ly they vary their dilhes, their claiiitics confiflin;; only of dried
flcfli, fifli, oil, corn, beans, peafe, pompions, and wikl fruit. IXiring thi?
rejoicing time, the warriors are drcfl; in their wild martial array, with their
heatis covered with wliite down : they carry feathers of the iame coloiir,
cither in their hands, or fallcned to white fcraped cant';, as en:ibleina
of purity, and fcepters of power, while they are dancing in three cir-
cles, and finging their religious praifcs around the facred arbour, in
which flands the iioly fire. Their nnific confifts of two clay-pot drums,
covered on the top with thin wet deer-fl<ins, drawn very tight, on which
each of the noify muficians beats with a flick, accompanying the noife with
their voices; at the fame time, the dancers prance it away, with wild
and quick Aiding fleps, and variegated poflures of body, to keep time
with the drums, and the rattling calabaflies fliaked by feme of their
religious heroes, each of them finging their old religious fongs, and
ftriking notes /';/ tympdfio (t cboro. Such is the graceful dancing, as well
as the vocal and inftrumental mufic of the red Hebrews on religious
and martial occafions, which they muft have derived from early antiquity.
Toward the conclufion of the great feftival, they paint and dreis themfelves
anew, and give themfelves the moll terrible appearance they poffibly can.
They take up their war-inftruments, and fight a mock-battle in a very exaffc
manner : afcer which, the women are called to join in a grand dance, and
if they difobcy the invitation they are fined. But as rhey are extremely fond
of fuch r.ligious cxercife, and deem it productive of ten^poral good,
all foon appear in their fineft apparel, as before fiiggeftcd, decorated
with filver ear-bobs, or pendants to their ears, fevcral rounds of white
beads about their necks, rings upon their fingers, large wire or broad
plates of filver on their wrifts, their heads fhining with oil, and torrepine-fliells
containing pebbles, fattened to deer-fl<.ins, tied to the outfide of tlieir legs.
Thus adorned, they join the men in tiircc circles, and dance a confider-
able v/hile around the facred fire, and then they feparate.
At the conclufion of this long and folemn feftival, the Jrchi-nmgus orders
one of the religious men to proclaim to all the people, that their facred
annual folemnity is now ended, and every kind of evil averted from the
beloved people, according to the old ftraight beloved fptech ; they muft
therefore paint themfelves, and come along with him according to ancient
5 • • • ■' cuftom. '
I'beir religious fi'Jlhals, fajlsy
&c,
in
coftom. As they know the flatcd time, the joyful roiini.1 piefcntly reaches
their longing ears : iminctliatcly tliey fly about to grapple uj) a kin.l
of chalky clay, to paint themfelves white, x their religious emulation,
they foon appear covered with that emblem of purity, and join at the out-
fide of the holy ground, with all who had fanflified tliemfelves wiiiiin it,
who are likev.'ifc painted, fome with ftreaks, and others all over, as wliite
as the clay can make them: recufants v/ould undergo a heavy penalty.
They go along in a very orderly folemn procefl'ion, to purify themfelves in
running water. The y//r/^/-;«(7^«j heads the holy train — his waiter next —
the beloved men according to their feniority — and the warriors by their
reputed merit. The women follow them in the fame orderly manner, with
all the children that can walk, behind them, ranged commonly according
to their height -, the very little ones they carry in tlieir arms. Thole,
who are known to have eaten of the unfandlified fruits, bring up the
rear. In this manner the proceffion moves along, finging Aluluiaii to
YO He Wah, &:c. till they get to the water, which is generally contiguous,
when the Jrc/ji-fiiagus jumps into it, and all the holy train follow him, in
the fame order they obforved from the temple. Having purified themfelves,
r wafhed away their fins, they come out with joyful hearts, believing them-
I'elves out of the reach of temporal evil, for their pad vicious conduft : and
they return in the fame religious cheerful manner, into the middle of the
holy ground, where having made a few circles, finging and dancing around
the altar, they thus finifli their annual great feftival, and depart in joy and
peace.
'ui , I
Ancient writers inform us, that while the Scythians or Tartars were hea-
thens, their priefts in the time of their ficrifices, took fome blood, and
mixing it with milk, horfe-dung, and earth, got on a tree, and having ex-
horted the people, they fprinkled them with it, in order to purify them, and
defend them from every kind of evil : the heathens alfo excluded fome
from religious communion. The Egyptians excommunicated thofe who ate
of animals that bore wool, or cut the throat of a goat*. And in ancient
times, they, and the Phoenicians, Greeks, &c. adored the ferpcnt, and ex-
pelled thofe who killed it. The Eait-Indians likewife, drive thole from the
Lanatis .inimalibus abftinet oinnis
Menfa; ncfas illic fictum jugularc captllx".
Juvenal, Sat. xv.
fuppofed
•1 1 2 On the di'fcent of the AmericttH Indians from the 'Ji'ivs.
fi
H:
i^li
fuppofed benefit of their alt
/ho cat of
id drink
cow,
that eat with foreigners, or an inferior cad. Though the heathen world
offered facrifice, had ablutions, and feveral other forts of purifications,
and frequently by fire ; yet at the beft, their religious obfervances differed
widely from the divine inftitutions ; whereas the American Aborigines
•obfervc ftridt purity, in the mofl: eflential parts of the divine law. The
former concealed their various worfliip from the light of the fun ; fome
fceking thick groves, others defcending into the deep valleys, others crawl-
ing to get into caverns, and under their favourite rocks. But we find the
latter, in their ftate-houfes and temples, following the Jcrufalem copy in a
■furprizing manner. Thofe of them who yet retain a fuppofed moft holy
place, contrary to the ufage of the old heathen world, have it Handing at the
weft end of the holy quadrangular ground : and they always appoint thofe of
the meaneft rank, to fit on the feats of the eaftern fquare, fo that their
backs are to the eaft, and faces to the weft *. The red fquare looks north ;
and the fccond men's cabbin, as the traders term the other fquare, of cr I'rfe
looks fouth, which is a ftrong imitation of Solomon's temple, that wa^ rno-
delled according to the divine plan of the Ifraelitifli camp in the wildernefs.
"We find them alfo fandlifying themfelves, according to the emblematical
kws of purity, ofi^ering their annual facrifice in the centre of their quadran-
gular temples, under the meridian light of the fun. Their magi are de-
voted to, and bear the name of the great holy One; their fuppofed pro-
|)hets likewife that of the divine fire j and each of them bear the emblems
of purity and holinefs — while in their religious duties, ih.v fing Aleluiah,
yO He Wah, &c. both day and night. Thus different aie the various gods,
• The Hebrews had two prefidents in the great fynhedrion. The firll was called l^ajht To,
•' a prince of God." They eleAed him on account of his wifdom : The fecond was called
Rojh Ha-Tojhibhah, " the father of the affeinbly :" he was chief in the great council. And
ylb itth Jin, or •' the father of the confiftory," fat at his right hand, as the chief of the
feventy-two, of which the great iynhedrion confided, the reft fitting according to their merit,
in a gradual declenfion from the prince, to the end of the femicircle. The like order is oh-
ferved by the Indians, — and Jtr. ii. 27, God commanded the Ifraelites, that they Ihould not
turn their backs to him, but their faces toward the propitiatory, when they worihipped him.
I remember, in Koofah, the uppermoft weftern town of the Mufkohge, which was a place
of refuge, their fuppofed holicll confilled of a neat houfe, in the centre of the weftern
fquare, and the door of it was in the fouth ^able-end clofe to the white cabbin, each on a
.direct line, north and fouth.
temples.
T/jL'i)' /o/c/fin fcijjl of lam*
••J
wmplcs, prophets, and pricfts of all the iiioUtrous nations of ai luity,
from the lavage Americans', which (hews with convincing clcarnri , efpe-
cially by recollecting the former argi lents, that tlic American Abwi/gifiej
were never idolaters, nor violated the I'ccond commandment in worfhipping
the incomprchcnfible, omniprefcnt, divine eflence, after the manner defcribed
by tlie popiHi hiftorians of Peru and Mexico i but tljat the greatelt part
of iheir civil and religious fyftem, is u ftrong old pi^ure of the IfraelitiHi,
much lefs defaced than might be realbnably cxpeded from the circuin-
ftances of time and place.
Every fpring feafon, one town or more of the Minifippi Kloridians, keep
a great folemn feaft of love, to renew their old friendfliip. They call this
annual feaft, Hottttk Aimpa, Hecttla, Tmu'ia, " the people eat, dance, and
walk as twined together" — The Ihort name of their yearly feaft of love,
is Hottuk Impanda^ " eating by a ftrong religious, or focial principle i"
Tuipanda fignifies feveral threads or ftrands twifted, or warped together.
Hijjoobiftardkjhe, and I'clphoha Panaa^ is " a twifted horfe-rope," and " warped
garter *." This is alfo contrary to the ufage of the old heathen world,
whofe feftivals were in honour to their chief idols, and very often accom-
panied with detcftable lewdncfs and debauchery.
I
I i
If!
P
'1'
( ' 111
They afiemble three nights previous to their annual feaft of love ; on the
fourth night they eat together. During the intermediate fpacc, the young
men and women dance in circles from the evening till morning. The men
maique their fices with large pieces of gourds of difterent ftiapes and
hieroglyphic paintings. Some of tliem fix a pair of young buifalo horns to
their head ; otliers the tail, beliind. When tl.e dance and their time is ex-
pired, the men turn out a hunting, and bring in a ftiflicient quantity of
venilbn, for the feaft of renewing their love, and confirming their friendOup
with each other. The women drefs it, an ! ' 'ng the beft they have along
with it ; which a few fprings paft, was only a variety of L'iau's fmall red
acorn pottage, as their crops had failed. When ihey have eaten together,
they fix in the ground a large pole with a bufli tied at the top, over whicli
\k
• The name of a horfe-rope is derived from TaiiUpe " to tie," and H)Jhoba " an elk,
or horfe that carries a burthen ;" which Aig£elh that they formerly faw elks carry burthtri ■,
though perhaps not in the northern provinces.
Q.
they
{ .
■1 W'l
If
ii
114 O// the il-Jlcnt of tl\' American InJiiinsfrom ttjc yetvs.
they throw a ball. Till tlii.' corn is in, they meet there alnioft every day,
anil pKiy tor veniibn and cakes, the men againit the women-, winih tht;
old people lliy lliey have obli.rved for time out ot mind.
Before I conrliulc this argumenr, I mull here obferve, that when the In-
dians meet at night to gladden and unite their hearts before Yomcwah, they
iin^Tohtrsa-Pjw Tobctva-Jhoo, Tobeivdhjhce Tohevujhce^ and 2'cbczi:':/:Jh(i! To-
heivt'i/.'/fjiii, with much ener[';y. Ihe lirft word is nearly in IJclirew cha
raders, yrin*, the name of Jofhua, or faviour, Numb. xiii. 8. That J' is
properly expreflld by our double vowel w, let it be obferved, that as Va i'?
" a ruler," or "commanding" — fo the Indians fay Boole llakfe " (trike a
*' pcrfon, that is criminal." In like manner, y\\<f^ i\w%Mejht To., l^Ujhi To.,
Mefln He, McjlA He, MepA IVah MeJJ.u II 'ah ; likewile, Mepi llnh To, &:c. •, and
Mepi IVi'ih Hub MeJbilVah Hi; tranfpofing and accenting each fyllable dif-
ferently, \'o as to make them appear dill'erent words. Ikit they commonly
make thofe words end with one fyllable of the divine name, To IIclFah. If
we connecl this with the former part of the fubjeft, and confider they are
rommonly anointed all over, in the time of their religious fongs and cir-
cuiting dances, the words feem to glance at the Hebrew original, and per-
haps they arc fo:netimes fynonymous ; for ^^•v fignifies oil ; the perfon
anointed nz":5, AL-Jfuib, and he who anointed "WT'-D'^^ which with the Indians
is Mejhibab To,
That thele red favagcs formerly undcrllood the radical meaninr^, and em-
blematical defigii, of the important words they ufe in their religious dances
and ficred hymns, is pretty obvious, if we confider the reverence they pay
'.0 the myflerious divine name YO I Ie Wah, in paufing during a long
breath on each of the two firll fyllablcs j their defining good by joining IVab
to the end of a word, which otherwile exprefiTes moral evil, as before noticed ;
and again by making the fame word a negative of good, by feparating the
firft fyllable of that divine name into two fyllables, and addmg i7 as a fuper-
lative termination, T-O-U : all their facred fongs feem likewife to ilkiflratc
it very clearly -, Hr.'.du-Tab, Shilu IFab, Mejhi IVah, Mejhiha To, &c. Tiie
words v/hich they repeac in their divine hymns, while dancing in three circles
around their fuppofed holy fire, are deemed fo facred, that they have not been
known ever to mention them at any other time : and as they are a molt creft
people.
Their daily fiicrifice.
>»5
people, their bowing pofturc during tlic time of thofc religious acdamationj
and invoci'ions, helps to confirm their Hebrew origin.
ARGUMENT IX.
The Hebrews offered daily sacrificf, which the prophet Daniel culls
TiiDiici, " the daily." It was an offering of a lamb every morning and
evening, at the charges of the common treafury of the temple, and except the
fkin and intrails, it was burnt to allies — upon which account they called if,
OoLib KiiHle, to afcend and tonfume. The Indians have a limilar religious
fervice. The Indian women always throw a fmall piece of the fatteft c.
the meat into the fire when they are eating, and frequently before they be-
gin to eat. Sometimes they view it with a pleafing attention, and pretend
to draw omens from it. They firmly believe fuch a method to be a great
means of producing temporal good things, and of averting thofe that an:
evil : and they arc fo far from making this fat-oftering througii pride or hy
pocrify, that they perform it when they think they are not fecn by thofe of
contrary principles, who might ridicule them without teaching them better.
Inftcad of blaming their religious conduift, as feme have done, I advifed
them to perfid in their religious duty to IJktohcollo Aba^ becaufe he never
failed to be kind to thofe who firmly fliaked hands with the old beloved
fpecch, particularly the moral precepts, and after they died, he would bring
them to their beloved land ; and took occafion to fliew them the innumer-
able advantages their reputed forefathers were bleft with, while they obeyed
the divine law.
I . I
r I
i (I, i
The white people, (I had almoft faid chriftians) who have become Indian
profelytes of juftice, by living according to the Indian religious fyftem,
aflflire us, that the Indian men obferve the daily facrifice both at home, and
in the woods, with new-killed venifon ; but that otherwife they decline
it. The difficulty of getting fait for religious ufes from the iea-fliore, and
likewife its irritating quality when eaten by thofe who have green wounds,
might in time occafion them to difcontinue that part of the facrifice.
Q^ 2 They
i. I;i
Is
it' f:l
r
1 1 6 On the dcfcent of the American Indians from the Jeivs.
They make fait for domeftic ufe, out of a falcifh kind of grafs, which-
grows on rocks, by burning it to afhcs, making ftrong lye of it, and
boiling it in earthen jiots to a proper confidence. They do not offer
any fruits of the field, except at the firft-fruit-offering : fo that thcii.
negleft of facrifice, at certain times, feems not to be the effecl of an igno-
rant or vicious, but of their intelligent and virtuous difpofition, and to be
a ttrong circumftantial evidence of tlicir Ifraelitifh extracftion.
Though they believe the upper heavens to be inhabited by IpjtcbccUa
Aba, and a great multitude of inferior good fpirits ; yet they are firmly per-
fuaded that the divine omnipreient Spirit of fire and light refides on earth,
in their annual facred fire while it is unpolluted -, and that he kindly ac-
cepts their lawful ofix;rings, if their own conduifl is agreeable to the old
divine law, wliich was delivered to their forefathers. The former notion
of the Deity, is agreeable to thofe natural images, with which the divine
penmen, through all the prop'ctic writings, have drawn Yohewah Elohias,,
When God was pleafed with Aaron's pricflhood and offerings, the holy fire
defcended and conlumed tiie burnt-offering on the altar, &c.
iH
By the divine records of the Hebrews, this was the emblematical
token of the divine prefence ; and the fmoke of the viflim afcending toward
heaven, is reprefented as a fweet favour to God. The people who have
lived fo long apart from the reft of mankind, are not to be wondered at, if
they have forgotten the end and meaning of the facrifice j and are rather to
be pitied for feeming to believe, like the ignorant part of the Ifraclites,
that the virtue is either in the form of offering the ficrifice, or in tlie di-
vinity they imagine to refide on earth in the facred annual fire ; likewife,,
for feeming to have forgotten that the virtue was in the thing typified.
In the year 1748, when I was at the Koosah en my way to the Chikkafah
country, 1 had a converlation on this fubjed, with fcveral of the more in-
telligent of the Mufkohge traders. One of them told me, that juft before,
while he and feveral others were drinking fpirisuous liquors with the In-
dians, one of the warriors having drank to excefs, reeled into the fire, and
burned himfelf very much. He roared, foamed, and fpoke the worft things
againft God, that their language could exprefs. He upbraided him with
ingratitude,
their religious off'erings.
117
ingratitutle, for having treated liini ib barbarouHy in return fo,- his rcli2,ioin
offerings, affirming he had always iacrificcd to him the firrt youn" buck lie
killed in the new yearj as in a conftant manner he offkircd him when at
home, fome of the fattell of tlie merit, even wiicii he was at lliorc allow
ance, on. purpofe that he might fliine uj)on him as a kind God. — And l-.u-
added, " now you have proved as an evil fplrir, by biting me ib llvcrtly
who was your conttant devotee, and are a kind God to thofe accurl'cd no-
things, who are laugliing at you as a rogue, and at me as a fool, i afTure
you, I fliall renounce you from this time forward, and inllead of p-.akin:^
you look merry with fat mc-at, you (liall appear fad with water, for Ipoiling
the old beloved fpecch. I am a beloved warrior, and confequently I fcorn
to lie ; you fliall therefore immediately fly up above the clouds, for I fliall.
pifs upon you." From that time, his brethren fj.id, God forfook that ter-
reftrial refidencc, and the warrior became godlefs. This information exasftly
agrees with, many fuch inftances of Indian impiety, that happened wiihiu
my own obfervation — and fliews the bad confequences of that evil habit of
ufing fpirituous liquors intemperately, which they have betn t.iuglit bv tlic
Europeans.
The Indians have among them the refemblance of the Jewifli Sin-^-Offer-
iNG, and Trespass-Offering, for tiiey commonly pull tiieir new-kilicd
venifon (before tliey drcfs it) feveral times through the fmoke ami flame of
the fire, both by the way of a iacrilice, and to confumc the blood, life, or
animal fpirits of the beafl-, which with them would be a mofl horrid abomi-
nation to cat. And they facrifice in the woods, the milr, or a large fat
piece of the firft buck they kill, both in their fummer and winter luint ;,
and frequently the whole carcafs. This they ofi-er up, either as a thankf-
giving for the recovery of health, and for their former fuccefs in huntin" •,
or that the divine care and goodnefb may be ftill continued to them.
When the Hebrews doubted whether they had finned againfl any of the
divine precepts, they were obliged by the law to bring to the priefl: a ram of
their flock, to be facrificed, which they called AJcham. When tlie pried
offered this,, the perfon was forgiven. Their iacrifices and oflcrings v/cre cal-
led Shilomim^ as they typified Shilo-Berith, " the purifying root," v.-ho wa.'i
■io procure them peace, reft^ and plenty. The Indian imitates the Ifraelite
7 ia^
m
r
'f .
(
i*'
1
n
1 1 S On the d.fccnt of the American Indians from the 'Jems,
in liis religious ofi'crings, according to the circumftances of things ; the
Hebrew laid \\\% hands on the head of the clean and tame viftim,
to load it with his fins, when it was to be killed. The Indian religi-
Gufly chufes that animal which in America comes ncareft to the divine
law of facrifice, according to what God has enabled him ; he fhoots down
a buck, and facrifices either the whole carcafs, or fome choice part of it,
upon a fire of green wood to burn away, and afcend to Tohewah, I'hen
he purifies hinifelf in water, and believes himfelf fecure from temporal evils.
Formerly, every hunter obferved the very fame religious oeconomy ; but
now it is praflifed only by thofe who are the molt retentive of their old
religious myfteries.
The MufIs.ohge Indians facrifice a piece of every deer they kill at their
hunting camps, or near home; if the latter, they dip their middle finger in
the broth, and fprinkle it over the domeftic tombs of their dead, to keep
them out of the power of evil fpirits, according to their mythology ; which
Teems to proceed from a traditional knowledge, though corruption of the
Hebrew law of fprinkling and of blood.
The Indians obferve another religious cuftom of the Hebrews, in mak-
ing a Peace-Offering, or facrifice of gratitude, if the Deity in the fuppofed
holy ark is propitious to their campaign againft the enemy, and bnnps
them all fafc home. If they have loft any in war, they always decline it,
becaufe they imagine by fome ncgleft of duty, they are impure ; then they
only mourn their vicious condud: which defiled the ark, and thereby oc-
cafioned the lois. Like the Ifraelites, they believe their fins are the true
caufe of all their evils, and that the divinity in their ark, will always blefs
the more religious party with the beft fuccefs. This is their invariable kn-
timcnt, and is the fole reafon of their mortifying themfelves in fo fevere a
manner while they arc out at war, living very fcantily, even in a buffalo-
range, under a ftriift: rule, left by luxury their hearts fhould grow evil, and
give them occafion to mourn.
The common fort of Indians, in thefe corrupt times, only facrifice a
fmall piece of unfalted far meat, when they are rejoicing in the divine pre-
fence, finging 2'o I'o^ &r. <^or their fuccefs and fafety : bur, according to
the religious cuftum oi the Hebrews, who ofi'cred facrifices of thankfgiving
i for
ill
T^heir religious offerings.
119
for every notable favour that Kloliim had conferred ciuicr on individuals,
or the body, — both the war-leader and his reli^rious afiliiant ^.u) into the woods
as ibon as th.ey are purified, and there iacritice tlie firft deer tliey kill ;
yet, as hath been obierved, they always celebrate the annual expiation of fins
in their religious temples.
The red Hebrews imagine their temples to have fuch a typical holincfs,
more than any other place, that it they offered up tlic annual facrifice elfe
where, it would not atone for the people, but rather bring down the anger
of TUjlohrjollo Aba, and utterly fpoil the power of their holy places and holy
things. They who ficrifice in the woods, do it only on the particular occa-
fions now mentioned •, iefs incited by a dream, wbich they efteem a mo-
nitory lefTon of t' 1 >.ity, according to a fimilar opinion of tlie Hebrews.
To conclude this argument, it is well known, that the heathens ofl'ercd the
mod abominable and impure facrifices to a multiplicity of idol gods ; fome
on favourite hig[i places, others in I'.iick groves, yea, offerings of their own
children were made ! and tliey likewile profl:ituted their young v/omcn in
honour of their deities. The fcnrer is lo atrocious in the eyes of the Ame-
rican Hebrews, that they reckon there needs no human law to prevent fo
unnatural a crime; the vileil; reptiles being endued with an intenfc love to
their young ones : and as to the latter, if even a great war-leader is known
to cohabit with his own wife, wifile fanftlfying himfelf according to their
mode on any religious occafion, he is deemed unclean for the fpace of
three days and nights -, or fhouid he during the annual atonement of
fins, it is deen:ed lb dangerous a pollution, as to demand a ftrifl ex-
clufion from the reft of the fanclified head-men and warriors, till the ge-
neral atonement has been made at t!ie temple, to appeafe the ofl'ended
Deity : befides, as a f!i.unei'ul badge of his inip'.cty, his clothes are ftripped
off. Thus different are the various modes and fubjcds of the heathenilli
worfliip and offerings, from thofe of the lavage Americans. I'he furprizing
purity the latter fl:ill obferve in their religious ceremonies, under the circum •
ftances of time and place, points flrongly at their origin.
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120 On tb: dcjccnt oj tbt' American Indians from the fews.
ARGUMENT X.
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The Hebrews had various Ablutions and Anointings, according to the
Mofaic ritual — nnd all the Indian nations conftantly obferve funilar cuftoms
from religious motives. Their frequent bathing, or dipping themfelves and
their children in rivers, even in the feverefl: weather, feems to be as truly
Jewifli, as the other rites and cerem.onies which have been mentioned. Fre-
quent vvafliing of the body was highly neceflary to the health of the Hebrews
in their warm climate, and populous Hate — but it is ulclefs in this point of
view to the red Americans, as their towns are widely diftant from each other,
thin peopled, and iituatcd in cold regions. However, they pradife it as a
religious duty, unlefs in very hot weather, which they find by experience to
be prejudicial to tlieir health, when they obferve the law of mercy, rather
than that of facrifice. In the coldell weather, and when the ground is co-
vered with fnow, again 11 their bodily eafe and pleafure, men and children
turn out of their warm houfes or lloves, reeking with fweat, finging their
ufual facrcd notes, 2'3 To, ;?cc. at the dawn of day, adoring YO He Wah,
at the glad fume fight of the morn ; and thus they flcip along, echoing
praifes, till they get to the river, when they inftantaneoufly plunge into it.
If the water h frozen, they break the ice with a religious impatience :
After bathing, they return home, rejoicing as they run for Iiaving fo well
performed their religious duty, and thus purged away the impurities of the
preceding day by ablution. The negleft of this hath been deemed fo Iieinous
2 crime, that they have raked the legs and arms of the delinquent with
fnake's teeth, not allowing warm water to relax the ftiftcned fkin. I'his is
called dry-fcratching-, for their method of bleeding conlifts in fcratching the
legs and arms v.'ith "oir-fifli teetli, when the fkin has been firfl: well
loofened by warm water. The criniinals, through a falfe imitation of
true martial virtue, fcorn to move themfelves in the leaft out of rlieir
crcd pollure, be the pain e\'er fo intolerable -, if they did, they would be
laughed ar, even by their own relations — firft, for being vicious; and
next, for being timorous. This will help to lefTen our furpiize at the un-
common patience and condancy with whicli they arc endued, beyond the
rell of mankind, in luHering long-continued torture •, efpecially as it is one
of
^ n
m
Their bathing and anointing.
121
of the firfl, and ftrongeft impreffions they take-, and thoy have conft.iat
Icflbns and examples of fortitude, exhibited before their eyes.
The Hebrews had convenient feparate places for their women to bathe
in, and purify themfclves as occafion required : and at the temple (and
the fynagogues, after the captivity) they worfli'ppcd apart from the men,
left they fhould attract one another's attention from the divine wordiip :
nnd it "ivas cuftomary for the women to go veiled, for fear of being 'i<.(i\\
when they walked the ftreets. No doubt but jcaloufy had as great a lliare
in introducing this cuftom as modefty, efpecially while poligamy was fuf-
fcred in the rich. But the fcantinefs of the Jewifli American's circum-
ftances, has obliged them to purify themfelves in the open rivers, where
modefty forbad them to expofe their women ; who by this means, are now
lefs religious than the men in that duty, for they only purify themfelves
as their difcretion diredts them. In imitation of the Hebrew women being
kept apart from the men at their worfliip, the Indians intirely exclude their
females from their temples by ancient cuftom, except fix old beloved
women, who are admitted to fing, dance, and rejoice, in the time of their
annual expiation of fins, and then retire. In their town-houfes alfo thev
feparate them from the warriors, placing them on the ground at each
fide of the entrance of the door within, as if they were only cafual fpec-
tators.
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It may be objedled, that the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans
worfiiipped their Gods, at the dawn of day : and the Perfian Magi, with all
the other worfhippers of fire, paid their religious devoirs to the rifinf^
fun, but, as the Indians are plainly not idolaters, or poly-thcifts -, as they
fing to, and invoke Yah, and YO He Wah, the divine eflcnce, as they
run along at the dawn of day to purify themfelves by ablution ; it feems
fufficiently clear, they are not defcended from cither of the laft mentioned
ftates, but that their origin is from the Ifraelites. This law of purity, bath-
in" in water, was eflfential to the Jews — and the Indians to this day wot i.i
exclude the men from religious communion who neglected to obferve it.
It was cuftomary with the Jews alfo after bathing to anoint themfelves
with oil. All the orientalifts had a kind of facred refpeft to Oil ; particu-
larly the Jews. With them, the fame word which fignified " noon-day"
or fplendor, nnii, denoted alfo " lucid oil." — And the olive-tree is derived
R frotn
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122
O/i the dcfccnt of the American Indians from the fevos.
from the verb, to Hiinc — Eecaufe, the f'-uit thereof tended to give their
faces a favourite gHftcring colour. 'Tis well known that oij was applied by
the Jews to the mofl ficred, as well as common iiles. Their kings,
prophets and priefts, at tlieir inauguration and confecration were anointed
with oil — and the promifeil Saviour was hinifelf defcribed, by the epi-
thet " anointed," and is faid Pfal. xlv. 7. to be " anointed with the oil ct'
gladnefs above his fellows." We fliall on this point, difcover no fmall relem-
blance and conformity in the American Indians.
The Indiart priefts and prophets are initiated by unftion. The Chik-
kafah fome tim ago fet apart fomc of their old men of the religious order.
They firft obliged them to fweat themfelves for the fpace of three days and
nights, in a fmall green hut, made on purpofe, at a confiderable diftance
from any dwelling ; Mirough a fcrupulous fear of contratting poUutioa
by contaft, or from the eiTluvia of polluted people — and a ftrong defire of
fecreting their religions mylleries. During that interval, they were allowed
to eat nothing but green tobacco, nor to drink any thing except warm
wat-r, highly iinbittered with the button-fnake-root, to cleanfe their bodies,
and pn?pare them to ferve in their holy, or beloved office, before the divine
elfence, whom during this preparation they conllantly invoke by his eflen-
ml name, as before defcribed. 7\{'ter which, their prieftly garments and
ornaments, mentioned under a former argument, page 84, are put on, and
then bear's oil is poured upon their head. — If they could procure olive, or
palm oil, inflend of bear's oil, doubtlefs they would prefer and ufe it
in their facrcd ceremonies •, efpecially, as they are often deftitute of the!;
favourite bear's oil for domeftic ufes.
The Jewifli women were fo exceedingly addicted to anoint their faces
nnd bodies, that they often preferred oil to the neceflaries of life ; the
widow who addrefted herfelf to Elidia, though fhe was in the moll pinch-
ing ftraits, and wanted every thing elfe, yet had a pot of oil to anoint her-
felf This cul'lom of anointing became univerfal, among the eaftern na-
tions. They were not fatisfied with perfuming themfelves with fwcet oihi
and fine elTenccs •, but anointed birds — as in the ninth ode of Anacreon ;
Tot unde nunc odores ?
1 luc advolans per auras^
Spirafque, dcpluifque ;
The
Their anointing.
123
The poet introduces two doves converfing together •, one of which car-
ried a letter to Bathyllus, the anointed beau \ and the other wiflies her much
joy, for her perfumed wings that diffufed fuch an agreeable fmell around.
And the fame poet orders the painter to draw this Samian beau, with his
hair wet with eflence, to give him a fine appearance. Nitidas comas eju3
facilto. Ode 29. Virgil defcribes Turnus, jufl: after the fame manner,
Vibratos calido ferro, myrrhaque madentes.
/En'eid, 1. 12.
Homer tells us, that Telemachus and PhUiftratus anointed their whole
bodies with eifences, after they had vifited the palace of Menelaus, and be-
fore they fat down at table. Odyff. 1. 4.
The Jews reckoned it a fingular piece of difrefpcifl to their guefl, if
they offered him no oil. When any of them paid a friendly vifit, they had
eflences prefented to anoint their heads ; to which cuftom of civility the
Saviour alludes in his reproof of the parfimonious Pharifee, at whofe houfc
he dined. Luke vii. 46.
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All the Indian Americans, efpecially the female fex, reckon their bear's
oil or greafe, very valuable, and ufe it after the fame manner as the Afiatics
did their fine eflences and fweet perfumes j the young warriors and women
are uneafy, unlefs their hair is always fliining with it; which is probably
the reafon that none of their heaxis are bald. But enough is faid on this
head, to fliew that they feem to have derived this cultom from the eaft.
ARGUMENT XI.
The Indians have cuftoms confonant to the Mofaic Laws of Unclean-
NESS. They oblige their women in their lunar retreats, to build fmall huts,
at as confiderable a diftance from their dwelling-houfes, as they imagine may
be out of the enemies reach ; where, during the fpace of that period, they
are obliged to ftay at the rifque of their lives. Should they be known to
violate that ancient law, they muft anfwer for every misfortune that befalls
R 2 any
124 ^'^ ^'^^' ^i-j'<^<^iii of the American Indians from the Jeivs.
any of the people, as a certain efFeft of the divine fire; though the lurking
enemy fometimcs kills them in their religious retirement. Notwithftanding
they reckon it conveys a mofl: horrid and dangerous pollution to thofe who
touch, or c,o near them, or walk any where witliin the circle of their retreats ;
and are in fear of thereby fpoiling the fuppofed purity and power of their
holy ark, which they always carry to war -, yet the enemy believe they caa
fo clcanfe themfclvcs with the coniecrated herbs, roots, &c. which the
chieftain carries in the beloved war-ark, as to fecure them in this point from
bodily danger, becaule it was done againll their enemies.
The non-obfervance of tliis feparation, a breach of the marriage-law, and
murder, they efteem the moft capital crimes. When the time of the wo-
men's feparation is ended, they always purify thcmfelves in deep running
water, return home, drefs, and anoint themfelves. They afcribe thele
monthly periods, to the female ftrudure, not to the anger oi IJJjtohoollo Aba,
Correfpondent to the Mofaic law of women's purification after travel^
the Indian women ablent themfelves from their hulbands and all public
company, for a cnnfiderable time. — The Mujkohge women are feparate for
three moons, exclufive of that moon in which they are delivered. By the
Jewifh law, women after a male-birth were forbidden to enter the temple j
and even, the very touch of facred things, forty days. — And after a female,
the time of feparation was doubled.
Should any of the Indian women violate this law of purity, they would
be cenfured, and fufter for any fudden ficknefs, or death that might happen
;iinong the people, as the neccfTary effedl of the divine anger for their
polluting fin, contrary to their old traditional law of female purity. Like
:lie greater part of the llraclitcs, it is the fear of temporal evils, and the
profped of temporal good, that makes them fo tenacious and obfervant of
their laws. At the ftated period, the Indian womens impurity is finiflied by
ablution, and they are again admitted to focial and holy privileges.
By the Levitical law, the people who had r.mning iJJ'ues, or fores, were
deemed unclean, and ftriclly ordered apart from the relt, for fear of pol-
luting them ; for every thing they touched became unclean. The Indians, ,
"in as Uriifl: a manner, obferve the very fame law -, they follow the ancient
liraelitifli.
^heir hnvs of unclcanncfs and puvijication.
»25
rfraLTitifli copy fo clofc, as to biiikl a fmall Init at a conrulcrable diflance
from the hoiill's oF the viUagc, for every one of their warriors wounded in
war, and confine tlieni there, (as the Jewilh lepers f jraieily were, without
tlie walls of f'" .ty) for the Ipace of fuLU- niooiis, incliidinjr that moon in
which they were wounded, as in the cafe ot their women after travel : and
they keep them llridly feparate, left the impurity of the one iliould prevent
the cure of tJ-.e other. The reputed prophet, or divine phyfician, daily pays
them a due attendance, always invoking YO He Waii to blefs the means
tliey apply on the fid occafion •, wliioh i;s chieily mountain allum, and me-
dicinal hi. rbs, always injoyning a very abllemious life, prohibiting thena
women and fait in particular, during the time ot the cure, or fancflifyin;};
the reputed finners. Like the Ilraelites, they firmly believe that iafety, or
wounds, &c. immediately proceed from the pleafcd, or angry deity, for their
virtuous, or vicious condudV, in obferving, or violating the divine law.
In this long fpace of purification, each patient is allowed only a fuper-
annuated woman to attend him, wlio is paft the temptations of finning with
men, left the introduction of a young one lliould either feduce him to
folly ; or flie having committed it with others — or by not obferving her
appointed time of living apart from the reft, might thereby defile the
place, and totally prevent the cure. But what is yet more furprifing in
their phyfical, or rather theological regimen, is, that liie phyfician is lb re-
ligioufiy cautious of not admitting polluted perfons to vifit any of his pa-
tients, L!l the defilement (hould retard the cure, or fpoil the warriors,
that before he introduces any man, even any of their priefts, who are married
according to the lav/, he obliges him to aficrt either by a double affirma-
tive, or by two negatives, that lie has not known even his own wife, in
the fpacc of the laft natural day. This law of purity was peculiar to the
Hebrews, to deem thole unclean who cohabited with their wives, till they
purified tlicmlllves in clean water. Now as the heathen world obferved no
fuch law, it ieeiiis that the primitive Americans deri\ed this religious
lultom alio from divine precept •, and that thefe ceremonial rites were origi.
nally copied from the iVIofaic inftitution.
The Ifraclites became unclean only by touchhig their dcad^ for the
fpace of Icven days i and the high-prieft was prohibited to come near
the dead. 'Tis much the fame with the Indians to this day. To pre-
vent pollution, when the fick perlbn is pad hope of recovery, they
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126 On I he ilfccnt of the American hulluis from i/.c [ftii's,
dig a grave, prepare the tomb, anoint his hair, and paint his face \ and
when Iiis breath ceafcs, they liaflicn tlic remaining funeral preparations, and
foon bury the corpfe. One of a different family will never, or very rarely
polkite iiimfelf fora ftranger-, though when living-, lie would cheerfully hazard
his life for his fafcty : the relations, who become unclean by performing
the funeral duties, miifl; live apart from the clean for feveral days, and be
cleanled by fome of their religious order, who chiefly apply the button-
fnake-root for their purification, as formerly defcribed : then tliey purify
thcmlelves by ablution. After three days, the funeral aflillants may con-
vene at the town-houfe, and follow their ufual diveriions. But the rela-
tions live reclufe a long time, mourning the dead. *
The Cheerakc, notwithflanding they have corrupted moll of their primi-
tive cufl:oms, obfcrve this law of purity in fo ihift a manner, as not to touch
the corpfe of their nearell relation thougli in tlie woods. The fear of pollu-
tion (not the want of natural affedion, as the unlkilful obferve) keeps them
alfo from burying their dead, in our reputed unfandified ground, if any die as
they are going to Charles-town, and returning home •, bccaufe they are diflan.';
from their own holy places and holy things, where only they could peform
the religious obfequics of their dead, and purify themfelvcs according to law.
An incident of this kind happened feveral years fince, a little below
Ninefv-JiXt as well as at the Conggarees, in South-Carolina: — at the former
place, the corpfe by our humanity was interred ; but at the latter, even the
twin-born brother of an Indian chriftian lady well known by the name of
the Dark hvilbcrn, left her dead and unburied.
|r
The converfion of this ram avis was in the following extraordinary man-
ner. — There was a gentleman who married her according to the manner of
the Cheerake •, but obferving that marriages were commonly of a fhort
■ One of the Chccr.Mce traders, who now rcfiJes in the Cholctah country, aflurcs me, that
a little btfore the ccmmenccment of the late war with the Cheerake, when thcB.ai, a native
of Nuquofe-town, died, none of the warriors would help to bury him, becaufe of the dan-
jicrous pollution, they imsgintd they fliould neceiTarily contraft from fuch a white corpfe ; as he
was b'jgotttii by a white man and a half-breed Cheerake woman — and as the women arc
cnly allowed to mrurn for the death of a warrior, they could not affift in this friendly duty.
Uy much folicitation, the gentleman (my author) obtained the help of an old fiiendly lialf-
btcd-warrior. Tl^cy interred the corpfe ; but the favage became unclean, and was feparatc
iiom every kind of communion with the refl, for the fpacc of ihice days,
J duration,
h :
Tbclr ideas of purity.
127
elUration in that wanton female government, ho flattered liimfcir of in-
groflin<5 her alFciflions, could he be lo li;i])py as to get lier fandcitied
by one of our own beloved men wicli a large quantity of holy water
in baptilm— and be taujj^lu the conjugal duty, by virtue of iicr ne 7 clnif-
tian name, when they were married a- new. As Ihe was no ilranger in the
Knglilh rectlemciits, he foon jK-rkiadcil her to go down to the Conggarecs,
to get the beloved fpeech, and many fine things bcfide. As the prii.It was
one of thole Ions of wifdom, the cliurcli fent us in her maternal benevolence,
both to keep and draw us iVom effential errors, he readily knew the valuo
of a convert, and pialpMig at tiie opportujiity, he changed her from a wild
favage to a believing chriftian in a trice.
!!■
He afked her a few articles of her creed, which were foon anfwerccl by
the bridegroom, as interpreter, from Ibme words flie fpoke on a trilliiig
qucflion he alkcd her. When the priert propofed to her a religious, quellion,
the bridegroom, by reafon of their low ideas, and the idiom ol" tiuir dia-
leeTis, was obHged to mention fome of the virtues, and fay he recommended
to her a very rtriJt chaftity in the married Itate. " Very well, fiid flie, that's
a £!;ood fpeech, ami fit for every woman alike, unlefs flie is very old —
But what fiiys he now ?" The interpreter, after a lliort paufe, replied, that
lie was uraing her to ufe a proper care in domeflic life. " You evil fpirit,
fidd file, when was I wafttful, or carclefs at home ?" He replied, " never" :
" Well then, faid fiu', tell him his fpeech is troublefome and light. — But,
firft, where are thole fine things you promifed me ?" He bid her be pa-
tient a little, and flie fliould have plenty of every thing flie liked bed; at
this (he fmiled. Now the religious man was fully confirmed in the hope of
her convcrfion -, however, he alked if (lie underftood, and believed that
needful article, tiie doflrine ot* the trinity. l"he bridegroom fwore heartily,
that if he brought out all the other articles of his old book, flie both knew
and believed them, for Ihe was a feniible young woman.
The brid;'groom had a very diUkult part to aft, both to pkafo the hu-
mour of his Venus and to iatisfy the inquifitive temper of our religious fon
of Apollo; he behaved pretty well however, till lie was defired to afli her
belief of the uni-trinity, and tri-unity of the deity •, which the beloved man
endeavoured to explain. On this, llie fmartly afl^cd him the fubjefl of
tluiir lor[5 and crcokcd-like difcourfe. Bur, as his patience was now ex-
haufted.
.i.
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128 On t^.' dijant of the Ainerkm ImUiins frcm the J civs.
IiaiiAfd, indcacl of anfwcring lier qucftion, lie f.iid with a loud voire, tlut lie
believed the religious man had picked out all the crabbed pares of his old
book, only to puzzle and ft.'C!'^'' '^'■''' yoi'^S clu-iflian faith j otherwife
how could he defire iiim to peifuade fuch a Iharp dit'ccrning young woman,
that one was three, and tiiree, one ? Bcfidcs, that if his book had any fuch
queftion, it belonged only to the deep parts of arithmetic, in which the
very Indian beloved men were untauglu. I le afl'ured the pried, that the
Indians did not mind what religion the women were of, or whether they
had any •, and that the bride would take it very kindly, if he (hortencd his
-difcourfe, as nothing can difturb the Indian women fo much as long
lectures.
The Barhlntithorn, (which was the name of the bride) became very un-
■eafy, both by the delay of time, and the various pafFions flie attentively
read in the bridegroom's face and fpeech, and flic afl^ed him fliaiply the
meaning of fuch a long difcourfe. He inflantly cried out, that the whole
affair was fpoiled, unlefs it was brought to a fpeedy conclufion : but the
religious man infifted upon her belief of tliat article, before he could pro-
ceed any farther. But by way of comfort, he aflfurcd him it fliould be
the very lafl: quelt.on he would propofe, till he put the holy water
on her face, and read over the marriage ceremony. The bridegroom re-
vived at this good news, immediately fent the bowl around, with a cheeiful
countenance -, which the bride obferving, flie afl-ced him the reafon of his
fudden joyful looks. — But, what with the length of the ledure, the jlofe
application of the bowl, and an over-joy of foon obtiining his wiflies, he
propofed the wrong queftion ; for inftead of afl-cing her bel.ef of the my-
llerious union of the tri-une deity, he only mentioned the manly faculties
of nature. The bride fmiled, and an<cd if the beloved man borrowed that
fpeech from his b.-loved marriage-book ? Or whether he was married, as
lie was fo waggifli, and knowing in thofe affairs. — The prieft imagining
her cheerful looks proceeded from her fwallowing his doftrine, immediately
Culled for a bowl of water to initiate his new convert. As the brideprooni
could not mediate with his ulual friendly offices in this afHiir, he perfuaded
her to let the beloved man put fome beloved water on htr face, and it
would be a lure pledge of a lafting friendffiip between her and the Knglifh,
and intitle her to every thing flie liked beft. By the perfuafive force of
his promifes, ffie con Tented : and had the conftancy. though fo ignorant a
novitiate
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T/jcir iihuts of contratllng poUutkn. \ 2.;
novitiate in our faciei mylUriLS to <jo throii[^;Ii licr catccl^llm, and the lonj
inarriaLy.' ci.rciiioiiy, — ahliou;.',h it was often inlerriiptcd by the bowl. '\\\u
being over, flie piocccJccl to go to bed with her partner, while the beloved
man fung a pfalin at the doo,', concerning the fruitful vine. 1 ler name he
foon entered in c.ipiral ktters, to [;racc the fiift title-page of his church book
ofconvcrtr, \ v;hich he often ihewcd to his 1' nglilh llicep, and vvitli much fatis-
faclion would inform them how, by the co-operation of the Deity, his earnefl:
endeavours changed an Indian Dark-liiutLorn into a lamp of chridian light.
However, afterward to his great grief, he was obliged on • •':ount "flier adul-
teries, to crafe her name from thence, and enter it anew in fo.uc of the
crowded pages of female deliiuiucnts.
'i
M
^Vhen an Ifraelite died in any Iioufe or tent, .-II who v.-cre in it, and the
furniture bclont^ing to it contradted a pollution, which continued for Icven
clays. All lii.ewife who touched the body of a dead peilon, or his grave,
V. (.re iminire for levcn days. Similar notions prevail among the Indians.
l'!ie Chcktah are lb exceedingly infatuated in favour oi' the inlaliible jutlg-
irent of their pretended proi)hets, as to allow tliem without the leall
regret, to didocate the necks oi' any of their fid; who are in a weak fl.Uij
of body, to put them out of tl;Jr pain, wlu-n they prel'ume to reveal tl^e
ckternuncd v.lU of the Deity to fliorten his days, wh.ich is aiTu-ted to bo
communicated in a dream \ by tlie lime tliat tliis ilieo-phyfical opcraticn
is performed on a patient, they liave a Icaftbld prepared ojipofite to the
door, whereon he is to lie till they remove the boiies in the fourcli nioo;i
after, to tlie remote bone-Iiou!e of t'lat fair.ily ; tiiey immediately carry
out the corpfe, mourn over ir, and place 'c in tliat dormitory, whic.h is
ftrongly pailiiadoed aroun*!, kit tlie cliiklr-.n HiiHild become polkitcd eveii
by paiiing; mu'.er t.he dead. i;Mv,eily v.Ii.jn the o'.\;.i.* of a houfe died,
they fee lire to ir, and to :;!! il;e pr.ivifions of cvr-.y ]<i..J ; o.' ;;;!.I
the whole at a cheap rate to tiic tr.iding people, witliout paying tlic l.raifc
regard to the learcicy <.f t'e tiii.cs. Nkuiy of tr.em fli'.l obferve tlie fame
rule, througli a wild imitati'.n ..fa c.re.iivnial ouiervance of the Iii,:..'I;Ce:;,
in burning tlie bed whereon a dc, I ptiiin lav, becauie of it:. ;mpt;rirv,
This is no copy 'iunn the anciviu" lii,:''.L,wir-, but fro:i! the Ilcbi'.vvj,
;-^(
n
s
\ R G
1.30 On the defcent of the American Indians from the Je-ivs»
ARGUMENT XII.
U
Like the Jews, the grcattft part of tlic fouthern Indians alJliUii from-
mofl things that are either in themklves, or in the general aoprehenfion of
mankind, loathfome, or micle.v:: where wt find a deviation from that ge-
neral rule among any of them, it is a corruption — either owing to their
intcrcourfe with FAiropcans, or having contrafled an ill habit from ne-
cefTity. They generally afHx very vicious ideas to rlie eating of impure
things ; and all their prophets, priells, old warriors and war-c'ufftains, before
t!icy enter on their religious duties, and while they are engaged in them,
obferve the ftrifteit abllinence in this point. Formerly, if any of them did
cat in wiiite people's houfes, or even of what had been dreffed there, while
they were fandlifying themlelves, it was deemed a dangerous fin of pol-
lution. When Ibme of them firft corrupted their primitive virtue, by drink-
ing of our fpirituous liquors, the religious fpedators called ic cckn hoome
" bitter waters i" alluding, I conjc;ft:ure, to the bitter waters of jcaloufy,
that produced fwelling and death to thofe who committed adultery, but had
no power over the innocent. That this name is not accidental, but defirrn-
edly pointed, and exprefTive of the bitter waters of God, Teems obvious, not
only from ti.e image they flill retain of them, but likewife wlien any oi^
them refufe our invitation of drinking fpirituous liquors in company with
us, they lay AhifKola Ai:a, Ooka Hoameh liJJjto, " 1 will not drink, they are
the bitter waters of the great One." Though Ipto, one of tlie names of
God, fubjoined to nouns, denotes a fuperlative degree, in this cafe they de-
viate from that general rule — and for this reafon they never alnx the ideai
of bitter to the fpirituous liquors we drink among them. IJoomeh is the
only word they have to convey the meaning of bitter; xi% Juch Hccmeb,
" bitter ears," or pepper.
They reckon all birds of prey, and biru,-; of night, to be unck^an, and
unl.iwful to be eaten. Not long ago, when the Indians were making their
winter's hunt, and the old women were without flefh-meat at home, I fhot
a fmall fat hawk, and defired one of riiem to take and drefs it ; but thou"-h
I rtrongly importuned her by way of trial, fhe, as earncllly rcfufed it for
fci'.r.
fJI'!
'i:!)I
Their abjlalniugfyom things deemed unclean.
131
fear of contrcufling pollution, which flic called the " accurfcd ficknels,"
fiippofing difeafe would be the nccellary clFeft of fuch an impurity. Eagles
of every kind tiiey efteem unclean food ; likewife ravens (thougii the
name of a tribe with them) crows, buzzards, fwallovvs, bats, and every
fpecics of owls : and they believe that fwailowing flies, muflietoes, or
gnats, always breeds fickncfs, or worms, according to the quantity that
goes into them-, which though it may not imply extraordinary fl<ill in
phyflc, fliews then- retention of the ancient law. which prohibited the
fwallowing of flies : for to this that divine farcafm alludes, " fwallowing a
camel, and fl:raining at a gnat." Such infects were deemed unclean, as
well as vexatious and hurtful. Tlie God of Ekron was Beelzibiibt or
the God and ruler of flies.
None of them will eat of any animal whatfoever, if they eitlier know,
or fufpect that it died of itfelf. I lately aflsi-tl one of the women the
-realbn of throwing a dung-hill-fov\l out of doors, on the corn-houfe ;
flie faid, that flie was afraid, Oophe Aheeka Hakfct lilcb, " it died with the
dillemper of the mad dogs," and that if flie had eaten it, it would have
aftl'fted her in the very fame manner. I faid, if fo, flie did well to fave
herfelf from danger, but at the lame time, it Teemed Ihe had forgotten
rhe cats. She replied, " that fuch impure animals would not contradl
tlie acciirfed ficknefs, on account of any evil thing they eat •, but that
the people who ate of the flefli of the fwine that fed on fucii polluting
food, would certainly become mad."
In the year 1766, a madnci's feized the wild bcafl:s in the remote woods
of Weft-Florida, and about the fame time tlie domeilic dogs were attacked
With the like diftemper i the deer were equally infecled. The Indians in
their winter's hunt, found feveral lying dead, fome in a helplefs condition,
and others fierce and mad. But though they are all fond of increafing
their number of deer-ikins, both from emulation and for profit, yet non^. of
them durfl: venture to flay them, left they fl-.ould pollute then.llK'cs, and
thereby incur bodily evils. Tlie head-man of the camp told me, he cautioned
one of the Hottuk H^kfe, who had refuied a long time at Savannah, from
touching fuch deer, faying to him Cheluikjlmia, " Do not become vicious
and mad," for Jl]c Ilnkfct IHchtuka/j, " the deer were mad, and are tlead ■"
adding, tiiat if he acled the part of llakfcy he xNOuld cauic both iiim-
5 2 " fclf,
'' li
i f
i
i
"ill
'i'
h
ii
1 1
1
■ 11
i ■
i
1
1 ■
;("■■■ J
132 On the defcent of the American Indians from the Jews,
fc'lf, and the reft of the himnng ca'i\r) to be ipoilcd •, neverthelefs he
fhi.it his ears againft his honcft fpecch, and brought thole dangerous deer-
fkins to camp. But the people would not afterward unbciate with him ^
and he foon paid dear for being Ilak/e, by a fliarp fplintered root of
a cane running ahnoil through his foot, near the very place where he
fiilt polluted himfcif; and he was aliaid foaie worfe ill was ftill in wait
for him.
Illii
m
^m; 3
Tn 1767, the Indians were llruck with a dileafe, which they were unac-
quainted with before. It began with fliarp pains in the head, at tlie lower
part of each of the ears, and fwelled the face and throat in a very extraor--
dinary manner, and alfo the tcfticles. It continued about a fortnight, and,
in the like fpace of time went ofi' gradually, without any dangerous confe-
qucnce, or ufe of outward or inward remedies : they called it JVahka Aheekay
" the cattle's diftemper," or ficknefs. Some of their young men had.
by Health killed and eaten a few of the cattle which the traders had
brought up, and they imagined they had thus polluted themfelves, and were
fmitren in that ftrange manner, by having their heads, necks, &c. magni-
fied like the fame parts of a fick bull. They firft concluded, eitlier to
kill all the cattle, or fend them immediately off their land, to prevent the
like mifchief, or greater ills from befalling the beloved people — for their
cunning old phyficians or prophets would not undertake to cure them, in
order to inilame tlie people to execute the former refolution j being jea-
lous of encroachments, and afraid the cattle v.ould fpoil their, open corn-
fields ; upon which account, the traders arguments had no weight with
thefe red Hebrew philofophers. But fortunately, one of their head warriors
had a few cattle foon prefented to hins, to keep off tlie wolf ; and his rea-
jbning proved lb weighty, as to alter their refolution, and produce in them
a contrary belief.
f\
They reckon .all thcfe animals to be unclean, that are either carni-
vorous, or live on nafty food ; as hogr, wolves, panthers, foxes, cats,
mice, r.it". And if we except the bear, they deem all beads of prey
unhallowed, and polluted food •, all amphibious quadrupeds they rank in.
the fame clafs. Our old traders remember when they firft began the cuftom
of eating beavers : and to tliis day none cat of them, except ihofe who kill.
thsmj
Their ahjlalning from tljings deemed iinckan.
^Zl
them ; though the flefli is very wholefome, on account of the bjrk of trees
they live upon. It muft be acknowledged, tliey are all degenerating a-
pace, infomuch, that the Choktah Indians, on account of their fcantinefs
cf ammunition while they traded with the French, took to eat horic-flefli,
and even fnakes of every kind •, iliough each of thefe fpccies, and every
fort of reptiles, are accounted by the other neighbouring nations, impure
food in the higheft degree. And they ridicule the Choktah for their
cannibal apoftacy, and term them in common fpeech, " the evil, ugly,
Choktah."
They abhor moles fo exceedingly, that they will not allow th.eir children
even to touch them, for fear o<^ hurting their eye-fight; reckoning it con-
tagious. They believe that nature is j^ofiell of fuch a property, as to tranf-
fufe into men and animals the qualities, cither of the food they ufc, or of
thofe objfifts that are prefentcd to their fenfes •, he who feeds on venifon,
is according to their phyfical fyftem, fwiftcr and more fagacicus than the m-xr,
v^ho lives on the flcih of the clumfy bear, or helplefs dungliill fowls, the
flow-focted tame cattle, or the heavy wallowing fwinc. l"hi.- is the reaibn
that fevcral of their old men recommend, and fiy, that fcirmcily theii
greatefl chieftains obfcrved a conllant rule in th.eir diet, and feldom ar .
cf any animal of a grofs quality, or heavy motion of body, f.inrvinir ji.
conveyed a duUnefs through the whole fydem, and dilabled them hotn ex
exerting themfelvcs with proper vigour in their martial, civil, ,uid rLi!
gious duties.
■ ■ m
I
I ;
1 have already llicwn their averfion to eating of unfiinclified fruits ; and ii-
this argument, that they abftain from fevcral other things, contrary to tht
ufcige of all the old heathen world. It may be objected, that now they
il'ldom refufe to eat hogs flefli, when the traders invite them to it v but th;..
proceeds entirely from vicious imitation, and which is common v, ich the
moll civilized nations. When fwine were lirft brought pjiiong tliem, tlicy
deemed it fuch a horrid abomination in any of their people to eat tliat fil-
thy and impure food, that they excluded the criminal from all n;!i|_!;iou';
communion in their circular town-hou'.'e, or in their quadrangular holy
gTOuml at the annual expiation of fins, equally as if he had eaten unfanc'ii-
ficd fruits. After the yearly atonement was made at the temple, he was
indeed re-adaiitted to his ufual privileges. Formerly, none of chcir be-
7
^
io^'cd
i:
m--]
u.\
134 On tie (hfcciit of the American Indians from the Jews,
loved men, or warriors, would eat or drink with us on the moft prefTing
invitation, through fear of polluting themfclves, they deemed us fuch im-
pure animals. Our eating the flefh of fwine, and venifon, with the gravy
in it, helped to rivet their diHike, for this they reckon as blood.
I once aflied the Arcbimagus, to fit down and partake of my dinner -, bur,
lie excufed himfelf, fiying, lie had in a few days fome holy duty to per-
form, and that if he eat evil or accurfcd food, it would fpoil him, — allud-
ing to fwine'-s flefli. Though moft of their virtue hath lately been cor-
rupted, in this particular they ftlll affix vicious and contemptible ideas to
the eating of fwinc's flcfli \ infoinuch., that Shukapa, " fwine cater," is the
moft opprobious epithet they can ufe to brand us with : they commonly
lubjoin AknKggjpa, " eater of dunghill fowls." Both together, fignify
"■ iiitiiy, helplcfs animals." By our lurprifing mifmanagement in allowing
them a long time to infult, abufe, rob, and murder the innocent Britilh fub-
jecls at plealurc, without the leaft fatisfadion, all the Indian nations for-
merly defpiild the Englifn, as a fwarm of tame fowls, and termed them
io, in their let Ipcechcs.
The Indians through a ftrong principle of religion, abftain in the
ftriJi-cft manner, from eating the Blood of any animal ; as it contains
the life, and fpirit of the bcift, and was tlie very efience of the facri-
iiccs that were to be oflercd up for finners. And this was the Jewidi
opinion and hiw of f.icrifice. Lev. xvii. 11. "for the life of the flelh
is in the bload, and I have given it to you upon the altar, to make an
atonenicnt for your fouls ; for it is the blood, which maketh an atone-
ment for the foul." When the Englifti traders have been making faufages
mixt with hoDi's blood, I have obl'erved the Indians to caft their eves
upon them, with the horror of their reputed fore-fathers, when they
viewed the prediftcd abomination of defolation, fuliilled by Antiochus, in
defiling the temple.
An inftance lately happened, which fufficiently fliews their utter avcrfion
to blood. A Chikkefah woman, a domeftic of one of the traders, being
very ill with a complication of diforders, the Indian phylici.in iccmed
to ufe his beft endeavours to cure her, but witliout the leaft viable tficd:.
7 To
'Tbc'ir ahjlainlng from blood. 1^5
To preferve his medical credit witli tlie people, he at lafl afcribcd her ailment
to the eating of fv.'inc's flcfli, blood, and other polluting footi : and Lid,
that fuch an ugly, or accurlcd rickncfs, overcame the power of all hi;;
beloved fongs, and phyfic ; and in anger, l-.c L-ft his fuppolld criminal
patient to be punilhed by Loak initohooilo. I afked her fome time after-
wards, what her ailments were, and what flie imagined might have occa-
fioned them ? She laid, flie was full of pain, that flic had Abeeka Ookproo,
" the accurfed ficknefs," becaufe Ike had eaten a ga-at many fowls after the
manner of the white people, with tlie Ijjifl: Ockproo, " accuiftd blood," in
them. In time flie recovered, and nov/ llrictly abftains from tame fov.ls,
unlels they are bled to death, for fear of incurring future evil, by the
like pollution.
There is not the leafl: trace among their ancient traditions, of tiieir C,q-
fervincr the hateful name of cannibals, as our credulous writers have care-
fully copied from each otiier. Their tafte is fo oppofite to that of tlic An-
throphagi, tliat. they always over-drefs their meat whet'ncr roafted or
boiled.
'■fi
%
'l'»
V!h
Pm:
' 1-^
The Mufkoghe who have been at war, timeout of mind, agair^l the Indiana
of Cape-Florida, and at length reduced them to tliirty men, wiio removed ro
the Havannah along with the Spaniards-, afBrm, they could never be in-
formed by their captives, of the leaft inclination they ever had of eat-
ing hirman ileik, only the heart of the enemy — which they all do, fym ■
patl'.etically (blcod for blood) in order to infpire them with countgc ; and
yet t!ie coaftant InfTes they fuffered, might have highly provoked them to
exceed their natural barbarity. To eat the heart of an enemy will in thcir
opinion, like eating other thing?, before mentioned, comimunicate and give
greater heart ag:unfl: the enemy. They alio think that the vi'^orous i^.-
cukies of the mind are derived from the brain, on which account, I have
feen fome of t'leir heroes drink out of a human flvullj they imagine, they
only imbibe the good qualities it formerly contained.
Vv'lien fpeaking to the ^riivwflo'W concerning the HottentctSj thofe he-
terogeneous animals according to the Portup,uelc and Dutch accounts, ho
aflicd m.c, whether they builded and planted— and what fort of feed tht/
Clue,
'J
'If
1 ',6 O.I tl: iiij'jcnt of ihc American Indians from the Jcvs.
chiclly lived upon. I told him, I wnb informed th:ic they dwclc in Iniall
:;aity hut,., and lived chiefly on il\ccp'si guts and crickets, lie i.u;ohcd,
and laid tliere w.ij no credit to hz given to the far-d:ll.'.nt writers of tliul'e
old bcuks, bec.iu'e they ini^-^Iit not have underdood the langu.i;ic and cuf-
loms of the people ; but tliat thofe, whom our book-, reported to live on
luch nally food, (if they did not deceive us) U'ight have been forced to it
lor the want of better, to keep tlieni from dy:ng; or by the like occuii mi,
they might liave learned that uij,ly cullom, and could not quit it v/hen tl-.ey
were U^:c U\<m want, as the Choktah eat horfe-flcfii, though they have
pleniy of ver/ifun : hov/cver, it was very cafy, he faid, to know whetljer they
v/ere pcjljeilcd of human reafon, for if they were endued with fliame to have
a defire of covering tlieir nakednefs, lie concluded liie;n to be iuinMn. He
then aiked nie, whether I had bec:i informed of tlieir havinjj any fort of
l.UTTjuag':', or med'.od of counting as high as tlic number of tlieir fingers,
either bv w.irus or expreffive motion \ or of bearing a iiearer relemblancc to
I'dii'e the human creature, in laughter, than SLau-.c the ape bore ■, or of
being more locial and gregarious than thole animals of tiie couritiy wlierc
they lived. If they were endued with thofe properties, he aflirmed t'lem to
be human creatu:ei ■, and that fuch old lying books Paould njt be credited.
I'he more religious, or the leafl: corrupted, of the various remote Indian
nations, v.'ill not eat of any young beaft when it is newly yeaned ; and their
old men tiiink thev would fuffer damage, even by the bare contjv'l; : wliich
feems to be derived from the Mofaic law, that prohibited luch animals to
be offered u[), c r eaten, till they were eight days old ; Ijecaufe, till tlicn,
they v.ere in an iinperfeet and polluted (late! Tiiey appear, however, to be
utterly ignorant of the defign and meaning of this appuiiument antl prac-
tice, as well as of fom.e other cuRoms and inftitutions. But as tlie time of
circun^ifing the liraelitifli children was founded on this law of purity, it
feems rrobable
that tlie American Aborigines obferved the lav/ of circum-
/:i;Kjn, ior
lo.iie tmie alter t'ley arrived here, and deii.ie
d
ir.>:ii ir
v.licn
it; bccaJn
e i:-'compatii le Vvidi tlie hard d.uly toils and fliarp exercifes.
w;
!i neee.Tity mult have forced ihem to purine, to luiiptji: \.-^\ c'
.cially wlien we confder, that the iharpefl: and moll laiua;
me
•mole op,
nbly bia'r
.liunachi!';
,uious, mv
.:libl
e epitnec, witn w
hieh
one
in can p
ano
th.r, is to call I.im ir
ibl
n public company,
//
6 I. /-'/.',
k jr.: lie.
pi;cputio dcicfio. They rcfent it fu highly, t'lat in i!k: y
ear
T/jeir rcafon for difujing circumcifion.
^n
1750, when the Checrakee were on the point of commencing a war againft
us, feveral companies of the northern Indians, in concert with them, com-
pelled me in tiic lower Cheerakce town to write to the government of Soutli-
Carolina, that they made it their earned reqiicfl: to the Englilli not to me-
diate in their war with the Kaiahba Indians, as they were fully refolved to
profecute it, with the grcateft eagerncfs, while there was one of tiiat hate-
ful name alive \ becaufe in the time of battle, they had given them the ugly
name of fliort-tailed eunuchs. Now as an eunuch wi.s a contemptible name
with the Ifraelites, and none of them could ferve in any religious office •,
it (hould '" that the Indians derived this opprobious and fingular epihet
frc fewilp idition, as caftratic ■. v*. , never in ufe among the ancient
or prefent Americans.
The Ifraelites were but forty years in the wildernefs, and would not hav2
renewed the painful act of circumcifion, only th.it Jofluia intorced it: and
by the neceftary fatigues and difficulties, to vhich as already hinted, the
primitive Americans muft be expofed at their iirft arrival in this wafte and
extenfive wildernefs, it is likely they forbore circumcifion, upon the divin'j
principle extended to their fuppofed predeceflbrs in the wildernefs, of not
accepting facrifice at the expence of mercy. This might focthe them after-
wards wholly to rejeft it as a needlefs duty, efpecially if any of the eaflcrn
heathens accompanied them in their travels in queft of freedom. And as it
is probable, that by the time they reached America, they had worn out their
knives and every other fharp inftrument fit for the occafion ; fo had they
perfornricd the operation with flint-ftones, or fharp fplinters, there is no
doubt that each of the mothers would have likewife laid, " '1 'lis day, thou
art to me a bloody hufband •." However, from the contemptible idea the
Americans fix to caftration, &c. it feems very probable the more religious
among them ufed circumcifion in former ages.
fii
\\\\
m
3'i'i|
■■#;
Under this argument, I muft obferve that Ai-u-be fignifics " the thif^h"
of any animal; and E-iepattdh Tekdle, " the lower part of the thigh," or
literally, " the hanging of the foot." And when in the v/oods, the In-
dians cut a fmall piece out of the lower part of the thighs of the deer
they kill, length-ways and pretty deep. Among the great number cf
vcnilop hams they bring to our trading houfcs, I do not remember to
f lixod. i\-. 25, 26.
T havs
F
i
>■ 1
1
,^5
i
i
■ ^ ■■■
' 'M
1 ''S On the di'fcent of the American Indians from the fcivj.
have obfeTvcil one without it i from which I conjedurc, that as every
ancient cullom was defigned to convey, either a typical, or literal in-
Itriidive leflbn of Ibme ufeful thing; and as no ufage of the old heathen
world refembled tliis cullom \ it fcems ftrongly to point at Jacob's wrelliing
with an angel, and obtaining for himfelf and his poftcriiy, the name, "^N'T^',
(perhaps, Tcfhcr-ak) " divine guide," or " one who prev.'.ils with the omni-
potent," and to the children of Ifrael not eating tlic fincw of the thij^h of
any animal, to perpetuate the memory of their ancettor's iinew being Ihrunk,
which was to obtain the blefling.
The Indians always few their maccafenes with deer's finews, though
■of a fharp cutting quality, tor they reckon them more furtunate than
the wild heinp : but to eat fuch, thcv imagint' would breed worms, and
other ailments, in proportion to the number iliey eat. y\nd I have been
afTured by a gentleman of charafler, who is now an inhiibitant of Souih-
Carolina, and well acquainted with the cuftoms of the northern Indians, that
they alio cut a piece out of the thigh of every deer they kill, and
throw it away ; and reckon it fuch a dangerous pollution to cat it, as to
occafion ficknefs and other misfortunes of fundry kinds, efpecially by fpoil-
ing their guns from fliooting with proper force and diredion. Now as none
of the old heathens had fuch a cuftom, muft it Jiot be tonfidercd as of
ZlViielitifli extradion?
ARGUMENT XIII.
The Indian Marriaoes, Divorces, and Punishments of adultery, ftill
Ktain a ftrong likenefs to the Jewifli laws and cuftoms in thele points.
The Hebrews had fponfalia de prefenti, and fponfalia de future: a con-
fidcrablc time generally intervened between their contnift and marriage :
and their nuptial ceremonies were celebrated in the night. I'he Indians
obferve the fame cuftoms to this day, infomuth, that it is ul'ual for an
elderly man to rake a girl, or fometimes a child to be his wife, becaule
file is capable of receiving good imprcftions in that tender ftate : frequently,
a moon elapfes after the contract is made, and the value received, bef n-e
the
The Jhmhirity of the'ir marriages.
139
the bridcp,room flecps with the bride, anil on the marriage day, he does-
not appear before her till night introduces him, and thc.i without tapers.
Tiie griindtur of the Hebrews confined pretty much in the multiplicity"
of tlicir wives to attend them, as a fhowy retinue: as the meaner fore
could not well purcliafe one, they had a lifzht fort of marriage fuitable
to their circiimltances, called by the fcholiafts, tifu capio; " taking the
woman for prcfent ufe." When they had lived together about a year, if
agreeable, they parted good friends by mutual confent. The Indians
alfo arc fo fond of variety, that they ridicule the white people, as a tribe
of narrow-hearted, and dull conllitutioned animals, for having only one
wife at a time ; and being bound to live with 'and fupport her, though
numberlefs circumrtances might require a contrary conduift. When a
young warrior cannot drefs alimode America, he llrikes up one of tliol'c
matches for a few moons, which they term '■Toopfa T/iwak, " a ma!;e haile
marriage," becaufe it wants the ufual ceremonies, and duration of their
other kind of marriages.
1
11!
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The friendliell: kind of marriage among the Hebrews, was eating bread
together. The bridegroom pur a ring on the fourth finger of the bride's
left hand before two witneffes, and faid, " Be thou my wife, according to
the law of Mofes." Her acceptance and filence implying confent, con-
firmed her part of the marriage contraft, becaufe of the rigid modelly of
the eaftern women. When the fliort marriage contraft was read over, he
took a cake of bread anu broke it in two, for himfelf and her -, or other-
wii'e, he put fome corn between their hands : which cuftoms were ufed as
llrong emblems of the necelTity of mutual induftry and concord, to obtain
prcfent r.nd future happinefs. When an Indian makes his fir!t addrefs to
the young v/oman he inteni.ls to marry, fhe is obliged by ancient cullom to
fit by iiim till he hath done eating and drinking, whether flie likes or
diflikes him -, but afterward, flie is at her own choice whether to llay or
retire *. When the bridegroom marries the bride, after the ufual prelude,
he takes a choice ear of corn, and divides it in two before witnelTcs, gives
her one half in her hand, and keeps the other half to himfelf; or otherwife,
• C.int. iii. 4. I held him and would not let him go, until I had brouglit him to my
father's houfe, and into the chambers of her that conceived me : See Gen. xxiv. 67. Such
wds the cuHom of the Hebrews.
T 2 he-
J;i?
.1 .
14.0 On tic (hjccnt of the American Itidums from the fcws.
he gives her a deer's foot, as an emblem of the readinefs with which flie
'■ight to lerve him : in return, flie prefents him with fome cakes of
bre.ul, thereby declaring her domeftic care and gratitude in return for the
offals 1 for the men fcaft by themfelves, and the women eat the remains.
When this fliort ceremony is ended, they may go to bed like an honeft
couple.
Formerly, this was an univerfal cuftom among the native Americans -, but
this, like every other ufage of theirs, is wearing out apace. I'iie Well-Flori-
dans, in order to keep their women fubjedl to the law of adultery, bring
fome venifon or buflalo's flefli to the houfe of their nominal wives, at the
end of every winter's hunt : that is reckoned a fufficient annual tye of
their former marriages, although the luilbands do not cohabit with them.
The Mufkohge men, if newly married, are obliged by ancient cuftom, to
get their own relations to hoe out the corn-fields of each of their wives,
that their marriages may be confirmed : and the more jealous, repeat the
cuftom every year, to make their wives fubjeft to the laws againft adultery.
But the Indians in general, reckon that before the bridegroom can prefume
to any legal power over the bride, he is after the former ceremonies, or
others fomcthing fimilar, obliged to go into the woods to kill a deer,
bring home the carcafs of venifon, and lay it down at her houfe wrapt up in
its n<in ; and if ftie opens the pack, carries it into the houfe, and then drefles
and gives him fome of it to eat with cakes before witneft*es, flie becomes
his lawful wife, and obnoxious to all the penalties of an adulterefs.
The Hebrews had another fort of marriage — by purchafe : the bride-
groom gave the father of the bride as much as he thought (he was worth :
and .-"ccording to the different valuation, fo fooner or later fhe went off at
market. The only way to know the merit of a Hebrew lady, was to
enquire the value for which her father would fell her, and the lefs rapacious
he was, the looner ft-ic might get an hufband. Divine writ abounds with
inftances of the like kind •, as Gen. xxxiv. 12. " Afk me never fo much
dowry and I will give it." David bought Michal, and Jacob deai ly pur-
chafed Rachel, &'c. The women brought nothing with them, except theij:
clothes, rings and bracelets, and a few trinkets. When the Indians would
cxprefs a proper marriage, they have a word adapted according to their
various dialects, to give them a (uitable idea of itj but when they are
fpeaking
the fimlhirity of tbdr marriage
Hf
f{3eaking of their fenfual marri.ige bargains, tlu'y always term ir, " buy-
ing a woman i" tor example — tlicy lay with regard to the former, Che-A'wa-
las, " I Ihall marry you," the lall fyllablc denotes the firll perfon of
the future tenfe, the former " I fliall m;xkc you, as /h.<a, or IL'n'a was
to IJij" which is co.ifirmed by a ftrong negative fimilar cxpreflion, Che'
Awiila Awa, " I fliall not marry you." But the name of their market
marriages, is Otcolpha, Eho Adnimburas, Sacokchi'ta, " In the Ipring, I fliall
buy a woman, if I am alive." Or Eho Achumlura Awa, " I fliall not buy
a woman," i^iilbafa toogat, " for intlced I am poor :" the former iilage, and
method of language is exadlly calculated to cxpreli that Angular cullom of
the Hebrews, per coemptionem.
They fometimes marry by deputation or proxy. The intended bride-
groom fends fo much in value to the nearefl: relations of the intended bride,
as he thinks flie is worth : if they are accepted, :t is a good fign that her
relations approve of the match, but flie is not bound by their contraft
alone; her confent mull likewile be obtained, but pcrfuafions mod com-
monly prevail with them. However, if the price is reckoned too fmall, or
the goods too few, the law obliges them to return the whole, either to hiin-
felf, or fome of his nearell kindred. If they love the goods, as they term
it, nccording to the like method of exprefl'ion with the Hebrews, the loving
couple may in a fliorr time bed together upon trial, and continue or dif-
continue their love according as their fancy direds them. If they like each
other, they become an honeft married couple v/hen the nuptial ceremony
is performed, as already defcribed. When one of their chieftains is mar-
ried, feveral of his kinfmen help to kill deer and buffalos, to make a
rejoicing marriage feaft, to which their relations and neighbours are in-
vited: there the young warriors flng with their two chief muflcians, who
beat on their wet deer fkin tied over the mouth of a large clay-pot,
and raife their voices, finging Yo To, &c. When they are tired with feaft-
ing, dancing, and finging the Epithalamium, they depart with friendly
glad hearts, from the houfe of praife.
If an Ifraelite lay with a bond woman betrothed, and not redeemed, fiie
was to be beaten, but not her fellow criminal ; for in tiie original text.
Lev. xix. 20. the word is in the fceminine gender. When offenders
were beaten, they were bowed down, as Dcut. xxv. 2. — fo that they
neither
if;
III
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142 On the dcfcent of the Amerlcein Indians from the "Jews,
neither fat nor ftood, and their whip had a large knot to it, which com-
manded the thongs, lb as to expand, or contract them •, the punifhmcnt was
always to be Uiitcd to the nature ot the crime, am! the coMrtiti:cii..i (.f t' r
criminal. Wliilc the offenders were under the lafli, tliree judges J'.ood by
to fee that they received their full and jult due. 'I'hc fiill repeated
the words of Deut. xxviii. 58. the fecond counted the ftripcF, and the third
faid, "Hack, or lay on." The ofl'ender received three laihcs on the
breaft, three on the belly, three on each flioulder, &c. Hut adiilrrry
was attended with capital punifliment, as Deut. xxii. 22. The parties when
legally deteiited, were tried by the lefler judicatory, which was to conlilV,
at lc:ilt of twenty-three : the Sanhedrim j^ave the bitter waters to thofc
women who were fufpecfked of adultery. 'I he formci' were Honed to death •,
and the latter burfl: open, according to their imprecation, if they were
guilty : the omnipof^nt divine wifdoni imprefled thofe waters with that
wonderAd quality, contrary to the common courfe of nature. The; n)en
married, and were divorced as often as their caprice direifled them ; for
if they imagined their wives did not value them, according to their own
partial opinion of themfelves, they notified the occafion of the diilike, in a
Imall billet, that her virtue might not be fufpcded : and when they gave
any of them the ticket, they ate together in a very civil manner, and thus
diflblvcd the contraft.
I have premifed this, to trace the rcfemblance to the marriage divorces and
punilhments of the favage Americans. The middle aged people of a place»
which lies about half-way to Mobillc, and the Illinois, afi'ure us, that they
remember when adultery was punilhed among them with death, by fliooting
the offender with barbed arrows, as there are no ftones there. But what
with the lofles of their people at war with the French and their favage confede-
rates, and the conftitucional wantonnefs of their young men and women, they
have through a political defire of continuing, or increafing their numbers,,
moderated the feverity of that law, and reduced it to the prefent llandard of
puniilimcnt -, which is in the following manner. If a married woman is
dete(5led in adultery by one perfon, the evidence is deemed good in judg-
ment againft her-, the evidence of a well grown boy or girl, they even
reckon fufficient, becaufe of the heinoufnefs of the crime, and the difficulty
of difcovering it in their tliick forelts. This is a corruption of the
Mofaic law, which required two evidences, and exempted both women
and
W .
^hc nature of their divorcest and punijhncnts, for oJultery. 14^
and flavcs from public faiih •, becaufe of the reputed ficklenefs of the one,
and the bafe, groveling temper of the other. When the crinie is proved
^Af^alnft *hr. won^^i", rh^ cp'^teil hufband accompanied by fome of his
relations, rurprifcF, and Iwats her mod barbaroufly, and tlicn cuts olV her
hair and nol*", or on<; of her lips. There are many of that fort of disfip^urtd
females amon^ the Chikkalah, and they are commonly the bcft featured,
and the molt tempting of any of their councry-wonun, which expol'ed them
to the fnares of young men. But their fellow-criminals, who proba-
bly fnrt tempted theni, are partially exempted from any kind of corporal
inmilhiucnt.
With the MuHiohgc Indians, it was formerly reckoned adultery, if k
man took a pitcher of water off a rarried woman's head, and ilrank of ir
But then law laid, if he was a few fleps apar , ami Ihe at his rfi]''elt
kz it down, and retired a little way olV, he mij'Kt then drink without ex-
jiofiMf; her CO any danger. If we ferioully rt'^.-ct on tH • ritl ■if their na-
live culloms, tiiii old law, fo fingular to themlelvcs f, ti the reft of the
world, gives us rooni to think they drew it from t'r I'wiflj bitter waters
thar wrre f^iven to real, or fufpciTed adulter'"<res, either to provf 'heir guilt,
o! acted; tlieir innocence.
ll
Hi. I
li 1
Among thofe Indians, when adultery is difcovcretl, the offending parti' *
commonly fee off" Ipcedily for the diltant woods to fecure themlclves from
the fliameful baiige of the fliarp penal law, which tliey inevitably get, if tliey
can be taken before the yearly offering for t'e atonement of fin -, afterward,
every crime except murder is forgiven. But they are always p irlued, and
frequently overtaken •, though perhaps, three or four moons abfei\t, and two
hundred miles ofl", over hills and mountains, up and down many cr<*cks and
rivers, on contrary courfes, and by various intricate windings — the pmfuers
are eager, and their hearts burn within them for revenge. When tf.o huf-
band has the chilling news ^^rf^ \^ ''.;';)cred in his ear, he deals off with ins wic-
nefs to fome of his kinfmen, to get them to aHid him in revenging his in-
jury : they arc foon joined by a fufficient number of the fame family, ii' die
criminal was not of the fli; I.' tribe ; otherwife, he chufes to confide in his
neared relations, W!-eii the witnefs has aflerted to them the truth of his
evidence by a drong affeveration, they feparate to avoid fufpicion, and
nirtt commonly in the dufk of tiie evening, near the town of the adui-
7 tcr.T,
:lli
144 0'' ^^•'^ defccnt of the American Indians from the feivs,
urcr, wliere each of them provides a fmall hoop-pole, tapering to tlie poinr,
with knobs halt' an inch long, (allowed by ancient cu(lom) with which they
corretft the llnncrs*, for as their law in this cafe doth not allow partiality,
if they punilhcd one of them, and either cxcufed or let the other cfcape
from juftice, like the Illinois, they would become liable to fuch punifli-
inent as they had inflided upon either of the parties.
if
II
Tiiey commonly begin with the adulterer, bccaufe of the two, he is the
more capable of making his efcape : they generally attack him at niglir,
by lurprife, kft he fliould make a defperate refillance, and blood be ihed
to cry for blood. I'hcy fall on eager and mercilefs, whoopini^ tlicir re-
vengeful nolle, and thrafliing their captive, with their long-knobbed hoop-
flails V fame over his head and face •, others on his flioulders and back.
His belly, fides, legs, and arms, are gaflicd all over, and at lall, he hap-
pily feems to be infenfible of pain : then they cut off his ears *.
They obfcrve, however, a gradation of punifliment, according to the
criminality of the adulterefs. For the firft breach of the marriage faith, they
crop her ears and hair, if the hufband is fpiteful : cither of thofe badges
proclaim her to be a whore, or Hakfe Kcincha^ " fuch as were evil in Ca-
naan," for the hair of their head is their ornament : when loofe it com-
monly reaches below their back ; and when tied, it ftands below the
crown of the head, about four inches long, and two bread. As ths
• Among thcfe Indians the trading people's ears are often in danger, by the ni..rpnefs of
this law, and their fuborning falic witnefles, or admitting foolilh children m Icg^il i-viuenec;
but gcrcrally cither the tender-hearted females or friend;, give them timely notice of tiieir dan-
ger. Tl.en they fail to the rum-k';g', — and as foon as they find the purfucrs approaching,
tliey lland to arms in a threatnin^ parade. Formerly, tlic trader; 1 !x lb many liritiiii tars, kc^-t
them in proper awe, and confcqucntly prevented thetu fVom aticni'^ring .my mifchicf. i^ut
lince the patentecd race of Daublcrs fet foot in their land, tiiey h..ve 5;radii:illy become worfe
every year, murdering valiiahlc innocent Britilh fubjech at pleahire : and when thc; go
down, they receive prefents as a tribute of tear, for which theic Indians upbr.iid, and
threaten us, The M.-fnohge lately dipt off the ears of two white men for fuppoled adultery.
One had been a diftip'e of Black Deard, tr.e pirate ; and tl.e other, at the lime of gcin^ un-
der the ir.inds of tlnlejcwilh clippers, was deputed by tlie whinifi.;! war-governor rif
Georgia, to awe tiie .raicrs into an obedience of his d^fpotit power. His fu< cellbr
loll his life Oil th'.' Cinkkafah war-path, twenty mile- a'j vc the Kocfah, or uppermolt
welkrn town of thc Aijikohge, in an attempt to arrell ihu traders ; which Ihdld not by any
means be undertaken in the Indian couuCry,
7 offender
Their punijhment of adultery.
U5
ofrclider cuts a comical figure among the reft of the women, by being
trimmed fo flurp, flie always keeps her dark winter hot houfe, till by
keeping the hair moiftened with greafe, it grows lb lonj as to bear tying.
Then flie accuftoms herfelf to the light by degrees \ and loon fome wortlilcls
fellow, according to their ftandard, buys her for his And-^ which term
hath been already explained.
The adulterer's ears are flafhed ofFclofe to his head, for the firft afl of
adultery, becaufe he is tiie ciiief in fault. If the criminals repeat the
crime with any other married perfons, their nofes and upper lips are cut off.
Ikit the third crime of the like nature, is attended with more danger ; for
their law fays, that for public heinous crimes, fatisfaflion (hould be made
vifible to the people, and adequate to the injuries of the virtuous, — to fct
their aggrieved hearts at eafe, and prevent others from following fuch a
dangerous crooked copy. As they will not comply with their mitigated law
of adultery, nor be terrified, nor fli.imed from their ill courfe of life -,
that the one may not frighten and abufe their wives, nor the other feduce
their hufbands and be a lafting plague and fliame to the whole fociety, they
are ordered by their ruling magi and war-chieftains, to be fliot to death,
which is accordingly executed : but this feldom happens.
When I afked the Chikkafah the reafon of the inequality of their mar-
riage-law, in punifliing the weaker paflivc party, and exempting the
lirongcr, contrary to rcalbn aniijufticej tiicy told me, it had been fo a
confiderable time — becaule their land being a continual feat of war, and tlie
lurking enemy for ever pelting them without, and the women decoying
them within, if they put fuch old crofs laws of marriage in tbrcc, all their
beloved brilk warriors would foon be fpoiled, and their habitations turned
to a wild waite. It is remarkable, that tlie ancient l',gyptians cut off the
cars and nofe of the adulterefs-, nnd the prophet alludes to this fort of pu-
nilhment, Ezek. xxiii. 25. " They fliall deal furioully with thee : they fliall
take away thy nofe and thine ears." And they gave them alfo a thoufaiid
ffripes, with cines on the buttocks *. The Cheer.iiie are an exception to
all civilized or favage nations, in having no laws againft adultery ; tlicy
• When human laws were fiifl made, they commanded that if the hufband found the adul-
terer in the faft, he fliould kill them both. Thus the laws of Solon and Draco ordained :
but the law of the twelve tables foftened it.
U have
: .'1
y ^
1:
1 -M
I
146 On the defcent of the American Indians from the Jews.
l
have been a confiderable while under petticoat-government, and allow their
women full liberty to plant their brows with horns as oft as they pleafe,
•without fear of punifliment. On this account their marriages are ill ob-
ferved, and of a fhort continuance •, like the Amazons, they divorce their
fighing bed-fellows at their pleafure, and fail not to execute their autho-
rity, when their fancy direfts them to a more agreeable choice. However,
once in my time a number of warriors, belonging to the family of the huf-
band of the adulterefs, revenged the injury committed by her, in her own
way i for they faid, as flie loved a great many men, inftead of a hufband,
juftice told them to gratify her longing dcfire — wherefore, by the infor-
mation of their fpies, they followed her into the woods a little wiy from
the town, (as decency required) and then ftretched her on the ground, with
her hands tied to a ftake, and her feet alfo extended, v/nere upwards of
fifty of them lay with her, having a blanket for a covering. The Choktah
obferve the fame favage cuftom with adulterefles. They term their female
delinquents, Aboivwe IJhto ; the firft is a Cheerake word, fignifying, " a
deer." — And through contempt of the Chikkafah* they altered their penal
law of adultery.
The Mulkohge Indians, either through the view of mitigating their
law againft adultery, that it might be adapted to their patriarchal-like
government -, or by mifunderftanding the Mofaic precept, from length
of time, and uncertainty of oral tradition, oblige the adulterefs under
the penalty of the fevered law not to be free with any man, (unlefs flie
is inclined to favour her fellow fufFerer) during the fpace of four moons,
after the broken moon in which they fufTered for each other, according
to the cuftom of the Maldivians. But her hufband expofes himfelf to
the utmoft fcverity of the marriage law, if he is known to hold a fami-
liar intercourle with her after the time of her punilTiment.
ARGUMENT XIV.
Many other of the Indian Punishments, rcfemble thofe of the Jews,.
Wholbever attentively views the features of the Indian, and his eye, and
rcflefts
I'he Jtmilarity of their pumJJments.
H7
i'i
reflefls on his fickle, obftinate, and cruel difpofition, will naturally think
on the Jews. Englilh America, feelingly knows the parity of the temper
of their neighbouring Indians, with that of the Hebrew nation.
The Ifraelites cut off" the hands and feet of murderers, ^ Sam. iv< 12.—
ftranglcd falfe prophets — and fometimes burned, ftoned, or beheaded thofe
malefa<5ldrs who were condemned by the two courts of judgment. The
Indians either b/ the defeft of tradition, or through a greedy defire of re-
venge, torture their prifoners and devoted captives, with a mixture of ill
thofe Jewilh capital punifliments. They keep the original fo clofc in their
eye, as to pour cold water on the fufferers when thev are fainting, or over-
come by the fiery torture — to refrefh, and enable them to undergo longer
tortures. The Hebrews gave wine mixt with the juice of myrrh, to their
tortured criminals, to revive their fpirits -, and fometimes vinegar to prevent
too great an effufion of blood, left they fliould be difappointed in glut-
ting their greedy eyes, with their favourite tragedy of blood : which
was eminently exemplified in their infulting treatment of Chrift on the
crofs.
The Indians, beyond all the reft of mankind, feem in this refpedl to be
aftuated with the Jewilli fpirit. They jeer, taunt, laugh, whoop, and re-
joice at the inexprefllble agonies of thofe unfortunate perfons, who are un-
der their butchering hands ; which would excite pity and horror in any
heart, but that of a Jew. "When they are far from home, they keep as
near to their diftinguiftiing cuftoms, as circumftances allow them : not be-
ing able formerly to cut off the heads of thofe they killed in war, for want
of proper weapons ; nor able to carry them three or four hundred miles
without putrefaction, they cut off the fkin of their heads with their flint-
ftone knives, as fpeaking trophies of honour, and which regifter them among
the brave by procuring them war titles. Though now they have plenty of
proper weapons, they vary not from this ancient barbarous cuftom of the
American aborigines : which has been too well known by many of our
northern colonifts, and ; is yet fhamefully fo to South-Carolina and Georgia
barriers, by the hateful name of fcalping.
The Indians ftriftly adhere more than the reft of mankind to that po-
fuive, unrepealed law of Mofes, " He who flieddeth man's blood, by
U 3 man
^M
\-%
i\i'
.!!/
>fi.
14^ On the dtfcent of the American Indians from the 'Jews.
man fhall his blood be flied :" like the Ifraelites, their hearts bum viov
iently day and night without intermifTion, till they fl»ed blood for bloodv
They tranfmit from father to Ton, the memory of the lofs of their relation^
or one of their own tribe or family, though it were an old woman — if (lie
was either killed by the enemy, or by any of their own people. If indeed
the murder be committed by a kinfman, the eldefl: can redeem: howevi-r,
if the circumftances attending the fad be peculiar and Ihocking to nature,
the murderer is condemned to die the death of a finner, " without any one
to mourn for him," as in the cafe of fuicide-, contrary to their ulage
toward the reft of their dead, and which may properly be. called the death or
burial of a Jewilh afs.
When they have had fuccefs in killing the enemy, they tie fire-brands
in the moft frequented places, with grape vines which hang pretty low, in
order that they may be readily fecn by the enemy. As they, reckon the
aggreflbrs have loudly declared- war, it would be. madnefs or treachery, in
their opinion to ufe fuch public formalities- before they have revenged cry-
ing blood •, it would inform the enemy of their defign of retaliating, and
deftroy the honell intention of war. They likewife ftrip the bark off feveral.
large trees in confpicuous places, and paint them with red and black hiero-
glyphics, thereby threatening the enemy with more blood and death. The
laft were ftrong and fimilar emblems witt. the Hebrews, and the firft is ana-
logous to one of their martial cuftoms ; for when they arrived at the
enemies territorie?, they threw a fire-brand within their land, as an cmWem
of the anger di Ajh^ " the holy fire" for their ill deeds to his peculiarly be-
loved people. To which cuftom-Obadiah alludes, when he fayp, (ver. i8.)
" they fliall kindle in them and devour them, there fliall not be any re-
maining of the houfe of Efau, &c." which the Septua^int tranflates, " one
who carries a fire-brand." The condud of the Ifraelitifh champion, Samp-
fon, againft the Philiftines, proceeded from the fame war cuftom,. when he
took three-hundred Shugnalim, (which is a bold Itrong metaphor) fignify-
ing Vulpes, foxes or fheaves of corn i and tying them tail to tail, or one end
to the other in a continued train, he fet fire to them, and by that means,
burned down their ftanding corn.
In the late Cheerake war, at the earneft perfuafions of the trading people, fe-
fcral of the Mufkohge warriors came down to the barrier-lbttlcments of Geoiv-
gia>.
Tbe fimUarity of their punijljments.
149
gia, to go againfl: the Checrake, and revenge Englifli crying blood : but
the main' body of the nation fent a running embafTy to the merchants thcre^
requtfting them immediately to forbear their unfriendly proceedings, other-
wife, they fliould be forced by difagrecable necefllty to revenge their rela-
tions blood if it Ihould chance to be fpilt contrary to their ancient laws :
this alludes to the Icvitical law, by which he who decoyed another to his
end, was deemed the occafion of his death, and confequently anfwerable
for it. If an unruly horfe belonging to a white man, fliould chance to be
tied at a trading houfe and kill one of the Indians, either the owner of the
houfe, or the ^.erfon who tied the beaft there, is refponfible for it, by their
lex talionis •, which feems to be derived alfo from the Mofaic precept, — if an
ox known by its owner to pu(h with its horn, fliould kill a perfon, they were
both to die the death. If the Indians have a diflike to a perfon, who by
any cafualty was the death of one of their people, he fl;ands accountable,
and will certainly fufFcr for it, unlefs he takes faniftuary.
I knew an under trader, who being intruded by his employer witli a
cflrgo of goods for the country of the Mufl^ohge, was forced by the common
law of good faith, to oppofe fome of thofe favages in the remote woods, to
prevent their robbing the camp : the chieftain being much intoxicated with
fpirituous liquors, and becoming outrageous in proportion to the refiftancc he
met with, the trader like a brave. man, oppofed lawlefs force by force : fome
time after, the lawlefs bacchanal was attacked with a pleurify, of which he
died. Then the heads of the family of the dcceafed convened the lefl'er judi-
catory, and condemned the trader to be fliot to death for the fiippofed
murder of their kinfman -, which they eafily effedled, as he was off his
guard, and knew nothing of their murdering defign. His employer how-
ever had fuch a friendly intercourfe w'.th them, as to gain timely notice
of any thing that might affetft his perfon or intcreft: ; but he was fo far
from aflifting the unfortunate brave man, as the laws of humanity and comr
mon honour obliged him, that as a confederate, he not only concealed their
bloody intentions, but went bafely to the next town, wliile the favages
painted theml'elves red and black, and give them an opportunity of perpcr
trating the horrid murder. The poor viftim could have eafily efcaped to
the Englifli fetdements if forewarned, and got the alYair accommodated by the
mediation, of the government. In aiSts of blood, if the fuppofcd mur-
derer
\ m
i
Wk
■ - .j'
m
.J»
lii
i
150 On the dcfccnt of the American Indians from the Jews.
derer efcapcs, his nearefl: Icinfman either real or adopted, or if he has none
there, his triend ftands according to their rigorous law, anfwerablc for the
facl. But though the then governor of South Carolina was fufficiently in-
formed of this tragedy, and that it was done contrary to the treaty of
amity, and that there is no pofTibility of managing them, but by their
own notions of virtue, he was pafTive, and allowed them with impunity to
filed this innocent blood -, which they ever fince have improved to our
fliame and forrow. They have gradually become worfc every year ; and
corrupted other nations by their contagious copy, fo as to draw them into
the like bloody fcencs, with the fame contempt, as if they had killed lb
many helplefs timorous dunghill fowls, as they defpitefully term us.
There never was any fet of people, who purfued the Mofaic law of
retaliation with fuch a fixt eagernefs as thefe Americans. They are fo deter-
mined in this point, that formerly a little boy (hooting birds in the high and
thick corn-fields, unfortunately chanced flighily to wound another with
his childifh arrow ; the young vindicflivc fox, was excited by cuftom to
watch his ways with the utmoft earneftnefs, till the wound was returned
in as equal a manner as could be expefted. Then, " all was ftraight,"
according to their phrafe. Their hearts were at reft, by having executed
tliat ftrong law of nature, and they fported together as before. This
obfervation though fmall in itfelf, is great in its combined circumftances,
as it is contrary to the ufage of the old heathen world. They forgive all
crimes at the annual atonement of fins, except murder, which is always
puniflied with death. The Indians conftantly upbraid us in their baccha-
nals, for inattention to this maxim of theirs ; they fay, that all nations of
people who are not utterly funk in cowardice, take revenge of blood before
they can have reft, coft what it will. The Indian Americans are more
eager to revenge blood, than any other people on the whole face of the
earth. And when the heart of the revenger of blood in Ifracl was hoc
within him, it was a terrible thing for the cafual manjlayer to meet him,
Deut. xix. 6. " Left the avenger of blood purfue the flayer v/hile his heart
is hot, and overtake him, becaufe the way is long, and flay him ; whereas
he was not worthy of death, inafmuch as he hated him not in time paft."
' I have known the Indians to go a thoufand miles, for the purpofe of
revenge, in pathlefs woods j over hills and mountains j through large cane
3 fwamps,
The law of retaliation.
i5»
fwamps, full of grape-vines and briars ; over broad lakes, rapid rivers, and
deep creeks •, and all the way endangered by poifonous fnakes, if not with
the rambling and lurking enemy, while at the fame time they were expofed
to the extremities of heat and cold, the vicifTitude of the fcafons •, to
hunger and thirft, both by chance, and their religious fcanty method of liv-
ing when at war, to fatigues, and other difficulties. Such is their over-
boiling revengeful temper, that they utterly contemn all thofe things
as imaginary trifles, if they are io happy as to get the fcalp of the murderer,
or enemy, to fatisfy the fuppofed craving ghofts of their deceafed rela-
tions. Though they imagine the report of guns will lend oft* the ghofts of
their kindred that died at home, to their quiet place, yet they firmly
believe, that the fpirits of thofe who are killed by the enemy, witiiouc
equal revenge of blood, .ind no reft, and at night haunt the houles of the
tribe to which they belonged*: but, when that kindred duty of retaliation
is juftly executed, they immediately get eafe and power to fly away : This
opinion, and their method of burying and mourning for the dead, of which
we fliall fpeak prefently, occafion them to retaliate in fo earneft and fierce
a manner. It is natural for friends to ftudy each others mutual happinefs,
and we fliould pity the weaknefs of thofe who are deftitute of our ad-
vantages; whofe intellectual powers are unimproved, and who are utterly
unacquainted with the Iciences, as well as every kind of mechanical bufinefs,
to engage their attention at home. Such perlbns cannot well live with-
out war; and being deftitute of public faith to fecure the lives of em-
bafl"adors in time of war, they have no fure method to reconcile their dif-
ferences : confequently, when any cafual thing draws them into a war, it
grows every year more fpiteful till it advances to a bitter enmity, fo as to
excite them to an implacable hatred to one another's very national names.
Then they muft go abroad to fpill the enemy's blood, and to revenge crying
blood. We nuift alfo confiJcr, it is by fcalps they get all their war titles,
which diftinguifti them among the brave : and thefe they hold in as high
efteem, as the moft ambitious Roman general ever did a great triumph.
By how much the deeper any foriety of people are funk in ignorance, fa
much the more they value themfelves on their bloody merit. This was
1 1 ".'I
-A.
* As the Hebrews fuppofed there was a holinefs in Canaan /more thnn in any other land,
fo tliey believed that their bodies buried out of i:, would he carried throujjh caverns, or fub-
terrr.ncnus paliages of the earth to the holy laud, whae ihey Qiall rife again and dart up to
iheix holy attrading centre.
long
1^2 On the dcfccnl oj the American huUans from the J Civs.
long the chara(flerirtic of the Hebrew nation, and lias been convevcd clown
to thcfe their llippofed red dcfcendants.
However, notwithftanding their bloody temper and condufl towards ene-
mies, when their law of blood does not interfere, they obferve that Mofaic
precept, " He (hall be dealt' with according as he intended to do to his
rneighbour, but the innocent and righteous man thou (halt not flay." I
muft oblcrve alfo that as t!ie Jewifli priefts were by no means to flieJ hu-
man blood, and as king David was forbidden by the propliet to build a
temple becaufe he was a man of war and had flied blood — fo, the Indian
Ifljtohoollo "holy men" are by their fun«5lion abfokitely forbidden to flay j
notwithftanding tlveir propeniity thereto, even for faiall injuriv.;. They
will not allow the greatell warrior to officiate, when the yea grand facri-
fice of expiation is offered up, or on any other religious occafion, except the
Itadcr. All muft be performed by their beloved men, who are clean of
every ftain of blood, and have their foreheads circled with ftrcaks of white
clay.
As this branch of tlie general fubjeft cannot be illuftrated, bat by
well-known facls, I fliall exemplify it with the late and long-continued
condudl of the nothern Indians, and thofe of Cape Florida, whom our navi-
gators have reported to be cannibals. The Muskohge, who have been bit-
ter enemies to the Cape Florida Indians, time immemorial, affirm their
manners, tempers and appetites, to be the very fame as thofe of the
neighbouring Indian nations. And the Florida captives who were fold in
Carolina, have told me, that the Spaniards of St. Auguftine and St, Maik's
garrifons, not only hired and paid them for murdering our feamcn, who
were fo unfortunate as to be lliipwrecked on their dangerous coaft •, but
that they delivered up to the favages thofe of our people they did not
I'ke, to be put to the fiery torture. From their bigotted perfecuting fpirir,
we may conclude the viiftims to have been thofe who would not worlhip
their images and crucifixes. The Spaniards no doubt could eafily in-
fluence this decayed fmall tribe to fuch a pradlice, as they depended upon
them for the neceffaries of life : and though they could never fettle out
of their garrifons in Weft- Florida, on account of the jealous temper of the
neighbouring unconquered Indians, yet the Cape-Floridans were only
.Spaniih mcroenari;^s, fhedding blood for their maintenance. A feduced In-
7 dian
ii«:li
1'hcir laxo of relnJiatio7i
' -V)
dian is certainly Icfs faulty than tlic apoftatc Chriflian who inftigatcd him:
wlien an Indian llicds human blooti, it does not proceed from wantoaiiero,
or the view of doing evil, but folely to put the law of retaliation in f.rcc,
to return one injury for another; but, if he has received no ill, and has
no fufpicion of the kind, he ulually offers no damage to thole who fail
in his power, but is moved witli compufTion, in proportion to what ihcy
feem to have undi;rgone. Such as tliey devote to the fire, they Hatter
v/ith the hope ot being redeemed, as long as they can, to prevent tlm
giving them any previous anxiety or grief, which their law of blood does
not require.
The French Canadians are highly ccnfurable, and thtir bloody pnpifl'i
clergy, for debaucliing our peaceable northern Indians, with their infernal
catechifm, — the Hr!l introdudlion into their religious mylleries. l-'ormcrly,
when they initiated the Indian fucklings into tlicir mixt idolatrous worfliiii,
they faftened round their necks, a bunch of their favourite red and black
beads, with a filver crofs hangii g dov.'n on rheir brealls, thus engaging
thci-ii, as they taught, to fight the battles of (iad. Then they infected
the credulous Indians with a firm belief, that God once lent his own be-
loved fon to fix the red people in high places of power, over the red
of mankind \ that he pafled through various countries, to the univerfal
joy of the inhabitants, in order to come to the beloved red people, and
place them in a fuperior ftation of life to the reft of the Anu:ican
v/orld i but when he was on the point of failing to America, to execute his
divine embaiTy, he was murdered by the bloody monopolizing EngliHi, at
the city of London, only to make tiie red people weigh light. Having
thus inllruifted, and given them the catechifm by way of queflion and
anfwer, and furnilhed them with 2000 grofs of fcalping knives and other
murdering articles, the catechumens loon fallied forth, and painted them-
felvcs all over v.'ith the innocent blood of our fellov.--fubjeas, of uincrenL
ftations, and ages, and widiout any diftinclion of fcx, — contrary to tiic
ftandinEi In<lian laws of blood.
The Britifli lion at Lift however triumphed, and forced the French tliem-
felves to fue for that friendly inlercourfe and proteftion, which their for-
mer catechifm taught the Indians to hate, and fly from, as dangerous to
their univerfal hap[>iuefs.
X \Vhen
. t im
1
■?;
. r *
■J I i
'1
n
\ I •-
m%
I ;4. O/i the (kfccn: of the Jmcrkan InJhws from tfjj Jcxvs,
When I have rcnfoncd with fome of the old headmen, ngainft their bar-
barous cviflom of killing dcfencelffs innocent ptrlons, who neither could
i.or would oppoi'e them in battle, but begged that they might only live to
be tluir flaves, they told me t!nt formerly they never waged war, but
in revenge of bi..^ud ■, and that in iuch cafes, they always devoted the guilty
to be burnt alive wlien they were purifying themfclves at home, to obtain
viftory over their enemies. Ikit otherwife ihcy treated tiie vanquilhed with
the grcatcft clemency, and adapted them in the room of their relations,
who h.ad either died a natural death, or Iml before been fufficiently revenged,
though killed by die enemy.
The Ifraelites thus often devoted their captives to death, without any di-
ftinftion of age or fex, — as when they took Jericho, they faved only merciful
Raliab and her family ;- -after t!iey had plundered the Midianites of tlieir
1 ichcs, they put men women and childrcti to death, dividing among therp-
felves a few \ ir;^ iiis and the plunder ; — with other inllances that mii^ht be
quoted. The Indian American":, beyond all the prefcnt race of Adam,
are afluated by this bloody v.ar-cuRom of the lliaelites ; they put their
captives to various linger ng torments, with the lame unconcern as the
Levitc, when he cut up his beloved concubine into eleven portions, and
lent tliem t' the eleven tribes, to excite them to revenge the alfront, the
Benjamites had given him. When equal blood has not been flied to quench
the tryii.g blood of their relations, and give reft to their ghofts, according
to their iiedcnda, while they are fanitifying themfelves for war, they
.always allot their captives either to be killed or put to the fieiy torture :
and they who are thus devoted, cannot by any means be (lived, though
they refemblcd an angel in beauty and virtue.
Formerly, the Indians defeated a great body of the Frcncli, who at
two different times came to invade their country. They put to the fiery
torture a confiJerable nu.r.bLT of them -, and two in particular, whom
they imagined to have cairied the French ark againft them. The I'.nglifti
traders folicited with the mod earned entreaties, in favour of the unfor-
tunate captives; but they averred, that as it was not our bufinL-fs to
intercede in behalf of a deceitful enemy who came to fhed blood, unlefs
we were rcfolvcd to (hare their dcferved fate, Co was it entirely out
of the reach of goods, though piled as high as the flues, to redeem them, —
7 bccaufe
*tbelr law of retaUalion,
^55
becaufe tlicy were not only tlie chief liipport of the French army, in fpnl-
ing fo many of their warriors by the power of their ugly ark, before ihry
conquered them •, but were delivered over to the lire, before tliey entered
into battle.
When I was on my way to the Cliikkafali, at the Okcliai, in ilie year
1745* the conduift of the Mulkohge Indians was cxiictly tlje fame with
regard to a Cheerake ftripling, wliofe father was a white man, and njothc-r
an half-breed, — rc-gardlefs of the prelling entreaties and very high otVcrs of
the I'.nglifli tradcis, they burni ' him in their iiliial manner. This Iceti'.s
to be copied from that law whitii cxpreily forbad the icdeeniing any de-
voted pcrfons, and ordered that they flunild be finely put to death.
Lev. xxvii. 29. This precept had evidently a reference to th- law of
retaliation. — Saul in a fuperrtitious and angry mood, wanted to have mur-
dered or facrilked to God his favourite fon Jonathan, becaufe when he was
fainting he talUtI Ibme honey whicli cafiKiliy fill in his v.ay, juft after he
had performed a prodigy of martial feats in beiialr ot lliMel: but the gr.i-
titude, and reafon of the people, prevented him from perpetrating that
horriil murder. If devoting to death was of divine extraction, or if Gud
delighted in human I'acrifices, the people would have been criminal for
darmg to oppofe the divine law, — which was not the cafe. Such a lav/ if
taken in an extenfive and literal fenfe, is contrary to all natural real'on and
religion, and conl'equently in a ftri(5t fenfe, could not be enjoined by a be-
nevolent and merciful Gud; who commands us to i.!o iullice and fliew
mercy to the very beads-, not to muzzle the ox while he is treading out
the grain ; nor to infnare the bird when performing her parental offices.
*' Are ye not of more value than many fparrows ?"
^ii..
3.
The Indians ufe no dated ceremony in immolating their devoted captives,
althougli it is the ianu thing to the unfortunate vidiims, what form their
butcherers ufe. ']'he\ are generally lacriiiced before their conquerors fi.t
ofl'for war with their ark and fuppol'ed holy tilings. And fomctimes the
Indians devote every one they meet in ccri.!iii woods or paths, to be kdlcd
then:, except their own people; this occafioned the cowardly Cheerake in
the year 175,', to kill two white men on the Chikkafah war-path, which
lead:; fron: t'le countrv of the Mulkohge. And the Shawanoh Indians who
X I
Ictlkd
: t
m!
m
u.
I ^6 On the di'fccnt of the American Indiiins frcin the JkUW
fi.-ttlcd between the Ooe-^{'.t and Konfahtoivns, told us, that thtir \ : ^\c to
the northward had devoted the IZn^lilli to death for the I'pace ot lix years j.
but when that time was expired and not before, they would live in tViend-
Ihip as foriiitrly. It' the I'.turlifli had at that time cxciiiteil their own
law aj];aii)lt tlieiii, and demanded tqiial blood from the Cheeiake, and
llupt all trade with them before they dipt thenifelvcs too deep in blood,
iluy would foon have had a firm peace with all the Indian nations. This
i; die only way of treatinfr them now, for when they have not the fear
of ofTcndinj', they will flied innocent blood, and proceed in the end
to lay all rellraint afide.
The late condufl of the Chikkafah war-council, in condemning two pre-
tended friends to death, who came with a view of ihedding blood i lliews
Their knowleil|;e of that equal law of divine appointment to the Jews, " ha
ihall be dealt with exaclly as he interided to do to his neighbour."
It ought to be remarked, that they are careful of their youth, and
fail not to punifh them when they tranfgrels. Anno 1766, I law an old
head man, called the Dog-King (from the nature of his office) coire(fl
fevcral young perfons — fomc for fuppofed faults, and others by way of
prevention. He began with a lully young fellow, who was charged with
being more efl'eminate tluui became a warrior-, and with ading contrary
to their old religious rites and cuftoms, particularly, becaufe he lived
nearer than any of the reft to an opulent and helplefs German, by whom
tlicy fuppofed he might have been corrupted. He baflinadoed the young
finncr fcverely, with a thick whip, about a foot and a half long, compofed
of plaited filk grals, and the fibres of the button fnake-root ftalks, tapering
to the poinv, which was fecured with a knot. He realbned with him, as he
corrcifted him : he told him that he was Chchakfe Kancha-lle^ literally, "you
are as one who is wicked, and almoft loft*." The grey \,i.v\ c ,r....c
laid, he treated him in that manner according to ancient cuftom, throu(:h
an cficift of love^ to induce him to ftiun vice, and to imitate th'^ virtues of
* As Chin-Kanthah fignifies. " you have loft," and Cht-Kanehah, " yoj are loH," it
foems to point at the itietliod the Hebrews ufed in correding their criminals in Cana.Tn, anil
to imply a fimilarity of manners. The word they ufe to exprefs " forgctfulncfs," looks the
very fame way, Jj!i M Kanthuh, " you forget," meaning that Ijfj and Canaan are forgotten
by Aitx
hi$
ill
T'/'.'.r corrcllkn of children oiti youth.
^57
his illiiflnoiis fore- fathers, wlui I» he enck*avourcd lo cnumfr.itc largely :
wlicii the youny finncr had ncLivcd his riippull-d clue, he went oil" leciu-
ingly well plealed.
This Indian correflion leni-ns gra>liia!Iy in its feverity, according to the
age of the pupils. While the Dog^-Khrj^ w.u catechifing the little ones,
he faid Che Uak^nna, " do not l)ecome vicious," And when tiiey wept,
he laid Che-ylbelu Aiva, " I Ihall not kill you," or " I fliall not put you into
the flate of bleeding Abcle*."
Like tlie prefcnt Jews, their old men are tenacious of their ancient riro
and cuftoms •, imagining them to he the lure channel through wiiich all
temporal good things flow to them, and by which the oppolice evils arc
averted. No wonder therefore, that they Hill retain a multiplicity of lie.
brew words, which were repeated often with great reverence in the tcniplci.
and adhere to many of their ancient rules and methods of punilhment.
.. L>t"
1 . 1
i I
<H,.
* The Indians ufe the word H,xkfc, to convey the idea of n pcrfon's being criminal in any
tiling whatfocver. If they mention rot the particular crime, they add, Uak/ci Kaiubah,
pointing as it were to thofc wlio were punilhed in Canaan. Such unfortunate perfons ai
are mad, deaf, dumb or blind, arc called by no other name than Haiijt. In like m.inner
Kalliikje fignifics " contemptible, uiiftcady, light, or cafily thrown afuie," — it is a diminu-
tive of 7ip, of the fame meaning. And they fay fuch an one is KalUki-lil.'.o, " execrated,
or accurfed to God," becaile found li^lu in the divine balance. As the .American Abori-
gines ufed no weights, the parity of language here with the Hebrew, fcems to afl'urc u-,
they originally derived this method of cxpreflion from the liraelittj, who tctik the fuiie ide i
from the poifc of a balance, which divine writ frequently mentions. J,.h, chap. x.\.\',
deftribes juilicc with a pair of fcalcs, "Let mc be weighed in an even bal.ince, that I
may know my perfedion." And they call weighing, or giving a prtftreiiCi.', 'fi\^lc, nccoiJ-
ing to the fame Hgure of fpecch : uiid it agrees both in evprellion and meaning, witii the
Chaldean Ttkil, if written with Hebrew charaders, as in that extraordinary appearance on the
..'I' .■.' ,.1 .' . ,' . \. ' ■ veti.d by the prophet Daniel. When they prefer oi.e
perfon nnd would IciTcn aiiother, iliey f.y Eeafa ti'ihU Tt'u'ile, " this one weighs henvv,''
stnd Eeliio Kiiliaijl', or Ka' I' aks'oo/ht feiCile, " that one weighs light, very light." Whci
any of rhejr pc.^ple are killed on any of the hunting paths, they frequently fiy, //,/.■ v.i tung^.t
y'iinti/i -T'ciiu'e,. " right on the p.ith, he wai weighed for the enemy, or the oppofitc party,"
for •TuHi:i,' is the only word they have to evprefs the words rntmy and the e/fo/iu ; as Ook'h?i'>iii/i
1t}':nip, '■ the ojipollic fide of the water path:" hence it is probable, they borrowed thr.t
notable Aiiyri m expreirion while in their fuppofed captivity, brought it with them to .Ame-
rica, and introduced it into their language, to commemorate fo furprifi.)g an event.
'/'; *
%
ARC (;..
fiMii;'
l^i.: t
1 58 Ofi the Jcfccnt of the American Indians from the fcv)s.
ARGUMENT XV,
The IlVaelites had Cities of P-Efuce, or places of I'.ifety, for thofc wlio
killed a perfon unawares, and without defign ; to flielter them tVoin the
blood-thirfty relations cf the deceafed, or the revenger of blood, who
always purfucd or warched the unfortunate perfon, like a ravenous wolf:
but after the death of the high-pried the man-flayer couid fafely return
home, and nobody durft moled him.
According to the fame particular divine law cf mercy, each of thefc
Indian nations have cither a houfe or town of refuge, which is a furc
afykim to protcft a man-flayer, or the unfortunate captive, if they can
cnce enter into it. The Cheerake, though nosv exceedingly corrupt,
llill obfcrve that law fo inviolably, as to allow their beloved town the
privilege of protecting a wilful murthcrer : but they fcldom allow him to
return home afterwards in fafety — they will revenge blood for blood,
unlefs in fome very particular cafe when the eklell can redeem. 1 lov.evcr,
if he fliould accept of the price of blood to wipe away its Rains, and dry
up the tears of the reft of the neareft kindred of the dcccal'ed, it is genc-
r;illy produiftive of future ills ; either when they are drinking fpirituous
liquors, or dancing their enthufiaftic war dances, a tomohawk is likely
to be funk into the head of fome of his relations.
Formerly, when one of the Ciieerake murdered an F.nglifli trader he
immediately ran off for the town of refuge -, but as foon as he got in view
of it, the inhabitants difcovered him by the clofe puifiii: of the flirill war-
v.hoo-whoop ; and for fear of irritating the Englilli, they inftantly anfwcred
the war cry, ran to arms, intercepted, and drove him off into Tennafe river
(where he efcapcd, though mortally wounded) left he Ibould iiave entcrctl
the reputed Iicly ground, and thus it had been ftaincd with the blood of
their friend ; or !.e had obtained fanftuary to the danger of the community,
and the foreign contempt of tiieir facred alrars.
I -if.
This
m
Tl'vir cities of refuge*
159
Tliis town of refuge called Chonie, is fituated on a large dream of the
Miflilippl, live miles above tlie lute unfortunate Fort-Lcmlon, — wher'; fome
years ago, a brave Knglifliman was proteded after killing an Indian war-
rior in defence of his property. The gentleman told me, that as his trading
houfe was near to that town of refuge, he had refolved with himfelf, afar
fome months ftay in it, to return home -, but the he.Hl-men allured him,
that though he was then fife, it would prove fatal if he removed thence -,
fo he continued in his afylum ftill longer, till the affair was by time more
obliterated, and he had wiped off all their tears with various prefcnts. In
the upper or niOll wcltern part of the country of the Mufkohge, there was
an old beloved town, now reduced to a fmall ruinous village, called Kccfiil.\
which is ftill a place of fafety for thofe who kill undefignedly. It Itanus
on commanding ground, over-looking a bold river, which after running
about forty leagues, fweeps clofe by the late mifchievous French garrilbn
y}lcbdmal.\ and down to MohiHe-Soiaid, 200 leagues diftance, and fo into
the gulph of Florida.
'I
I "aij
1 ' i
In
In almoft every Indian nation, there r.rc feveral peaceable tcu'iis, which
are called " old-beloved," " ancient, holy, or white towns * ■" tiiey feeni
to have been formerly " towns of refuge," for it is not in the memory of
their oldeft people, that ever human blood was (lied in them ; although they
often force pcrfons from thence, and put them to death elfe where.
ARGUMENT XVI.
Before the Indians go to War, they have many preparatory ccremonie-3
of puriJicatioM tand fajliii^., like what is recorded of the Ifraelites.
In the lirft commencement of a war, a party of the iured tribe turn",
out firft, to revenge the innocent crying blood of their n bone and iiell:,
as they term it. When the leader begins to beat up ror volunteers, he
goes three times round his dark winter-houfe, contrary to the courfe of the
fun, founding the war-whoop, finging the war-<"ong, and beating the drum.
•White is their fixt emblem of peace, fiienddiip, h.ippincfs, profperity, puriiy, holi-
nefi, i;c. .is with ihe Ifraelites.
T.hcil
t
i6o On the defcent of the American Indians from the feivs.
Then he fpeaks to the liftening crowd with very r.ipid l.ingiiage, Hiorl
•paufes, and an awful commanding voice, tells them of the continued friendly
offices tliey have done the enemy, but which have been ungratefully re
turned with the blood of his kinfmen -, tiicreforc as the white paths have
changed their beloved colour, his heart burns \viti>in him with eagernefs to
tindure them all along, and even to make them flow aver with the hateful
blood of the bale contemptible enemy. Then ho ftrongly perfuadcs his
kindred warriors and otiiers, wiio are not afraid of the enemies bullcs and
arrows, to come and join him with manly cheerful hearts : he affures ihcm,
he is fully convinced, as tht^y are all bound by the love knot, fo they are
ready to hazard their lives to revenge the blood of their kindred and coun-
try-men ; that the love of order, and the necelTity of complying with the
old religious cuiloms of their country, had hitherto checked their daring
generous hearts, but now, thofe hindrances are removed : he proceeds
to whoop again for tlie warriors to come and join him, and fmdify
themfelves for fuccefs againft the common enemy, 'iccording to their
ancient religious law.
^
By his eloquence, but chiefly by tlieir own greedy third of revenge,
and intcnle love of martial glory, on which they conceive their liberty
.ind happinefs depend, and which they conftantly inflil into the minds
of their youth — a number foon join him in his winter-houle, where
they live ieparate from all qtiiers, antl purify thcinlclvcs for tiie fpacc
of three days and nights, exckifive ol' the firrt broken day. In each of
thofe days they obferve a Itrict fail: till fun-let, watching the young men
very narrowly who have not been initiated in war-titles, left unufual hun-
ger fhould tempt tiiem to violate it, to the fuppofed danger of all tlieir
.'ives in war, by deftroying the power of their purifying beloved pliyfic,
uhich they drink plentifully during that time. 'I'his purifying phyfic,
is warm water highly imhittered with button-rattle-fnakeroot, which as
hath bi.'en before obferved, they apply only to religiou:. purpofes. Sonie-
tinies after bathing they drink a decoclion made of the laid ruot — and in
like manner tlie leader applies afperfions, or fprinklings, botli at luv.uo a;ul
when out at war. They are fuch ^x\di obfervers of the law of purilicatlon,
and liiink it lb efiential in obtaining lieakli and fucctfs in war, as not to
allow tlie bell beloved trader that ever lived among them, even to eiiter
f.lic beloved ground, appropriated to t!ic religious duty of being faiicli-
7 fled
i
T/jeir preparatory ceremonies fir ivar.
i6t
ficii for w.ir ; much lefs to afTociate witli the camp in the woods, tliough
he went (as I have known it to happen) on the fame war clcfign •, — they
obnp;c him to walk and encamp fcparate by hinifcl*', as an impure danger-
ous animal, till the leader hath purified him, according to t!\cir ufual time
and method, with the confccrated things of the ark. With the Hebrews,
the ark of Brrith, " the purifier," was a Imall wooileii chcll, of tlirce feet
nine inches in length, two feet three inches broad, and two feet three inrl"'i
in hciglu. It contained the golden pot that had mauna in it, Aaron's rod,
and the tables of tiie law. The Indian Ark is of a very fimple conllroc-
tion, and it is only the intention and application of it, that makes it wor-
thy of notice •, for it is made with pieces of wood Iccurely fiftened to-
gether in the form of a fquare. The middle of three of the lides extend
a little out, but one fide is flat, for the conveniency of the perfon's back
who carries it. Their ark has a cover, and the whole is made impenetr.ibly
clofe witli hiccory-fplinters •, it is about Iialf the ilinunfions of the divine
Jewifli ark, and may very properly be called the red Hebrew ark of the
purifier, imitated. The leader, and a beloved wai'er, carry it by turns. Ic
contains feveral confecrated veflTels, made by belovi.d fuperannuated wo-
men, and of llicli various antiquated forms, as would have puzzled Adam
to have given fignificant names to each. The leader and his attendant,
a'"e purified longer than the reft of the company, that the firll may be fit
to act in the religious office of a prieft of war, and the other to carry the
a^-vful facred ark. All the while they are at war, the IlctiJJuy or " beloved
waiter," feeds each of tlie warriors by an exaift llated rule, giving them
even the water they drink, out of !;is own hands, left by intemperance they
ihojld fpod tlu- fuppoJed communicative power of their holy things, and
occafioa fatal dil'afters to the war caiv.p.
1
m
The ark, mercy-feat, and eHc.ubi n ivct-e the very eflence of the Icvi-
tical law, and often called " the ci'tlmoniei of I'obeiijah.'" The aik of
the temple was termed his throne, and David calls it his foot-rtcol. In
Ipeaking of the Indian place*; rr' refuge for tlic unfortunate, I oblervcd,
that if a c iptive taken by the reputed power of the beloved things of
the ark, fliould be able to make his efcape into o.u- of thcfe towns, — or
even into t!ie winter-houfe of the Archi-magus, iie is ilelivered from the
fiery torture, otherwife inevitable. This v.h'-n joined to the reft of the
flint images of the Molaic culloms th.ey ftill retain, fi'ems to point at
the mercy-feat in the fanftuary. It is alfo hig!ily worthy of notic, that they
Y nc>er
:j
(ill
162 On the dcjcent of the American Indians from the Je-ws.
never place the ark on the ground, nor fit on the bafe earth while they
are carrying it againit the eneiny. On hilly ground where ftones are
plenty, tluy place it on them : but in level land upon Ciort logs, always
refting themftlves on the like materials. Formerly, when this tradt w«s the
Indian Flanders of America, as the French and all their red Canadian con-
federates were bitter enemies to the inhabitants, we often faw the woods full
of fucli religious war-reliques. The former is a ftrong imitation of the
ptdellal, on which the Jcwifli ark was placed, a ftone rifing three fingers
breadth above the lloor. And when we confider — in what a furprifing
manner the Indians coj-y after the ceremonial law of the Hebrews, and
their Ibid purity in their war camps; that Opae, "the leader," obliges
all during the hril can.paign they make with the beloved ark, to Hand, every
day t!icy lie bv, from fun-rife to fun-fet — and after a fatiguing day's march,
and fcancy allowance, to drink warm water iinbittered with rattle-fnake-rooc
very plentifully, in order to be purified — that they have alio as ftrong a
faith of the power and holinefs of their ark, as ever the Ifraclites retained
of their's, afcribing the liipcrior fuccels of the party, to their ftricter
adherence to the law t!un t'ne other-, and after they return home, liang
it on the lead'^i's icJ-painced war pole — we have ftrong reafon to conclude
their origin is Hebrew. From the Jewifli ark of the tabernacle and the tem-
ple, the ancient heathens derived their arks, their cifttt or religious chefts,
their Teraphim or Dii Lares, and their tabernacles and temples. But their
modes and objedls of worfhip, dilTercd very widely fro.m tiiofe of the Ame-
ricans.
The Indian ark is deemed fo facreJ and dangerous to be touched, either
by their own fanftified warriors, or the fpoiling enemy, that they durft not
touch it upon any account*. It is not to be meddled wiih by any, except:
the war chieftain and his waiter, under the penalty oi" incurring great evil.
Nor
* A ^^enilcman who was at the Ohio, in the year 1-56, afTurcd rae he faw a flranger there
very inifiortunate to view the infiJe of the Chterake ark, which was covered with a drell dccr-
(kin, and placed on a couple of (hort blockj. An Indian ccntinel waicl.td it, armed wiili a
hiccory bow, and brjfs-pointed baibed arrows, and he was faithful to his trull; for finding
the llranger obtruding to pollute the fuppofcd facred vehicle, he drew an arrow to the head,
and would have fhot him througli the body, had he not fuddcniy withdrawn ; the interpreter,
when afkcd by the gcr.:le:n: n what it coutained, toM him there was nothing in it but a bun-
dle of conjuring trap^. This fliews what conjurers our common interpreters are, ind how
jHueli the learned world have ic.illy profited by their inforiaaiiuns. The ludiaas have an old
tratlition.
1:
^.i
Their ahjlhience from women during -war.
if
Nor would the mofl: inveterate enemy touch it in the vvooih fcr rho vcrv
fame re a Ion ; whicli is agreeable to the religious opinion ar.d oiif* i;.!j rrr'.c
Hebrews, refpeding the facrednefs of their ark, witnels v.-jv.r. bold U::v^.>i .
for touching it, thougli with a religious view, and the Philillines for carry-
ing it away, fo that they foon thought proper to return it, with nrcfents.
The leader virtually afls the part of a pried of war, pro tempore^ in imi-
tation of the Ifraelites fighting under the divine military banner. If they
obtain the viflory, and get Ibmc of the enemies fcalps, they fani^ify themlelve:
when they make their triumphal entra .ce, in the manner they obfcrved
before they fee off to war ; but, if tlieir p>:pfdition j'loves unfortunate,
they only mourn over their lofs, afcribing it to the vicious conduft of
fome of the followers of the beloved ark. What bUifhes Ihould this fa-
vage virtue raife in the faces of nominal chriftians, wlio ridicule the un-
erring divine wiidom, for the effefts of tlicir own imprudciit or vltic.;:
conduft. May they learn from the rude uncivilized Americans, that vice
iiecelTarily brings evil — and virtue, happinefs.
Tiie Indians will not cohabit with women while they are out at war ;
tlicy reli^ioiifly abftain from every kind of interoourl'c even with tiieir
own v.ivcs, for the fpace of three days and nights before they go to war|,
and fo after tl;cy return liome, becaulc they arc to fandtify themfclvcs.
This religious war cuftom, efpecially in fo fitvage a geneiation, feems
to be derived from the Hebrews, who tlius fandilicd themliives, to gain
the divine protcflion, and vi(fl:ory over their common enemies : as in
the precept of Mofes to the war camp when lie afcended Mount Sinai ; and
in Jofluia's prohibition to the Ilraelites*; and in the cafe of Uriah. The
warriors confidcr iliemtclvcs as devoted to God apart from the rell of the
tradition, that when thsy left their own nafivc Iniui, they brought with them a fanrlifi,d
rod by order of an or.?cle, which tlicy fixed every night in the ground; and were to remove
from place to placu on the cnnrincnt towa'ds the lun-riling, 'ill it budded in one night's time ;
that they obeyed the facrcd mandate, .md the miracle took place after they arrived to this
iide of the Miflifippi, on the prefent land they polfcfs, 'I'his, tiiey fay, was the fole
caufe of their fettling here — of fighting fo firmly for their reputed holy land and holy things
— and that thty may be burieu with their beloved loic-'athers. I have feen other Indians \0io
pretend to the like miraculous direflion, and I think it plainly to refer to Aaron's rod, which
was a branch of an ainicnd-tree, and that budvlcd and bloil'omcd in one night.
* Jolliua commanded the Ifraelites the n'^h; before they marched, to fanclify themfelves by
wailiing their clothes, avoiding all impurities, and iibllaiiiing from mairimcnia! intercourfe,
Y 2 people.
:f'l
f^:
^jl
164 On the defccnt of the Anierlcan Indians from the Jews,
people, while they are at war accompanying the facred ark with the fup*
poled holy things it contains.
The French Indians are faid not to have deflowered any of our young women'
they captivated, while at war with us ; and unlefs the black tribe, the Frencli
Canadian priefl:s, corrupted their traditions, they would think fuch actions de-
liling, and what muft bring fatal confcquences on their own heads. Wc have
an attcHed narrative of an Englifli prifoncr, who made his efcape from the
Shawanoh Indians, which was printed at Philadelphia, anno 1757, by which
we were afiurccl, that even that blood-thirfty villain, Capt. Jacob, did not
attempt the virtue of his female captives, left (as he told one of them) \l
Ihould ctTend the Indian's God ■, though at the fiime time his pkaliires
Jici.j,Iucncd in proportion to the fhrieks and groar.s of our people of dif-
f;;rent ages and hotii fexes, while they were under his tortures.
.Although the Choktah are libidinous, and lofe their cuftoms apace,
yt' I have known them to take feveral female prifoncrs without olTcring the
lead violence to their virtue, till tiie time of purgstion was expired ; — tiien
fcai;' of them forced tiieir captives, notwithftandiiig their ) iell'ing entreaties
aii.' tear: As the aforefaid Shawanoh rciiegado profeOcd himfelf fo obfer-
vant of this law of purity,, fo the other northern nations of Indians, who are
free from adulteration by tlitir far-diftancc from foreigners, do not negleft
fo great a duty : and it is higlily probable, notwithilanding the filencc of
our writers, that as purity was ftri(!lly obfcrved by the Hebrews in the tem-
ple, field and wildernefs, the religious rites and cuftoms of tlie northern
Indians, differ no farther from tliofe of the nations near our foutliern fettle-
ments than reafon will admit, allowing for their diftant fituation from Peru
and Mexico, whence they feem to have travelled.
"When they return home viiftorious over the enemy, they fing the tri-
umphal fong to Yo-IIe-Wah, afcribing the vidory to him, according to
a religious cuftom of the Ifraelite^ who were commanded always to
attribute their fucccfs in war to Jcovah, and not to their fwords and
arrows.
jr
'P i>
In the year 1765, when \hc Chikkafah returned with two French fcalps,
from the Illinois, (while the Britifli troops were on the MiOifippi, about
<70 leagues below the Illinois) as my trading houle was near the Chikkafah
leader
7heir triumphal fong for fuccefs.
16
leader, I had a good opportunity of obfcrving his condufV, as far as it was
expofed to public view.
Within a day's march of home, he fcnt a ninner a-head with the glad
tidings — and to order his dark winter houl'e to be fwept out very clean, for
fear of pollution. By ancient cuftom, when the out-ftanding party fet off
for war, the women arc fo afraid of the power of their holy things, and of pro-
phaning them, that they fwecp the lioufe and earth quite clean, place the
fweepings in a heap behind the door, leaving it there undifturbed, till 0/rtV,.
who .-arrics the ark, orders them by a faithful melTenger to remove it. 1 lo
likewife orilers them to carry out every utcnfil which the women had ufed dur-
ing his abfencc, for fear of incurring evil by pollution. The party appeared
next day painted red and black, their heads covered all over with fwan down,
and a tuft of 'ong white feathers fixt to the crown of their heads. Thus
they approaclied, carrying each of the fcalps on a branch of the evcr-grcen
pine*, finging the awful death foncr, with a Iblemn llriking air, and fome-
times Yo He Wahj now and then founding the fhrill I'leath Vl'huo IVbocp
Wbocp. When they arrived, the leader went a-head of his company,,
round his winter hot houfc, contrary to the courfe of the fun, finging tl.e
monofyllable YO, for about the fpace of five ieconds on a tenor key ; again,
He He fliorr, on a bafs key -, then Wah Wah, gutturally on the trebk-,
very flirill, but not fo fliort as the bafs note. In this manner they repeated
thofe facred notes, YO, He He, Wah Wah, three times, while they were
finifhing the circle, a llrong emblem of the eternity of Him, " who i.<?, was,.
and is to come," to whom they king their triumphal long, afcribing the
vlftory over their enemies to his Urong arm, inllead of their own, accord-
ing to the ufage of the Ifraelites by divine appointment. l"he duplication'
of the middle and laft fyllables of the four-lettered cfleniial name of the
deity, and the change of the key from their eilablirhed method of invoking
Y*0 He Wah, when they are drinking their bitter drink, (ti^e Cujfccun) in tlieir
temples, where they always fpend a long breath on each of the two firft.
• As the Iiidiars carry their cncm'os fcalj's on fniall brandies of evcr-gri'cn pine, and
wave ll)e mirllal tri>phics on a jiue-briiich btl'ire YO He Wah; I caniKt help tliirilciiig
that the jiii.f was the emblematical trie lb oFieii mentioned in ilivine wri;, hy die pluial
name, Shiitin; cfpcciully as the mouiit.iiii CV'ilar, comparatively fpcakin^, is low and doei
not liem to anfwer the delcriptio;i of the iiifpircd wiiters ; befides that "lill. (lbi-t!ji.r
is figuratively applied to tiic mercy-O^at, fi;_nifyin^, literally, a fcreen, or cover againll loiiiii ;
wiiich was pitched over wiih ihe cuni of the pine t;ee.
fylUblsti.
!•'
II
t '
1 66 On the difccnt of the American Xndicws from the 'Jewi.
f}l!.-iblcs of tliac awful divir.c fonc, fccms tltfigncd to prevent a proph.'.-
nntion.
The icadL-r's Ilctiffu, " or waiter," placed a couple of new blocks of v/ood
rear the war pole, oppofite to tlic door of tlic circular hot-hoiile, in tlic
middle of whicli the fire-place Rood ; and on thefe blocks he rciled the I'lip-
pofed facred ark, fo that it and the holy fire faced each other. The party
were filent a confiderable time. At length, the chieftain bade them fit down,
and then enq-jired whether his houfe was prepared for the folcmn oc-
cafion, according to his order the day before : being anf-.vered in the affir-
mative, they foon rofe up, founded the death whoop, and walked round
the war pole -, during which they invoked and fung three times, YO, He
He, War Wah, in the manner already defcribed. Then they went with
their Iioly things in regular order into the hot-houfe, where they continued,
exclufive of the firft broken day, three days and nights apart from the
reft of the people, purifying themfelves with warm lotions, and afperfions
of the emblematical button- fnake- root, without any other fubfillciice be-
tween the rifing and the fetting of the fun.
During the other part of the time, the female relations of each of the
company, after having bathed, anointed, and dreft themfelves in their
fineft, ftood in two rows, one on each fide of the door, facing each
other, from the evening till the morning, finging Ha Ha, Ha He, with a
foft fhrill voice and a folemn moving air for more than a minute, and then
paufed about ten minutes, before they renewed their triumphal fong.
While they fung, they gave their legs a fmall motion, by the ftroncr
working of their mufcles, without feeming to bend their joints. When
they had no occafion to retire, they have ftood erefl in the fame place, a
long frofty night •, and except when finging, obferved a moft profound
filence the whole time. During that period, they have no intercourfe with
their hufiiiands •, and they avoid feveral other fuppofed pollutions, as not
to eat or touch fait, and the like.
The leader, once in two or three hours came oirt at the head of his com-
pany, and raifing the de.ith whoop, made one circle round the red painted
war pole, Iiolding up in their right hands the fmall boughs of pine with
the fcalps fixt to them, Iinging as above, waving them to and fro, and then
returned again. This religious order they ftridcly obferved the whole time
they
li^ii
l/jcir folcmnltles after vl6lory.
167
they were purifying themfelvcs, and finding the fong of fafety, and viiftory,
to the goodncfs and power of the divine cflcncc. When the time of their
purification and thankfgiving expired, the men and women went and bathed
themfclves feparately, returned in the fame manner, and anointed again,
according to their uliial cudoin.
They joined foon after in a folemn proccfTion, to fix the fcalps on the
tops of the houfes of their relations who had been killed without re-
venge of blood. Tlie wpr chieftain went firll — his religious attendant fol-
lowed him •, the warriors next, according to their rifuig merit -, and die
foiiyllrefles brou'jht up the rear. In this order they went round tiic leader's
winter-houfe from the caft to the north, the men ftriking up the death
whoop, and finging the death fong : a. d then YO, He Mr, Wah VVah, as
dcfcribed ; the women alio warbling K \ Ha, Ha He, fo that one might
have laid according to the facrcd text, " great was the company of the wo-
men who fung the fong of triumph." * Then they fixed on the top of the
houfe, a twig of the pme they had brought with them, with a fmall piece
of one of the fcalps faflened to it: and tliis order they obferved from
houfe to houfe, till in their opinion they had appeafed the gholls of their
dead. They went and bathed again -, and thus ended their purifica-
tion, and triumphal folemnity — only the leader and his religious waiter
kept apart three days longer, purifying themfclves. I afterward all'.ed
the reafon of this — they replied they were IJhtohoollo. I'his feems to be
fo plain a copy of the old JewiOi cufloms, I am fatisfied the reader will
tafily difccrn the analogy, widiout a:iy farther obfervations.
T cannot however conclude this argument, without a few remarks concern-
ing the Indian methods of making peace, and of renewing their old friendlhip.
They fird fmoke out of the friend-pipe, and eat together ; then they drink of
the Cujj'eeiia, ufing fuch invocati')ns as have been mentioned, and proceed
to wave their large fani of eagles-tails, — concluding with a dance. I'he
perfons vifited, appoint half a d(<zcn of their moft atlive and expert young
warriors to perform this religious duty, who have had their own temples
adorned witli the fwan-feather-cap. They paint their bodies witii white
clay, and cover their heads wiiii fvv'an-dovvn •, then approaching the ciiief
• Lad year I henrd the Cholctah women, in thofe towns which lie next to New Or-
leans, fing a regular anthem and dirj;e, in the du(k of the evening, while their kinfnicu
were gone to v/ar againll the Mai];ohge,
J reprefentative
'.r
m
; ' Hi ,
Fr-'
1 63 On the dcfccnt of the Anicrldm Indians from the fcivs.
rrprcft-ntativc of the llrangers, who by way of honour, and ftrong affuranre
cf fiii'mifliip, is tlMtiJ on liie central white or holy IImi, " tlic bclovvl cab-
bin" (wliicli is about nine feet long an 1 ievcn feet broad), they wave the
c.'gk's tails backward and forward over his head *. Iinniediatclv they be-
pia the loknin fong with an awful air-, and prefciuiy they dadcc ia a
bowing poflurc ; thi.n tlicy niifc ihcmfclves l"o ereft, thai their faces
look partly upwards, waving the eagles tails with their right hand to-
ward heavtn, lomctimts witii a flow, at others with a quick tnotion ; at
the fame time they touch their bread: with their fmall callab.ifli and peb-
bles fallened to a Hick of about a foot long, which they hoid in their
left hand, keeping rime with ilie n'lotion of the eagles tails : during
tlie dance, they rep at the ufual divine notes, YO, &c. and wave the
eaok's tails now and then over the llranfTcr's head, not movinQ- above
two vards backward or iorward before him. They aie fo furpiifingly ex-
pert ill tlieir luppoicd religious olncc, and ol icrve time fo exadly, with
their particular geft\ es and notes, that there is not the leaft dilccrnible
diU-ord. If the Ikbrcws danced this way, (as there is flrong prefumptivc
proofs they had very iweating work, for every joint, artery, and nerve,
is ftrctched to the higheft pitch of exertion •, and tliis may account for
Saul's daughtc Miclial, rliiding David for falling in witli the common
xiancers.
7"he Indians cannor fliew greater lionour to the grcateft potentate on
earth, tlian to place him in ,!ie wliite feat — invoke YO He Waii, while
• When tfity ,-ire difaliVited, or intend to declare w^., they will not allow nny of the party
iigainft when rhey have hollile views, to approach the white feat ; as tlieir holy men, and
holy places, are confideicd firmly bound to keep good faith, and give fure rfrfugc. Indeed
in the year 1750, after having narrowly efcaped with my life from the Chec.ake lower towns,
I met two worthy gentlemen at the fettlement of Kincty-fix, who were going to them. I ear-
rertly diffuadvd them againll purfuing their journey, but withcut ctfei". : when they arrived
at the middle Cheerakc towns, the old beloved men and war chieftains invited tlicm and
twenty of the traders to go in the evening to their town-houfe, to lit on their white beloved
feat, partake of their leail, and fmokc together with kindly hean.-, according to their old
friendly cuftom. The geiidenun happily rrjcded t!ic invitation, and boldly told them tlicy
were aj-prifed of their treacherous intentions : ihey braved a little, to Airprife and intimida.e
the Indian's, and ilien mounted, dirciScd their coii.fe toward the place where a t;cacherOus
ainbufcade had hem laid for them — but they foon filently took another courfe, and paiiing
through an unfufpcikd dillieult niardi, and ainioll pathlefs woods, by the dawn of the morning
tlicy reached the Georgia fide of Savannah river, which was about So miles, where a body of
t' e ^1li^^ohge chanced to be preparing for >var againft the treacherous Ciieerake. Thcfe pro-
tected them from their purfuers, and the gentlemen arrived fafe at Auoulla, the upper bar-
rier and Indian mart of Georgia.
7 he
^hcir method of making pCitcc, and icncwii:^ jr'scndjhip. i fu;
he is drinking the CufTecna, arul dance before him witK tlic cii^lv-s tails.
When two chioftains are renewing, or perpetuating friinilfliip with each
other, they are treated with the fame ceremonies. And :n tlicir circular
friendly dancei, when they honour their guelh, and pledge tiiemlclves to
keep good faith witli them, iluy fonietimes fing their divine notes with
a very awful air, pointing their rigiit hand towards the (Ly. Some years
ago, I faw the Kooafaiue Indians (two hundred miles up Mobille river;
perform this rite witii much Iblemnity ; as if invoking the di.\cy by their
notes and gclhires, to enable them to lliew good-will to their fellow-
creatures, and to bear witne^ of their faithful vows and conduiLt. Th;p
cullom is plainly not derived irom tlie old Scythians, or any other pa'T ..f
the heathen world. Their » rms and ufagcs when tiiey made peac;, or
pledged faith, and contraft( ndlliip with each other, were widely dif-
itrcnc : but to thofe of the j ,.s it hath the ncareft refemblancc.
M
II,
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A R G U M i; N T XVII.
The Indian origin and defccnt may alio be in fomc iiieafurc' difcerncj
•liy their tafle for, and kind of Oknaments.
The Ifraelites were fond of wearing beads and other ornaments, even us
early as tlie ]> unarchal age, and the tafle incrcafed to fuch a degree that it
became ciinunal, and was fliarply reprehended by tlie propliets, particularly
Ifaiah. I he lliaeiitini women wore ricii garters about their legs, and
againll the rules of modefty, they fliortened their under garnicnts, in or-
der to ihcw how th.eir legs and feet were decorated; Ifiiah, chap, iii. i3.
" The Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments
about their itct" which 'oaded them fo lieavy that they could fcarcely walk ;
and ver. 19, :its ?. i. " The chains and the bracelets — The ornaments of
the legs — and the ear-rings — The rings and nofe jewels." In refemblance
to thcfe curtoms, the Indian females continually wear a beaded ftrinr; round
their legs, made of buffalo- hair, which is a fpecies of coarle wool ; and
they reckon it a great ornament, as well as a prefervatlve againfl mif-
carriages, hard labour, and oil.er evils. They wear alfo a heap of land
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170
On the defcent of the American Indians from the Jews,
tortoife-fhells with pebbles or beads in them, faftened to pieces of decr-niiiis,
which they tie to the outfide of their legs, when they mix with the men in
their religious dances.
The Indian nations are agreed in the cuflom of thus adorning tlicm-
felves with beads of various fizes and colours •, fometimes wrought in garters,
faflies, necklaces, and in firings round their wrifts; and fo from the crowt>
of their heads fometimes to the cartilage of tiie nofe. And they doat
on them fo much, as to make them their current money in all payments
to this day.
Before we fupplied them with our European beads, they had great quarr-
tities of wampum -, (the Buccinum of the ancients) made out of conch-
flicll, by rubbing them on hard ftones, and fo they form them according to
their liking. With thefe they bought and fold at a flated current rate,
without the leaft variation for circumftances cither of time or place •, and
now they will hear nothing patiently of lofs or gain, or allow us to heighten
the price of our goods, be our reafons ever fo ftrong, or though the exigen-
cies and changes of time may require it. Formerly, four deer-fkins was the-
price of a large conch-fhell bead, about the length and thicknefs of a
man's fore-finger •, which they fixed to the crown of their head, as an high
ornament — fo greatly they valued them. Their beads bear a very near re-
femblance to ivory, which was highly efteemed by the Hebrews.
The New-England writers aflure us, that the Naraganfat Indians paid to
the colony of Maffachufetts, two hundred fathoms of wampum, only m
part of a debt •, and at another payment one-hundred fathoms : which
ihews the Indian cuftom of wearing beads has prevailed far north on this
continent, and before the firft fettling of our colonies.
According to the oriental cuftom, they wear ear-rings and finger-rings
in abundance. Tradition fays, they followed the like cuftom before they
became acquainted with the Englifii.
The men and women in old times ufed fuch coarfe diamonds, as their
own hilly country produced, when each had a bit of ftone faftened with a
deer's
■ ' "' J' I
Tbeir tafle for ornaments.
171
deer's finevv to the tying of their hair, their nofe, ears, an J maccaP.'encs :
but from the time we fupplied them with our Europe.iti ornaments, they \vwz
iifed brafs and filver ear-rings, and finger-rings -, the young warriors now
frequently faften bell-buttons, or pieces of tinkling brals to their maccal'etncs
and to the outfide of their boots, inftead of the old turky-cock-fpur.;
which they formerly ufed. Both fexcs cfteem the above things, as very
great ornaments of drefs, and commonly load the parts v/ith each fort, in
proportion to tlieir ability of purchafing them : it is a common trading rule
with us, to judge of the value of an Indian's effefts, by the w.-iglit of his Hr.-
gers, wrifts, ears, crown of his head, boots, ?nd maccafeenes — by the
quantity of red paint daubed on his face, and by the Ihirt about the collar,
fliouldcrs, and back, fliould he have one.
Although the fame things are commonly alike ufed or difufed, by males
and females ; yet they dillinguilli their fexes in as exact a manner as
any civilized nation. The women bore fmall holes in the lobe of their ears
for their rings, but the young heroes cut a liole round almoft the extre-
mity of both their ears, which till healed, they ftretch out with a large tuft of
buffalo's wool mixt with bear's oil : then they twift as much fmall wire round
as will keep them extended in that hideous form. This cuftom however
is wearing off apace. They formerly wore nofe-tings, or jewels, both in the
northern and fouthern regions of America, according to a fimilar cuitom of
the Jews and eafterns ; and in fome places -they ftill obferve it. At prefcnt,
they hang a piece of battered fdver or pewter, or a large bead to the
noftril, like the European method of treating fwine, to prevent them from
rooting the earth \ this, as well as the reft of their cuftoms, is a true pic-
ture and good copy of their fuppofed early progenitors.
y i
.>tvi
I have been among the Indians at a drinking match, when feveral of
their beaus have been humbled as low as death, for the great lofs of
their big ears. Being fo widely extended, it is as eafy for a perfon to
take hold of, and pull them off, as to remove a couple of fmall hoops
were they hung within reach ; but if the ear after the pull, ftick to their
head by one end, wlien they get fober, they pare and few it together
with a needle and deer's fincvvs, after fweating him in a ilove. Thus the
difconfolate warrior recovers his former cheerfulnefs, and hath a lafting cau-
tioQ of not putting his ears a feco id time in danger with bad company :
Z 2 however.
172 On the dcjcent of the American Indians from the yews,
however, it is not deemed a fcandal to lofe their ears by any accident, be-
caute they became (lender and brittle, by their virtuous compliance with,
that favourite cuftom of their anceftors..
ARGUMENT XVIII.
The Indian manner of Curing their Sick., is very fimilar to that of
the Jews, They always invoke YO He Wah, a confiderable fpace of time
before they apply any medicines, let the cafe require ever fo fpeedy an ap-
plication. The more defpcratcly ill tlieir patients are, the more earneilly
they invoke the deity on the fad occafion. Like the Hebrews, they
firmly believe that difeafes and wounds are occafioned by the holy fire, or
divine anger, in proportion to fome violation of the old beloved fpeech.
The Jews had but fmall fl<ill in phyfic. — They called a phyfician " a binder
of wounds," for he chiefly poured oil into the wounds and bound them
lip. They were no great friends to this kind of learning and fcience ;
and their Talmud has this proverb, " the bed phyficians go to hell."
King Afa was reproved for having applied to phyficians, for his dileafe in
his feet. The little ufe they made of the art of medicine, efpecially for
internal maladies ; and their perfuafion that diftempers were either the im-
mediate effeds of God's anger, or caufed by evil fpirits, led them to apply
themfelves to the prophets, or or to diviners, magicians and enchanters^.
Hezekiah's boil was cured by Ifaiah — Benhadad king of Syria, and Naaman
the Syrian applied to the prophet EliQia, and Ahaziah king of Ifrael lent fo
confult Baal-zebub. The Indians deem the curing their fick or wounded a
very religious duty •, and it is chiefly performed by their fuppofed prophets,
and magi, becaufe they believe they are infpired with a great portion of the
divine fire. On thefe occafions they fing YO YO, on a low bafs key for
two or three minutes very rapidly ; in like manner, He He, and \Va Wa.
Then they tranfpofe and accent thofe facred notes with great vehemence,
and fupplicating fervor, rattling all the while a calabafh with fmall pebble-
ftones, in imitation of the old Jewilh rattles, to make a greater found, and
7 as
Their manner of curing the fick.
173
a<i it were move the deity to co-opcrate with their fimple means and
finifb the cure *.
When the Indian phyficians vifit their fuppofcd irreligious patients,
they approach them in a bending pofture, with their rattling calabalh,
preferring that fort to the North-American gourds : and in that bent
pofture of body, they run two or three times round the fick perlbn,
contrary to the courfe of the fun, invoking God as already cxprcft.
Then they invoke the raven, and mimic his croaking voice : Now this
bird was an ill omen to the ancient heathens, as we may fee by the
prophet Ifaiali •, fo that common wifdom, or felf-love, would not have
direfted them to fuch a choice, if their traditions had reprefentcd it as a
bad fymbol. But they chofe it as an emblem of recovery, probably from
its indefatigablenefs in flying to and fro when fent out of the ark, till he
!•' !l
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• Formerly, nn old Nachee warrior who was blind of one eye, and very dim-Hghted in
the other, having heard of the furprifing (kill of the European oculifts, fancied 1 ciuld cure
him. He ficquently importuned me to perform that friendly office, which 1 as often
declined. But he imagining all my excufes were the effeft of modciiy and caution, was tlic
more importunate, and would take no denial. I was at laft obliged to Cvimmencc Indi.in
oculil^. I had jull drank a glafs of ram when he came to undergo the operation at the time
appointed ; he obferving my glafs, faid, it was bed to defer it till the next day.— I told hiiii,.
I drank fo on pu.'pofe, for as the white people's phyfic and beloved fongs were tiuite
<?ifferent from wli.'. the red people applied and fung, it was ufual with our bell phyficians
to drink a little, to heighten their fpirits, and enable them to fing with a llrong voice, and
likewife to give their patients a little, to make their hearts weigh even within them ; he
confented", and lay down as if he was dead,, according to their ufual cuilom. After a j;ood
many wild ceremonies, I fung up Sheela na Guira, " will you d^ink wine;" 'i'hen J dian!.
10 my patient, which on my raifing him up, he accepted : I gavehim feveral drinks of giogg,
both to divert myfelf, and purify the obtruding fiippofed finner. At lalf, I .npplicd iv.y ma-
teria medica, blowing a quill full of fine burnt allum and roman vitriol into iiii, eye. Jull a*
I was ready to repeat it, he bounded up cut of his feemingly dead ftatc, jumped about, and.
faid, my fongs and phyfic were not good. When I could be heard, I told him tl;e F.nglilli
beloved fongs and phyfic were much ftronger than thofe of the red people, and tii.it when
they did not immediately produce fuch an efi'efl as he found, it was a fure fign they were
good for nothing, but as they were taking place, he would foon be well. Hj atquiefc: i
becaufe of the ibporific dofe I gave him. But ever after, he reckoned lie had a very n.inow
chance of having his eye burnt out by Loak IjhtohooUo, for drinking 0'J<n Ihove, " tlie
hitter waters," and prefuming to get cured by an impure accurfed nothing, who lied, uianl:,
ate hog's fleih, and (••xngTaraa Ookp-oo'sto, " the devil's tune," or the fong of ih.e evil
cnes.
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174 On the dcfcent of the American Indians from the Jeivs.
found dry ground to reft on *. They alio place a bafon of cold water with
fome pebbles in it on the ground, near the patient, then they invoke the
fifli, bccaufe of its cold element, to cool the heat of the fever. Again,
they invoke the eagle, [Ooole) they folicit him as he foars in the heavens,
to bring down refrelhing things for their fick, and not to delay them, as
he can dart down upon the wing, quick as a flafh of lightning. They are
fo tedious on this fubjefl, that it would be a talk to repeat it : however,
it may be needful to obferve, that they chufe the eagle becaufe of its fup-
pofed communicative virtues ; and that it is according to its Indian name,
a cherubimical emblem, and the king of birds, of prodigious ftrength,
fwiftnefs of wing, majeftic ftature, and loving its young ones fo tenderly,
as to carry them on its back, and teach them to fly.
Jofephus tells us, that Solomon had a divine power conferred upon him,
of driving evil fpirits out of poflefled perfons — that he invented feveral
incantations by which difeafes were cured — and left behind him fuch a
fure method of exorcifing, as the da?mons never returned again : and he
afTures us, the Jews followed the like cuftom as late as his own time ;
and that he faw fuch a cure performed by one Eleazar. They likewife ima-
gined, tliat the liver of a filh would keep away evil fpirits, as one of the
apocryplial writers acquaints us +.
Tn
* Tlie ancients drew bad prefages from the fituation, and croaking of ravens and crows.
They looked on that place as unhappy, where cither of them had croaked in the morning.
Hefiod forbids to leave a houfe unfinifiied, left a crow fliould chance to come and croak when
luting on it. And moft of the illiterate peafants in Europe are tindured with the like fuper-
ilition, pretending to draw ill omens from its voice.
t They imagined incenfe alfo to be a fure means to banirti the devil; though afafcetida,
«r the devil's dung, might have been much better. On Cant. iv. 6. " I will get mc
to the hill of incenfe," the Chaldee paraphraft fays, that, while the houfc of Ifrael kept
the art of their holy fore-fathers, both the morning and mid-d.ny evil fpirits fled away,
becaufe the divine glory dwelt in the fanAuary, which was built on Mount Moriah ;
and that all the devils fled when they imelled the effluvia of the fine incenfe that was
there. They likewife believed that herbs and roots had a power to expel d.xmons. And
jofephus tells us, that the root Bnra, immediately drives out the devil, I fuppofe it had
luch a phyfical power againft fevers and agues, as the jefuit's baik.
The church of Rome, in order to have powerful holy things, as well as the Jews, applies
ialt, fpittle, holy.water, and coiifccrated oil, to expel the devils from tic credulous of their
own
Thi'ir manner of curing the Jick.
^71
In the Summer- feafon of the year 1746, I chanced to fee the Indians
playing at a houfe of the former Miffifippi-Nachee, on one of their old
facred mufical inllruments. It pretty much refembled the Negroe-Banger
in fliape, but far exceeded it in dimenfions ; for it was about five feet long,
and a foot wide on the head-part of the board, with eight firings made
out of the finews of a large buffalo. But they were fo unfkilful in afting
the part of the l,yrick, that the LoachCy or prophet who held the inftru-
ment between his feet, and along fide of his chin, took one end of the
bow, whilft a lufty fellow held the other •, by fweating labour they fcraped
out fuch harfh jarring founds, as might have been reafonably expefted by
a foft ear, to have been fufficient to drive out the devil if he lay any
where hid in the houfe. When I afterward alked him the name, and the
reafon of fuch a ftrange method of diverfion, he told me the dance was
called Keetla IJhto Iloolto, " a dance to, or before, the great holy one ■"
that it kept ofi^evil fpirits, witches, and wizards, from the red people-,
and enabled them to ordain elderly men to oiTiciatc in holy things, as the
exigency of the times required.
'%.
He who danced to it, kept his place and pofture, in a very exaifl man-
ner, without the lead perceivable variation : yet by the prodigious workin;^
of his mufcles and nerves, he in about half an hour, foamed in a very
extraordinary manner, and difcontinued it proportionally, till he recovered
himfelf. This furprifing cuftom I have mentioned here, becaufe it was
ufual among the Flebrews, for their prophets to become furious, and as i:
were befide themfelves, when they were about to prophefy. Thus with
regard to Saul, it feems that he became furious, and tortured his body by
violent geftures : and when Eliflia fent one of the children of the pro-
phets to anoint Jehu, one faid to him, wherefore cometh this mad fel-
low ? The Chaldee paraphraft, on i Sam. xviii. 10. concerning Saul'a
prophefying, paraphrafes it, ccepit furirc, " he began to grow mad, &c."
"When the Eaft-Indian Fakirs are giving cut their pretended prophe-
cies, they chufe drums and trumpets, that by fuch confufed driking founds,
ov • pcrfuafion ; and the oil alone is ufed as a viaticum, on account of its lubricous quility,
to maice them flippeiy, and thereby prevent the devil from laying hold, and pulling ihura
down when they afcend upward. They reckon that obfervancc a moll religiojs duty, .'tid
an infallible prcfervative againil the legions of evil fpirits who watch in the ;eiiul rt^iuiio y
and alfo ueccH'ary to guin cclcilial admiflion for beiiivcrs,
7 their
I'
1-6
On the dcfccnt of the American Indians from the Jeics.
their fepfcs may be lulled adeep or iinfettled, which might othcrwifc
■render them uncapable of receiving the fiippofed divine infpiration. And
they endeavour to become thus pofll-ft before crowds of people with a
furious rage, by many frantic and violent motions of body, and changes of
pofture, till they have railed it to the higheft pitch they are capable of,
and then fall on the ground almoft breathlefs j when they recovor them-
felves a little, they give out their prophecies, which are deemed orar-
cular.
La^lantiiis and others tell us, that the Sibyls were poflbn: of the
like fury ; and mod part of the ancients believed they ought to become
furious, the members of the body to fliake, and the hairs of their head to
Hand an end before they could be divinely infpired : which feems plainly to
fliew, that tiiough the ancient heathens mimicked a great deal of the Mo-
faic law, yet theirs had but a faint glance on the Hebrew manner of
confulting Yohewah ; whereas the Indian Americans invoke the true God,
by his favourite eflential name, in a bowing pofture, on every material
occafion, whether civil, martial, or religious, contrary to the ufage of all
the old heathen world,
In the year 1765,'an old phyfician, or prophet, almoft drunk with fpiritu-
ous liquors, came to pay me a friendly vifit : his fituation made him more
communicative than he would have been if quite fober. When he came to
the door, he bowed himfelf half benr, with his arms extended north and
fouth, continuing fo perhaps for the fpace of a minute. Then raifing him-
felf ered, with his arms in the fame pofition, he looked in a wild frightful
manner, from the fouth^weft toward the north, and fung on a low bafs key
2'o To l~o To, almoft a minute, then He He He He, for perhaps the fame
fpace of time, and Wa JVa Wa JVa, in like manner i and then tranf-
pofed, and accented thofe facred notes feveral different ways, in a moft
rapid guttural manner. Now and then he looked upwards, with his head
tonfiderably bent backward ; — his fong continued about a quarter of an
hour. As my door whicli was then open ftood eaft, his face of courfe
looked toward the weft ; but whether the natives thus ufually invoke the
tleity, I cannot determine i yet as all their winter houfes have their doors
toward the eaft, had he ufed the like folemn invocations there, his face
would have confcquently looked the fame way, contrary to the ufage of
the
Their burial of the dduL
177
the heathens. After his fong, he ftcppcd In : 1 faluteil him, fayinr, " Are you
come my beloved old friend ?" he replied, .Irahre-O. " I am come i:i tlu*
name of Or a." I told lum, ( was glad t) fee, that in ilii:; ir-ad age,
he (till retained tiie old Chikkafah virtues. 1 le laid, that as he came
with a plad heart to '^cc me his old friend, lie imai?.incd he could not do
me a more kind fervice, than to fecure my houl'e trom the power of tiic
evil fpirits of the north, foiith, and weft, — and, from witches, and wiii-
ards, who go about in dark nights, in tiie fhape of bear*, hogs, and
wolves, to fpoil people: "the very month before, added he, we killed
an old witch, for having ufed deftrudlive charms." Decaufc a child was
fuddenly taken ill, and died, on the phydcian's falfe evidence, the fa-
ther went to the poor helplefs old woman who was fitting innocent, and
unfofpecfling, and funk his toniohawk into her head, v.ithout the lead fear
of being called to an account. They call witches and wizards, Ifotahc,
end HooUahe, " man-killers," and *' fpoilers of things facred." My pro-
phetic friend defired me to think myfelf fecure from tiiofe dangerous enemies
of darkncfs, for (faid he) Tarooa JJhtohnoUo-Autarooare^ " 1 have lung the long
of the great. holy one." The Indians arc fo tenacious of concealing their
religious myfteries, that I never before obfervcd fuch an invocation on the
like occafion — adjuring evil fpirits, v/itches, &c. by the awful name of
deity.
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ARGUMENT XIX.
The Hebrews have at all times been very careful in the Burial of their
tlcad — to be deprived of it was confidered as one •* che greateft of evils.
They made it a point of duty to perform the funer .1 oblcquics of their
friends — often embalmed the dead bodies of thofe who were ricli, and even
buried treafure in the tombs with their dead. Jofephus tells us, th;it in
king David's fepulchre, was buried fuch a prodigious quantity of rrcafurcs,
that Hyrcanus the Maccabean, took three thoufand talents out of it, about
thirteen hundred years after, to get rid of Aniiociius then bcficging Jera-
falem. And their people of diftindiion, we are told, followed the like cuf-
tom of burying gold and filver with the dead. Thus it was an univtriii!
cuftom with tlie ancient Peruvians, when the owner dkd to bury his
A a eficas
H
:x,M
- H
lyS On the dcfcent of the American Indians from the fe'ws.
tfFc(5ls with him, which the avaricious Spaniards perceiving, they robbed
thefc ftore-hoiifes of tlic dead of an immenfe quantity of trcaiures. The
modern Indians bury all their moveable riches, according to the cuftom of
the ancient Peruvians and Mexicans, infomuch, tiiat the grave is heir of all.
Except the Cheerake, only one inftance of deviation, from this ancient
and general Indian cuftom occurs to me: which was that oi Malahtbe, the
Jate famous chiirftain of the Kowwetah head war-town of the lower part of
ti\e Muflcohge country, who bequeathed all he pofTefTed to his real, and
adopted relations, — being fcnfible they would be much more ufeful to his
living friends, than to himfelf during his long deep ; he difplayed a genius
far fuperior to the crowd.
The Cheerake of late years, by the reiterated perfuafion of the traders,
have entirely left off the cuftom of burying effetfts with the dead body -,
the neareft of blood inherits them. They, and feveral otlier of our Indian
nations, ufed formerly to flioot all the live ftock that belonged to the de-
ceafed, foon after the interment of the corpfe } not according to the Pa-
gan cuftom of the funeral piles, on which they burned feveral of the
living, that they might accompany and wait on the dead, but from a
narrow-hearted avaricious principle, derived from their Hebrew proge-
nitors.
.IV it
Notwithftanding the North- American Indians, like the South- Ameri-
cans, inter the whole riches of the deceafed with him, and fo make his
corpfe and the grave heirs of all, they never give them the leaft difturbance ;
even a blood-thirfty enemy will not defpoil nor difturb the dead. The grave
proves an afylum, and a fure place of reft to the fleeping perfon, till at
fome certain time, according to their opinion, he rifes again to inherit
his favourite place, — unlefs the covetous, or curious hand of fome foreigner,
ftiould break through his facred bounds. This cuftom of burying the dead
perfon's treafures with him, has entirely fwallowed up their medals, and
other monuments of antiquity, without any probability of recovering
them*.
As
• In the Tuccabatchcs on the Tallapoofe river, thirty miles above the Allabahamah garri-
fon, are two brazen tables, and five of copper. They efteem them fo facred as to keep
them
Their burial of the dead.
iy()
As the Hebrews carefully buried tiieir dead, fo on any accident, they
gathered their bones and laid them in the tombs of their forc-faihers :
Thus, all tlie numerous nations of Indians perform the like friendly olHce to
every deccafed pcrfon of their refpedtive tribe •, inlbmuch, that tliofc who
them con(!ant1y in their holy of holies, without touching them in the leaft, only in the time
of their compounded firll-fruit-offcring, and annual expiation of fins ; at which feafon, their
magus carries one under his arm, a-head of the people, dancing round the facred aibour;
next to him their head-warrior carries another ; and thofe warriora who chufe it, carry the
reft after the manner of the high-pricft; all the others carry white canes wiih i'wan-
feathers at the top. Hearing accidentally of thefe important monuments of antiquity, and en-
quiring pretty much about them, 1 was certified of the truth of the report by four of the
fouihern traders, at the moft eminent Indian-trading houfu of all Englifti America. One of
the gentlemen informed me, that at my requeft he endeavoured to get a liberty of viewing
the aforefaid tables, but it could not poflibly be obtained, only in the time of the yearly
grand facrificc, for fear of polluting their holy things, at which time gentlemen of curiofity
may fee them. OU Bracket, an Indian of perhaps loo years old, lives in that old beloved
town, who gave the following defcription of them :
Old Breda's account of diejivt copper and two Irafs plaus under the beloved cabbin in
Tuccabatchey-fquare.
The (hape of the five copper plates ; one is a foot and
half long and feven inches wide, tlie other four are fhorter
T^^v and narrower.
/i~i\ 1 he (hape of the two brafs plates, — about a foot and a
The largeft ftamped thus [^ j^^,^.^ ^.^^^^^^_
He faid— he was told by his forefathers that thofe plates were given to them by the man
we call God ; that there had been many more of other lliapes, fomc as long as he could
flretch with both his arms, and fome had writing upon them which were buried with parti-
cular men ; and that they had inftruaions given with them, viz. they muft only be handled
by particular people, r-d thofe failing ; and no unclean 'woman muft be fuftered to come
near them or the place where they are depofited. He faid, none but this town's people
had any fuch plates given them, and that they were a different people from the Creeks.
He only remembered three more, which were buried with three of his family, and he was
the only man of the family now left. He faid, there were two copper plates under the
king's cabbin, which had lain there from the firft fettling of the town
Tiis account was taken in the Tuccabatchey-fquare, 27th July, 1759, per Will. Boljovir.
n ^^
A a 2
lofe
iSo On the clifcciit of the j^mcrican Iftditins from the yexcs,
lofc tlicir pcnjile at war, if tlu'y l.ivc not corrupted their primitive ciiftoms,
are ih oblcrvant of this kindred duty, as to appropriate lonie time to col-
l?dt the bones oi* t!icir relations i which they call hue gathering, or " ga-
thering the bones to their kitulred," according to the I lebrew idiom *.
The Chc'.Takc, by reafon of their great intercoiirfj with torei;',ners, have
dropped tliat friendly ollke : and as tliey fcem to be more intelligent tiun
the rcll of our l''.n<'Iini-Aiiieric,in Indians in their reli<'ious rites, and cere-
monial obfervanccs, fo 1 believe, the fear of polluti n has likcwifc contri-
buted to obliterate that ancient kindred duty. However, they feparatc
thofe of their people wlio die at home, from others of a dilTerent nation ;
and every jurticular tribe indeetl of each nation bears an intenic love to
itlelf, and divides every one of its people from the rclt, both while living,
and after tlicy arc dead.
When any of them die at a diftancc, if the company be not driven
and jnirfucd by tl'.e enemy, t!iey place the corpfc on a fcafibld, covered
v.itli notched logs to Iccurc it from being torn by wild beads, or fowls
of prey : when they imap;ine the flcfli is confumtd, and the bones arc
thoroughly dried, they return to the place, bring them home, and inter
them in a very f)Iemn manner. They will not alfociate with us, when we
are burying any of our people, who die in their land : and they are un-
willing we fliould join with them while they are performing tliis kindred
duty to theirs. Upon which account, though I have lived among them
in the raging time of the fmall pox, even of the confluent forr, I never faw
but one buried, who was a great favourite of the Englilli, and chieftain of
Ooeafa, as formerly defcribed.
i
The Indians ufe the fame ceremonies to the bones of their dead, as
if they were covered with their former flcin, flefli, and ligaments. It is but
a few ilays fince I faw fome return with the bones of nine of their people,
who had been two months before killed by the enemy. They were tied in
\vhite decr-fkins, fepiratcly -, and when carried by the door of one of the
houfes of their family, they were laid down oppofite to it, till the female
* with the Hebrew:, " to gather," ufunlly fi^nificd to die. Gen. xlix. 33. Jacob is faiJ
to be gathered to his jv.ople. Pfa!. xx'.i. 9. Gather not my foul v.ith (inners. AuJ Numb.
XX. i^, Aaron fiiall be gathered to liis people.
relatione
Their burial of the dead.
i3(
relations convened, witli flowing hair, anil wept over ilicm abo'.it luilf an
hour, llicn tl'.«.y c.irricd tlicm iioinc to their fViciully luapa/incs of mor-
tiility, wept over them n;!;ain, and tlien buried iIkiu widi ti.e ulual I'ulcni-
nities ; putting their valuable cfTcds, and a; I ain intbnnevl, otiier con-
venient things in along with them, to be of I'ci vice to them in liie next (late.
The chieftain carried twelve lliort Hicks tied tO[;ciher, in the form of a
qundran!^;lc -, 'io that eac!i fquarc confiftcd of three. The fticUs were only
peeled, without any paintings ; but tlicre were f.vans fearher-i tied to each
corner, and as they called tiut frame, 7'creckpe tobcl.\ " a white circle," and
placed it over the iloor, while liic woiv.en were weeping over the bones,
perhaps it was originally defigned to reprefcnt the holy fire, light, and fpi-
rlr, who formerly prefidcd over the four principal llandards of the twelv-j
tribes of Ifrael.
When any of their people die at home, they vvafli and anoint the corpfi-,
and foon bring it out of d ors ior fear of pollution ; then they place it oppo-
fitc to tlic door, on the ikins of v.ild bealls, in a fitting pollm-e, as look-
ing into the door of the winter houfo, wedwa d, fullkicntly fuppcrted
with all his moveable goods; after a lliort elogium, and fpacc of mourn-
ing, they carry him three times around tlie houfe in \\\\\c\\ lie is ro
be interred, flo[-)ing half a minute each time, at t!.c place where tl.ey began
the circle, while tlie religious man of the deccafed perion's family, who
goes before the heaue, lays each time, Tab, fhorc with a bals voice, anvl
then invokes on a tenor key, To, which at the fame time is likcwife fung
by all the proceraon, as long as one breath allows. Again, lu llrikes u{),
on a Iharp treble key, the fccmininc note, lie, which in like manner, is
taken up and continued by tlie rell : then all cf them fuddenly ftrike off
the foleinn choru?, and facred invocation, by faying, on a low key, JFuh;
which contlitute the divine elKncial name, Tchcu-ab. This is the method
in which they performed the funeral rites of the chieftain before referred to ;
during which time, a great many of the traders were prefenc, as our company
was a^.recable at the interment of our declared patron and friend. It fcems
as if they buried him in the name of the divine elVence, and direcled their
plaintive religious notes to the author of life a.-' J death, in hores of a
refurreclion of the body -, which I.opc cnga!;;.d the Hebrews to tlile their
burying places, " the houfe of ti;e living."
lit .
r
When
'a
M
iSi 0/7 ib: dcfccnt of the American Indians from the Jews,
When tlu-y celebrated thefc fi.ineral rites of the above chieftain, the/
laid the corpfe in his tomb, in a fitting poftiire, with his face towards
the eaft, his head anointed with bear's oil, and his face painted red, but not
ftreakcd with black, becaufe that is a conftant emblem of war and death ;
he was dreft in his fined apparel, having his gun and pouch, and trudy
hiccory bow, with a young panther's (kin, full of arrows, along fide of
him, and every other ufefol thing he had been pofTefl'ed of, — that when
he rifes again, they may ferve liim in that traft of land which pleafed
him belt before he went to take his long fleep. His tomb was firm
and clean in-fide. They covered it with thick logs, fo as to bear fevcral
tiers of cyprefs-bark, and fuch a quantity of clay as would confine the pu-
trid fmell, and be on a level with the reft of the floor. They often fleep
over tliofc tombs ; which, with the loud wailing of the women at the duflc
ot the evening, and dawn of the day, on benches clofe by the tombs, mufl;
awake the memory of their relations very often : and if they were killed
by an enemy, it helps to irritate and let on fuch revengeful tempers to re-
taliate blood for blood.
M-
K- m
The Egyptians either embalmed, or buried, their dead : other heathen
nations imagined that fire purified the body i they burned therefore the bo-
dies of their dead, and put their aflies into fmall urns, which they religioufly
kept by them, as facred relicks. The Tartars called Kyrgeffi^ near the
frozen fea, formerly ufed to hang their dead relations and friends upon
trees, to be eaten by ravenous birds to purify them. But the Americans
feem evidently to have derived their copy from the Ifraelites, as to the
place where they bury their dead, and the method of their funeral cere-
monies, as well as the perfons with whom tliey are buried, and the great
expences they are at in their burials. The Hebrews buried near the city
of Jerufalem, by the brook Kedron -, and they frequently hewed their tombs
cut of rocks, or buried their dead oppofite to their doors, implying a filent
leflibn of fricndfliip, and a pointing caution to live well. They buried all
of one family together; to which cuftom David alludes, when he fays,
*' gather me not with the wicked :" and Sophronius faid with regard to
the like form, " noli me tangere, haeretice, neque vivum nee mortuum." But
they buried ftrangers apart by themfelves, and named the place, Kebhare
Caleya, " the burying phce of ftrangers." And thefe rude Americans are
fo ftrongly partial to the fame cuftom, that they imagine if any of us
were
Their manner of embalming..
iR
3
were buried in the domeftic tombs of their kindred, withom be'nir adopted,
it would be very criminal in them to allow it ; and that our l[)irits would
haunt the eaves of their houfes at night, and caufc feveral misfortunes to
their family.
In refcmblance to the Hebrew cuflom of embalming their dead, the Chok-
tah treat the corpl'c juft as the religious Levitt- did liis beloved concubine,
who was abufed by the Benjamites •, for having placed the dead on a
high fcafFold ftock:idcd round, at the dillance of twelve yaids from his
houfe oppofite to the door, the whole family convene there at the beginning
of the fourth moon after the interment, to lament and feall together : after
wailing a while on the mourning benches, which (land on the eall fide of the
quadrangular tomb, they raife and bring out the corpfe, and while the feaft is
getting ready, a perfon whofe office it is, and properly called the honepkkcr^
difleifts it, as if it was intended for the ihambles in the time of a great ta-
mine, with his fharp-pointed, bloody knife. He continues bufdy employed
in his reputed facred office, till he has finiflied the tafk, and fcraped all
the flefli off the bones -, which may juftly be called the Choktah method of
enbalming their dead. Then, they carefully place the bones in a kind of
fmall chetl, in their natural order, that they may with cafe and certainty be
fome time afterward reunited, and proceed to ftrike up a fong of lamen-
tation, with various wailing tunes and notes : afterwards, they join as cheer-
fully in the funeral fea(l:, as if their kinfman was only taking his ufual
flecp. Having regaled themfelves with a plentiful variety, they go along
with thofe beloved relicks of their dead, in folemn proceffion, lamenting
with doleful notes, till they arrive at the bone-houfe, which llands in a
folitary place, apart from the town : then they proceed around it, much
after the manner of thofe who performed the obfequies of the Chikka-
fah chieftain, already defcribed, and there depofit their kinfman'5 bones
to lie along fide of his kindred-bones, till in due time they arc revived
by Ifilohoollo Aba, that he may repofleis his favourite place.
Thofe bone-houfes are fcaffolds raifed on durable pitch-pine forked polls,.
in the form of a houfe covered a-top, but open at both ends. I faw
three of them in one of their towns, p-etty near each other — the place
feemcd to be unfrequented i each houfe contained the bones of one tribe,
3. lepai-ately,
I ' i
■'Hl-i..
; I
i ;-i
,184 On the difccHt of tie American hidians frotn the Jeivs.
fepar.icely, witii the hiooglyplucal fignixs of the family on each of tlic old-
fliap'jcl arks : thi-y reckon it irreligious to mix the bones of a relation with
thofe of a ftranffcr, as bone of bone, and flelh of the fame flcni, fliould
be aKvays joined togcilier ; nnd iruch kfs will they thrufl: the body of
their beloved kinfman into tiie aboiiiinablc tomb of a hateful enemy, I
obferved a ladder fixed in the ground, oppofite to the middle of the broad-
fide of each of thofe dormitories of the dead, which was made out of a
l)road board, and (lood confulerably bent over the facred repofitory, with
the fteps on the infido. On tlic top was the carved image of a dove,
with its wings ftretchcd our, and its head inclining down, as if ear-
•neftly viewing or watching over the bones of the dead ; and from the top
of the ladder to almoit the furlacc of the earth, there hung a chain of
grape-vines twilled together, in ciicular links, and the fame likcwife at
their domcRic tombs. Now the dove aker t!ie delutre, became the emblem
of Rotvab, the holy fpirit, and in proceis of time was deified by the
heathen world, inftead of the divine pcrlon it typified : the vine was like-
wife a fymbol of fruitfulnefs, both in the animal and vegetable world.
To perpetuate the memory of any remarkable warriors killed in the
woods, 1 muft here obferve, that every Indian traveller as he pafies that way
throws a ftone on the place, according as he likes or diflikes the occafion,
or manner of the death of the deceafed.
In the woods we often fee innumerable heaps of fmall ftones in thofe
places, where according to tradition fomc of theii dillinguiflTcd people were
cither killed, or buried, till the bones coukl be gathered : there they add
Pelicu to OJfa, ftill increafing each heap, as a lading monument, and ho-
nour to them, and an incentive to great actions.
Mercury was a favourite god with the heathens, and had various em-
ployments; one of which was to be god of the roads, to direft travel-
lers aright — from which the ancient Romans derived their Dii Compitaksy
or Dei Viales, which they likewiie placed at the meeting of roads, and in
the high ways, and efteemcd them the patrons and proteftors of travel-
.lers. The early heathens placed great heaps of (lones at the dividing of
3 the
ilfl
I'heir raifing heaps of /I ones over their dead.
18.
the roads, and confecrated thofe heaps to Iiim by undion*, and other
religious ceremonies. And in honour to him, travellers threw a ftone tj
them, and thus exceedingly increafed their bulk : this might occafion So-
lomon to compare the giving honour to a fool, to throwing a ilone into a
heap, as each were alike infenfible of the obligation \ and to caufe the Jewifh
writers to call this cuftom a piece of idolatrous worfliip. But the In
dians place thofe heaps of ftones where there are no dividings of the roads,
nor the leafl: trace of any road f . And they then obferve no kind of re-
ligious ceremony, but raifc thofe heaps merely to do honour to their dead,
and incite the living to the purfuit of virtue. Upon which account, it fcenis
to be derived from the ancient Jewifh cuftom of increafing Abfalom's
tomb ; for the laft things are eafieft retained, becaufe people repeat them
ofteneft, and imitate tliem moft.
i\
i'lij
I t
• They rubbed the principal ftone of each of ihofc heaps all over with oil, as a facrifice of
libation ; by which means they often became black, and flippcry ; as Arnobius relates
of the idols of his time; Lubricatum lapidem, et ex olivi unguine fordidacum, tanquam
ine/Fet vis prcfens, adulabar. Arnob. Advevf, (Jent.
H^
>1.
t Laban and Jacob raifed a heap of ftones, as a latling monument of their friendly cove-
nant. And Jacob called the hsap Galeed, " the heap of witnefs." Gen. xxxi. 47.
Though the Cheerake do not now colleft the bones of their dead, yet they continue to
raife and multiply heaps of ftones, as monuments for their dead ; this the EngJilh army remem-
bers well, for in the year 1760, having marched about t'vo miles along a wood-land
path, beyond a hill where they had feen a couple of thefe reputed tombs, at the war-
woman's creek, they received fo ftiarp a defeat by the Cheerake, that another fuch muft have
inevitably ruined the whole army.
Many of thofe heaps are to be feen, in all parts of the continent of North-America :
where ftones could not be had, they raifed large hillocks or mounds of earth, wherein they
carefully depofittxl the bones of their dead-, which were placed either in earthen vefl'els, or
in a finiplc kind of arks, or chcfts. Although the Mohawk Indians muy be reafonably cx-
peflcd to lia\c loft their primitive cuftom?, by rcr.fon of their great intercourfe with foreign-
ers, yet I was told by a gentleman of dilHiigiilllicd ch.irafler, that they obferve the aforefaid
fepukhral cuftom to th day, infomuch, that wlicn they are perform' - thai kindred-dutyj
f hey cry out, Mehocm Tagu^nKatiurich, " Grav.df'oihor, 1 cover ycu,"
,1:;
1 .
Bb
ARGU-
v:M
1
1
K
1
1 '
[:
i:
■I
J 86 On the defcent of the American Indians from the Jcwu
ARGUMENT XX.
The Jewidi records tell us, that their women Mourned for the lofs of
their deceafed hufbands, and were reckoned vile, by the civil law, if they
married in the fpace, at leaft, of ten months after their death. In refem-
blance to that cuftom, all the Indian widows, by an eflabliflied ftritfl penal
law, mourn for the lofs of their deceafed hiifbands ; and among fome tribes
for the fpacc of three or four years. But the Eaft-India Pagans forced
the widow, to fit on a pile of wood, and hold the body of her hufband
on her knees, to be confumed together in the flames.
The Muflcohge widows are obliged to live a chafte fingle life, for the tedi-
ous fpace of four years ■., and the Chikkaiah women, for the term of three,
at the rifque of the law of adultery being executed againft the recufants.
Every evening, and at the very dawn of day, for the firft year of her
■widowhood, flie is obliged through the fear of (hame to lament her lofs, in
very intenfe audible drains. As Tab ah fignifies weeping, lamenting, mourn-
ing, or Ah God j and as the widows, and others, in their grief bewail and
cry To He (ta) fVab, Toheta-zveb ; Tohetaha Toheiahe, the origin is fuffici-
ently clear. For the Mcbrcws reckoned it fo great an evil to die unla-
mented, like Jehoiakim, Jcr. xxii. i8. " who had none to fay, Ah, my
brother ! Ah, my filler ! Ah, my Lord ! Ah, his glory !" that it is one
of the four judgments they pray againft, and it is called the burial of an
afs. With them, burying fignificd lamenting, and fo the Indian widows
direct their mournful cries to the author of life and death, iiii'cr: a plural
note in tlie facred name, and again tranfpole the Lutcr, through, an inva-
riable religious principle, to prevent a prophanation.
Their Lv.v compels tl'.e widow, ilirough tlie lonr; term of her weeds,
to refrain all public company and divcrlioiis, at t:!vj pjn.ilty of an adul-
3 tercfs i
Tbc ivomai's time ami mannfr cf mourning for their hujbandi. 187
terefs ; and likewife to go with fiowing hair, without tlie privilege of oil to
anoint it. The ntarell kinlmen oi" t' e dcccarcd hiilband, keep a very
watcliful eye over I.cr condud, in this lefpcft. The place oi" interment is
alfo calculated to wake t.'ie v/idov.-'j grief, for he is intombed in the houfe
under her bed. And if he was a war-leader, fiie is obliged for the firlt
moon, to fii in the day-time under his mourning war-pole *, wliich is decked
with all his martial trophies, and mud be heard to cry with bewailing
notes. But none of them are fond of tliat month's fuppofed religious duty,
it chills, or fweats, and waftes them fo exceedingly -, for they are allowed
no fhade, or fhelter. This fliarp rigid cufton excites the women to
honour the marriage-ftate, and keeps them obliging to their hufbands, by
anticipating the vifible fharp difficulties which they nuilt undergo for fo
great a lofs. The three or four years monallic life, which flie lives after
his death, makes it her intereft to ftrive by every means, to keep in his
lamp of life, be it ever fo dull and worthlefsj if fhe is able to flied tears
on fuch an occafion, they often proceed from felf-love. We can generally
diflinguifh between the widow's natural mourning voice, and her tuneful
laboured ftrain. She doth not fo much bewail his death, as her own re-
clufe life, and hateful ftate of celibacy •, which to m tny of them, is as
uneligible, as it was to the Hebrew ladies, who preferred death before the
unmarried ftate, and reckoned their virginity a bewails ble condition, like
the ftate of the dead.
i!i
w
I
I III*'
t
'■nil
The Choktah Indians hire mourners to magnify the merit and lofs of
their dead, and if thtir tears cannot be feen to How, their Ihrill voices will
be heard to cry, which anfwers the folemn ciiorus a great deal better •\.
However, they are no way churlilb of tlieir tears, for I have feen them, on
the occafion, pour them out, like fountains of water : but after having
* The war-pole is a fmall peeled tree priinted icJ, the top and boughs cut ofF iliort : it Is
fixt in the ground oppofite to liii door, and all his implements of war, are hung on the flion
boughs of it, till they rot.
f Jer. ix. 17. 19. Thus (^lith the Lord of hods : confider ye, and call for the mourning-
women, th^f they may come ; and fend for cunning women, that they may come. For ,i
voice of wailing, is heard out of Zioii, Iiow are we fpoiled r we are greatly confounded, be-
caufo we have forfaken the land, bccaufe our J.viliings have call us out.
B b 2
tlius
1'. f
INi; ii
t;!'
188 O9 the d'Jcent of the American Indians from the Jews,
thus tired themfelves, they might with equal propriety have afked by-
ftanders in the manner of the native Irifli, Ara ci fuar bafs — " And who is
dead ?"
They formerly drcfTcd their heads with black mofs on thofe folcmn occa-
fions V and the ground adjacent to the place of interment, they now beat with
laurel-bulhes, the women having their hair didieveled : the firll of which
cuftoms feems to be derived from the Hebrew cuftom of wearing fack-
cloth at their funeral folemnities, and on other occafions, when they afflifled
their fouls before God — to which divine writ often alludes, in defcribing
the blacknefs of the Ikies : and the laurel being an ever-green, is a lively,
emblem of the eternity of the human foul, and the pleafant (late it enters
into after death, according to antiquity. They beat it on the ground, to,
cxprefs their fharp pungent grief; and, perhaps, to imitate the Hebrew,
trumpeters for the dead, in order to make as ftriking a. found, as they pof-
ribly can on fo doleful an occafion.
Though the Hebrews had no pofitive precept that obliged the widow to
mourn the death of her hufband, or to continue her widowhood, for any
time ; yet the gravity of their tempers, and their fcrupulous nicety of the
law of purity, introduced the obfervance of thofe modeft and religious,
cuftoms, as firmly under the penalty of fhame, as if they bore the fanftion,
of law -f-. In imitation of them, the Indians have copied fo exaiflly, as
to compel the widow to aft the part of the difconfolate dove, for the
irreparable lofs of her mate. Very different is the cuflom of other na-
tions : — the Africans, when any of their head-men die, kill all their
flaves, their friends that were deareft to them, and all their wives whom
they loved beft, that they may accompany and ferve them, in the other,
world, which is a moft diabolical Ammonitilh facrifice of human blood.
The Eaft-India widows may refufe to be burned on their hufbands funeral
piles, with impunity, if they become proftitutes, or public women to fing
and dance at marriages, or on other occafions of rejoicing. How fuperior
t Theodofius tells us, Lib. i. Legum de fecundis nuptiis, that women were infamous
by the civil law, who married a fecond time before a year,. or at leafl ten months were
expired.
W
'the furvivhg brother raifes feed to the deceafed. 1 8^
is the virtuous cuftom of the favage Americans, concerning female chaF-
tity during the time of their widowhood ?
The Indian women mourn three moons, for the death of any female of
tlicir own family or tribe. During that time, they are not to anoint, or
tie up tlieir hair -, neither is the hufband of the deceafed allowed, when
the offices of nature do not call him, to go out of the houfe, much leii
to join any company : and in that time of mourning he often lies among
tlie allies. The time being expired, the female mourners meet in the even-
ing of the beginning of the fourth moon, at the houfe where their femalt
relation is intombed, and flay there till morning, when the neareft furviving
old kinfwoman crops their fore-locks pretty fhort. This they call Eho Inta-
mail, " the women have mourned the appointed time." Ebo fignifics " a
woman," Tula " finifhed by divine appointment," Ja ** moving" or walk-
ing, and Jh, " their note of grief, forrow, or mourning:" the name ex-
prcfles, and the cuftom is a vifible certificate of, their having mourned the
appointed time for their dead. When they have eaten and drank together, ,
they return home by fun-rife, and thus finifli their folemn Tah-ab:
1*
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ARGUMENT XXL
The furviving brother, by the Mofaic law, was to Raise Seed to a de-
ceafed brother who left a widow childlefs, to perpetuate his name and family, -
and inherit his goods and eftate, or be degraded : and, if the iflue he begat
was a male child, it afTumed the name of the deceafed. The Indian cuftom
looks the very fame way ; yet it is in this as in their law of' blood — the
cfdeft brother can redeem.
Although a widow is bound, by a ftrift penal law, to mourn the death
of her huftjand for the fpace of three or four years ; yet, if fhe be known to ■
lament her lofs with a fincere heart, for the fpace of a year, and her cir-
cumftances of living are fo ftrait as to need a change of her ftation — and
the elder brother of her deceafed huftiand lies with her, Ihe is thereby ex-
7 cmpted .
U
JA
190 On the dcfccnt of the American Indians from the Jews.
einpted from the law of mourning, has a liberty to tie up her hair, anoint
and paint iierfclf in the fame manner as the Hebrew widow, who was
rcfufed by the furviving brother of her deceafed hufband, became free to
marry whom flic plcafed.
The warm-conftitutioned young widows keep their eye fo intent on this
mild beneficent law, that they frequently treat their elJer brothers-in-law
with fpirituous liquors till they intoxicate them, and thereby decoy them to
make free, and fo put themfclves out of the reach of that n^ortifying law.
If they are difappoiuted, as it Ibmerimes happens, they fall on the men, call-
ing them Ihobuk fi''dkfe, or SkooMlc, llajfc kfoopha. " Eunuchus prreputio
deteifto, et pene brcvi •" the moft dejj^rading of epithets. Similar to the
Hebrew ladies, who on the brodier's reiufal loofed his flioe from his
foot, and fpit in his face, (Deut. xxv. 9.)'. and as fomc of the Rabbles
tell us they made water in the flioe, and threw it with dcfpite in his face, and
then readily went to bed to any of his kinfmen, or moft diftant relations of
the fame line that fhe liked beft; as Ruth married Boaz. Jofephus, to pal-
liate the fact:, fays flie only beat him with the flioe over his face. Da-
vid probably alludes to this cuftom, Pfal. Ix. 8. " Over Edom I will
caft out my flioe," or detra^lion.
Either by corruption, or mifunderftanding that family-kifllng cuftom of
the Hebrews, the corrupt Cheerake marry both mother and daughter at
ortce ; tliough, unlcfs in this inflance, they and all the other favage na-
tions obltrve the degrees of confanguinity in a ftri(5ler manner than the
Hebrews, or even the chriftian world. The Cheerake do not marry their
firft or fccond coufins ; and it is very obfervable, that the whole tribe
reckon a friend in the fame rank with a brother, both with regard to mar-
riage, and any other affair in focial life. This feems tO evince that they
copied from the ftable and tender friendfliip between Jonathan and David;
efpecially as the Hebrews had legal, or adopted, us well as natural bro-
thers.
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ARGU-
Their method of giving names.
191
ARGUMENT XXII.
"When the IfraeHcos gave names to their children or others, they chofe
fuch appclluti/es as fuitcd bed with their circumitances, and tlie times.
This curtom was as early as the Patriarchal age-, tor we find Abram was
changed into Abraham i Sarai into Sarah, Jacob into Ifracl -, — and after-
wards Ofliea, Jofhua, Solomon, Jedidiah, &c. &.'c. This ciiflom is a Hand-
ing rule with tlie Indians, and I never obl'erved the leafl: deviation from it.
They give their children names, exprefilvc of their tempers, outward ap-
pearances, and other various circumftances -, a male child, they will call
Choda, " the fox j" and a female, Pakahle, " the bloilbm, or flower.'*
The father and mother of the former are called Choollingge, and Chcoliifikc,
*' the fatlier and mother of the fox •" in like manner, thoic of the latter, Pn-
kaklingge, and Pukahlifljke •, for Ingge fignifies the father, and Ifljke the mother.
In private life they arc fo termed till that child dies ; but after tliat period
they are called by the name of their next furviving child, or if they have
none, by their own name : and it is not known they ever mention the name
of the child that is extinifl. They only faintly allude to it, faying, " die one
that is dead," to prevent new grief, as they had before mourned tl..- -^ lointed
time. They who have no children of their own, adopt others, and alTiinie their
names, in the manner already mentioned. This was of divine appoint-
ment, to comfort the barren, and was analogous to the kindred method c-f
counting with the Hebrews : inllead of furnames, they ufed in their genea-
logies the name of the father, and prefixed Ben, " a fon," to the perfon's name.
And thus the Greeks, in early times. No nation uled furnames, except the
Romans after their league and union with the Sabines. And they did nor
introduce that cuUoin, with the lead view of diltinguifhing their families,
but as a politic fca! to their ftrong compact of friendlliip; for as t!:e
Romans prefixed Sabine names to their own, the Sabines took Roman
names in like manner. A fpecimen of the Indian war-nam.es, will illu-
ilrate this argument v/ith more clearnefs.
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ic)? On the d.jt.ci\t of the American Iiid'uini ftx.'tt the Jews.
They crown a warrior, who has killed a diftinguiflied enemy, with the
lumc, ra)hilnbi\ " the bull'ilo-killer ;" 2'cniafa is a buHalo, compounded of
7'(d\ the divine circncc, antl /Ij'i, " there, or here is," as formerly men-
tioned : and Abe is their conftant war-period, fignifying, by their rhetori-
cal figure " one who kills another." It fignifies alio to murder a per-
Ibn, or beat him ievcrely. This proper name fignifies, the prolperous killer,
or deltroyer of the butVilo, or llrong man — ic cannot poflibly be derived
from n3K, Ai/fh, which fignifies good-will, brotherly love, or tender affec-
tion i but from "riM, Abe!e, grief, forrow, or mourning, as an cffcifl of
that holtile act.
I '
B.I »! ??','.
Anoab, with liie Indians, is the name of a rambling perfon, or one of
unlettled refidence, and Aroak cokproo, is literally a bad rambling perfon,
"■ a renagadoe :" likewife Anonh ookproo'fljto makes it a fuperlative, on ac-
count of the abbreviation of IJIjtOy one of the divine names which they fub-
join. In like manner, Noabe is the war-name of a perfon who kills a rambling
enemy, or one detached as a fcout, fpy, or the like. It confifts of the
patriarchal name, Noah, and Jbe^ " to kill," according to the Hebrew
oiiginal, of which it is a contraftion, to make it fmoother, and to indulge
a rapidity of exprefTion. There is fo ftrong an au,reement between this
compounded proper name, and two ancient Hebrew proper names, that
it difplays the greateft affinity between the warfuiing red and white He-
brews ; efpecially as it fo clearly alludes to the divine Iiidory of the firft
komicidc, and the words are adapted to their proper fignifications.
Becaufe the Choktah did not till lately trim their hair, the other tribes
through contempt of their cuftom, railed them Pas' Pharaah, " long hair,"
and they in return, gave them the contemptuous name, Skoobuleyjto, " very
naked, or bare heads," compounded of Skooba, Ale, and JJblo : the fame
word, orWak/iJhto, with Hajeh prefixed, exprefles \.\ic petiem pricpulio deteStc;
which fliews they lately retained a glimmering, though confufed notion of
the law of circumcifion, and the prohibition of not polling their hair.
They call a crov/, Pharah; and Pas'pharaube is the proper name of a
warrior, who killed an enemy wearing long hair. It is a triple compound
from Paph^ " the hair of one's head, Pharaah " long," and Abe, " kil-
Jjn^," which they croud together. They likewife fay, their tongue is not
Pharakto^
T/.icir method of ghiiig luvfieu
^n
Vharaho^ *' forkcil," tlicrcby alluding probably to tlie fonncrly-luteful
name of the Egyptian kings, Pharaoh.
When the Indims diflinguifh thcmfclves in w.ir, their n:iines are always
compounded, — drawn from certain roots fiiitable to their intention, and
exprefTive of the charaflers of the perl'ons, ib that their names joined to-
gether, often convey a clear and diltindt idea of fcveral circumlhinces— as
of the time and place, where the battle was fouj^ht, of the number and
rank of their captives, and the flain. The following is a Ipccin-.en : one
initiating in war-titles, is called Tmnip-/lbe, " a killer of the enemy," — lie
who kills a perfon carrying a kettle, is crowned Soonak-Ahe-ltiJ'ka \ the fird
■word fignifies a kettle, and the 'ift a warrior. Minggafl.Habe fignifies " one
who killed a very great chieftain," compounded of Mingo, Jp:, and Abe.
Vae-M'ifl.itabe, is, one in the way of war-gradation, or below the higheft in
rank, Vae fignifying " far oft'." Tifshu MnfJjtabe is the name of a warrior
who kills the war-chieftain's waiter carrying the beloved ark. Shubjhim-
tnajljtabe., the name of the late Choktah great war-leader, our firm friend
Red-poes, is compounded of ShidaJ's\ " Maccafeencs," or deer fkin-lhoes,
[lumnia, " red," AJIj, " the divine fire " T is inll-rted for the hi!:e of a
bold found, or to exprefs tiie multiplicity of the exploits he performed,
in killing the enemy. In treating of their language, I obferved, they end
their proper names with a vowel, and contracft tiieir war-titles, to give more
fmoothnefs, and a rapidity of exprefllon. [itt:/j>k is the general name they
give to any female creature, but by adding their conftant war-period to
it, it fignifies " weary ;" as Chctchkabe, " you are weary :" to make it a
fuperlative, they fay Chetehkabe-0 : or Chetchkabcplo.
The Cheerake call a dull (talking fellow, Socrcb, " tlie turkey-buz-
zard," and one of an ill temper, Kaua Chcrjlecbe, " the wafp," or a perfbn
refembling the dangerous Canaan rabbit, bein;i; compounded of the abbre-
viated name of Canaan, and Checjlo " a rabbit ," which the Ifraelires were
not to meddle with. One of our chief traders, who was very loquacious,
they called Sekckee, " the grafs-hopper," derived from Sekako^ " to make
hade." To one of a hoari'e voice, they gwe t'-.e name, KiUwovr; " the
bull-frog."
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iQ.j. On the dcfcent of the American hiduins from the yews.
The Kiitaliba Indians call tlu-ir chief old interpreter, on account of
his obfcene language, Emati Alikke, " the fmock-interprctcr." The " ra-
ven," is one of the Chccrakc favourite w»f-jianies. Carolina and Georgia
remember ^^lorimiah, " the raven," of Iluzvhafc-town \ he was one of the
mon liaiiiig v/aniors of tlie whole nation, and by far the mod intelligent,
and this name, or war-appellative, admirably luited his well-known cha-
laiflcr. 'I hou^^Ii wirii all the Indian nations, the raven is deemed an
impure bird, yet tiiey have a kind of facred regard to it, whether front
the tradicional knowledge of Noah's employing it while he was in the ark,
or from that bird hi;vin<>; fed Klijah in the wildernefs (as fome fuppofe)
cannot be dctcrminid; however with our fuppofed red Hebrews the name
points out an indefatigable, keen, fuccefsful warrior.
ARGUMENT XXIII.
Although other refemblances of the Indian rites and cuftoms to thofe of
the Hebrews, might be pointed out ; not to feem tedious, I proceed to the
laft argument of the origin of the Indian Americans, which Ihall be from
their own traditions, — from the accounts of our Englifli writers — and from
the teftimonies which the Spanifh writers have given, concerning the pri-
mitive inhabitants of Peru and Mexico.
Pt^
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The Indian tradition fays, that their forefathers in very remote ages
came from a far diftant country, where all the people were of one colour -, and
that in procefs of time they moved eaftward, to their prefent fettlements.
So that, what fome of our writers have aflerted is not jull, who fay the In-
dians affirm, that there were originally three different tribes in thofe countries,
when the fupreme chieftain to encourage fwift running, propofed a propor-
tionable reward of diftincftion to each, as they excelled in fpeed in paf-
fing a certain diftant river ; as, that the firft Ihould be polifhed white —
the fecond red — and the third black ; which took place accordingly after
the race was over. This ftory fprung from tlie innovating fuperllitious
ignorance
T'ibat cu'u traditions of ibav origin.
'95
"ignorance of the pojjifh pritils, to the ibiirli-wt-fl of us. Our own In-
tlian tradition is literal, ai/d not aJlcgui :;il, ami ouyht to be received v bc-
caiilc pt'oplc who hiv<-* been long tlparatcd tioni the rcll of nunkinJ, nuift
know their own tradiii i > the bell, aiul rould not be doccivcil in lb material,
and frequently repeated an 'vent. Though th^y have been disjoined
through diO'crent intcrefts, time immemorial j yet, (me i.iv.l-Jing tribes of
northern Indians excepted) they aver that they came over the MiHifippi
from the wcilward, before tliey arrived at their prell-nt fettlements. 'I'hii
we lie verified by the wellern old towns they have left behind them •, and
by the fuiiation of their old beloved towns, or places of refuge, lying
about a well courle from each different nation. Such places in Judca
were chielly built in the moft remote parts of tiie country •, and the Indians
deem thofe only as beloved towns, where they firll fettled.
This tradition is corroborated by a current report of the old Chikkafali In-
dians to our traders, " that about forty years fince, there came from Mexico
feme of the old Chikkafah nation, (the Chichemicas, according to the Spa-
nifli accounts) in queft of their brethren, as far north as the Aqualipah
nation, about 130 miles above the Nachec old towns, on tlie fouth fide;
of the MifTifippi \ but through French policy, they were eitiier killed, or
fent back, fo as to prevent their opening a brotherly intcrcourfe, as they
had propofed." And it is worthy of notice, that the IVIufkohgeh cave,
out of which one of their politicians perfuaded them their anccftors for-
merly afcended to their prefent terreltrial abode, lies in the Nannc- I lamrn-h
old town, inhabited by the Mifllfippi-Nachee Indians, which is one of the
inoft wcftern parts of their old-inhabited country.
\ -i:.-i
I hope I (hall be excufed in reciting their ancient oral tradition, from fa-
ther to fon to the prefent time. They fay, that one of their cunning old re-
ligious men finding that religion did not always tlirive bell, reiolvcd with
himfelf to impofe on his friends credulity, and alter 'n fome refpeifts their
old tradition \ he accordingly pretended to have he' for a long time a con-
tinual intercourfe with their fubtcrranean progenitor in a cave, above 600
miles to the weftward of Charles-town in South-Carolina, adjoining to the
old Chikkafah trading path ; this people were then pofTeft of every tiling con-
venient for human life, and he promifed them fully to fupply their wants,
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196 On the dcfcent of tJ:c A.ncrican Indians J rom the Jews.
ill a conilant munner, wiihoiit fweatinfr in the field ; the moll; troiible-
lomc ol-' iill tlun;};s to m.mly brifli warriors. He infillctl, that all vvlio were
dcilroiis of lb natural anJ beneficial a corrcipondence, ihoiild contribute
lar<;:e prckiit:;, to be (l.lixered on the embafly, to their brethren — term;
fi'ii, — to ci'.-ar tlje old chain of friendfliij) from the roll it had contrafled,
t!n-oiigh the favilf of c;.nkerii:g time. I le accordingly received prcients
from mo"'\ of the pcoj^le, to deliver tliem to their beloved fubterranean
kindred : but it fecms, tni. y lliut up the moutii of the cave, and detained
him liiere in order lu be purified.
'■'1 '
The old v.'.iilc towns of the Chikkafah lie to the v/eft and fouth-well,
from where tlicy have lived fince the time we firft opened a trade with them ;
on which courfe they formerly went to war over the MilTifippi, becauie they
knew it belV, and had ilifputes with the natives of thole parts, wiien they
firft came from thence. WilUom direiflcd them then to connive at fome
injuries on account of their itinerant camp of women and children •, foi'
ih-jir tradition fiys, it confilled of ten tlioufand men, befides women and
children, when they came from the weft, and pafled over the MiHiiippi.
I'hc '''ne breed of running wood horfes they brought with them, were the
prefent Mexican or Spanifli barbs. They alio aver, that their ancertors cut
olf, and defpoiled the greatefl part of a caravan, loaded with gold and filver;
but the carriage of it proved fo troublefome to them, that they threw it
into a river where it could not benefit the enemy.
If we join together thefe circumftances, it utterly deftroys the fine
Peruvian and Mexican temples of the fun, &c. — which the Spaniards have
lavidily painted from their own fruitful imaginations, to fhew their own
capacity of writing, though at the expence of truth ; and to amufe the
gazing diftanc world, and lefTen our furprife at the fea of reputed hea-
thenilh blood, which their avaricious tempers, and flaming fuperllitious
zeal, prompted them to fpill.
If any Englifli reader have patience to fearch the extraordinary volumes
of the Spanilh writers, or even thofe of his catholic majefty's chief hifto-
riographer, he will not only find a wild portrait, but a ftriking refemblance and
unity of the civil and martivil cuftoms, the religious rites, and traditions, of tl.e
ancient
'The tejlimonics of Spanijlj icriwrs.
197
ancient Per'iviaiis and Mexicans, and the North-American?, accorJin<T to
the manne )f their morefqiie paintings : likewile, the very national name of
the primitive Chikkafali, which they llile Chichemicas, and whom tlicy
repute to have been the firfl: inhabitants of Mexico. However., I lay little
ftrcls upon Spanifii teftimonics, for time and ocular proof have convinced
us of the laboured falfliood of almoft all their hillorical narrations concern-
ing every curious tiling relative to South America. I'hey were lb di-
veiled of thole principles inherent to honcll enquirers after trutli, that
they have recorded themfclves to be a tribe of prejudiced bipots, ftrivinp;
to aggrandife the Mahometan valour of about nin^- hundred ipurious ca-
tholic chriflians, under the patronage of their favourite Taint, as perfons by
whom heaven defigncd to exiirpate thofe two great nominal empires of
pretended cannibals. They found it convenient to blacken tin: natives with
ill names, and report them to their dcmi-god the mufti of Rome, as facri-
licing every day, a prodigious multitude of human vicLims to numerous
idol-gods.
: n
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The learned world is alre.uly fully acquainted with the falfehood of
their hiftcries ; reaibn and later difcoveries condemn them. Many years
have elapfcd, fince I firfl: entered into Indian lite, befidcs a good ac-
quaintance with feveral fouthern Indians, who were converfant with the
Mexican Indian rites and cuftoms ; and it is incontrovertible, that the
Spanilh monks andjefuits in defcribing the language, religion, and cui-
tonis, of the ancient Peruvians and Mexicans, were both unwilling, and
incapable to perform fo arduous an undert.;king, with jullice and truth.
They did not converfe with the natives as friends, but defpifed, hated,
and murdered them, for the fake of their gold and filver : and to excufe
their own ignorance, and mofl: (Locking, cool, premeditated murders, they
artfully dclcribcd them as an abominable fwarm of idolatrous cannibals
offering human facrificcs to their various falfe deities, and eating of
the unnatural vidims. Ncverthelefs, from their own partial accounts, we
can trace a near agreement between the civil and martial culloms, tlie
religious worlhip, traditions, drcls, ornaments, and other particulars of the
ancient Peruvians and Mexicans, and thole of the prefent North-Ame-
rican Indians.
.Acofta
ipS On the dcfccnt of the American Indians from the Jeivs.
Acofta tells us, that though the Mexicans have no proper name for God,
•yet they allow a fupreme omnipoteiice and providence : his capacity was
not fufficicnt to difcover the former -, however, the latter agrees with tiie
prcfent religious opinion of the Englifh-American Indians, of an univerfal
divine wifdom and government. The want of a friendly intercourfe between
•our northern and fouthern Indians, has in length of time occafioned fome of
the former a little to corrupt, or alter the name of the felf-exiftcnt creator
and preferver of the nnivcrfe, as they repeat it in their religious invocations,
YO He a Ah. But with what fliow of truth, conilltcnt with the above
concefTion, can Acofta defcribe the Mexicans as ofFeriiig human facrilkcs
alfo to devils, and greedily fean.ing on the victims !
We are told alfo that the Nauaralcas believe, they dwelt in another re-
gion before they fettled in Mexico ; that they wandered eiglity years in
fearch of it, through a ftrift obedience to their gods, who ordered them to
go in queft of new lands, that had fuch particular figns ; — that they punc-
tually obeyed the divine mandate, and by that means found out, and fettled
the fertile country of Mexico. This account correfponds with the Chik-
kafah tradition of fettling in their prefent fuppofed holy land, and feems to
have been derived from a compound tradition of Aaron's rod, and the light
or divine prefence with the Ifraelites in the wildernefs, when they marched.
And probably the Mexican number of years, was originally /cr/y, inftead
of eighty.
I, I
Lopez de Gomara tells us, that the Mexicans were fo devout, as to offer
to the fun and earth, a fmall quantity of every kind of meat and drink,
before any of themfelves tafled it j and that they facrificed part of their
corn, fruits, &c. in like manner; otherwife, they were deemed haters of,
and contemned by their gods. Is not this a confufed Spanifli pidlure of
the Jcwifh daily facrifice, and firft-fruit-offering, as formerly obferved ?
and which, as we have feen, are now offered up by the northern Indians, to
the bountiful giver, the fupreme holy fpirit of fire, whom they invoke in
that moft facred and awful fong, YO He Wah, and loudly afcribe to him
HaUelu-Tah, for his continued goodnefs to them.
The Spanifli writers fay, that when Cortes approached Mexico, Mon-
tezuma fliut hiinfelf up, and continued for the fpace of eight days in
3 prayers
'The tcjlimonies of Spanijli 'writers.
19c;
prayers and fafting : but to blacken him, and excufe their own diabolical
butcheries, they ailert he offered human facrifices at the fame time to abo-
minable and frightful idols. But the facrifices with niorejuftice may be
attributed to the Spaniards than to the Mexicans — as their narratives alfo
are a facrifice of truth itfelf. Montezuma and his people's fiftings, prayers,
8cc. were doubtlefs the lame with thofe of the northern Indians, who on
particular occafions, by feparate fallings, ablutions, purgations, &c. feck
to fandify themfclves, and fo avert the ill effcfts of the divine anger, and
regain the favour of the deity.
They write, that the Mexicans offered to one of therr gods, a facrifice
compounded of fome of all the feeds of their country, grinded fine, and
mixed with the blood of children, and of facrificed virgins j that they
plucked out the hearts of thofe viclims, and offered them as firft-fruits
to the idol •, and th,:it the warriors imagined, the Icafl: relic of the facrifice
v/ould preferve them from danger. They foon afterwards tell us of a tem-
ple of a quadrangular form, called TeucalU^ " God's houle," and Chncal-
tnua, " a minifter of holy things," who belonged to it. They likewife
fpeak of " the hearth of God, — the continual fire of God, — tlie holy ark,"
&c. If we cut off the jefuitical paintings of the unnatural facrifice, the
rell is confonant to what hath been obferved, concerning the North Ame-
rican Indians. And it is very obvious, the North and South American
Indians are alike of vindiflive tempers, putting moft of their invading
enemies that fall into their power to the fiery torture. The Spaniards
looking upon themfelves as divine embaffadors, under the imperial fig-
nature of the Holy Lord of Rome, were exceffively enraged againfl
the fimple native South-Americans, becaufe they tortured forty of their
captivated people by repriial, devoting them to the fire, and ate their
hearts, according to tiie univcrfal war-cullom of our northern Indian'', on
the like occafion. The Spanilh terror and hatred on this account, their
pride, religious bigotry, and an utter ignorance of the Indian dialecfts,
rites, and cuftoms, excited them thus to delineate the Mexicans ; —
and equally hard names, and unjutl charges, the bloody members of
their diabolical inquifition ufed to beftow on thofe pretended here-
tics, v.hom they gave over to be tortured and burnt by the fecula:
power. But it is worthy of notice, the Spaniili writers acknowledge thar.
the Mexicans brouglu their human facrifices from the oppolite lea -, and
did not offer up any of tlieir own people ; fo that this was but the fame
as
! i
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iU :..
'!■).!
n
2 00 On the defcent of the American Indians from the 'Jews.
as our North-American Indians ftill praftife, when they devote their cap-
lives to death ; which is udiered in with ablutions, and other metliods of
fan(ftifying themfelves, as have been particularly defcribed ; and they per-
form the Iblemniry with Tinging the facred triumphal fong, with beating ot'
the drum, dances, and various forts of rejoicings, through gratitude to the
beneficent and divine author of fuccefs againll their common enemy. By
the defcription of the Portuguefe writers, the Indian-Brafilian method of
war, and of torturing their devoted captives, very nearly refembles the
cuiloms of our Indians.
Acofta, according to his ufual ignorance of the Indian cuftoms, fays,
that fome in Mexico undcrftood one another by whiftling, on which
he attempts to be witty — but notwithllanding the great contempt and
furprife of the Spaniards at thofe Indians who whittled as they went;
this whittle was no other than the war-whoop, or a very loud and fhrill
fhout, denoting death, or good or bad news, or bringing in captives from
war. The fame writer fays they had three kinds of knighthood, with
which they honoured the beft foldiers ; the chief of which was the red
ribbon; the next the lion, or tyger-knight ; and the meaneft was the
grey knight. He might with as much truth, have added the turky-buz-
zard knight, the fun-blind bat knight, and the night-owl knight. His ac-
count of the various gradations of the Indian war-titles, (hews the unflcil-
fiilnefs of that voluminous writer, even in the firft principles of his Indian
fubjcift, and how far we ought to rely on his marvellous works.
The accounts the Spaniards formerly gave us of Florida and its inhabitants,
are written in the fame romantic ftrain with thofe of Mexico. Ramufius tells
us, that Alvaro Nunes and his company reported the Apalahchee Indians
to be fuch a gigantic people, as to carry bows, thick as a man's ar.m, and of
eleven or twelve fpans long, fliooting with proportional force and diredlion.
It feems they lived then a fober and temperate life, for Morgues fays, one of
their kings was three hundred years old ; though Laudon reckons him only
two hundred and fifty : and Morgues affures us, he law this young Indian
Mcthufaiah's father, who was fifty years older than his Ton, and that each of
them vv'as likely by the common courfe of nature to live thirty or forty
years longer, although they had {ttw their fifth generation. Since that
time they have fo exceedingly degenerated, in height of body, largenefs of
3 defcnfivp
I'he icjllmomes of Spanijh 'writers.
201
defenfive arms, and ante-deluvian longevity, that I am afraid, thefc early
and extraordinary writers would fcarcely know the defcendants of thofe
Apalahchc Anakim, if they now faw them. They are at prefent th fame
as their dwarfifh red neighbours ; fic tranfit gloria mundi.
ill
Nichohus Challufuis paints Florida full of winged ferpents; he affirms
he faw one there, and that the old natives were very careful to get its head,
on account of fome fuppofed fuperftition. Ferdinando Soto tells us, that
when he entered Florida, he found a Spaniard, (J. Ortez) whom the na-
tives had captivated during the fpace of twelve /ears, confequently he muft
have gained in that time, fufficient fkill in their dlaLcfl to give a true inter-
pretation and account — and he afllires us, that Ucita, the Lord of the
place, made that fellow, " Temple-keeper," to prevent the night-wolves
from carrying away the dead corpfe -, that the natives worfhipped the devil,
and facrificed ro him the life and blood of moft of their captives ; — who
fpoke with them face to face, and ordered them to bring thofe offerings
to quench his burning thirft. And we are told by Benzo, that when Soto
died, the good-natured Cacique ordered two likely young Indians to be
killed according to cuftom, to wait on him where he was gone. — But the
Chriftian Spaniards denied his death, and aflfured them he was the fon of
God, and therefore could not die. If we except the laft fentence, which
bears a juft analogy to the prefumption and arrogance of the popifli priells
nnd hiflorians, time and opportunity have fully convinced us, that
all the reft is calumny and falfliocd. It mull be confelfed however,
that none, even of the Spanifh monks and friars, have gone fo deep
in the marvellous, as our own fagacious David Ingram — he afllires us,
" that he not only heard of very furprifing animals in thefe parts of tiie
world, but faw elephants, horfes, and ftrange wild animals twice as big
as our fpecies of horfes, formed like a grey-hound in their hinder parts -,
he law likewife bulls with ears like hounds ; and another furprifing fpecies
of quadrupeds bigger than bears, without head or neck, but nature had fixed
their eyes and mouths more fecurcly in their brcalls." At the end of his
monftrous ideal produdions, he jullly introduces the devil in the rear, fome-
times afl"uming the likenefs of a dog ; at other times the (hape of a calf,
&c. Although this legendary writer has tranfcendcd the bounds of truth,
yet where he is not emulous of outdoing the jeluicical romances, it would re-
quire a good knowledge of America to confute him in many particulars:
D d tliis
:.r
m
f
ii' '
1
ma
I V^-^i
202 On the defctnt of the American Indians from the Jews.
tliis fliews how little the learned world can rely on American narrators j
and that the origin of the Indian Americans, is yet to be traced in a quite
different path to what any of thofe hyperbolical, or wild conjcdlural writers
have prefcribed.
The Spaniards have given us many fine poliflied Indian orations, but they
were ccrtainiy fabricated at Madrid •■, the Indians have no fuch ideas, or
methods of fpeech, as they pretend to have copied from a faithful interpre-
tation on the fpot : however, tiiey have religiouQy fupportcd thofe monkifli
dreams, and which are the chief bafis of their Mexican and Peruvian
treaties.
According to them, the Mexican arms was an eagle on a tunal or
ftone, with a bird in his talons, — which may look at the armorial enfign
of Dan. And they fay, the Mexicans worlhipped Vitzliputzli, who pro-
mifed them a land exceedingly plenty in riches, and all other good
things ; on which account they fct off in queft of the divine promife, four
of their priefts carrying their idol in a coffer of reeds, to whom he com-
n-.nnicatcd his oracles, giving them laws at the fame time — teaching them
the ceremonies and facrifices they fliould obferve ; and diredted them when
to march, and when to ftay in camp, &c. So much, might have been coi-
lofted from them by figns, and other expreffive indications ; for we are well
affured, that the remote uncorrupted part of the Mexicans Hill retain the fame
notions as our northern Indians, with regard to their arriving at, and fettling
in their refpedivc countries, living under a theocratic government, and hav-
ing the divine war-ark, as a moft facred feal of fuccefs to the beloved peo-
ple, agauitl their treacherous enemies, if they ftridly obferve the law of
purity, while they accompany it. This alone, without any reflexion on
the reft, is a good glafs to fhew us, that the South and North American
Indians a'-e twin-born brothers •, though the Spanifh clergy, by their dark
but fruitful inventions, have fet them at a prodigious variance.
Acoftu tells us, that the Peruvians held a very extraordinary feaft called J'Va,
— which they prepared themfelves for, by falling two days, not accompany-
ing with their wives, nor eating falt-meat or garlic, nor drinking Chica dur-
ing that period — that they affembled all ;-: tther in one place, and did not
allow any ftrangcr or beaft to approach tl.em ; that they had clothes and
orni. -vius
t: i I
'The te/iimonics of Spafiljh icritcrs.
203
ornaments which they wore, only at that great feftival •, that tlicy went
filently and fedately in procclTion, with their heads veil'd, and drums beat-
ing — and thus continued one day and night •, but tlie next day they danced
and feafted ; and for two days fuccefllvely, their prayers and praifes were
heard. This is another ftrong pidure of the rites of tlie Indian North-
Americans, during the time of their great fedival, to atone for fin j and
with a little amendment, would exhibit a furprifing analogy of fundry
efllntial rites and cuftoms of the Nortiiern and South American Indians,
which equally glance at the Mofaic fyftem.
m
k
4
III*
r;n.;ii
Lerius tells us, that he was prefent at the triennial feaft of the Carib-
bians, where a multitude of men, women, and children, were alTembled ;
that they foon divided themfelves into three orders, apart from each other, the
women and children being ftridtly ordered to ftay within, and to attend
diligently to the finging : that the men fung in one houfe, Ile^ He, lle^
while the others in their feparatc houfes, anfwered by a repetition of the
fame notes : that having thus continued a quarter of an hour, they all
danced in three different rings, each with rattles, &c. And the natives of
Sir Francis Drake's New Albion, were defirous of crowning him Hio, or
OhiOt a name well known in North America, and hath an evident relation to
the great beloved name. Had the former been endued with a proper ca-
pacity, and given a fuitable attention to the Indian general law of purity,
he would probably have defcribed them finging 2o//e IFah, Ilallclu-Tah,
&c. after the prefent manner of our North-American red natives ; and as
giving proper names to perfons and things from a religious principle, to
exprefs the relation they bore to the facred four-lettered name.
Ul
Thefe writers report alfo, that the Mexicans facrificed to the idol Haloc,
*• their God of water," to give them feafonable rains f'^- their crops : and
they tell us, that the ' 'gh-prieft was anointed with holy oil, and drefied
with pontifical ornaments, peculiar to himfelf, when he officiated in his
lacred function •, that he was fworn to maintain their religion, rights, and
liberties, according to their ancient law -, and to caufe the fun to fhnie, and
all their vegetables to be properly refreflied with gentle fliowers. If we
throw down the " monkilh idol god of water," we here find a ftrong parity
of religious cuftoms and ceremonies, between the pretended prophets, and
high-priefts of the prefent northern Indians, and the ancient Mexicans.
D d 2 Acofta
.insist \■.^
204 ^-^ ^^^ dcfcent oj the American Indians Jtom the 'Jeus.
Acoda tells us, that the Peruvians acknowledged a fiipreme God, and
author of all things, whom they called Viracocha, and worlliipped as the
chief of all the gods, and honoured when they looked at the heavens or
any of the celellial orbs ; that for want of a proper name for that divine
fpirit of the univerfe, they, after the Mexican manner, dcfcribcd him by
his attributes, — as Pachacamac, " the Creator of heaven and earth." But,
though he hath defcribcd them pofll-ficd of thefe ftrong ideas of God,
and to have dedicated a facred houfe to the great firft cauie, bearing his
divine prolific name ; yet the Spanifli priefthood have at the lame time,
painted them as worfliipping the devil in the very fame temple. Here
and there a truth may be found in their writings, but if we except the
well-dcfigncd performance of Don Antonio de UUoa, one duodecimo vo-
lume would have contained all the accounts of any curious importance^
which the Spaniards have exiiibited to the learned world, concerning the
genuine rites and cuftoms, of the ancient Peruvians and Mexicans, ever
fince the feifure of thole countries, and the horrid murders committed oiv
the inhabitants.
il;il
m I
I !
But among all the Spanlfii friars, Ilicro-tiimo Reman was the greateft cham-
pion in hyperbolical writing. He has produced three volumes concern-
ing the Indian American rites and ceremonies ; — he ftretchcs very far in his
fecond part of the commonwealths of the world ; but when he gets to
Peru and Mexico, the diilance of thofe remote regions enables him to ex-
ceed himfelf : beyond all difpute, the other writers of his black frater-
nity, are only younger brethren, when compared to him in the marvellous.
His, is the chief of all the Spanifli romances of Peru and Mexico.
He fays, the Indian natives, from Florida to Panama, had little religion
or policy •, and yet he aflirms a few pages after, that they believed in one
true, immortal and invifible God, reigning in heaven, called Tocahu-
uagnamaoroccti ; and is fo kind as to all'jw tluMii images, priefts, and popes,
their high-prieft being called papa in tliat language. The origin of
images among them, is accounted for in a dialogue he gives us, between
a fliaking tree and one of the Indian priefts : after a great deal of dif-
courfe, the tree ordered the prieft to cut it down, and taught him how to
make images thereof, and ereft a temple. The tree was obeyed, and
every year their votaries folemnizcd the dedication. The good man has
laboured
liv
T6e tcjllmonles of SpaniJJ} 'writers.
20;
laboured very hard for the images, and ought to Iiave fuital)le applaufi: for
fo ufeful an invention; as it fhews the univerfal 0; on of manikin J, con-
cerning idols and images. With rci};ard to that long tonjciHiural divine name,
by which they expreffed the one true God, there is not the leaft room to
doubt, that the South-Americans had the divine name, Yohe'wabt in as great
purity as thofc of the north, efpecially, as tiicy were at the fountain liead i
adding to it occafionally fome other ftrong coinpound words.
4
He fays alfo, that the metropolis of Cholola had as many temples as there
were days in the year -, and that one of them was the moft famous in the
world, the bafis of the fpire being as broad as a man could (hoot with a
crofs bow, and the fpire itfelf three miles high. The temples which the
holy man fpeaks of, feem to have been only tlie dwelling-houfes of Ihan-
gers, who incorporated with the natives, differing a little in their form of
ftrudure, according to the ufual cullom of our northern Indians : and hi<;
religious principles not allowing him to go near the reputed lliambles of the
devil, much lefs to enter the fuppofed territories of hell, he has done
pretf" well by them, in allowing them golden funs and moons — veflry
keepers, &c. The badnefs of his optic inftruments, if joined with th;;
fuppofed dimnefs of his fight, may plead in excufe for the fpiral alti-
tude, which he fixes at 15,480 feet ; for from what we know of the northern
Indians, we ought to ftrike off the three firft figures of its height, and the
remaining 40 is very likely to have been the juft height of the fpire, alias
the red-painted, great, war-pole.
The fame writer tells us, that the Peruvian pontifical office belonged to
the eldeft fon of the king, or fome chief lord of the country : and that it
devolved by fucceffion. But he anoints him after a very lolemn manner,
with an ointment which he carefully mixes with the blood of circumcifed
infiints. This prieft of war dealing fo much in blood himfelf, without
doubt, fufpefled them of the like-, though at the fame time no Indian
prieft will either fiied, or touch human blood : but that they formerly
circumcifed, may with great probability be allowed to the hoi) man.
I I
'II,'
The temples of Peru were built on high grounds, or tops of hills, he
Ijiys, and were furrounded with four circular mounds of earth, the one rifirig
3
gradual!}'
2o6 Oh the dcfcent of the American Indians from the Jews.
i-\
hi
• 1
ft I
H
I'racliially above the otiier, from the outcrmoft circle ; and that the temple
flood in the center of the inclolcd ground, built in a quadrangular form,
having altars, &c. He has officioudy obtruded the fun into it •, per-
haps, becaofc he thought it dark within. He defcribes another religious
lioufe, on tlie eaftcrn part of that great indofure, facing the rifing fun, to
which they alccndcd by fix Itcps, where, in the hollow of a thick wall,
lay the image of the fun, &c. This thick wall having an hollow part with-
in it, was no other than their fandum fandlorum, conformably to what 1
obfcrved, concerning the pretended holiefl: place of the Mufkohgc In-
dians. Any one who is well acquainted with the language, rites, and
cuftoms of the North-American Indians, can fee with a glance when thefe
monkifli writers ftumble on a truth, or ramble at large.
Acofta fays, that the Mexicans obferved their chief feaft in the month of
May, and that the nuns two days before mixed a fulficient quantity of
beets with honey, and made an image of it. He trims up the idol very
genteelly, and places it on an azure-coloured chair, every way becoming
the fcarlet-coloured pope. He foon after introduces flutes, drums, cornets,
and trumpets, to celebrate the feaft of Eupania P'itzliputzli, as he thinks
proper to term it : on account of the nuns, he gives them Pania, " fe-
minine bread," inftead of the mafculine Pants -, which he makes his nuns
to diftribute at this love-feaft, to the young men, in large pieces refem-
bling great bones. "When they receive them, they religioiifly lay them
down at the feaft of the idol, and call them the flefli and bouts .)f the God
Vitzliputzli.
! !
ri
j:
Then he brings in the priefts vailed, with garlands on their heads, and
chains of flowers about their necks, each of them ftridlly obferving their
place : if the inquifitive reader ftiould defire to know how he difcovered
thofe garlands and flowery chains •, (efpecially as their heads were covered,
and they are fecret in their religious ceremonies) I muft inform hi.n, that
Acofta wrought a kind of cotton, or woollen cloth for them, much finer
than filk, through which he might have eafily fcen them — bcfides, fuch a
religious drefs gave him a better opportunity of hanging a crofs, and a
firing of beads afterwards round their necks.
Next
n
The tejlimonies of Span'tJ}^ ii
2c
Next to thofe religious men, lie uflicrs in a fine company of gods a i
godclefTes, in imagery, drefled like the otlieis, the people p:iyin|r tiu .»
divine wordiip •, this without doubt, is ini ded to fuppor: the popilh l.ir.'
worfliip. Then he makes them fing, and tl.iiice round the jjartc, and ufe
fcveral other ceremonies. And when the eyes are tired with viewing thofc
wild circlings, he folemnly blefles, and confecrates thofe inorfels of parte,
and thus makes them the real flclh and bones of che idol, which the
people honour as gods. Wlien he has entlcil iiis fcafl of tranfubllan-
tiation, he fets his facrificers to work, and orders clicm to kill and facrifice
more men than at any other fellival, — as he thinks proper to make this
a greater carnival than any of the reft.
; %
\
H
ji
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IJ
'i
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1
i
Wi
When he comes to finifh his bloody facrifices, he orders the young
men and women into two rows, dircdtly facing each other, to dance
and fing by the drums, in praife of the feaft and the god -, and ho
fets the oldeft and the greatefl: men to anl'wer the fong, anil dance
around them, in a great circle. This with a little alteration, rcfembles
the cuftom of the northern Indians. He fays, that all the inhabitants of
the city and country came to this great feaft, — that it was deemed lacri-
Icgious in any perfon to eat of the honeyed pafte, on this great feftival-
day, or to drink water, till the afternoon ; and that they earneftly advifcd
thofe, who had the ufe of reafon, to abftain from water till the after-
noon, and carefully concealed it from the children during the time
of this ceremony. But, at the end of the feaft, he makes tlie priclts
and ancients of the temple to break the image of pafte and conlccrated
rolls, into many pieces, and give them to the people by the vv.iy of
facrament, according to the ftrifteft rules of order, from the greateft anil
eldeft, to the youngeft and leaft, men, women and children : and he fays,
they received it with bitter tears, great reverence, and a very awful fear,
with other ftrong figns of devotion, faying at '''° ^ame time, — " they did
not eat the flefli and bones of their God." He adds, that they who
had fick people at home, demanded a piece of the faid pr.fte, and car-
ried and gave it to them, with the moft profound reverence and awful
adoration j that all who partook of this propitiating facrifice, were obliged
to give a part of the feed of Maiz, of which the idol was made ; and
then at the end of the folemnity, a prieft of high authority preached to
3 the
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fuH
{ IHH L
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iffl 1 1
I^D -J §
B U
pi
2o3 0;/ t/.H' dcfcent of the American Indians from the fcws,
toe people on their l.iws and ceremonies, with a commanding voice, and
txpicinvc gelhircs ■, and tiuis dilininicl the afienibly.
Weil may Acofta blame the devil in the manner he does, for introducing
among the Mexicanx, lb near a rvlcniblance of the popilh lliperditions and
idolatry. But wlicther fli dl we blimc or pity this writer, for obfcuring
the truth with a confuleil heap of f.illhoods ? The above is however a curi-
ous Spaniih picUire of the Mexican p.ifTover, or annual expiation of fins,
and of their lecoiul paflbver in favour of their fick people, — and of paying
their tyihes — according to fimilar cuftoms of our North-American Indians.
We are now fulHcicntly informed of the rites and culloms of the remote,
and uncorrupt ^iouth-Aincrican!-, by the Midifippi Indians, wlio have a
comu'iunicati n with tliiin, both in peace and war.
Uibault Laudon describing the yearly fellival of the Floridans, fays,
that the day before it began, the women fweeped out u great circuit of
ground, where it was obferved with folemnity, — that when the main body
of the people entered the holy ground, they all placed themfelves in good
order, ftood up painted, and decked in their bed apparel, when three la-
was, or priefts, with different paintings and geftures followed them, play-
ing on mufical indruments, and finging with a folemn voice — the others
anfwering them : that when they made three circles in this manner, the
men ran off to the woods, and tlie women flaid weeping behind, cutting their
arms vvitli mulcle-lhells, and throwing the blood towards the fun ; and that
when tlie men returned, the three days feaft was finiflied. This is another
confuftd Spanifli draught of the Floridan paffover, or feaft of love ; and
of their univerfal method of bleeding themfelves after much exercife, which
according to the Spanifli plan, they offered up to the fun. From thcfe
different writers, it is plain that where the Indians have not been corrupted
by foreigners, their cuftoms and religious worfhip are nearly alike ; and
alio that every different tribe, or nation of Indians, ufes fuch-like divine
proper name, and awful founds, as 2'ah-JVah, Hetcvah, &cc. being tranf-
pofjrions of ■■.he divine cffential name, as our northern Indians often re-
peat in their religious dances. As the found of Tab-ivah JAnxd in Lau-
don's ear, lie called it Jr.va, in refemblance to the Syriac and Greek me-
thod of exprcffmg the tetra-grammaton, from which Galatinus im]x)fed it
upon us, calling it 'Jcloivah^ inftead of I'ohei^.ah.
The
The 'eJlimoni'S of Sp.vnJJj tcrucn.
tOf
The Spanifli writers tell us, tliat the Mexicans had a fcaft, and nmnth,
twhic h they called Hueitozolti, wlien the inaiz was ripe i every man at that
time bringing an handful to be ollcred at tlie temple, with a kind of drink,
called C//k//, made out oi ihc fame grain. — But they foun deek up an idol
with rofcs, garlands, and flowers, and dcfcribe them as ofilring to it fweet
guns, &c. Then they fpecdily drcfs a woman with the apparel of cither
the god, or goddefs, of fait, which miifl; be to feafon the human facrifices*
as they depitflure them according to their own difpofitions. But they foon
change the fccne, and bring in the god of gain, in a rich temple dedicated
to him, where the merchants apart facrifice vail numbers of purchafed cap-
tives. It often chagrines an inquifitivc and impartial reader to trace the
contradiftions, and chimerical inventions, of thofe afpiring bigoted writers;
who fpeak of what they did not underftand, only by iigns, and a fcvr
chance words. The difcermng reader can eafdy perceive them from
what hath been already faid, and muft know that this Spanilh mountain
in labour, is only the Indian firft fruit-oftering, according to the ufagc
of our North-American Indians.
It is to be lamented that writers will not keep to matters of fai!!l : Some
of our own hiftorians have defcribcd the Mohawks as cannibals, and con-
tinually hu 'ing after man's flelh ; with equal truth Diodorus Siculus,
Strabo, and others report, that in Britain there were foimerly Antliropo-
phagi, " man-eaters."
Garcillaflb de La Vega, another Spanifli romancer, fays, that the Peru-
vian fliepherds worfliipped the ftar called Lyra, as they imagined ii pre-
fcrved their flocks : but he ought firfl: to have fupplied them with flocks,
for they had none except a kind of wild flieep, that kept in the moun-
tains, and which are of fo fxtid a fmell, that no creature is fond to ap-
proach them.
The fame afpiring fliflitious writer tells us, the Peruvians worfhipped the
Creator of the world, whom he is pleafed to call yiracocha Pachuyacba
ha hie : any perfon who is in the leafl: acquainted witli the rajMd flowing
manner of the Indian American diakdts, will conclude from the wild ter-
mination that the former is not the Peruvian divine name. Next to this
great Creator of the univerfe, he affirms, they worfliipped the fun ; and
E e next
^.- n
't
M
;
Si
'!
210 On the defcent of the American Indians from the feivs.
next to the folar orb, they deified and worlliipped thunder, believing it
proceeded from a man in heaven, who had power over the rain, hail, and
thunder, and every thing in the atrial regions ; and that they offered up facri-
fices to it, but none to the univerfal Creator. To prefer the effedl to the ac-
knowledged prime caule, is contrary to the common reafon of mankind,
who adore that objeft which they efteem either the mofl; beneficent, or the
mod powerful.
Monfieur Le P.ige Du Pratz tells us, he lived feven years among the
Nachee Indians, about one hundred leagues up the MiiTifippi from New-
Orleans i and in order to emulate the Spanifli romances of the Indians, in
his performance, he affirms their women are double-breafted, which he par-
ticularly defcribes : and then following the Spanifli copy, he affures us, the
higheft rank of their nobles is called funs, and that they only attend the
llicred and eternal fire ; which he doubtlefs mentioned, merely to introduce
his convex lens, by which he tells us with a great air of confidence, he
gained much efteem among them, as by the gift of it, he enabled them to
continue their holy fire, if it fhould cafually be near cxtingu'lhed. According
to him, the Chikkafah tongue was the court language of the MifTifippi In-
dians, and that it had not the letter R. — The very reverfe of which is the
truth ; for the French and all their red favages were at conftant war with
them, bccaufe of their firm connexion with the Englifh, and hated
their national name -, and as to the language, they could not converfe with
them, as their dialecfls are fo different from each other. I recited a long
ftring of his well-known ftories to a body of gentlemen, well fl<illed in
the languages, rites, and cuftoms of our Eaft and Weft-Florida Indians,
and they agreed that the Koran did not differ more widely from the divine
oracles, than the accounts of tliis writer from the genuine cuftoms of the
Indian Americans.
The Spanifti artifts have furniftied the favage war-chieftain, or their Em-
peror Montezuma, with very fpacious and beautiful palaces, one of which
they raifed on pillars of finejafper; and another wrought with exquifite
fkill out of marble, jafper, and other valuable ftones, with veins gliftering
like rubies, — they have finifhed the roof with equal fkill, compofed of car-
ved and painted cyprefs, cedar, and pine-trees, without any kind of nails,
'['hey Ihould have furniflied fame of the chambers with fuitable pavilions
and
m
■> mi
The tijlimouics of Spanijh writers.
21 I
and beds of ftate ; but the bedding and furniture in our northern Intlian
huts, is the fame with what they were pleated to defcrlbe, in the wonder-
ful Mexican palaces. In this they have not done juftice to the grand red
monarch, wliom they raifed up, (with his looo women, or 30CO accord-
ing to lome,) only to magnify the Spanilh power by overthrowing him.
Montezuma in an oration to his people, at the arrival of the Spaniards,
is faid by Malvendar, to have perfuaded his people to yield to the power
of his Catholic Majefty's arms, for their own fore-fathers were ftrangers
in that land, and brought there long before that period in a fleet. The
emperor, who they pretend bore fuch univerfal arbitrary fway, is raifed by
their pens, from the ufual rank of a war chieftain, to his imperial great-
nets : But defpotic power is death to their ears, as it is deftrudive of their
darling liberty, and reputed theocratic government -, they have no name
for a fubjeft, but fay, " the people." In order to carry on the felf-
flattering war-romance, they began the epocha of that great fiditious em-
pire, in the time of the ambitious and formidable Montezuma, that their
handful of heaven-favoured popilh faints might have the more honour in
deftroying it : had they dcfcribed it of a long continuance, they forefaw
that the world would deleft the fallacy, as foon as they learned the lan-
guage of the pretended empire •, corrcfpondcnt to which, our own great
Em- eror Powhatan of Virginia, w, is foon dethroned. We are fuflkientiy
informed by the rambling Millif ppi Indians, that MotehJIjuma is a com-
mon high war- name of the South- American leaders ; and which the fate
he is faid to receive, ftrongly corroborates. Our Indians urge with a great
deal of vehemence, that as every one is promoted only by public virtue,
and has his equals in civil and martial affairs, thole Spanifli books that have
mentioned red emperors, and great empires in America, ought to be burnt
in fome of the remaining old years accurl'ed fire. And this Indian fixed
opinion feems to be fufficiently confirmed by the fituation of Mexico, as it
is only about 315 miles from fouth to north •, and narrower than '.00 miles
along the northern coaft — and lies between Tlalcala and Mechoacan, to the
weft of the former, and eaft of the latter, whence the Mexicans were con-
tinually harraffed by thole lurking iwift-footed liivages, who could iecure
their retreat home, in
I pa
day;
the vicinity of thole two inimical dates to the pretended puilTant empire oi"
Mexico, which might have eafily cruflied them to piece?, with lier for-
)'\\-
f
i
i
e 2
miciabir
1
If
II,.- '!
2 J2 On the defcent of the American Indians from the Jews.
midable armies, in order to fecure the lives of the fubje(5ls, and credit
of the ftate, we may fafely venture to affirm, from the long train of
circumftances already exhibited, that the Spanish Peruvian and Mexican
empires are without the leaft foundation in nature-, and that the Spaniards
defeated the tribe of Mexico (properly called Mecbiko) &c. chiefly, by
the help of their red allies.
In their defcriptions of South-America and its native inhabitants, they
treat largely of heaven, hell, and purgatory ; lions, falamanders, maids of
honour, maids of penance, and their abbefles ; men whipping themfelves
with cords -, idols, mattins, monaftic vows, cloifters of young men, with a
prodigious group of other popifli inventions : and we muft not forget to
do juftice to thofc induftrious and fagacious obfervers, who difcovered
two golgothas, or towers made of human fkuUs, plaiftered with lime.
A coda tells us, that Andrew de Topia alTured him, he and Gonfola de
Vimbria reckoned one hundred and thirty-fix thoufand human fkulls in
them. The temple dedicated to the air, is likewife worthy of being men-
tioned, as they aflfert in the ftrongefl: manner, that five thoufand priefts
ferved conftantly in it, and obliged every one who entered, to bring fome
human facrifice -, that the walls of it were an inch thick, and the floor a
foot deep, with black, dry, clotted blood. If conneifted herewith, we re-
fleft, that befide this blood-thirfty god of the air, the Spaniards have repre-
fented them as worfliipping a multitude of idol gods and goddefles, (no lefs
than two thoufand according to Lopez de Gomara) and facrificing to them
chiefly human viftims •, and that the friars are reported by a Spanifh bifliop
of Mexico, in his letters of the year 1532, to have broken down twenty
thoufand idols, and defolated five hundred idol temples, where the natives
facrificed every year more than twenty thoufand hearts of boys and girls ;
and that if the noblemen were burnt to aflics, they killed their cooks, but-
lers, chaplains, and dwarfs * — and had a plenty of targets, maces, and en-
figns hurled into their funeral piles : this terriblt; flaughter, points out to
us clearly from their own accounts, that thefe authors either gave the world
a continued chain of falfehoods, or thole facrinces, and human mafllicres
* With regard to Indian dwarfs, I never heard of, or faw any in the northern nations,.
but one in Iflitatoe, a nortliern town of the middle part of the Checrake country., — and he
was a great beloved man.
they
The teftimontes of SpanlJ?} writers.
213
they boaftingly tell us of, would have, long before they came, utterly de-
populated Peru and Mexico.
I fhall now quote a little of their lefs romantic defcription, to confirm
the account I have given concerning the genuine rites, and cuftoms, of
our North-American Indians.
The ornaments of the Indians of South and North America, were for-
merly, and ftill are alike, without the leafl: difference, except in value,
Thofe fuperficial writers agree, that the men and women of Peru and
Mexico wore golden ear-rings, and bracelets around tlieir necks and wrifts j
that the men wore rings oi '^c fixme metal in their nofe, marked their bo-
dies with various figun":, ' .mued their faces red, and the women their
cheeks, which feems to liavc been a very early and general cuftom. They
tell us, that the coronation of the Indian kings, and inflallment of
their nobles, was fo'emnized with comedies, banquets, lights, &c. and
that no plebeians were allowed to ferve before their kings •, they mufl:
be knights, or noblemen. All thofe founding high titles are only a con-
fufed pi(5ture of the general method of the Indians in crowning their war-
riors, performing their war-dances, and efteeming thofe fellows as old
women, who never attended the reputed holy ark with fuccefs for the
beloved brediren.
J' '
> li.
'li,
Don Antonio de Ulloa informs us, that fome of the South-American
natives cut the lobes of their ears, and for a confiderable time, faftened
fmall weights to them, in order to lengthen them ; that others cut holes in
their upper and under lips ; through the cartilege of the nofe, their chins,
and jaws, and either hung or thruil through them, fuch things as they moft
fancied, which alio agrees with the ancient cuftoms of our Northern In-
dians.
Emanuel de Moraes and Acofta affirm, that the Brafilians marry in their
own family, or tribe. And Jo. de Laet. fays, they call their uncles and
aunts, " fathers and mothers," which is a cuftom of the Hebrews, and
of all our North-American Indians : and he affures us they mourn very
much for their dead j and that their clothes are like thole of the early
Jews,
Ulloa.
..%
1
1
1
1
r\\
'
illll
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1:1
1
1
rf.ii
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i
1
214 0;/ //u' dcfccnt of the American Indians from the yews.
Ulloa afiures ns, that the South American Indians have no other me-
thod of weaving carpets, quilts, and other fluffs, but to count the
threads one by one, when they are pafllng the woof; — that they fpin
cotton and linnen, as their chief manufaifture, and paint their cloth with
the images of men, beafts, birds, fiflies, trees, flowers, &c. and that each
of thofe webs was adapted to one certain ufe, without being cut, and
that their patience was equal to fo arduous a tafk. According to this
defcription, there is not the leafl: difparity between the ancient North-Ame-
rican method of manufacturing, and that of the South Americans.
Acofta writes, that the clothes of the South-American Indians are fliaped
like thofe of the ancient Jews, being a fquarc little cloak, and a little coat :
nnd the Rev. Mr. Thorowgood, anno 1650, obferves, that this is a proof
of fome weight in fhewing their original defcent •, efpecially to fuch who
pay a deference to Seneca's parallel arguments of the Spaniards having
fettled Italy •, for the old mode of drefs is univerfally alike, among the In-
dian Americans.
Laet. in his defcription of America, and Efcarbotus, afiure us, they often
heard the South American Indians to repeat the facred word Halleluiah^
which made them admire how they firft attained it. And Malvenda
fays, tliat the natives cf St. Michael had tomb-ftones, which the Spaniards
digged up, with feveral ancient Hebrew chara<5lers upon them, as,
*' Why is Gcd gone away ?" And, " He is dead, God knows." Had
his curiofity induced him to tranfcribe the epitaph, it would have
given more fatisfadion ; for, as they yet repeat the divine eflential name.
To He {to) Wab, fo as not to prophane it. when they mourn for their
dead, it is probable, they could write or engrave it, after the like manner,
when they firft arrived on this main continent.
We are told, that the South American Indians have a firm hope of the
refurreftion of their bodies, at a certain period of time i and that on this
account they bury their moft valuable treafures with their dead, as well as
the moft ufeful conveniencies for future domeftic life, fuch as their bows
and arrows : And when they faw the Spaniards digging up their graves for
gold and filver, they requcfted them to forbear fcattering the bones of their
5 dead
The tejVmonies of French ivrlterst ^c.
215
dead in that manner, left it fliould prevent their being raifed and united
again *.
Monfieur de Poutrincourt fays, that, when the Canada Indians faluted
him, they faid Ho Ho Ho ; but as we are well afTiired, they exprels i He
a Ah^ in the time of their feftivals and other rejoicings, we have realbn to
conclude he made a very material miftake in fetting down the Indian Iblemn
blefllng, or invocation. He likewife tells us, that the Indian women will
not marry on the graves of their hufbands, i. e. " foon after their deceafe,"
—but wait a long time before they even think of a fecond hufband. That,
if the hulband was killed, they would neither enter into a fecond marriage,
nor eat flelh, till his blood had been revenged : and that after child-bear*
ing, they obferve the Mofliic law of purification, fliutting up themfclves
from their hufbands, for the fpace of forty days.
Peter Martyr writes, that the Indian widow married the brother of her
deceafed hufband, according to the IVlofaic law : and he fays, the Indians
worfliip that God who created the fun, moon, and all invifiblc things, and
who gives them every thing that is good. He affirms the Indian priclts had
chambers in the temple, according to the cuftom of the Ifraelitcs, by divine
appointment, as i Chron. ix. 26, 27. And that there were certain places
in it, which none but their priefts could enter, i. e. " the holieft." And
Key fays alfo, they have in fome parts of America, an exaift form of king,
prieft, and prophet, as was formerly in Canaan.
Robert Williams, the firft Englilliman in New-England, who is faid to
have learned the Indian language, in order to convert the natives, believed
them to be Jews : and he aflures us, that their tradition records that their
anceftors came from the fouth-weft, and that they return there at death •,
that their women feparate themfelves from the reft of the people at certain
periods ; and that their language bore fome affinity to the Hebrew.
Baron Lahontan writes, that the Indian women of Canada purify them-
felves after travail ; thirty days for a male child — and forty for a female :
that during the faid time, they live apart from their hufband — that the un-
married brother of the deceafed hufljand marries the widow, fix months
Vid.Ceuto ad Solin. Benz. & Hill. Peruv.
after
^W
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W ^ ^'t.
■i:
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' i!''
I
^ I''
2 1 6 On the defcent of the Aiiierkan Indians from the JciVS,
after his deceafe ; and that the outftanding parties for war, addrcfs the
great fpirit every day till they fee olf, with lacrifi'.es, longs, and feafting.
We are alfo told, that the men in Mexico fat down, and the women
ft-ood, when they made water, which is an univerfal cuftom among our
North-American Indians. Their primitive modefty, and indulgence to
their women, feem to have introduced this fingular cuftom, after the
manner of the ancient Mauritanians, on account of their fcantincfs of
clothing, as I formerly obfervcd.
Lerius tells us, that the Indians of Brafil walh themfclves ten times a
day ; and that the hufbai ds have no matrimonial intercoufe with their wives,
till their children are either weaned, or grown pretty hardy j which is fimi-
lar to the cuftom of thefe northern Indians, and that of the Ifraelites, as
Hof. i. 8. He fays, if a Peru^ -an child was weaned before its time, it was
called Aitifco, " a baftard." And that if a Brafilian wounds another, he .'=
wounded in the fime part of the body, with equal punifliment ; limb for
limb, or life for life, according to the Mofaic law j — which, within our cwn
memory, the'e Indian nations obferved fo eagerly, that if a boy fhooting
a": birds, accidentally wounded another, though out of fight, with his ar-
row ever fo flightly, he, or any of his family, wounded him after the very
fame manner i which is a very ftriking analogy with the Jewifti retaliation.
He likcwife tells us, that their Sachems, or Emperors, were the heads of
their church: and according to Laet. Defcript. America, the Peruvians
had one temple confecrated to the creator of the world -, befides four
other religious places, in refemblance of the Jewifh fynagogues. And Mal-
venda fays, the American idols were mitred, as Aaron was. He likewife
affirms, as doth Acofta, that the natives obferved a year of jubilee, ac-
cording to the ufage of the Ifraelites.
Benzo fays, that the men and women incline very much to dancing ; and
the women often by themfelves, according to the manner of the Hebrew
nation; as in i Sam. xxi. ii. efpecially after gaining a viiflory over
the enemy, as in Judg. xi. 34. — xxi. 21. 23, and i Sam. xviii. 6, 7.
Acofta tells us, that though adultery is deemed by them a capital crime,
yet they at the fame time fet little value by virginity, and it feems to have
been a bcwailable condition, in Judca. He likcwiic fays, they wadi their
I new
Ihe tcjllmonies of different writers.
217
new born infants, in refemblmce of the Mofaic law ; as Ezek. xvi. 9. AnA
the Spaniards fay, that the pricfts of Mexico, were anointed from head
to foot ; that they conftantly wore their hair, till they were fupcranniiated -,
and that the hufband did not lie with his wife, for two years after Oie was
delivered. Our northern Indians imitate the firft cultom -, though in the fe-
cond, they refemble that of the heathen by polling or trimming their hair;
and with regard to the third, they always deep apart from their wive;, for
the greater part of a yea;, after delivery.
By the Spanidi authorities, the Peruvians and Mexicans were Polyga-
mifts, but they had one principal wife, to whom they were married with
certain folemnities •, and murder, adultery, theft, and inceft, were puniflied
with death. — But there was an exception in fome places, with regard to in-
ceftuous intcrcou-fes : which is intirely confonant to the ufage of the nor-
thern Indians. For as to incelt, the Chcerake marry both mother and
daughter, or two filters ; but they all obfcrve the prohibited laws of
confanguinity, in the ftrideft manner. They tell us, that v/hen the
priefts ofiercd facrifice, they abftained from women and ftrong drink, and
faded fevcral days, before any great feftival ; that all of them buried their
dead in their houfes, or in high places -, that when they were forced to bury
in any of the Spanifh church-yards, they frequently ftole the corpfe, and
interred it either in one of their own houfes, or in the mountains ; and that
Juan de la Torre took five hundred thoufand Pezoes out of one tomb.
Here is a long train of Ifraelitifli cuftoms ; and, if we include the. whole,
they exhibit a very llrong analogy between all the elfential traditions, rites,
cuftoms, &c. of the South and North American Indians •, though the Spa-
niards mix an innumerable heap of abfurd chimeras, and romantic dreams,
with the plain material truths I have extraded.
I lately perufed the firft volume of the Hiftory of North-America, from
the difcovery thereof by Sylvanus Americanus, printed in New Jerfey,
Anno 1 76 1, from, I believe, the Philadelphia monthly paper — and v.ms
not a little furprifed to find in fuch a ufeful colledion, the conjedural,
though perhaps well-intended accounts of the firft adventurers, and iettlers,
in North-America, concerning the natives : and which are laid as the only
bafis for inquifitive writers to trace their origin, inflead of later and more
lubftantial obfervations. Though feveral of thofe early writers were 11 n-
Mi
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doubtedl'i
i
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2 1 S O// //jf </cyi-<?;i^ o///j(? American Indians from the Jews.
doubtedly fagacious, learned, and candid j yet under the circumftances in
wliich they wrote, it was iinpoffible for them to convey to us any true
knowledge of the Indians, more than what they gained by their fenfes, which
mull be lliperficial, and liable to many errors. Their conjeftural accounts
OLiglit to have been long fince examined, by fome of that learned body, or
ihcy Ihould not have given a faniftion to them. However, they are lefs
faulty than the Spanilli accounts.
I prefume, enough hath been faid to point out the fimilarity between
the rices and cuftoms of the native American Indians, and thofe of the
Ilraelites. — And that the Indian fyftem is derived from the moral, cere-
inonial, and judicial laws of the Hebrews, though now but a faint copy
of the divine original. — Their religious rites, martial cuftoms, drefs, mufic,
dances, and domeftic forms of life, feem clearly to evince alfo, that they
came to America in early times, before fedls had fprung up among the
Jews, which was foon after their prophets ceafed, and before arts and
fciences had arrived to any perfedtion ; otherwife, it is likely they would
have retained fome knowledge of them, at leaft where they firft fettled, it
being in a favourable climate, and confcquently, they wrere in a more corn-
pad body, than on this northern part of the American continent.
The South-American natives wanted nothing that could render life
eafy and agreeable : and they had no'-hinp; fnperfluous, except gold and
lilver. When we confider the fimpiicity of the people, and the flcill
they had in colle(fling a prodigious quantity of treafures, it feems as
if they gained that fkill from their countrymen, and the Tyrians i who
in the reign of Solomon exceedingly enriched themfelves, in a few voy-
ages. The conjcfture that the aborigines wandered here from captivity,
by the north eaft parts of Afia, over Kamfchatflca, to have their liberty
and religion -, is not fo improbable, as that of their being driven by ftrefs of
weather into the bay of Mexico, from the eaft.
Though a fingle argument of the general fubject, may prove but little,
disjoined from the reft -, yet, according to the true laws of hiftory, and the
beft rules for tracing antiquities, the conclufion is to be drawn from clear
correfponding circumftances united : the force of one branch of the fubjedl
ought to be conneded with the others, and then judge by the whole. Such
readers
ConjeBures when, and hoiv, America ivasjirjl fettled. 2 1 rj
readers as may diflcnt from my opinion of the Indian American origin and
defcent, ought to inform us how the natives came here, and by what means
they formed the long chain of rites, cuftoms, &c. fo fimilur to the iifnge
of the Hebrew nat'" , und in general difilmilar to the modes, &c . of the
Pagan world.
Ancient writers do not agree upon any certain place, where the Opiiir of
Solomon lay ; it muft certainly be a great diftance from Joppa, for it wa*
a three years voyage. After the death of Solomon, both the IlVaelites and
Tyrians feem to have utterly difcontinucd their trading voyages to tliac
parL of the world. Eulebius and Eupolemus fay, that David fent to
Urphe, an ifland in the red fea, and brought much gold into Jiidea ; and
Ortelius reckons this to have been Ophir : though, agreeably to the opinion
of the greater part of the modern literati, he alfo conjedures Ce[)hala, or
Sophala, to have been the Ophir of Solomon. Junius imagines it was in
Aurea Cherfonefus -, Tremellius and Niger are of the fame opini6n. But
Vatablus reckons it was Hifpaniola, difcovered, and named fo by Colum-
bus : yet Poftellus, Phil. Mornay, Arias Montanus, and Goropius, are of
opinion that Peru is the ancient Ophir; fo widely different are their conjec-
tures. Ancient hiftory is quite fdent, concerning America ; whicli indicates
that it has been time immemorial rent afunder from the African continent,
according to Plato's Timeus. The north-eaft parts of Afia alfo were
undifcovered, till of late. Many geographers have ftretched Afia and Ame-
rica fo far, as to join them together: and otiiers have divided thofe two
quarters of the globe, at a great diftance from each other. But the Rufllans,
after feveral dangerous attempts, have clearly convinced the world, that they
are now divided, and yet have a near communication together, by a nar-
row ftrait, in which feveral iflands are fituated ; through which there is an
eafy paflagc from the north-eaft of Afia to the north-weft of America by
the way of Kamfchatfka ; which probably joined to the north-weft poinc
of America. By this paflage, fuppofing the main continents were fepa-
rated, it was very praflicable for the inhabitants to go to this extcnfive
new world ; and afterwards, to have proceeded in queft of fuitable climates,
—according to the law of nature, that direds every creature to fuch climes
as are moft convenient and agreeable.
Ff a
Having
^r'-,
220 Ou the dcfcent of the American Indians from the 'jews*
Having endeavoured to afcertain the origin and defccnt of the North-
American Indians — and produced a variety of arguments that incline my
own opinion in favour of their being of Jewilh extraflion —which at the
fame time furnini the public with a more complete Indian System of reli-
gious rites, civil and martial cuftoms, language, &c. &c. than hath ever
been exhibited, neither disfigured by fable, nor prejudice — I fhall proceed
to give a general hiftorical defcription of thofe Indian nations among whom
I have chiefly rcfided.
•■:- 1, \
AN
A N
ACCOUNT
OF T H F,
i:l
r^l
KATAHBA, CHEERAKE, MUSKOHGE,
CHOKTAH, AND CHIKKASAH NATIONS:
WITH
OCCASIONAL OBSERVATIONS
O N
Their Laws, and the Condudl of our Cover n or s, Su p'e r.
INTENDANTS, MISSIONARIES, &C. tOWards them.
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A N
ACCOUNT
OF THE
KATAHBA NATION, &c.
I BEGIN with the KATAiinA, bccaufe their country is the mofl: conti-
guous to Charles-Town in South-Carolina. It is placed in our mo-
dern maps, in 34 degrees north latitude, but proper care hath not yet
been taken to afcertain the limits and fite of any of the Indian nations. It
is bounded on the north and nortlieaft, by North-Carolina — on the eaft
and fouth, by South-Carolina — and about weft-fouth-weft by the Cheerakc
nation. Tiieir chief fettlcment is at the diftance of one hundred and forty-
five miles from the Cheerake, as near as I can compute it by frequent jour-
nies, and about 200 miles diftant from Charles-Town
Their foil is extremely good •, the climate open and healthy ; the water
very clear, and well-tafled. The chief part of the Katahba country, I ob-
ferved during my refidence with them, was fettled dole on the eaft fide of
a broad purling river, that heads in the great blue ridge of mountains,
and empties itfelf into Santee-river, at Amelia towndiir ; then running eaft-
ward of Charles-town, difgorges itfelf into the Atlantic. The land would
produce any fort of Indian provifions, but, by the continual pafHng and re-
jiafTing of the Englifh, between the northern and fouthern colonies, the Ka-
tahba live perhaps the meaneft of .my Indians belonging to the Britifh Ame-
rican empire. They are alfo To c rrupted by an mimoderate ule of our i'piritu-
ous liquors, and of courfe, indolent, that they fcarcely plant any thing fit for
the fupport of human life. South-Carolina has Uipplied their wants, either
3 through
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224
An Account of the Katahba Nation.
through a political, or charitable view ; which kindnefs, feveral rcfpecflable
inhabitants in their neighbourhood fay, they abule in a vrry high degree ;
for they often deftroy the white people's live Ilock, and even kill their
horfes for mifchief fake.
:f.
1^ ^i.
It was bad policy of a prime magiftrate of South-Carolina, who a little
more than twenty years ago, defircd me to endeavour to decoy the Chik-
kafah nation to fettle near New-Windfor, or Savanna tuvvn. For the Indians
will not live peaceable with a mixed lociety of people. It is too recent to
need enlarging on, that the Englifli inliabitants were at fundry times forced
by neceffity, to take fhelter in New-Windfor ami Augufta garrifons, at the
alarm of the cannon, to fave themfelvcs from about an hundred of the
Chikkafah, wh.o formerly fettled there, by the inticement of our traders :
the two colonies of South-Carolina and Georgia were obliged on this oc-
cafion to fend up a number of troops, either to drive them off, or check
their infolence. By fome fatality, they are much addiifted to excelTive
drinking, and fpirituous liquors diftracft them {\^ exceedingly, that they will
even eat live coals of fire. Harfli ufage alone, will never fubdue an In-
dian : and too much indulgence is as bad i for tlien they would think,
•what was an efFedl of politic frienJfliip, proceeded from a tribute of fear.
We may obferve of them as of the fire, " it is flife and ufeful, cheriflied at
proper diftance •, but if too near us, it becomes dangerous, and will fcorch
if not confume us."
'J
■ !I
We are not acquainted with any favagcs of fo warlike a difpofition,
as the Katahba and the Chikkafah. The fix united northern nations
have been time immemorial engaged in a bitter war with the former,
and the Katahba are now reduced to very few above one hundred fight-
ing men — the fmall pox, and intemperate drinking, have contributed how-
ever more than their wars to their great decay. When South-Carolina
was in its infant ftate, they muflered fifteen hundred fighting men : and
they always bcliaved as faithful and friendly to the Englifli as could
be reafonably e.\pcc"ted, from cunning, fufpicious, and free favages. About
the year 1743, their nation confuted of almoft 400 warriors, of above
twenty different dialeds, I fliall mention a few of the national names
of thofe, who make up this mixed language ; — the Kutahha^ is the fian-
dard, or court-dialeiH: — the Waiarce., who make up a large town ; Eeno^
3 Cbmibi
is I
All Account of the Katahba Nation. 225
wah^ now Chozvan^ Canggarce, Nache, l^aniafae, Cocfab, tec. Their coun-
try had an old wafte field of fevcn miles extent, and feveral others of fnul-
ler dimcnfions; which fliews that they were formerly a numerous people,
to cultivate I'o much land with their dull ftone-axcs, before they had an
opportunity of trading with the Engliih, or allowed others to incorporate
with them.
f 1'
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A C C O U N l'
If ' '' y
ACCOUNT
OF THE
CHEERAKE NATION, &c.
ii;r:)
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E (hall now treat of die CI:eerake nation, as the next neighbour
to South-Carolina.
Their national name is derived from Chee-ra, " fire," which is their re-
puted lower heaven, and hence they call their magi, Cbeera-tahge^ " men
poflcfled of the divine fire. The country lies in about 34 degrees north
latitude, at the diftance of 340 computed miles to the north-weft of Charles-
town, — 140 miles weft-fouth-weft from the Katahba nation, — and almoft
200 miles to the north of the Mufkohge or Creek country.
They are fettled, nearly in an eaft and weft courfe, about 140 miles in
length from the lower towns where Fort-Prince George ftands, to the late
unfortunate Fort-Loudon. The natives make two divifions of their coun-
try, which they term Ayrate, and Ouare, fignifying " low," and " moun-
tainous." The former divifion is on the head branches of the beau-
tiful Savanah river, and the latter on thofe of the caftcrnmoft river of the
great MilTifippi. Their towns are always clofe to fome river, or creek j as
there the land is commonly very level and fertile, on account of the fre-
quent wafhings off the mountains, and the moifture it receives from the
waters, that run through their fields. And fuch a fituation enables them
to perform the ablutions, connected with their religious worftiip.
The eaftern, or lower parts of this country, are (harp and cold to a Ca-
rolinian in winter, and yet agreeable : but thofe towns that lie among the
Apalahci>c
An Account of the Cheerake Nation.
227
Apalahche mountains, are very pinching to fuch who are unaccuftomed to
a favage life, 'I'lie ice and fnow continue on the north-fide, till late in the
fpring of the year : however, the natives are well provided for it, by their
bathing and anointing themfelves. This regimen fliuts up the pores of the
body, and by that means prevents too great a perfpiration •, and an accuf-
tomed cxercife of hunting, joined with the former, puts them far above
their climate: t!iey are almoll as impenetrable to cold, as a bar of Heel,
and the fcverctl cold is no detriment to their hunting.
Formerly, tlie Cheerake were a very numerous and potent nation. Not
above forty years ago, they had 64 towns and villages, populous, and full
of women and children. According to the computation of the moft intel-
ligent old traders of that time, they amounted to upwards of fix-thoufund
fighting men ; a prodigious number to have lb ciofe on our fettlements,
defended by blue-topped ledges of ijiacccflible mountains : where, but three
of them can make a fuccelsful campaign, even againft their own watchful
red-colour enemies. But tliey were then fimple, and peaceable, to what
they are now.
1:1:1
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As their wcftern, or upper towns, which are fituated among the Apalah-
< he-moiTntains, on the ealtcrn branches of the Mi.Tifippi, were alway en-
gaged in hot war with the more northern Indians -, and the middle and lower
towns in conftant hoftility with the Mufkohge, till reconciled by a go-
vernor of South-Carolina for the Hike of trade, — feveral of their bed towns,
on the fouthern" branch of Savanah-river, are now forfaken and deftroyed :
as IJhtatohe^ Ecbia, Tcogalo^ &c. and they are brought into a narrower
compafs. At the conclufion of our lafl war with them, the traders calcu-
lated the number of their warriors to confift of about two thoufand three-
hundred, which is a great diminution for fo fhort a fpace of time: and if
we may conjeflure for futurity, from the circumftances already pafl,
there will be few of them alive, after the like revolution of time. Their
towns are ftill fcattered wide of each other, bccaufe the land will not admit
any other fettlement : it is a rare thing to fee a level tradl of four hundred
acres. They are alfo ftrongly attached to rivers, — all retaining the opi-
nion of the ancients, that rivers are neceflfary to conftitute a paradife. Nor
is it only ornamental, but likewife beneficial to them, on account of purify-
ing themfelves, and alio for the fervices of common life, — fuch as fifliing,
G g 2 fowling,
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128
An Account of the Cliccrake Nation.
fowling, and killing of deer, which come in tl'.o warm feafon, to cat tlie
faltilh mofs and grafs, which grow on the rocks, and under the furface of
the waters. Their rivers are generally very fliallow, and pleafant to tlie
eye ; for the land being high, the waters have a quick dcfcent •, they feldom
overflow their banks, unlefs when a heavy rain falls on a deep fnow.
— Then, it is frightful to fee the huge pieces of ice, mixed with a prodigi-
ous torrent of water, rolling down the high mountainr;, and over the fteep
craggy rocks, fo impetuous, that nothing can rcfifl; their force. Two old
traders faw an inrtance of this kind, which fwcpt away great plantations
of oaks and pines, that had their foundation as in the center of the earth.
— Ic overfet feveral of the higher rocks, where the huge rafts of trees
and ice had flopped up the main channel, and forced itfelf acrofs through
the fmaller hills.
|! J'i'l^
From the hiftorical defcriptions of the Alps, and a perfonal viev/ of
the Cheerake mountains — I conclude the Alps of Italy are much inferior
to feveral of the Cheerake mountains, both in height and rockinefs : the laft
are alfo of a prodigious extent, and frequently impaflTable by an enemy.
The ylllegeny, cr " great blue ridge," commonly called the Apalakchc-
mountains, are here above a hundred miles broad •, and by the bed ac-
counts we can get from the Midlfippi Indians, run along between Peru
and Mexico, unlefs where the large rivers occafion a break. They ftretch
alfo all the way from the well of the northern great lakes, near Hiidlbn's
Bay, and acrofs the Miflifippi, about 250 leagues above New-Orleans.
In the lower and middle parts of this mountainous ragged country, the In-
dians have a convenient pafTable path, by the foot of the mountains : but
farther in, they are of fucii a prodigious height, that they are forced to wind
from north to fouth, along the rivers and large creeks, to get a fafe paflage :
and the paths are fo fteep in many places, that the horfes often pitch,
and rear an end, to fcramble up. Several of the mountains are ibme
miles from bottom to top, according to the afcent of the paths : and there
arc other mountains I have feen from thefe, when out with tl\c Indians
in clear weather, that the eye can but faintly difcern, which therefore
muft be at a lurpriPng diftance.
"Where the land is capable of cultivation, it would produce any thing
fuitable to the climate. Hemp, and wine-grapes grow there to admiration ;
they
An Account of the Cliccrakc N^Hton.
-<;
ihcy have plenty of the former, and a variety of the latter th.it pi ow
fpontaneoLiny. If thefe were properly cultivateJ, there nuift be a [^■(kjJ
return. I have gathered good hops in the woods opp(jrKe to Nuquoic,
wiiere our troops were repelled by the Checrake, ia the year 1760. '1 here
is not a more healthful region under the km, than this country ; for t'le
air is commonly open and clear, and plenty of wholelbme and pleafuit
water. I know feveral bold rivers, that till themfelves in running about
thirty miles, counting by a dired couife iVom their feveral difrerent foun-
tains, and which are almolt as tranfparent as glafs. Tlie natives live com-
monlv to a great age-, which is not to be wondered at, when we conliJer
the liiali fituation of their country, — the exercifes they purfue, — tlie rich-
nefs of the foil that produces plenty for a needful fupport of life, with-
out fatiguing, or over-heating the planters, — the advantages they receive
from fuch excellent good water, as gufhes out of every hill; and the great
additional help by a plain abllemious life, commonly eating and drinking,
only according to the folicitations of nature. I have i^cw ftrangers however,
full of admiration at beholding fo few old people in that country -, and they
have concluded from thence, and reported in tlie Englifli fettlements, that
it was a fickly fliort-lived region : but we fliould confider, they are always
involved in treacherous wars, and expofed to perpetual dangers, by which,
infirm and declining people generally fall, and tlie manly old warrior
will not flirink. And yet many of the peaceable fellows, and women, efpe-
cially in the central towns, fee the grey hairs of their ciiildien, long be-
fore they die ; and in every Indian country, there are a great many old
women on the frontiers, perhaps ten times the number of tlie men of the
fame age and pltce — which plainly fliews the country to be healthy, 'i'hofc
reach to a great age, who live fecure by the fire-fide, but no climates or
conftitutions can harden the human body, and make it bullet-proof.
I
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The Cheerakc country abounds with the bed herbage, on tlie richer
parts of the hills and mountains •, and a great variety of valuable herbs is
promifcuoufiy fcattered on the lower lands. It is remarkable, that none of
our botanifts Ihould attempt making any experiments there, notwiiliRaiul-
ing the place invited their attention, and the public had a right to cx|)ea
fo generous an undertaking from feveral of them ; while at ilie fame
time, they would be recovering, or renewing their healtli, at a far ealicr,
•cheaper, and fafer rate, than co.ifting it to our northern colonler'.
5 Oi-,
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230
^« Account of the Cheernke Nation.
On the level parts of the water-fide, between the hills, there arc plenty
of reeds : and, formerly, fuch places abounded with great brakes of win-
rer-canes. — The foli.ige of which is always green, and hearty food for
horfes and cattle. The traders ufed to raife there ftocks of an iiundrcd,
and a hundred and fifty excellent horfes •, which are commonly of a good
fi/.e, well-made, hard-hoofed, handfome, ftrong and fit for the faddle or
draught : but a perfon runs too great a rifle to buy any to take them out of
the country, becaufe, every fpring-feafon moft of them make for their na-
tive range. Before the Indian trade was ruined by our left-handed policy,
and the natives were corrupted by the liberality of our dim-fighted poli-
ticians, the Cheerake were frank, fincere, and indullrious. Their towns
then, abounded with hogs, poultry, and every thing fufficient for the fup-
port of a reafonable life, which the traders purchafed at an eafy rate, to
their mutual fatisfiiftion : and as they kept them bufily employed, and did
not make themfelves too cheap, the Indians bore them good-will and re-
fp«d: — and fuch is the temper of all the red natives.
I will not take upon me to afcertain the real difference between the va-
lue of the goods they annually purchafed of us, in former and later times ;
but, allowing the confumption to be in favour of the laft, what is the
gain of fuch an uncertain trifle, in comparifon of our charges and lofTes
by a mercilefs favage war ? The orderly and honefl: fyftem, if refumed,
and wifely purfued, v/ould reform the Indians, and regain their loft af-
fedions •, but that of general licences to mean reprobate pedlars, by which
they are inebriated and cheated, is pregnant with complicated evils to
the peace and welfare of our valuable fouthcrn colonies.
As the Cheerake began to have goods at an under price, it tempted them
to be both proud, and lazy. Their women and children are now far
above taking the trouble to raife hogs for the ugly white people, as the
beautiful red heroes proudly term them. If any do — they are forced to
ieed them in fmall penns, or inclofures, through all the crop-feafon, and
chiefly on long purfly, and other wholfome weeds, that their rich fields
abound with. But at the fall of the leaf, the woods are full of hiccory-
nuts, acorns, chefnuts, and the like i which occafions the Indian bacon
tp be more ftreaked, firm, and better tafted, than any we meet with in
5 the
yln Account of tie CliL-erakc Nation.
231
the Englifn fcttlemcnts. Some of the natives are grown tond of liorned
c-dttle, bot'i in the Chcerake and Mulkohge countries, but mod decline
them, becaulc the fields are not regularly fenced. But almoft every one
haili horfes, from two to a dozen i whicii makes a confiderable num-
ber, through their various nations. The Cheerake liad a prodigious
ninnber of excellent horfes, at tiie beginning of their late war with u?. \
but pinching liunger forced them to eat the greatell part of them, in the
time of that unfortunate event. Hut as all are now become very adive
and fociable, they will foon fupply themfelves with plenty of the beft fort,
from our fetilements — they arc ikilful jockies, and nice in their choice.
I »r
Fr the h of the fouthern bn ■• r jf Savanah-river, it docs not ex-
ceed half a mile to a head fpring of the Miflifippi-watcr, that runs througli
the middle and upper parts of the Cheerake nation, about a north-well
courfe, — and joining other rivers, they empty themlelves into the great
Miffifippi. The above fountain, is called " Herbert's fpring * :" and it was
natural for ftrangers to drink thereof, to quench thirll, gratify their cu-
riofity, and have it to fay they had drank of the French waters. Some
of oui people, who went only with the view of (laying a fliorc time, but
by fome allurement or other, exceeded the time appointed, at their re-
turn, reported cither through merriment or fuperilition, tiiat the fpring had
fuch a natural bewitching quality, that whofoever drank of it, could not
pofTibly quit the nation, during the tedious fpace of feven years. All tlie de-
bauchees readily fell in with this fuperftitious notion, as an excufe for their
bad method of living, when they had no proper call to Hay in that coun-
try ; and in proccfs of time, it became as received a truth, as any ever
believed to have been fpoken by the delphic oracle. One curfed, becaufe
its enchantment had marred his good fortune i another condemned his
weaknefs for drinking down witchcraft, againft his own fecret fufpicions ;
one fwore he would never tafte again fuch known dangerous poifon, even
though he fhould be forced to go down to the MilTifippi for water; and
another comforted himfelf, that fo many years out of the feven, were al-
ready pafled, and widied that if ever he tailed it again, though under the
greateft necclFity, he might be confined to the ftygian waters. Thole
who had their minds more inlarged, diverted themfelves much at their cofl^
• So named from an early comminioMr of Indian affairf.
for
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yin Accotiiii of tbd Chcerake Njtion.
for it was a noted favourite place, on account of tlie name it went by j and
being a well-fituatcd and good fpring, there all travellers commonly drank
a bottle of clioice : Hut now, moft of tiie packhorfe-iiien, though they
be dry, and alii) matchlcl's Ions of Ihcchus, on the moll prelling invita-
tions to drink there, woidd Iwtar to forfeit lacred liquor the better part
of their lives, rather than bafely renew, or coniuni the lofs of their liberty^
wiiicU that execrable fountain occalions.
■■■■ r.
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About the year 173S, the Checrakc received a moft depopulating fliock,
by the fmall pox, wliich reduced them almoft one half, in about a year's
time : it was conveyed into Charles-town by the Guinea-men, and loon after
among them, by tlic infedled goods. At firft it made flow advances, and
as it was a foreign, and to them a ftrange difeafe, they were fo deficient
in proper n<ill, that they alternately applied a regimen of hot and cold
things, to thofe v.ho were infefVed. The old magi and religious phy-
ficians who were confulted on fo alarming a crifis, reported the ficknefs
had been fent amoncr them, on account of the adulterous intercourfes of
their young married people, who the paft year, had in a mod notorious man-
ner, violated their ancient laws of marriage in every thicket, and broke down
and polluted many of tlie honeft neighbours bean-plots, by their heinous
crimes, which would coll a great deal of trouble to purify again. To
thofe flagitious crimes they afcribed the prefent difeafe, as a neceflary cffeft
of the divine anger ; and indeed the religious men chanced to fufFer the
moll in their fmall fields, as being contiguous to the tovvn-houfe, where
they ufually met at night to dance, when their corn was out of the ftalks ;
upon this pique, they fliewed their prieft-craft. However, it was thought
needful on this ovcafion, to endeavour to put a ftop tc the progrefs of
fuch a dangerous difeafe : and as it was believed to be broiight on them
by their unlawful copulation irv the night dews, it was thought moft prafli-
eable to try to eft'eft the cure, under the fame cool element. Immediately,
they ordered the reputed finncrs ro lie out of doors, day and night, with
their breaft frequently open to the night dews, to cool the fever ; they
•were likewife afraid, that tlie difcafetl would otherwife pollute the houfe,
and by that means, procure all their deaths. Inftead of applying warm
remedies, they at laft in every vifit poured cold water on their naked
breafts, fung their religious myftical fong, I'o 2'o, &c. with a doleful tunc,
and.
^n Account of the Cliecrake Nation.
^ly
and fliakeJ a caliabaHi with the pebble-ftones, over the fick, vifuig a
great many frantic gefturcs, by way of incaiuaiition. I'roiii the reputed
caufe of the difeafe, we may rationally conclude thiir pliylical tiu.ic-
mcnt of it, to be of a true old Jcwifh dcfcenCi for as the Ifraelites in-
voked the deify, or afked a blelTing on every thing they undertook, fo all
the Indian Americans feck for it, according on the remaining faint glimpfe
of their tradition.
'ill
When they found their theological regimen had not the defired eflVft,
but that the infeftion gained upon them, they held a fecond confuUation,
and deemed it the beft method to fweat their patients, and plunge them into
the river, — which was accordingly done. Their rivers being very cold
in fummer, by reafon of the numberlefs fprings, which pour from the hills
nnd mountains— and the pores of their bodies being open to receive the
cold, it rufhing in through the whole frame, they immediately expired : upon
which, all the magi and prophetic tribe broke their old confccrated phyfic-
pots, and threw away all the other pretended holy things they had for pliyfi-
cal ufe, imagining they had loft their divine power by being polluted ; and
fliared the common fate of their country. A great many killed themfelves •,
for being naturally proud, they are always peeping into their looking glalTes,
and are never genteelly dreft, according to their mode, without carrying
one hung over their flioulders : by which means, feeing themfelves disfi-
gured, without hope of regaining their former beauty, fome fliot them-
felves, others cut their throats, fome dabbed themfelves with knives, and
others with fharp-pointed canes ; many threw themfelves with fullen inad-
nefs into the fire, and there flowly expired, as if they had been utterly
diverted of the native power of feeling pain.
I remember, in Tymafe, one of their towns, about ten miles above the
prefent Fort Prince-George, a great head-warrior, who murdered a white
man thirty miles below Cbeeoivi'ce, as was proved by the branded deer-
fkins he produced afterward — when he faw himfelf disfigured by the
fmall pox, he chofe to die, that he might end as he imagined his flianie.
When his relations knew his defperate defign, they narrowly watched him,
and took away every fliarp inftrument from him. When he found he was
balked of his intention, he fretted and faid the word things their language
13 h could
'ti.,
l\
."■•:'
234
An Acccitnt of tfjc Cheerake Notion.
couid exprefs, and Ihcwcd all the fymptoms of iidcfperure pcrfon enraf»ed at
his dirappoiiitnit-nr, and torct-d to live and fee his ignominy ; he then
dar .1 himfeif a(^jirift the w.iil, with- all his remaining vigour, — his
ftrength being expended by the force of his friends oppofuion, he fell
fiillcniy on the bed, as u by rhol'e violent ftruggles he was overcome, and
Wanted to repofe himll-lf. Mis relations through tenderncfs, left him to
hir. rcll— but as foon as they went away, he raifcd Iiimfelf, and after a
tcd.oiis ftMrch, fin.dino. iiotlimg but a thick and round hoc-helve, he took
tiic fatal inftrumcnt, an! having fixed one end of it in the ground, he
repeatedly threw himfclf on it, till he forced it down his throat, when
he immediately c:<pircd. — He was buried in filence, without the leall
mourning.
' .
ii!,-l
:n
Although the Cheerake rtiewed Inch little Ikill in ciwing the fmall pox, yet
tliey, as well as all other Indian nations, have a great knowledge of fpe-
cific virtues in fimplcs ; applying herbs and plants, on the moft danger-
ous occafions, and feldom if ever, fail to etfedl a thorough cure, from
the natural budi. In the order of nature, every country and climate is
bleft with fpecific remedies for the maladies that are connatural to it — Na-
turaljfts tell us they have obferved, that when the wild goat's fight begins
to decay, he rubs his head againft a thorn, and by fome effluvia, or
virtue in the vegetable, the fight is renewed. Thus the fnake recover*
after biting any creature, by his knowledge of the proper antidote j and many
of our arts and forms of living, are imitated by lower ranks of the ani-
mal creation : the -Indians, inftigated by nature, and quickened by expe-
rience, have difcovered the peculiar properties of vegetables, as far as
needful in their fituation of life. For my own part, I would prefer an old
Indian before any chirurgeon whatfoever, in curing green wounds by
bullets, arrows, &c. both for the certainty, eafe, and fpeedinefs of cure ;
for if thofe parts of the body are not hurt, which are eflential to the pre-
ftrvation of life, they cure the wounded in a trice. T-hey bring the pa-
tient into a good temperament of body, by a decodlion of proper lierbs
and roots, and always enjoin a moft abftemious life : they forbid them wo-
men, fair, and every kind of flcHi-meat, applying mountain allum, as the
iiiief ing^redicnt.
la
An Account of tijt Chccrakc 'NutiuU.
n^
'In tlie year 1749, I came clown, by tlie invitation of the governor of
South-Carolina, to Charles-Towr^ with a boily of our frurnJiy Chikkallili
Indians: one of his majcfliy's furgeons, that vciy clay we arrived, cut oil
the wounded arm of a poor man. On my relating it to the Indians, they were
fliocked at the information, and faid, '« 'I'lie man's poverty O'.ould liave in-
duced him to exert thf. common Ikill of mankind, in fo trifling an hurt •,
cfpecially, as liich a butchery would not only disfii»,ure, but dilahle the
poor man the reft of his life i that there would have been more luunanitv
in cutting off the head, than in fuch a barbarous amputation, bccaufc it i.«!
much better for men to die once, than 10 be always dying, for when tlic
hand is loft, how can the poor man feed himlelf by his daily labour — liy
the fame rule of phyfic, had he been wounded in his head, our lurgeons
lliould have cut that oft', for being unfortunate." 1 told tlie oencvolenc old
warriors, that the wifdom of our laws had exempted the head from I'ucli
fevere treatment, by not fettling a reward for the fevering it, but only lo
much for every joint of the branches of the body, which might be well
enough fpared, without the life; and that this medical treatLin.'nt was a
flrong certificate to recommend the poor man to genteel lodgings, wlierS
numbers belonging to our great canoes, were provided tor during life.
They were of opinion however, that fuch brave hardy fellows would ra-
ther be deemed men, and work for their bread, than be laid afide, not only
as ufelefs animals, but as burdens to the reft of fociety.
.f[:
J ti
^m'
I do not remember to have feen or heard of an Indian dying by the bitt
of a fnake, when out at war, or a hunting -, although tliey are then often
bitten by the moft dangerous fnakes — every one carries in his ftiot-poucb,
a piece of the beft fnake-root, fuch as the Seneeka, or fcrn-fnakc-root,—
or the wild hore-hound, wild plantain, St. Andrew's crob, and a variety
of other herbs and roots, which are plenty, and well known to thole
who range the American wood?, and are expoted to i'uch dangers, and will
eftedl a thorough and fptedy cure if timely applied. When an Indiaa per-
ceives he is ftruck by a fnake, he immediately cl.ev.'s fotrie of the roof,
and h.aving fwallowed a fulficicnt quantity of -.r. h'. applies Ibn.c to the
wound; which he repeats as occafion recjinr;., and In proporLion to the
j)oifon the fnake has infufed into the wotir.d. for a. lliorr fpace of tim?,
tiicre is a terrible conflidl tiirougii all ti)c body, by the jarring, qualities of
U h 2 ' ' the
23*
^dh Acccunt of the Chccrakc Nation.
VA
N
-If
f%
i
tlic burninp; poifon, and the ftrong antulote •, but the poifon is foon repelled
through the lame channels it entered, and the patient is cured.
The Chcerake riiountains look very formidable to a ftranger, when he is
among their valleys* ineircled with their prodigious, proud, contending;
topsi they appear as a great mais of black and blue clouds, interfperfed witli
fomc rays of lipjit. Hut they produce, or contain every thifiji; for healthy
and wealth, and if cultivated by tlie rules of art, would furnifli perhaps,
a:i valuable medicines .13 the caftern countries •, and as great quantities of.
p,oId anil lilvcr, us Peru and Mexico, in proportion to their fituation
with the a;qu3tor. On the tops of feveral of thofe mountains, I have
cbfcrved tofts of grafs deeply tindlured by the mineral exhalations from
the earth •, and on the fides, they glillercd from the fame caufe. If fkilful
akhymifts made experiments on thefe mountains, they could foon fatisfy,
themfelves, as to the vali'.- of their contents, and probably would find thcic
account in it..
Within twenty miles of the late Fort-Loudon, there is great plenty of
whet-ftones for razors, of red, white, and black colours. The filver mines
are fo rich, that by digging about ten yards deep, fome defpcrate vagrants
found at fundry times, fo much rich ore, as to enable them to counterfeit
dollars, to a great amount ; a horfe load of which was detefled in pafTing
for the purchafe of negroes, at Augufta, which ftands on the fouth-fide of
the meandering beautiful Savanah river, halfway from the Cheerake coun-
try, to Savanah, the capital of Georgia. The load-ftone is likewife found
tJiere, but they have no fkill in fearching for it, only on the furface i
a great deal of the magnetic power is loft, as being expofed to the various
changes of the v/cather, and frequent firing of the woods. I was told
by a trader, who lives in the upper parts of the Cheerake country, which
is furroundcd on every fide, by prodigious piles of mountains called
Checowhce, that within about a mile of the tov/n of that name, there is .1
hill with a great plenty of load-ftones — the trutii of this any gentleman of
curiofity may foon afcertain, as it lies on the northern path that leads from
South-Carolina, to the remains of Fort-Loudon : and while he is in fearch of
this, he may at the fame time make a great acqueft of riches, for the load-
Aone is known to accompany rich metals. 1 was once near that load-ftone
hill.
'%
^n Accmut of the Chcer;uke Natiiit.
237
IIP
fiill, but the heavy rains wliich at tliat time fell on the deep fnow, pre-
vented the gratifying tny ciiriolity, as the buj?gy deep ci';tk was thereby
rendered impaHablc.
In this rocky country, are found a great many beautiful, clear, chry-
ftaline Hones, formed by nature into feveral angles, v;hich commonly meet
in one point : feveral of them are tranfparent, like a coarfe diamond —
others relemblc the onyx, being engendered of black and thick hu-
mours, as we fee water that is tindlurcd with ink, ftill keeping its fur-
face clear. I found one ftone like a ruby, as big as the top of a man's
thumb, with a beautiful dark fhade in the middle of it. Many ftones
of various colours, and beautiful luftre, may be coUe'^ed on the tops
of thofe hills and mountains, which if fkilfully managed would be very
valuiible, for fome of them are clear, and very hard. From which, we
may rationally conjefture that a quantity of fuLcerranean treafures is
contained there ; the Spaniards generally found ou' dieir fouthern mines,
by fuch fuperficial indications. And it \s nild be i ufeful \nd p.ofitable
frrvice for Ikilful artifts to engage in, as the prefent tradin;^ white favages
are utterly ignorant of it. Manifold curious works ot ra' wife author of.
nature, are bountifully difperfed through the 'hole of the cour'.iV, ob-
vious to every curious eye.
Among the mountains, are many labyrinths, and fome of a great length,
with many branches, and various windings •, likewife different forts of
mineral waters, the qualities of which are unknown to the natives, as
by their temperate way of living, and the h( althinefs of their country,
they have no occafion to make experiments in them. Between the heads
of the northern branch of the lower Cheerake river, and the heads cf that
of Tuckafehchee, winding round in a long courfe by the late Fort-Loudon,
and afterwards into the Miffifippi, there is, both in the nature and circum-
itances, a gnat pha;nomenon — Between two high mountains, nearly co-
vered with old moflfy rocks, lofty - .\i'i;s, and pines, in tlie valleys of which
the beams of the fun reflefl: a powertul heat, there are, as the natives affirm,
fome bright old inhabitants, or rattle fnakes, of a more enormous fize than is
mentioned in hiftory. They . le fo large and unwieldy, that they take a
circle, almoft as wide a? r'leir length, to crawl round in their fliorteft orbit :
but bountiful nature compenfates the heavy motion of their bodies, for
i :1
'ik'i
m
m
I.
A3
238
jin Account of the Chccrakc .Nation.
t \\
I \ >
M tluy fay, no living creature moves within tlie reach of their figlii,
but they can draw it to them ; which is agreeable to -what we obfcrve,
rhrougli the whole fyftcm of animated beings. Nature endues I'lem with
proper capacities to fuftain life ■, — as tlicy cannot fupjiort themH-l^'es, by
tlicir fpecd, or cunning to fpring from an ambufcade, it is needful they
Ihould have the bewitching oraft of their eyes and forked tongucj.
The defcription the Indians give us of their colour, is as various as what
■we arc told of the camclion, that fcems to the fpcftator to change ic.
colour, by every different pofition he may view it in •, whicli proceeds
from the piercing rays of light that blaze from their ioieheads, fo ;is
to dazzle the eyes, from whatever quarter they poll themfclves — for
in each of their heads, there is a large carbuncle, which not only r(.^
-pels, but they afErm, fullies the meridian beanis of the fun. They reckon
it fo dangerous to difturb thofe creatures, that no temptation can in-
duce them to betray their fccret recefs to the prophane. 'J'hey call them
and all of the rattle Inake kind, kings, or chieftains of tlie fnakes j and
tney allow one fuch to every tlifiercnt l"pe«jies of the brute creation. An
old trader of Cheeowhee told me, that for the reward of two pieces
of ftroud-cloth, he engaged a couple of young warriors to fhew him the
place of their refort ; but the head-men would not by any means aU
low it, on account of a fuperftitious tradition — for they fancy the kil-
ling of tliem would expofe them to the danger of being bit by tiie
oilier inferior fpecies of that ferpentinc tribe, who love their chicftaim,
and know by inllinft thofe who malicioufly killed them, as they fight
only in their own defence, and that of their young ones, never biting
•tliofe who do not difturb them. Although they efteem thofe rattle fnakes
as chicftairvs of that fpecies, yet they do not deify them, as the Egyp-
tians did all the ferpentinc kind, and likewile Ibis, that preyed upon them ;
however, it feems to have fprung from the fame origin, for I once \\\vf
the Chikkafah Archi-magus to chew fome fnake-root, blow it on his
hands, and then take u|i a rattle fnake without damage — I )on afterwards
he laid it down carefully, in a hollow tree, left I (liould have killed it.
Once on the Cliikkafih trading war-path, a litde above the country of the
Mu(1<{)hge, as I was returning to camp from hunting, I found in a large
cane Iwamp, a fellow-traveller, an old Indian trader, inebriated and
naked, except his Indian breeches and maccafeenes ; in that habit he liit,
J .hukliog
Ah Account of the Clieerake Nation.
n9-
holding a great rattlc-fnaUe round the neck, with liis k'ft hand be*
finearcd with proper roots, and with the other, applyiiij^ the roots to ther
teeth, in order to repel the poifon, before ho drew ihL-m out-, which having
efFetfted, he laid it down tenderly at a diltance. I then killed it, to his great
diflike, as he was afraid it would occafion misfortunes to himfclf and
mc. I told him, as he had taken away its teeth, common pity fliouki
induce one to put it out of mifery, and that a charitable aftion could never
bring ill on any one •, but his education prevented his fcp.rs from fub-
fiding. On a Chriflmas-day, at the trading houfe of that harmlefs, brave,
but unfortunate man, I took the foot of a guinea-deer out of his Ihot-
pouch — and anotlier from my own partner, which they had very- fafely
fewcd in the corner of each of their otter-fl<in-pouches, to enable them, ac-
cording to the Indian creed, to kill deer, bear, b;itTaloe, beaver, and other
wild beads, in plenty : but they were fo infatuated with the Indian fuper-
ftitious belief of the power of that charm, that all endeavours of recon-
ciling them to reafon were ineffcL^ual : I therefore returned them, for as
they were Nimrods, or hunters of men, as well as of wild bealb, I ima-
gined, Ifliould be anfwerable to myfclf for every accident that might befal
them, by depriving them of what they depended upon as their chief good,
in that wild fphere of life. No wonder that the long-defolate lavages of
the far extending defarts of America, fhoidd entertain the former fuperftitious
notions of ill luck by that, and good fortune by this ; as thofc of an early
chriftian education, arc fo foon impreft witli the like opinions. The latter
was killed on the old Chikkafah, or American-Flanders path, in company
with another expert brave man, in the year 1745, by twenty Choktah fa-
rages, fet on by tlie chriftian French of Tumbikpe garrifonj in confcquencc
of whicli, I ftaid by myfelf the following fummer-feafon, in the Chik-
kafah country, and when the reft of the trading people and all our horfes
were gone down to the linglifti fettlements, I perfuadcd the Choktah to
take up the bloody tomohawk againft ihofe perfidious French, in revenge
of a long train of crying blood : and had it not been for the felf-intereftetl
policy of a certain governor, thofe numerous favagcs, with the war-like
Chikkafah, would have deftroyed the Miftlfippi fettlements, root and branch,
except thofc who kept themfclves clofely confined in garrifon. When
I treat of the Ciioktah country, I fliall more particularly relate that v. ; *
material affair.
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J!n Account of the Clieerako Nathi:.
. The fuperior policy of the French fo highly intoxicated the liglu hcaJs
of the Checrake, that they were plodding mifchiel:' for twenty years bctoic
we forced them to commit hoftilities. Tlie illuftration of this may divert the
reader, and fliew our fouthern colonies what they may ilill exp.'c^t from tiie
mafterly abilities of the French Louifianians, whenever tlu-y can make it
fiiit their intercll to exert their talents among the Indian nations, while
our watch-men arc only employed in treating on paper, in our far-dillant
capital feats of government.
In the year 1736, the French fcnt into South-Carolina, one Priber, a
gentleman of a curious and fpeculative temper. 1 le was to tranfinit xXvam
a full account of that country, and proceed to the Cheerake nation, in or-
der to feducc them from the Britifli to the French intereft. He went, and
though Jie was adorned with every qualification that conflitutes the gen-
tleman, foon after lie arrived at the upper towns of this mountainous
country, he exchanged his clothes and every thing he brought witli him,
and by that means, made friends with the head warriors of great Ttl-
liko, which flood on a branch of the MilTifippi. More effedtually to
anfwer the defign of his commiffion, he ate, drank, flept, danced, drefled,
and painted himfelf, with the Indians, fo that it was not ealy to diftinguifh
him from the natives, — he married alfo with them, and being endued with a
ftrong underftanding and retentive njemory, he foon learned their dialeft,
and by gradual advances, imprcfled them with a very ill opinion of the En-
glifli, reprefenting them as a fraudulent, avaritious, and encroaching peo-
ple : he at the fame time, inflated the artlefs favages, with a prodigious
high opinion of their own importance in the American fcale of power, on
account of the fituation of their country, their martial difpofition, and the
great number of their warriors, which would baffle all the elforts of the am-
bitious, and ill-deGgning Britifli colonifts. Having thus infe(5led them by
his fmooth deluding art, he eaCly formed them into a nominal repub-
lican government — crowned their old Archi-magus, emperor, after a
pleafing new favage form, and invented a variety of high-foundinp; titles for
all the members of his imperial majefty's red court, and the great o/H-
cers of ftate -, which the emperor conferred upon them, in a manner ac-
cording to their merit. He h'mfdf received the honourable title of his im-
perial majcfty'i principal fecretary of ftate, and as fudi he fubfcribed him-
felf; in all the letters he wrote to our government, ind lived in open de-
ijjnce
An Account oj the Cheerakc Nation.
241
nance of them. This fee;ned to be of fo dangerous a tendency, as
to induce South-Carolina to fend up a commiflloner, Col. F — x, to de-
mand him as an^ enemy to the public repofc — who took him into cuftody,
in the great fquare of their ftate-houfe : when he had almoft concluded
his oration on the occafion, one of the head warriors rofe up, and bade him
forbear, as the man he entended to endave, was made a great beloved
man, and become one of their own people. Though it was reckoned, our
agent's ftrength was far greater in his arms than his head, he readily de-
fifted — for as it is too hard to ftruggle with the pope in Rome, a ftranger
could not mifs to find it equally difficult to enter abruptly into a nev/ em-
peror's court, and there feize his prime minifter, by a foreign authority ;
cfpecially when he could not fupport any charge of guilt againfl: him. The
warrior told him, that the red people well knew the honcfty of the fccreta-
ry's heart would never allow him to tell a lie; and the fecretary urged that
he was a foreigner, without owing any allegiance to Great Britain, — that he
only travelled through fome places of tluir country, in a peaceable man-
ner, paying for every thing he had of them ; that in compliance with the
requeft of the kindly French, as well as from his own tender feelings for
tlie poverty and infccure flate of the Cheerake, he came a great way, and
lived among them as a brother, only to preferve their liberties, by opening
a water communication between them and New Orleans -, that the diftance of
the two places from each other, proved his motive to be the love of doing
good, cfpecially as he was to go there, and bring up a fufficicnt number
of Frenchmen of proper Ikill to inftruft them in the art of making gun-
powder, the materials of whicli, he affirmed their lands abounded with. —
He concluded his artful fpeech, by urging that the tyrannical dcfign
of the Fnglifli commifTioner toward him, appeared plainly to be levelled
againft them, becaufe, as he was not acciifcd of having done any ill to the
Knglifh, before he came to tiie Clieerake, his crime muft confift in loving
the Clieerake. — And as that was reckoned fo heinous a tranfgrenion in the
eye of the Englilli, as to fend onr of their angry beloved men to enflavc
him, it confirmed all tiiofe hoiieft fpeeclies he had often fpoken to
the prefcnt great war-cliieftains, old beloved men, and warriors of each
tlafs.
An old war-leader repeated to the comminioner, the eflentlal part of liic
frcech, and added more of his own fimilar tliereto. He bade him to in-
I i form
;ii4
*. I
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Ill
:42
An Account of the Checrake Niition.
form his fiiperiors, tliat the Checrake were as defirons as the Enghfh to
continue a frieniily union with each other, as " freemen and equals." That
they hoped to receive no farther uneafinefs from them, for confulting their
own interefts, as their reafon diflated. — And they earncftly requefted them
to fend no more of thofe bad papers to their country, on any account ;
nor to reckon them fo bafe, as to allow any of their honed friends to be
taken out of their arms, and carried into flavery. The Englifli beloved
man had the honour of receiving his leave of abfencc, and a fufficicnt pafs-
port of fafe conduift, from the imperial red court, by a verbal order of
the fecretary of ftate, — who was fo polite as to wifli him well home, and
ordered a convoy of his own life-guards, who condufted him a confider-
able way, and he got home in fiifety.
I \ \ \
\
From the above, it is evident, that the monopolizing fpirit of the
French had planned their dangerous lines of circumvallation, refpeding
our envied colonic:;, as early as the before-mentioned period. Their choice
of the man, belpeaks alio their judgment. — Though the philofophic i"c-
crctary was an utter ftranger to the wild and mountainous Cheerake coun-
try, as well as to their language, yet his fagacity readily direfted him
to chule a proper place, and an old favourite religious man, for the new
red empire j whic'' he formed by How, but fure degrees, to the great
danger of our fouthern colonies. But the empire received a very great
Jhock, in an accident that bcfcl the fecrenry, when it was on the point
e)f rifing into a far greater ftate of puilTance, by the acquilition of the
Mulkohge, Choktah, and the weftcrn IMinifippi Indians. In tlie fifth year
of that red imperial xra, he fet off for Mobille, accompanied by a few
Cheerake. He prc.ceeded by land, as far as a navigable part of the
weftern great river of the Mufkohge ; there he went into a canoe pre-
pared for the joyful occafion, and proceeded within a day's journey of
Alebahma garrifon — conjefturing the adjacent towns were under the
influence of the French, he landed at 'I'allapoofe town, and lodged
tlv.re all night. The traders of the neighbouring towns foon went
there, convinced the inhabitants of the dangerous tendency of his un-
wearied labours among the Cheerake, and of his prefent journey,
and then took him into cuftody, with a large bundle of manufcripts, and
fcnt him down to Frederica in Georgia i the governor committed him
to a place of confinemtnt, though not with common felons, as he was
a foreigner, and was laid to have held a place of confiderable rank in
the
An Account of the Ciiccrakc Nmion.
24.?
the army with great honour. Soon after, the magazine took firo, wliicli
was not far from where he was confined, and thcAigh tlie eenlinels bade
him make off to a place of fafety, as all the peoj)le were running to
avoid danger from the cxplofion of the powder and fliclls, yet lie iquatted
on his belly upon the floor, and continued in that pofition, witiiout tlie
lead hurt : feveral blamed his raflintlii, but he told them, tliat experience
had convinced him, it was the moft probable means to avoid imminent
danger. This incident dilplayed the philoloplier and foKiicr, and after
bearing his misfortunes a confiderable time with great conflancy, hap-
pily for us, he died in conlinemenr, — though he deferved a mucli bet-
ter fate. In the firfl: year of his fecretarydiip T maintained a correfpond-
ence with him •, but the Indians becoming very inquiiitive to know the
contents of our marked large papers, and he fufpeding his memory
might fail him in telling thole cunning fifteis of truth, a [)laur!ble Itory,
and of being able to repeat it often to them, without any variation, —
he took the Ihorteft and fafeil metiiod, by telling them that, in the very
fame manner as he was their great ("ecretary, I was the devil's clerk, or an
accurfed one who marked on jiaper the bad ipeech of the evil ones of
darknefs. Accordingly, t!iey forbad him writing any more to fiicli an ac-
curfed one, or receiving any of his evil-marked papers, and our corre-
fpondence ceafed. As he was learned, and poiTeffed of a very fagacious
penetrating judgment, and iiad every qualification that was requifue for
his bold and difficult entcrprize, it is not to be doubted, that as he wrote
a Cheerake diiflionary, dcfigned to be publillied at Paris, he likewile fet
down a great deal that would have been very acceptable to the curious, and
ferviceable to the reprefentatives of Soutli-Carolina and Georgia ; which
may be readily found in Frederica, if the manufcripts have had the good
fortune to efcape the defpoiling hands of military power.
When the weftern Cheerake towns loft the chief fupport of their mipc-
rial court, they artfully agreed to inform the Englifh traders, that each of
them had opened their eyes, and rejedted the French plan as a wild fcheme,
inconfiftent with their interefts % except great Telliko, the metropolis of their
late empire, which they faid was firmly refolved to adhere to the French
propofals, as the fureft means of promoting their welfare and happinefs.
'i hough the inhabitants of this town were only dupes to the reft, yet for
I i 2 the
!!i
§
m
m \-'^
m
144
An Account of ths Cheerake Nation.
the fake of the imagined general good of the country, their conftancy
enabled them to ufe that difgiiifc a long time, in contempt of the Englifh,,
till habit changtd into a real hatred of the objetft, what before was only
fi(5litious. They correfponded with the French in the name of thofe feven
towns, which are the mod warlike part of the nation : and they were fo
llrongly prepoflefled with tlie notions their beloved fecrecary had infufed
into their heads, in that early weak ftate of Louifiana, that they had rc-
folved to remove, and fettle fo low down their river, as the French boats
could readily bring them a fupply. But the hot war they fell into with the
northern Indians, made iliem poftpone the execution of that favourite de-
fign J and the fettling of Fort Loudon, quieted them a little, as tliey
expe(5led to get prefents, and fpirituous liquors there, according to the
oianner of the French promifes, of which they had great plenty.
The French, to draw off the weftern towns, had given them repeated
afl'urances of fettling a ftrong garrifon on the north fide 'of their river,
as high up as their large pettiaugres could be brought with fafety, where
there was a large tracfl of rich lands abounding vvitli game and fowl, and
the river Vifith fifh. — They at the fame time promifed to procure a firm
peace between the Cheerake and all the Indian nations depending on the
French ; and to bellow on them powder, bullets, flints, knives, fciffars,
combs, fhirts, looking glafles, and red paint, — befide favourite trifles to
the fair fex : in the fame brotherly manner the Alebahma French ex-
tended their kindly hands to their Mufkohge brethren. By their afTiduous
endeavours, that artful plan was well fupported, and though the fituation of
our affairs, in the remote, and leading Cheerake towns, had been in a
ticklifh fituation, from the time their projeft of an empire was formed ;
and though feveral other towns became uneafy and difcontented on fun-
dry pretexts, for the fpace of two years before the unlucky occafion of
the fucceeding war happened — yet his excellency our governor neglefted
the proper meafures to reconcile the wavering lavages, till the gentleman
who was appointed to fucceed him, had juft reached the American coaft :
then, indeed, he fet oH^ with a confiderable number of gentlemen, in
flouridiing parade, and went as far as Ninety-fix * fettlement ; from
whence, as moft probably he expefted, he was fortunately recalled, and
joyfully fupeiieded. I Aiw him on his way up, and plainly obferved he
was unprovided for the journey •, it mull unavoidably have proved abortive
* So c.nlled from its dillance of miles from the Cheerake.
before
? iJ
'; i
1]
An Account of the Cheerakc Nation.
245
before he could have proceeded through the Cliecrake country, — gratifying
the inquifitive difpofition of the people, as he went, and quietmp tlie jealous
minds of the inhabitants of thofe towns, who are fettled among tiie Apa-
lahche mountains, and thofe {>:v(i\\ towns, in particular, that lie bcyund
them. He neither fent before, nor carried with him, any prefents where-
with to foothe the natives ; and his kind promifcs, and fmooth fpecches,
would have weighed exceedingly light in the Indian fcale.
m
Having (hewn the bad ftate of our affairs among the remoteft parts of
the Cheerake country, and the caufcs. — 1 fliall now relate their plea, for
commencing war againrt: the Britifli colonies ; and the great danger we
were expofed to by the inceffant intrigues of the half-favage Frencli giirri-
fons, in thofe hot times, w' 1 all our northern barriers were {o prodi^^ioully
harraflcd. Several companies of the Cheerake, who join:;d our forces un-
der General Stanwix at the unfortunate Ohio, affirmed that their alienation
from us, was — becaufe they were confined to our martial arrangement, by
unjufl: fufpicion of them — were very much contemned, — and half flarved
at the main camp : their hearts told them therefore to return home, as
freemen and injured allies, thougli without a fupply of provifions. This
they did, and pinching hunger forced them to take as much as barely
fupported nature, when returning to their own country. In their journey,
the German inhabitants, without any provocation, killed in cool blood about
forty of their warriors, in different places — though each party was under
the command of a Britifh fubjeft. They fcalped all, and butchered feveral,
after a moil (hocking manner, in imitation of the barbarous war-cu(lom
of the favages ; fome who eicaped the carnage, returned at night, to fee
their kindred and war-companions, and reported their fate. Among thofe
who were thus treated, fonie were leading men, which had a dangerous ten-
dency to difturb the public quiet. We were repeatedly informed, by pub-
lic accounts, that thofe murderers were ib audacious as to impofe the
fcalps on the government for thofe of French Indians ; and that they ac-
tually obtained the premium allowed at that time by law in fuch a cafe.
Although the vindiftive difpofition of Indians in general, impetuouOy
forces them on in quefl of equal revenge for blood, without the lead
thought of confequences j yet as a miiunderftanding had fubfifted fome time,
between feveral diftant towns, and thofe wlio chanced to lofe their peo-
ple in Virginia, the chiefs cf thoff, families being afraid of a civil war,
in
( ; I
a
246
yirt Account of the Chcerake Nation.
in cafe of a rupture wiih us, difluaded the furious young warriors, from
coinmcncing liotlilitics agaiiilt us, till they had demanded fatisfadlion,
agreeable to the treaty of friendlliip between them and our colonies •, wljich
if denicil, tliey would fully take of their own accord, as became a free,
warlike, and injured people. In this flate, tie aftair lay, for the belt part
cf a year, without our ufing any proper conciliating mcafures, to prevent
the tln\'atcnii)g impending ftorm from dellroying us : during that interval,
they earncrtly applied to Virginia for fatisfaftion, without receiving any •,
ia like manner to North-Carolina \ and afterwards to South-Carolina, with
the fame bad fuccefs. And there was another incident at Fort Prince-
George, wliich fet fire to the fuel, and kindled it into a raging flame : three
I'ght-hcadc'd, tliforderly young olHcers of that garrifon, forcibly violated
fome of their wives, and in the mull fnamelefs manner, at their o -< houfcs,
while the hufbands were making their winter hunt in the woods — and which
infamous condudl they mailly repeated, but a few months before the
commencement of the war : in other refpecls, through a haughty over-
bearing fpirit, tliey took piealiire in infulting and abufing the natives, when
they paid a friendly vifit to the garrifon. No wonder that fuch a behaviour,
caufed their revengeful tempers to burft forth into adion. When the In-
dians find no redrefs of grievances, they never fail to redrefs themfelves,
cither fooner or later. But when they begin, they do not know where to
end. Their thirfl for the blood of their reputed enemies, is not to be
quenched with a few drops.— The more they drink, the more it indames
their third. When they dip their finger in human blood, they are reftlefs
till they plunge themfelves in it.
■li
Contrary to the wife conduft of the French garrifons in fecuring the af--
fedlion of the natives where they are fettled — our fons of Mars imbittered
the hearts of thole Chcerake, that lie next to South-Carolina and Georgia
colonies, agifinll us, with the mid feltlements and the weftern towns on the
fbreams of the Milfifippi : who were fo incenfed as continually to upbraid
the traders with our unkind treatment of their people in the camp at Mo-
nongahela, — and for our having committed fuch hoftilities againft our good
fi lends, who were peaceably returning home through our lettlements, and
often under jilnching wants. The lying over their dead, and the wailing
of the vvonuii in their various towns, and tribes, fur their deceafed rela-
tions, at the dawn of day, and in the duflc of the evening, proved another
llrong provocative to them to retaliate blood for blood. The MuH-Lohge
alio
yln Account of the Checrake NiUion.
247
alio at th.u time having a fricnilly intercouiTc with the Checrake, tiirnunli
ilie channel of the govc-inor ot South-Carolina, wciv, at the inllamc of
tlic watchful French, often riiliculing ilicni for their cowardic.' in ni)t re-
venging the crying blood of their beloved kinlir.eii an 1 vvatiiors. :\x \\\:
fame time, they promifcd to afTill tlicm apainll us and \\\ the name ol" ti\t:
Alebahma French, aflured them of a fupply of ammunition, to enable vheni
to avenge their injuries, and mauuain tlu'ir lire, and libcMies againll the
milchievous and bloody F.nf'Ji!)) coh)ni(!si who^ ti.ey laid, weic natur.dly
in a bitter ftate of war againit all tlie red (leuple, and lludicvl only how f)
fteal their lands, on a quite oppofue principle to the open Ikady con-
duifl of the generous ircncii, who afl'ilt tiicir poor red bruiher.s 'A grtac
way from their own fetdements, where they can ha\e no view, but tliat
of doing good. Notwithllanding the repeated provocations w; liad gi\'en
to the Cheerake, — and tlie artful infinuations of the Fiei.ch, inculcated with
proper addrefs ; yet their old chiefs not wliolly depending on the fincerity of
their fmooth tongues and painted faces, nor on tlie afuflance, or even
r.eutrality of the remote nortliern towns of their own country, on nuture
deliberation, concluded that, as all hopes of a friendly redrefs for the blood
of their relations now depended on their own hands, they ougiit to take re-
venge in that equal and juil manner, which became good warriors. Tiiey
accordingly lent out a large company of warriors, againil thofe Germar.s,
(or Tied-arfe people, as tliey term them) to bring in an equal number of their
icalps, to tholl" of ilieir own murdered relations. — Or if th(;y fovmd tlicir
fafety did not permit, they were to proceed as near to that fettlemcnt, as they
conveniently could, where having taken fufficient fatisfaiflion, I'iey were to
bury the bloody toniohawk they took with tiiem. 'lliey let oH", but ad-
vancing pretty far into the high fettlements of North-Carolina, the ambi-
tious young leaders feparated into fmall companies, and killed as many of
our people, as unfortunately fell into their power, contrary to t!ie wife or-
ders of their feniors, and the number far exceeded that of tiieir own
flain. Soon after they returned home, they killed a reprobate old tra-
der ; and two loldiers alfo were cut off near F'ort Loudon. For tliefe afl^,
of hoftility, the government of South-Carolina demanded fatisfaJtion, with-
out receiving any ; the hearts of their young warriors were To e>:ceed-
ingly enraged, as to render their ears quite deaf to any remonflrancc
of their feniors, refpecling an amicable accommodation •, for as they ex-
pected to be expofed to very little danger, on our remote, difperfed, and
S very
'I-
' .1 '
.1 ii I
'nL
'H
m
248 yln Account of tha Chccrake Nation.
very cxtenfivc barrier fettlcments, notliing but war-fonffs and war-dancci
roiikl plcalc tbcm, during this (bttering period of becoming great war-
riors, " by killing (vvarriT-. oi white dung-hill fowls, in the corn-fields, and
aOeep," according to their war-phrafe.
\ , . \
J'reviou'i to this alarming crifis, while the Indian*? were applying to our
colonies fur that fitisfaflion, wliich our laws could not allow them, without
a large contribution of white fcalp?, from Tyburn, with one living cri-
tninal to fufter death before- their eyes, — his excellency William Henry
J.yttlcton, governor of South-Carolina, ftrenuoully exerted himfelf in pro-
viding for the fafety of the colony, regardlefs of fatigue, he vifitcd its
extenfive barriers, by land and water, to have them put in as refpedable a
condition, as circumftances c ould admit, before the threatening ftorm broke
out : anil he ordered the miT-ia of the colony, under a large penalty, to be
trained to arms, by an adjutant general, (the very worthy Col. G. P.) who
faw ihofe manly laws of defence duly executed. We had great pleafure
to fee his excellency on his fummer's journey, enter the old famous New-
Windfor garrifon, like a private gentleman, without the lead parade i and
he proceeded in his circular courfc, in the fame retired eafy manner, without
incommoding any of the inhabitants. He fully teftified, his fole aim was
the fecurity and welfare of the valuable country over which he prefided,
without imitating the mean felf-interefled artifice of any predecefibr. At
the c:pital feat of government, he bufily employed himfelf in extending,
arid protcvfling trade, the vital part of a maritime colony -, in redrelfing old
negleded grievances, of various kinds ; in punilliing corruption wherefo-
cver it v.as found, beginning at the head, and proceeding equally to
the feet ; and in protefling virtue, not by the former cobweb-laws, but
thofe of old Britllh extraiftion. In fo laudable a manner, did that public-
fpirited governor exert his powers, in his own jn per fphere of a'ftion :
but on an object much below it, he failed, by not knowing aright the tem-
per and cuftoms of the favages.
The war being commenced on both fides, by the aforefiid complicated
caufes, it continued Ix^r fome time a partial one : and according to the well-
known temper of the Chcerakc in fimilar cafes, it might either have re-
mained fo, or foon have been changed into a very hot civil war, had we
? been
/Ill yh-count of the Chccrake Kati-jn.
249
been fo wife -xs to have improved the I'avour'blc opportunity. There were
icvcn nnrthcrn towns, o;)p(jlitc to the mitidic parts ot" the C'hccr.ikc covin
try, who from the iR'giimintj; of the tinh.ippy grievances, funily tiilVintcil
from the hodile intentions of their futllrinf; and enraged country-men, and
for a confiderahlc time before, bore iheni little ^'jOod-will, on account of
fome family difputcs which ocoaCioned each party to be more favourable
to itfelf tijan to ihe other : 'rhcfe, would readily have gratiticd tlieir vin-
dictive ilifpofuion, eit'.ier by a neutrality, or an ofienfive alliance with
our colonirts a[;ainU tiiem. Our rivals the Frencli, never neg'efted fo fa-
vourable an o[jportunity of fecuring, and promoting their intcrefts. — We
have known more than one inftanci wherein their wifdom has not only
found out proper means to difconceit the moll dangerous plans of dif-
afteded favages, but likcwife to foment, and artfully encourage great ani-
mofities between the heads of ambitious rival tamilies, till tiiey fixed them
in an implacable hatred agaiiift each otiier, and all of their refpedlive tribes.
Had the French been under fuch circumdances, as we then were, they
would inflantly have lent them an cmbalVy by a proper perfon, to enforce it
by the perfuafive argument of intcrcft, well fupported with prefents to all
the leading men, in orilir to make it weigh heavy in the Indian fcale j
and would have invited a number of thofe towns to pay them a brotherly
vifit, whenever it fuited them, that they might fliake hands, fmokeout of the
white, or beloved pipe, and drink phyfic together, as became old friends
of honcft hearts, ^q.
\'
.il
Had we thus done, many valuable and innocent perfons might have been
faved from tlie torturing hands of the enraged Indians ! The K'vourite lead-
ing warrior of thofe friendly towns, was well known to Soutli-Caiolina
and Georgia, by the trading name — '■'■ Round OP on account of a blue
iniprcdion he bore in that form. The fame old, brave, and friendly war-
rior, depending firmly on our friendfhip and ufual good faith, came down
within an hundred miles ( ' Charles-town, along wit!i tlie head men, and
many others of thofe towns, to declare to the government, an inviola-
ble attachment to all our Britifh colonies, under every various circumdar.ce
ol lite whatlbevcr i and at the lame time, earntfLly to requefl: them to fup-
ply their prefent want of ammunition, and order the commanding officer of
Fort-Prince-George to continue to do them the like fervice, when necefllty
Ihould force them to apply for it ; as they were fully determined to war
Kk to
% A
ajo
Jn AccotiKt oj the Chcerakc Nntion.
1 1
ft'Si
■.,\
to tlie very lad, a^'.ainll all the enemies of Carolina, without rcgarciii.
they were, or the nuinlier they confilted ot'. This they toKl ine on the
fpot i lor having been in a (ingul.ir nunner recommcnilcil to his cxtelleney
the gencr.il, I was pre-engaged tor tint c.iinj).ii!jn — but as I couUi not ob-
tain orders to go a-hcad of the army, throu'^h llie woods, witli a body of
the Chikkafah, and commence holliiities, I det lined the aft'air. 1 lad our
valuable, and well-meaning Cheerukc friends juft mentioned, ai.led their
ufual part of evading captivity, it would have been much better for them,
and many hundreds of our unfortunate oui fettlers •, but they depending on
our ulual good faith, by their honed credulity were ruined. It was well-
known, that t!ie Indians are iMJaequaintcd witli tiic eullom and meaning
of hoflaTcs •, to them, it conveyed tlie idea of (laves, as they have no pub-
lic faith to fecure the lives of Ivieh — yet tiuy w*rc taken into cuftody,
kept in clofe confinemetir, and afterv/ards lliot dead : their mortal crime
confuU'd in Ibuiuling the v/ar-whoop, and hollowin;j; to their countrymen,
when attacking the fort in whitli they were imprilbned, to fight like
llrong-hearted warriors, and tliey would foon carry it, againll the cowardly
traitors, \v!io deceived and inilaved their friends in their own beloved coun-
try. A white favage on tliis cut througli a plank, over tiieir heads, and
perpetrated that horrid action, wiiilc the foldicry were employed like v/ar-
riors, againfl; tiie enemy : to cxcufe his balenefs, and fuvc himfelf from the
reproaches of the people, he, like the wolf in the fable, falfely accufcd
them of intending to poifon the wells of the garrifon.
By our uniform mifconduvft, we gave too plaufible a plea to the difaf-
fefled part of the MulTtohge to join the Ciieerakc, and at tl\e fame time,
fixed the whole nation in a flate of war againft us — all the families of
thofc leading men that were fo fliamefully muidercd, were inexprelfibly
imbittered againll: cur very national name, judging that we firft de-
ceived, then inilaved, and afterwards killed our bell, and moft faithful
friends, who v/tre firmly refolved to die in our defence. The means of
our general fafecy, thus were turned to our general ruin. The mixed
body of people tiiat were firfl fent againft them, were too weak to do them
any ill -, and tliey fuon returned home wit!) a v.ild, ridiculous parade.
There were frequent dclertions among them — Ibme were afraid of the fmall-
pox, which then raged in the country — others abhorred an inadive life j
this fine filkcn body chiefly confided of citizens and planters from the
low fetilements, unacquainted with the hardfliips of a wood-land, fa-
3 vaoc
An Account of tlw Cheerake Nation.
25»
vagc war, aiul in caff of an anibufcadc attack, were utterly incapable of
ftanilinrr the fliocic. In Cicorgiana, wc were alTurcd by a (];cntlcm:in of cha-
racter, a princip.il mircliant of Mobille, who went a volunticr on thar
expedition, that toward the coiiclufion of it, when he went roiin.l the
I'clicate camp, in wet weather, and \.\i-: at night, he faw in different places
from *ifteen to twenty of their guns in a chiller, at tlie diftance of an equal
number of paces from their tents, feemingly fo rufty and peaceable, as the
lol's of tiiem by the ulual ludden attack of Indian fivages, could not in the
lealt adce't tlicir lives. And the Cheerake nation wvre llnfible of tlieir inno
cent intentions, from tlie difpofitic^n of the expedition in fo late a feafon of the
year : but their own bad lituation by the ravaging fmall-pox, and the dan-
ger of a civil war, induced the lower towns to lie dormant. However, foon
after our people returnetl home, they Hrmly united in tlie generous caufe of
liberty, and they atHed their pare fo well, that our traders llilpcifled not the
impending blow, till the niomcnt they fatally felt it: fome indeed efcaped
by the allillance of the Indians. In brief, wc forced the Cliecrake to be-
come our bitter enemies, by a long train of wrong meafures, the conle-
quences of which were feverely felt by a number of high afleflfed, ruined,
and bleeding innocents — May this relation, be a laftin.^ caution to our co-
lonics againll the like fatal errors ! and induce tliem, whenever nccefllty
compels, to go well prepared, with plenty of fit (lores, and men, againll any
Indian nation, and full defeat, and then treat with rhem. It concerns us to
remember, that they neither fliew mercy to thofe who fall in their power,
by the chance of war -, nor keep good faitii with their enemies, unlefs
they are feelingly convinced of its reafonablenefs, and civilly treated aftur-
ward.
.' I \^'^
\ ' ]
Had South-Carolina exerted herfelf in due time againd them, as her fitua-
tion required, it would have faved a great deal of innocent blood, and pub-
lic treafure : common fenfe direifled them to make immediate preparation.?
ibr carrying the war into their country, as tlie only w.iy to conquer tliem ;
but they llrangely ni'^^Jeftcd fending war-like (lores to Ninety-fix, our only
barrier-fort, and even providing horfes and carriages for that needful orca-
fion, till the troops they requelted arrived from New-York : and tlien they
Tent only a trifling number of thofe, and our provincials, under th.e g pl-
iant Col. Montgomery, (now Lord Mglington). I lis twelve hundred brave,
hardy highlanders, though but a handful, were much abler, however, to
K k 2 fight
-If :\
1 I tl
:i «'i
i.'i
I'
252
^n ylccou)it of the Chcerake Nation.
fight tlie Ip Jians in their country than fix thoiifand heavy-accoutcrcd and flow
moving regulars : fcr thefe, with our provincials, could both fight and pur
fue, while the regulars would always be furroundcd, and ft.ind a fure and
fhining mark. Kxcepc a certain provincial captain who elcorced the cattle,
every ofiicer aiui private man in this expedition, imitated the intrepid copy
of their maitial leader •, but being too few in number, and withal, Icanty
of provifions, and having loft many men at a narrow pafs, called Crow'j
Creek, where the path leads by the fide of a river, below a dangerous
fteep mouptain, — they proceeded only a few miles, to a fine fituated
town called Nuquofe-, and then wifely retreated under cover of the night,
towaid Fort-Prince-George, and returned to Charles-town, in Auguft 1760.
Seven months after the Chcerake commenced hoflilities, South-Caro-
lina by her ill-timed parfimony again expofed her barriers to the merci-
lefs ravages of tlic enraged Indians — who reckoning thcmfelves alfo fupe-
rior to any refillance we could niake, fvvept along the vaUi.ible out-fettle-
ments of North-Carolina and Virginia, and like evil ones licenfed to dellroy,
ruined every thing near them. The year following. Major Grant, the-
prefent governor of luill-Florida, was lent againft ther/i with an army of re-
gulars and provincials, and happily for him, the Indians were then in great
want of ammunition : they tlieret'orc only appeared, and fuddcnly diiap-
pcarcd. From all probable circumflances, had the Chcerake been fufficiently
fupplied with ammunition, twice the number of troops could not have de-
feated them, on account of the declivity of their llupendous mountain?,
under which their paths frequently run -, t!ie Virginia troops Ukewife kep;
far off in flourifliing parade, without coming to our afTidance, or making
a diverfion againft tiiofe warlike towns which lie beyond the Apalahch;^
mountains, — the chief of which arc, Tenjuife, Chcdte, Grent-Tei/Jko, and
Hwwi'dfe,
At the beginning of the late Chcerake war, I had the pleafurc to
fee, at Augujta in Ccorgiii, tb.e honourable gentleman who was our firll
Indian fuper-intendant ; he was on lis vr.xy to the Mufkohge country,
to pacify their ill dilpoficion toward us, wiiich luui irritated the Chce-
rake, and engiiged them in a firm conleJeracy /j.ainft us. They iiad
exchanged ti.eir bloody tomohawks, n.nil id and black painted Iwans
wings, a ftrong emblem of blood and dcaili, in confirmalion of their
ofFenfive and defcnfive treaty. But, notwitlillanding our dangerous fitu-
wion ought to have dirccled any gentleman worthy of public truft, to-
hivc
An Account of the Cheerake Niition.
^53
fiave immediately proceciled to tlieir country, to regain the hearts of thole
fickle and daring lavages, and tiicrcby elude the deep-laid plan of the
Fi\.i-,c'i-, and though Indian runn rs wen- frequently fenc down by our okl
friendly head-n-:t'n, urging the abfolute neccdity of his coming up foon,
otherwife it would be too late — he trifled away near half a year there, antl
in places adjoining, in raifing a body of men with a proud uniform dref*,
for the f,>ke of parade, and to cicort him from danger, with fwivels, blun-
dcrbulfe?, and many other fucii forts of blundering ftuflf, befoie ho pro-
ceeded on his journey. This was the only way to expofe the gentleman to
real danger, by llicwing at fuch a time, a diflidence of the natives — which
he accordingly eficdled, merely by his pride, obllinaey, and unllvilful-
nefs. It 13 well known, the whole might have been prevented, if he had
liftencd to the entreaties of the Indian traders of that place, to rcqueft one
(who would neither refufe, nor delay to ferve his country on any important
occafion) to go in his flead, as the dangerous fituation of our allairs de-
manded quick difpatcli. But pride [irevented, and he llowly reached there,
after mucii time was loll.
^
i
it
i
i
ii.'lB
M r:
The artful French commander, had in the mean while a very good op-
portunity to diflraft the giddy favage?, and he wifely took advantage cf
the delay, and perfuaded a confulerable body of the Shawano Indians to 11/
to tile northward, — as our chief was anirmed to be coming with an arm/
and train of artillery to cut them off, in revenge of tiie blood ili. y had
formerly fpillcc'. We foon heard, that in their way, tliey murdered a gre.it
many of the Britilh fubje^fts, and wit'i the mod dcfpitetul cagernels com-
niitted tiieir bloody ravages during the whole war.
After the l-.e^ul-mcn of that far-extending country, were convened tO:
know the import of our intendants long-cxpe>fled embally, he deti.ir.ed
them from day to day with his parading grandeur-, n:n ufuig thj
Indian friendly freedom, either to the red, or white per -Ic, till provi.
fio.-.s grew fcar.ty. Then their hearts were imbittered ag.. hiin, wliiL*
the French Alebahma commander was bufy, in taking tii by the fore-
lock. Hut the former, to be unilorni in iiis Uitf, hauudity conduet,
crowned the whole, in a longer delay, and almoll gained a luppoled
crown of- martydom, — by prohibiting, in an ol linate manner, all the
war-cliieftains and beloveei men then nifembled together in the great
beloved fquaro, from handing the friendly white pipe to a certain great
3 war-
ni
254
An Account of the Chcerake Nation.
M'l.
war-leader, well-known by the names of }'a/j-2'ak-'TuJlattage, or " tlie Great
Mortar," becaufe he iiad been in tlie French intereft. Our great man, ought
to have recl-iimed him by ftrong realbning and good treatment : but by hli
mifconduft, he inflamed the hearts of him and his relations witli the bit-
terell enmity agiiinft the Englifli name, fo that when tiie gentleman was
proceeding in his laconic llile, — a warrior who had always before been
very kind to the Britifli traders, (called " the I'obacco-eater" on account of
iiis chewing tobacco) jumped up in a rage, and darted his tomohawk at Iiis
head, — happily for all the traders prefent, and our frontier colonies, it funk
in a plank direiflly over the fuperintendant ; and while the tobacco-eater
was eagerly pulling it out, to give the mortal blow, a warrior, friendly
to the Knglifl), immediately leaped up, faved the gentleman, and pre-
vented thofe dangerous confequenccs which mull otherwife have imme-
diately followed. 1-Iad the aimed blow fucceded, tlic favages would have
immediately put up the war anil death whoop, deftroyed mofl: of the
white people there on the fpot, and fet off in great bodies, both to tlie
Cheerake country, and againft our valuable fettlements. Soon after that
gentleman returned to Carolina, the Great Mortar perfuaded a party of
his relations to kill our traders, and they murdered ten ; — very for-
tunately, it flopped there for that time. But at the clofe of the great
congrefs at Augulla, where four governors of our colonies, and his ma-
jefly's fuperintendant, convened the favages and renewed and con-
firmed the treaty of peace, the fame diiaffccled warrior returning lionie,
lent olf a party, who murdered fourteen of the inhabitants of Long-Cane
ietclement, abovj Ninecy-Six. The rcfult of that dangerous congrefs,
tempted the proud favages to ac^ I'uch a part, as they were tamely forgiven,
and unaflifd, all their former fcenes of blood.
During this dillraded period, tiie French ufed their iitmofl: endeavours to
involve us in a general Indian war, which to have favcd Sjuth-Carolina and
Georgia, would probably have required the airiftance of a confiderable number
of our troops froiu Canada. They Urove to fupply the Cheerake, by
way of i!ie Miiiilippi, with warlike ilores ; and alfo fent tiiem powder,
bullets, flints, knives, and red paint, by thtir (launch friend, the dif-
affect:ed Great Mortar, and his adherents. And though they failed in
executing their milchievous plan, both on account of the manly efcape of
our traders, and the wife conduft of thofe below, they did not dcl'pair.
Ujion lUidious deliberation, they concluded, that, if the aforcfaid chicftiin
'!<(
yln Account of tbc Checrake Natron.
o:)
2'ah Tab Tujlanage, his family, and warriors, llttlccl hi^h up one of tlicir
leading riven, about half way toward tlie Checrake, it would prove the
only means then left, of promoting their general caufe againit tlie Briiifli
colonills : And, as the lands were good for h.uncing, — the river fliallow,
and aboimciing with filtifli grals, for the deer to feed on in the heat of tic
d.'iV, fee of troublefome infects, — and as tlic iheam glided by the Ale-
bahma garrilbn to Mobille, at tliat rime in t!ie French hands, it could not
well fail to decoy a great many of the anibitious young warriors, and
oiliers, to go there and join our enemies, on any occafion v.hieh ap-
peared molt conducive to their dcfign of lliedding blood, and getting
a higher name among their wolfilli heroes. He and his nun.erous pack,
confident of fuccefs, and of receiving the French kipplies by water, fee
off for their new fe.it, well loaded, both for tlieir Chcerake friends
and themfelves. He had a French commifllon, witli plenty of bees-wax,
and decoying pidures -, and a flouriihing flag, wiiich in dry weather,
was difplayeil day and night, in the middle of their rnti-anglican t!u\ure.
It in a great meafure aid'wercd the ferpentine def;gn of the French, for
it became the general rende'-:vous of the Miflifippi Ind.ians, the Cl.ee-
rake, and the mure mifchlevous part of the MufI-;oIige. The latter became
the French carriers to thole hiah-land fava2;es : and had thev received
the ammunition lent them by water, and tliac ncft been allowed ro con-
tinue, wc fhould have had the French on our fouthern colonies at tlie
head of a dreadful confederated army of lavages, carrying defolation
where-ever they went. But, the plan mii'carried, our friendly gallant
Cliikkafah, btini' well informed of the ill defirrn of this nefl of hor-
nets, broke it up. A confiderable com^.any of their relblute warriors
marched againrt it ; and, as they readiiy '-.new the place of tic Cveat Mortar's
refidence, they attacked it, and though r.hcy milled him, they killed his bro-
ther. This, fo greatly intimid.ied hin, and '^s clan, that they fuddenly
removed from thence i and tlieir fur;..rifj phn was abortive. When he
got near to a place of fifety, he fiiewd. how highly irritated he was againft
us, and our allies. His difappo-n'ment, andoil^race, prevented him from
returning to his own native town, and c;;citei.' him to fettle in the remotcd,
and moll northern one of the whole nation, toward thf: Cheerake, in order
to alTift them, (as far as the French, and his own corroding temper
might enable him) againll the innocent objeds of his enmity : and
during the continuance of the war wc held with thofc lavages, he and a
numerous
lit
!■
Pf
i^^
2 r6
/:/« ylccount of the Checrake Niition.
numerous party of his niihcrcnts kept paflliig, and repafllng, from tl.cncc
to t!ic bloody theatre. 'J'licy were there, as their loud infulting bravadoes
teRified, during our two before-mentioned campaigns, under tlie lion. Col.
Montgomery, and Major Grant, 'i'iic wife endeavours of Governor Bull,
of South-Carolina, and tlic unwearied application of Governor Ellis, of
Cjcorgia, in concert with the gentlemen of two great trading houfes, tiic
one at Augufta, and the other on the Carolina fide of the river, not far
l)elow, where the Indians crowded day and night, greatly contributed to
demolilk the plan of the French and their ally, the Great Mortar.
AVhen public fpirit, that divine fpark, glows in the brfafl of any of tlie
American leaders, it never fails to communicate its influence, all around,
even to the favages in the remot(.-il wilderncfs ; of which Governor Ellis
is an illurtriou; inflance. lie fpeedily rcconcil-.d a jarring colony — calmed
the raging Mufl<ohge, though fet on by the milchicvous Alebdima French,
— pacified the Cheerakc, and the reft of tlieir confederates — lent them ofF
well pleafed, without executing their bafe defign, and engaged them into a
neutrality. The following, is one inftance — As foon as the Indians killed
our traders, th^y l.;nt runners to call home their people, from our fettle-
mcnts : a friendly head warrior, who had notice of it at night, near Au-
gufta, came there next day with a few more, exprefTed his forrow for the
mifchief his countrymen had done us, protelled he never had any ill inten-
tions againft us, and fiiil that, though by the law of blood, he ought to
die, yer, if we allowed him to live as a friend, he fliould live and die
one. Thougii thoulands of regular troops would mofl: probably have
been totally cut off", had they been where the intended general malTa-
cre began, without an cfcortment of our provincials -, yet an unfkilfui,
haughty officer of Fort-Augufta laboured hard for killing this wairror, and
his comp.mion, which of courfe, would have brought on what tlie enemy
fought, a complicated, univerfal war. But his excellency's humane tem-
per, and wife condu(5l, aftuating the Indian trading gentlemen of Augufta,
they fuffered him to fet off to flrive to prevent the further efiufion of in-
nocent blood, and thus procured the hapj^y fruits of peace, to the infant
colonies of Georgia and South-Carolina.
ACCOUNT
-J/
c c; O U N T
O f T H !•;
M U S K O H G E NATION, 8cc.
THEIR country is ficoatctl, ne;irly in the centre, between the Chee-
rakt, Georgia, L'afl and Wcfl-Florida, and the Clioktah and ChiK-
kafah nations, ilic one 200, and the other 300 miles up the Miflifippi. It
extends iSo computed miles, from north to fouth. It is called tlie Creek
country, on account of the great number of Creeks, or fmall bays, rivulets
and fwamps, it abounds with. This nation is generally computed to con-
fid of about 3500 men fit to bear arms-, and has fifty towns, or villages.
Tlie principal are Ok-zihils-ke, Ok-chni, Tnk-ke bat-chc, 7'al-U-fe, Kozv-bc-
tah, and Chr.-hab. The nation confifls of a mixture of feveral broken
tribes, whom the MuO<ohge artfully decoyed to incorporate with them, in
order to llrengthen themfclvcs ngainfl: liofliL- attempts. Their former na-
tional names were 'Tavu' lab, 'I t7e-l-\'>-^e, Ok-cbai, Pak-Li-T.ii, TVeC'tam-ka\
with them is alfo one town of the i>ba-Vi-a no, and one of the Nah-cbce In-
dians ; likewife two great towns of the Koo-a fuh-te. The upper part of the
Mufkohge country is very hilly — the middle Icfs fo — the lower towns, level:
Thefe arc fettled by the remains of the Oojccba, Okci!t\ and Savj,:'^:'Aa nations.
Mofl of their towns are very commodioufly and plcafantly fituated, on
large, beautiful creek;, or rivers, where the lands are fertile, the water clear
and well tailed, and tlie air extremely pure. As the ftreams have a quick
defcent, tlie climate i, of a mofi happy temperature, free from difagreeablc
l)eat or cold, unlefs for the fpace of a few dr.ys, in fummer and winter,
according to all our American clinvjs. In tlicir country are four bold rivers,
which fpring from tlic Ap;dahc';c mountains, and mterlock with the eaftern
branches of the MifTifippi. The Koofali river is the wcftern boundary of
their towns : It is 200 yards broad, and runs by the late Alebalima, to
t
1, I
Mobillc
i
1 I ' 1 '
iiii
:!
258
An Account of the Mulkohge Nation.
Mobillf, eadward. 0!<wluin<.e lies ;o miles from the former, which taking
a conliderablc loiithern fvvecp, runs a weftern coiirfe, and joins the aforcfaid
great dream, a little below that delerted garrifon ; fince the year 1764, the
Mufkoh[];ehave fettled feveral towns, feventy miles eaftwird from Qlcwhufke,
on the Chatahoochc river, near to the old trading path. This great lympid
flreani is 20u yards broad, and lower down, it pafll-s by the Apal.dichc,
•nto 1 lorida •, fo that tiiis nation extends 140 miles in breadth from eaft to
well, according to the courfe of the trading path.
Their land is generally hilly, but not mountainous ; which allows an
army an eafy paiTa^e into their country, to rctali.ue their Infults and cruel-
ties — that period feems to advance apace ; for the fine flourilliing accounts
of" .hafc who gain by the art, will not always quiet a fullering people.
A? the Mulkohge judge only from what they fee around them, they firmly
belie 'C they are now more powerful than any nition that might be tempted to
inva<l • them. Our paflive conduft toward them, caul'es them to entertain
.-^ ver'; mean opinion of our martial abilitiei : but, before we tamely allowt J
them 10 commit ads of hoflility, at pleafure, (which v/ill foon be men-
tion '!'' the traders taught them fometimes by flrong felt le.Tons, to con-
clude die Englifli to be men and warriors. They are certainly the mofl:
powerful Indian nation we are acquainted with on this continent, and within
thirty years pall, they are grown very warlike. Toward the conclufion of
their laft war with the Cheerake, they defeated tliem fo eafily, tliat in con-
tempt, they fent feveral of their women and fmall boys againfl: them,
though, at that time, the Cheerake were the mod numerous. The
Choktah were alfo much inferior to them, in ftveral engagements they
had with them ; though, perhaps:, they are the moll artful ambufcadcrs,
and wolfifh favages, in America. — But, having no rivers in tlicir own coun-
try, vry few of them can fwim, which often proves inconvenient and dan-
gerous, when they are in purfuit of the enemy, or purfued by them. Wc
Iliould be politically forry for their dlfierinces with each other to be re-
conciled, as long experience convinces rs they cannot live without fheduing
human blood fomewhere or other, on account of their jealous and fierce
tempers, in refentment of any I ind *"' injury, and tiie martial preferment
each obtains for every fcalp Ci ;'n enemy. Thev are fo extremely anxious
to be diftinguiflied by high wa'" -itles, that fomM: -.es a fmall party of war-
riors, on failing of fuccefs in ';heir campaign, have been detecled in mur-
dcrin(^
kH
An Account of the Mufkolige N.Jtt'.n.
2 SO
deiing fome cf their own people, for the f;il;e of their f.alps. We can-
not cxpeft that they will obfervc better faith towards ii? —therefore com-
mon fenfc and felf-love ought to dircdt vis to chufe the lead of two una-
voidable evils ; ever to keep the wolf from our own doors, by engaging
him with his wolfifh neighbours: at leaft, the officious hand of folly fhould
not part them, when they are carneftly engaged in their favourite element
againft each other.
■M
\ i-.i'
hit
m
m
All the other Indian nations we have any acquaintance witli, are vifibly
and fafl declining, on account of their continual mercilel's wars, the im-
moderat': ufe of fpirituous liquors, and the infedious ravaging nature of
the fmall pox : but the Mufkolige have few enemies, and t!ie traders with
them have taught them to prevent the lafl: contagion from fj.'rcading among
their towns, by cutting off all communication witii thofe who are infected,
till the danger is over. Befidcs, as the men rarely go to war till they have
helped the women to plant a fufficient plenty of provifions, contrary to the
ufual method of warring fa, ages, it is fo great a help to propagation, that
by this means alfo, and their artful policy of inviting decayed tribes to in-
corporate with them, I am affured by a gentleman of ditVmguiflied charafter,
who fpeaks their language as well as their beft orators, they have in-
creafed double in number within the fpace of thirty years pait, notwithftand-
ing their widows are confined to a ftrifl ftatc of celibacy, for the full
fpace of four years after the death of their hufbands. Wiicn wc confider
that two or three will go feveral hundred miles, to way-lay an enemy —
the contiguous fituation of fuch a prodigious number of corrupt, haughty,
and mifchievous favages to our valuable colonics, ought to c'r.u" our atten-
tion upon them. Thofe of us who have gained a fufllcicnt knowledge of
Indian affairs, by long experience and obfcrvation, are firmly perfuaded that
the feeds of war are deeply implanted in their hearts againil us; and that
the allowing them, in our ufual tame manner, to infult, plunder, and mur-
der peaceable BritilTi fubjedts, only tempts them to engage deeper in their
diabolical fcenes of blood, till they commence a dangerous open war againfl.
us : the only probable means to preferve peace, is either to fct them and
their rivals on one another, or by prudent management, influence tlum to
employ themfelvcs in raifing filk, or any other ftaple commodity that would
beft fuit their own temper and climate. Prudence points out this, but the
taflv is too arduous for ftrungers ever to be able to (;ftect, or they care not
I !.
;b0Ut It
LI
Before
,'AiJfev.
; ; il
I'
260
yf/i Account of the Mull^ohge Niition,
Before tlie lateccfTion of Euft aiul Weft P'loruLi to Great Britain, the country
of the Mufkohge lay between tlic territories of the Engliih, Spaniards,
French, Choktah, Chii-ikafah, and Cheerake. — And as they liad a water car-
riage, from the two Floridas ; to feci..e their liberties, and a great trade
by land from Georgia and South-Carolina, this nation regulated tlie Indian
balance of power in our foutliern parts of North-America-, for t!ie French
could have thrown the mercenary Clioktali, and the MilFifippi ravap,cs, into
the fcale, whenever their intcreft fccmed to require it. The- iVkifkohge liav-
ing three rival chriftian powers their near neighbours, and a French garrifon
on the fouthcrn extremity of the central part of their country ever fince
the war of the year 1715; the old men, Ixring long informed by the
oppofite parties, of tl.e diflerent views, and intrigues of thofe Fairopean
powers, who paid them annual tribute under the vague appellation of prc-
fents, were become furprifuigly crat'ty in every turn of low politics. They
held it as an invariable maxim, that their fecurity and welfare required a
perpetual friendly intercourfe with us and the F'rench v as our political
ftate of war with each oUier, would always fecurc their liberties: whereas,
if they joined either party, and enablcti it to prevail over tiie other, their
ftate, they faid, woull tlu-n become as unhappy as that of a poor fellow,
who had only one pcrveri'e wife, and yet muft bear with her froward
temper ; but a variety of choice would have kept olf fuch an aflliding
evil, either by his givir-g her a filent caution againft behaving ill, or by
enabling him to go to another, who was in a better temper. But as the
French Alebahnia Garrifon liad been long directed by (liiiful oflicers, and
fupplied pretty well with corrupting brandy, tatly, and decoying trifles
at the expence of government, they induftrioufly applied their mifchievous
talents in imprefilng many of the former f.mple and peaceable natives with
falfe notions of the ill intentions of our colonies. In each of their towns,
the French gave a confiderable peiifion to an eloquent head-man, to cor-
rupt tlie Indians by plaufible pretexts, and inlkime them againft us ; who
informed iliem alio of every material occurrence, in each of tiieir refpcdive
circles. The force of liquors mnde them lb faithful to their truft, t!iat they
poiioneil tlie innocence of tiieir own growing faiiiilies, by tempting them,
from their infancy, to receive the woril: iinprellluns of the Biialh colonilts ;
and as they very fcldom got the better or thole prejiuiices, tliey alienated
tlie affedtions of their olTspring, and rivet.'d their bitter enmiiy againft us.
Tliat conduct of die Chrilliun French has lixed maiiy of tlie Mulkuhge
in
An Account of the Mufkoligc Kathn,
201
in a ftrong native hatred to the Britifli Americans, w!ii. !i beinp- hereditary,
miifl: of courle incrcafe, as fall as they increafe in tuiiiibersi unkl") we [^ivc
them fuch a fevcre leflbn, as their annual lioftile condiift to us, has highly
deferved fincc the year 1760. I Iliall now fpeak more explicitly on thii
very material point.
By our fuperintendant's ftrange purfuit of improper ineafures to appeafe
the Mufkohge, as before notijed, the watcliful French engaged the irritated
Great Mortar to infpirc his relations to cut off Ibme of our traders by fur-
prife, and follow the blow at the time the people were ufually employed in
the corn-fields, lell our party Ihould flop them, in their intended bloody ca-
reer. They accordingly began tlicir hoftile attack in the up[)er town
of the nation, except one, where their mlfciiievous red abettor liveii :
two white people and a negroe were ''Lxl, wliile they were in the horlc-
pcn, preparing that day to have let ofi^" 'ith their returns to tlie r'liglilli
fettlements. 'I'he trader, wlio was furly and ill-natured, tiiey chopped
to pieces, in a wxSk horrid manner, but the other two they did not
treat with any kind of barbarity ; which flicws that the word people, in
tlieir word anions, make a diltindlion between the morally virtuous, and
vicious. Tlie other white people of that trading houfe, happily were at that
time in the woods •, — they licard the lavage platoon, and tlie death, and war-
whoop, which fuflkiently warned them of their imminent danger, and to
feek their fafety by the beft means they could. Some of them went through
the woods after night, to our friend towns ; and one who happened to be
near the town when the alarm was given, going to bring in a horfe, was
obliged to iiide hinilelf under a large fiillen tree, till night came on.
The eager lavages came twice, pretty near him, imagining he would chule
ratiicr to depend on the horfe's Ipeed, than his own : when tiie town was
engaged in dividing the fpoils, his wife fearing fhe might be watcl'.ed, took
a confiderable Avecp rov.iul, through the thickets, and by fearching the place,
and making ngn,)l.s, where Ihe expeded he lay concealed, fortunately found
him, and gave h;:n provifions to enable him to get to our feulcm.enij,
and then returiud home in tears : he arrived fafe at AuguRa, thouj.di
exceedingly torn with the brambles, as his fafety required him to travel
through unfrequented trads. In the mean while, the lavages having by this
jnfiamcd their greedy thirft for blood, let ofT fwiftly, and as they darted
3 aloiic
' I,
^t^il
m
^ I s ■.
202
Jln Ajcount of the Muflcoligc Nalhn,
a'lung foumling r'lc news of w.ir, tliey from a few, increaR'tl fu fufl, tliat their
voices convryeJ Uicli tlirilliii[; fliocks to iholc they were i . qiicfl: of, as if
I'.ie infernal ic-pions li.ui broken loofe through their favourite Aicbalima, .k.A
>v(;re inverted v. u!i p(jwcr to dcftroy the innocent. The p:reat OI;v.hu{ke-
town, where tliey reaci.ed, lay on the welkrn fide of the large caf.rnmon:
branch of Mabille river, whicli joins a f.ir greater weflcrn river, ahiiofl two
miles below the late Alebahma-, and the Englifli traders ilo;e-huiifcs lay
oppofite to till' t'jv.;i. 'I hofe red ambaflfadors of tlie Frencli, arll\ !ly
pallid tl\e rivet above tlic tuvvn, and ran along filently to a gentleman's
dwelling hoiil'e, vvhi-; they fn'ft fliot down one of his krvants, aid in a
•ninute or two after, hinV.llv: probably, he might have been faveil, if he
had not been too defper j •, for a (Irong-bodicd leading warrior of tlie town
was at liis hoiilc when they came to it, ss^.o <iiafped him behind, with his
face toward the wall, en purj, jfe to lave him from being fliot ; as tliey diirft
not kill itimfelf, under the certain pain of death. But very unluckily, the
gentleman Itruggled, gc hold jf him, threw him to the ground, and lb
became too :r a mark. — Thus the brenchified lavages cut off, in the bloom
of'hii youth, tlie fon of J. R. Efq-, Indian trading merchant of AuguRa, who
was the mull ftately, ccuncly, and gallant youtii, that ever traded in the
Mufl<ohgi country, and equally blell with every focial virtue, that attrads
cileem. The very lavages lament his death to this day, t!ioiig!i it was ufual
with him to correcft as many ui the fvvaggering heroes, as could ftand
round liim in liis houfl- when they became impudent and niifcliievous,
tl cugl) the plea of t'::Mkai[? 1] ^tuous liquors: when they recover from
their bacchanal j.'^ren?., tixy regard a man of a martial fpirit, and con-
temn the pufdlanimoui;.
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While the town was in the utmoft furprife, the ambitious warriors
were joyfully echoirii; — "all is fpoiled ;" and founding the Jeath-wlioop,
they, like fo many infernal furies commifiioned to delboy, let off at
full fpecd, difperfing their bloody legions to various towns, to carry ge-
neral d(.ftru(ftion along with them. But before any of their companies
reached to the Okchai war-town, (the native place of the Great Mortar) the
inhabitants had heard the malTacre was begun, and according to their rule,
killed two of or, traders in their lioufe, when quite off their guard:
as thefe traders were brave, and regardlefs of danger by tlieir habit
of living, the favages were afraid to bring their arms with them, it being un-
ufuai,
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An Account of the Mufkolige Notion,
263
iiloal, l.y rcafon of the feciirc fitii.uion ot* the town. A fc-v therefore
entered the houlc, with a rpccioui j>rt'ccncf, anJ intercepted ■ ivni fron the
fire-arms, wliith lay on a r.ich, on the iVoiit ot tlie eliimncy ; they inftantly
ll'izcil them, and as ihcy weic Io.kK 1 wiih larf;e fliot, thiy killed ihofo
r\v(j valuable and intrepid men, and left them on the lire — buc it they
liad been a few minutes fore-warned of the danger, t'.ieir lives would have
toll tl-,e whole town very dear, unlefs they h.id kindled the l.oul'c witli
fire aviows.
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Like peftileni. 1 vapours driven by whirlwinds, the mifehievous {:•
vayes endeavoured to bring defolation on the innocent ohjee^'ts of their
fury, wlierever they came : but ilie dilferent llights of the trading peopK-
as well as their own cxpe : o in the woods, and their connections
with tl'.e Indians both by n ige and other ties of fricndlhip, dilap-
pointed the accomplifhment .lie main point of the French diabolical
fcheme of dipping them all over in blood. By fundry means, a con-
fidcrable number of our people niet at the friendly houfe of the old
Wolf-King, two miles froni the Alebahma I-'ort, where that faithfiil
ftcrn chieftain treated them with the greatell kindnefs. Hut, as th<:
whole nation was diftr,' a'd, and the neighbouring towns were devotttl
to the Trench intereft, he found tliat by having no fortrels, nnd only-
forty warriors in his town, lie was unable to proted the refugees. \\\
order therefore to keep good faith with his friends, wlio put themfelvcs un-
der his protcftion, he told them their fituation, fuj)plied thole of them with
arms and ammunition who chanced to have none, and conveyed them into
a contiguous ih.ck fwamp, as their only place of leturity I' ,r that time-,
■' which their own valour, he faid, he was fure would maintain, botii againft
the French, and their mad friends." 1 le was not miftaken in his favour-
able opinion of their war abilities, for they ranged th.emfelvcs fo well, that
the enemy found it impradticable to attack them, without I'uftaining far
greater lol's than they are known to hazard. — He fuppUed them with necef-
faiies and fcnt them fafe at length to a friendly town, at a confidcrable
dillance, where they joined feveral other traders, from diflerent places,
and were foon after fafely efcorted to Savanah.
i 1
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It is furprihng how thofe hardy men (\aded the dangers they were fur-
rounded with, efpecially at the beginning, and with fo little lofs. One of.
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An Account of the Mulliohge Nation,
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them told me, that while a party of the favages wcie on a corn-houfe fcaf-
fold, painting themfelvcs red and black, to give the cowardly blow to him
and his companions, an old woman overheard them concerting their bloody
defign, and fpcedily informed him of the; tlircatening danger: he mentioned
the intended place of meeting to his friends, and they immediately fct of?',
one this way, and another that, to prevent a ptirfuit, and all met fafe, to
the great regret of the Chriftian French and their red hirelings. I was in-
formed that another confiderable trader, who lived near a river, en
the outfide of a town, where he flood fecure in the allection of his favage
brethren, received a vifit from two lufty ill-looking ftrangcrs, without
being difcovered by any of the inhabitants. They were anointed with
bear's oil, and quite naked, except a narrow (lip of cloth for breeches, and
a light blanket. When they came in, they looked around, wild and con-
fufed, not knowing how to execute the French commilTion, confiftently
with their own fafety, as they brought no arms, left it fliould have difco-
vered their intentions, and by that means expofed them to danger. But
they feated themfelves near the door, both to prevent his efcape, and watch
a favourable opportunity to perpetrate their murdering fcheme. His white
domeftics were a little before gone into the woods ; and he and his Indian wife
were in the ftorehoufe, where there chanced to be no arms of defence, which
made his efcape the more hazardous. He was nearly in the fame light drefs,
as that of his vifitants, according to the mode of their domeftic living :
he was about to give them fome tobacco, when their countenances growing
more gloomy and fierce, were obferved by his wife, as well as the mif-
ciiievous diredion of their eyes ; prefently therefore as they bounded up, the
one to lay hold of the white man, and the other of an ax that lay on the
floor, fhe feized it at the fame inftant, and cried, " hufband fight ftrong,
and run off, as becomes a good warrior." The favage ftrove to lay
hold of him, till the other could difengage himfelf from the fliarp llrug-
gle the woman held with him ; but by a quick prefence of mind, the huf-
band decoyed his purfuer round a large ladder that joined the loft, and
being ftrong and fwift-footed, he there took the advantage of his too
eager adverlary, dalhed him to the ground, and ran out of the houfe,
full fpeed to the river, bounded ii-.'.o it, fjon made the oppofite Ihore,
and left them at the ftore-houfe, from whence the woman, as a trufty
friend, drove them off, with the utmoft defpight,— her family was her
protedlion.
An Account of the Mufkohge Nat ion.
261
prorc(5lion. The remaining part of that day, lie ran a great diftancc
through the woods, called at night on fuch white people, as he ima-
^'ined his fafety allowed him, was joined by four of them, and went toge-
ther to Penfacola. Within three or four days march of that place, the
lands, ihey told me, were in general, either boggy and low, or confuling
of fandy pine-barrens. Although they were almoft naked, and had lived
for many days on the produce of the woods, yet the daftardly Spa-
niards were fo hardened againft the tender feelings of nature in favour of the
diftreflcd, who now took ianduary under the Spanifli flag, as to refufe thciu
every kind of afliftance -, contrary to the iiofpitable cullom of the red la-
vages, even towards thofe they devote to the fire. A north-country flvipper,
who rode in the harbour, was equally diverted of the bowels of compafTion
toward them, notwithftanding their prefTing entreaties, and offers of bills
on very refpeftable perfons in Charles-Town. But the commandant of the
place foon inftruded him very feelingly in the common laws of huma-
nity ; for on fome pretext, he feized the vefiel and cargo, and left the nar-
row-hearted mifer tofliift for himfelf, and return home as he could : thofe un-
fortunate traders were kindly treated however by the head-man of an adjacent
town of the Apalahche Indians, who being a confiderable dealer, fupplicd
them with every thing they flood in need of, till, in time, they were recalled j
for \Yhich they foon very thankfully paid him and the reft of his kind fa-
mily, with handfome prefents, as a token of their friendfhip and gratitude.
; 1^ 13
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In the mean while, fome of the eloquent old traders continued in their towns,
wliere the red flag of defiance was hung up day and night, as the French
had no intereft there : and, in a fev/ other towns, fome of our thoughtlefs
young men, wlio were too much attached to the Indian life, from an early
purfuit in that wild and unlimited country, chofc to run any rifl<, rather
than leave their favourite fcenes of pleafure. In the day-time, they kept in
the moft unfrequented places, and ufually returned at night to their friend's
houfe : and they followed that dangerous method of living a confiderable
time, in different places, without any mifchance. One of them told me,
that one evening, when he was returning to his wife's houfe on horfe-back,
before the ufual time, he was overtaken by a couple of young warriors,
who pranced up along afide of him. They fpoke very kindly according to
their cuftom, that they might flied blood, like wolves, without hazarding
their own carcafes. As neither of them had any weapons, except a long
kn'fe hanging round their neck in a Iheath, they were afraid to attack him, on
Mm- fo
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An Account of the MuHcohge Nation.
li) hazardous a lay. Their qucdions, cant language, and difcompofed coun-
tenance?, informed him of their bloody intentions, and cautioned him from
falling into any of their wily ilratagems, which all cowards are dextrous in
forming. When they came to a boggy cane-branch, they ftrove to per-
fuatle him to alight, and reft a little, but finding their labour in vain, they
got dov/n : one prepared a club to kill him, and the other a fmall frame of
fplit canes tied together with bark, to bear his fcalp — feeing this, he fet off
with the bravado whoop, through tlie high lands, and as he rode a fwift
horfe, he left them out of fight in an inftant. He took a great fweep round,
to avoid an after-chafe. At night, he went to the town, got fire-arms, and
provifions, and foon arrived fafe in Georgia.
5|i
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Other inftances may be related, but thefe will fufHce to fliew how fer-
viceable fuch hardy and expert men would be to their country, as here-
tofore, if our Indian trade was properly regulated ; and how exceedingly
preferable the tenth part of their number would prove againft boafted regular
troops, in the woods. Though the britiili legions are as warlike and formi-
dable in the field of battle, as any troops whatever, as their martial bravery
has often tellified -, yet in fome fituations they would be infignificant and help-
lefs. Regular bred foldiers, in the American woods, would be of little fer-
vice. The natives and old inhabitants, by being trained to arms from their
infancy, in their wood-land fphere of life, could always furround them,
and fweep them off entirely, with little damage to themfclves. In fuch a
cafe, field-pieces are a mere farce. The abettors of arbitrary, power, who
are making great advances through the whole Britifh empire, to force the
people to decide this point, and retrieve their conftitutional rights and liber-
ties, would do well to confider this. Is it poflible for tyranny to be fo
weak and blind, as to flatter its corrupt greatnefs with the wild notion
of placing a defpotic military power of a few thoufand regular troops, over
millions of the Americans, who are trained to arms of defence, from the
tmie they are able to carry them — generally inured to dangers, and all of
them poirefTing, in a high degree, the focial virtues of their manly free-
minded fore-fathers, wlio often bled in the noble caufe of liberty, when
hateful tyranny perfifted in ftretching her rod of oppreffion over their repin-
ing country ? Tyrants are obftinately deaf, and blind ; they will fee and
hear only through the falfe medium of felf-interefted court-flatterers, and,
inflead of redrefling the grievances of the people, have fometimes openly
7 defpifed
■Ji^
y]n Account of the IVIufkohgc Nation.
267
ilcfpifcLl and iiifuked them, for even exhibiting tlicir moded prayers at the
foot of the throne, for a reftoration of their rights and privileges. Some
however have been convinced in the end they were wrong, and have juftly
fuflcred by the anathematizing voice of God and a foederal union. Tliat
" a prince can do no ill" is a flat contradidtion of reafon and experience,
and of the Englifli Magna Charta.
Soon after Well-Florida was ceded to Great- Britain, two warlike
towns of the Koo-a-foh te Indians removed from near the late danger-
ous Alabahma French garrifon, to the Choktah country about twenty-
five miles belov/ Tumbikbe — a ftrong wooden fortrefs, fituated on the
weftern fide of a high and firm bank, overlooking a narrosv deep point
of the river of Mobille, and diftant from that capital, one hundred
leagues. The difcerning old war-chiefcain of this remnant, perceived that
the proud Muf!s.ohge, inftead of reforming their conJusft towards us, by our
mild remonftrances, grew only more impudent by our lenity; therefore
being afraid of fliaring thejuftly dcferved fate of the others, he wifely
withdrew to this fituation •, as the French could not pofTibly fupply
them, in cafe we had exerted ourfelves, either in defence of our properties, or
in revenge of the blood they had flied. But they were foon forced to return
to their former place of abode, on account of the partiality of fome of them
to their former confederates; which proved lucky in its confequences, to
the traders, and our fouthern colonies : for, when three hundred warriors of
the Mulkohge were on their way to the Choktah to join them in a war againft
us, two Kooalahte horfemen, as allies, were allowed to pafs through their
ambufcadc in the evening, and they gave notice of the impending danger.
Thefe Kooalahte Indians, annually finflify the mulberries by a public
oblation, before which, they are not to be eaten; which they fay, is ac-
cording to their ancient law.
I am alTured by a gentleman of charaifler, who traded a long time near
the late Alebahma garrifon, that within fix miles of it, live the remains of
fcven Indian nations, who ufually converfed with each other in their own
dificrenr dialefls, though they underftood the Mufliohge language ; but
being naturalized, they were bound to obferve the laws and cultoms of t'lc
main original body, Thefe reduced, broken tribes, who have helped to
multiply the Mufkohge to a dangerous degree, have alio a fixed oral tradi-
tion, that they formerly came from South-America, and, after fundry (Irug-
M m 2 glei
I Mil
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268
An Account of the Mu/lcolige Nation,
\: il
gles in defence of liberty, fettled their prefcnt abode : but the Mofkohge
record thcmfeives to be terrs filii, and believe their original predecefTors
came from the weft, and refided under ground, which feems to be a faint
image of the original formation of mankind out of the earth, perverted
by time, and the ufual arts of prieft-craft.
It will be fortunate, if the late peace between the Mufkohge and Choktah,
through the mediation (j\ a fuperintendanr, doth not foon afFefl the fccurity of
Georgia, and Eaft and Wert-Florida, efpecially (hould it continue long, and
Britain and Spain engage in a war againft each other : for Spain will fupply
them with warlike ftores, and in concert, may without much oppofition, re-
take the Floridas \ which they fecm to have much at heart. A Cuba vcflel,
in the year 1767, which feemed to be coafling on purpofe to meet fome of
the Mufkohge, found a camp of them almoft oppofite to the Apalache old
fields, and propofcd purchafing thofe lands from them ; in order to fecure
their liberties, and, at the fame time, gratify the inherent, ardent defire
they always had to oppofe the Englifh nation. After many artful flourilhes,
well adapted to foothc the natives into a compliance on account of the
reciprocal advantages they propofed, fome of the Mun<ohge confented to
go in the veflel to the Havannah, and there finiih the friendly bargain.
They went, and at the time propofed, were fent back to the fame place,
but, as they are very clofe in their fecrets, the traders know not t'-'e re-
fult of that affair; but when things in Europe require, time will difclofe it.
As the Mufkohge were well known to be very mifchievous to our bar-
rier-inhabitants, and to be an over-match for the numerous and fickle Chok-
tah, the few warlike Chikkafah, by being put in the fcale with thefe, would
in a few years, have made the Mufkohge kick the beam. Thus our
Ibuthern calonifts might have fat in pleafure, and fecurity, under their fig-
trees, and in their charming arbours of fruitful grape-vines. But now,
they are uncertain whether they plant for themfelves, or for the red favages,
who frequently take away by force or Health, their horfes and other effects.
The Mufkohge chieftain, called the " Great Mortar," abetted the Cheerake
againfl us, as hath been already noticed, and frequently, with his warriors
and relations, carried them as good a fupply of ammunition, as the French
of the Alebahmah-garrifbn could well fpare : for by order of their govern-
aaenr, they were bound to refcrve a certain quantity, for any unforefeen occa.-
fioti
An Account of the Mu/kohge Nation,
269
iion that miglit happen. If they had been pofTeft of more, they wou'.d
have given with a liberal hand, to enable them to carry on a war againft
ws, and they almotl efiecled their earned wiflics, when the Englifli little
expefted it ; for as foon as the watcliful officer of the garnfon, v;as in-
formed by his triifty and wtil inftriifled red dilciple, the Great Mor-
tar, that the Clieer;.';e were on th? point of declaring againft the En-
glifli, he faw the confequence, and fcnt a pacquet by a Miifkohge runner,
to Tumbikbe-fort in the Choktah country, which was forwarded by
another, and foon delivered to the governor of New-Orleans : the con-
tents informed him of the favourable opportunity that offered for the
French to fettle themfelves in the Cheerake country, where the late
Fort-Loudon ftood, near the conflux of Great Telliko and Tennafe-rivers,
and fo dillrefs our fouthern colonies, as the body of the Cheerake,
Mufkohgc, Choktah, Aquahp' ind the upper Miflifippi-Indians headed
by the French, would be able tc. maintain a certain fuccefsful war againfb
us, if well iupplied with rmmunition. Tlitir deliberations were fliort — they
foon fent otF a large pf'ttiaugre, fufficiently laden with warlike (lores,
and decoying prefcnts \ and in obedience to the orders the crew had re-
ceived of making all the dlfpatch they poflibly could, in the third moon of
their departure from New Orleans, they arrived within a hundred and twenty
computed miles of thofe towns that are a little above the unhappy Fort-
Loudon : there they were luckily flopped in their miichievous career, by a
deep and dangerous cataraft ; the waters of which rolled down wit!i a pro-
digious rapidity, daflied againft the oppofice rocks, and from thence rulhcd
off with impetuous violence, on ■' quarter-angled courfe. It appeared fo
fhocking and unfurmountable to the monfieurs, that after rtaying tiierc
a confiderable time, in the vain expeclation of feeing fome of their friends,
neccfTity forced them to return back to New Orleans, about 2600 com-
puted miles, to their inconfolable difappointment.
1
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Thefe circumftanccs are now wrll known to our colonif-S : and. if onr
ftate policy had not fufficiently difcovered itfelf of late, it would appear
not a little furprifing that the Great Mortar, ffiould have fuch influence
on the great beloved man, (fo the Indians term the fuperintendant) as
to move him, at a congrefs in Augufta, to write by that bitter enemy of
the Englifli name, a conciliating letter to the alinoft-vanquiffied and de-
Iponding Choktah— for where the conquerors have not an oblique point in
vicv.
H ..
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*
u
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270 yln Account of the Mufkolige Nation.
view, the conquered are always tlie firfl who humbly fue f r pence. This
beloved epiftle, that accompanied the eagles-tails, fwans-wii. ;% white beads,
white pipes, and tobacco, was Tent by a white interpret.* and Mepe-
f.-icckc, a Muilcoligc war-chieftain, to the perfidious Chokta!;, as a flrong
confirmation of peace. Without doubt it was a mafter ft: .■'■■.c of -court-
policy, to ftrive to gain fo many expert red auxiliaries; and plainly fliews
how extremely well he deferves his profitable place of puLl c truft. I
am aftlired by two refpeflable, intelligent, old Indian trader^, G. G. and
L. M. G. Elcji that they frequently difTuaded him from ever dab-
ling in fuch muddy waters ; for the confequence would unavoiilably prove
fatal to our contiguous colonies. This was confirmed by a recent in-
ftance — the late Chccrake war, which could not have commenced, if the
Mufkohgc and Cheerake had not been reconciled, by the aOkluous en-
deavours of an avaricious, and felf-intereftcd governor. If any reader
reckons this too bold, or perfonal, I requeft him to perufe a performance,
entitled, " A moJeft reply to his Excellency J. G. Efq;" printed in Charles-
town, in the year 1750, in which every material circurnftance is fulHci-
cndy authenticated.
When we confider the defencelefs ftate, and near fituation of our three fou-
thcrn barrier colonies to the numerous Mufkohge and Choktah — what favour-
able opinion can charity reafonably induce us to form of ti.e continued train
of wrong meafures the managers of our Indian affairs have fludioufly pur-
fued, by officiouHy mediating, and reconciling the deep-rooted enmity
which fubfifted between thofe two mifchievous nations .'' If they could not,
confident with the tenour of their political ofike, encourage a conti-
nuance of the war, they might have given private inftruftions to fome
difcreet trader to ftrive to inlluence them, fo as to continue it.
It is excufable in clergymen that live in England to pcrfuade us to
inculcate, and endeavour to promote peace and good will, between the
favages of the remote defarts of America ; efpecially if they employ their
time in fpiritual aftairs, to which they ought to be entirely devoted, and
not as courtiers, in the perplexing labyrinths of ftate aftairs : but what can
be laid of thofe ftates-men, who infcead of faithfully guarding the lives and
privileges of valuable fubjeds, extend mercy to their murderers, who have
X long
r !
An Account of the MulTioIige Natrm.
271
a long time wantonly (lied innocent blood, and fometimes with dreadful tor-
tures ? 'I'he blood cries aloud to the avenging God, to caiifc iuilice to be
executed on their execrable heads : for a while they may cicape due puniih-
ment, but at laft it will fall heavy upon them.
When the fupcrintendant's deputy convened rnofl of the Muflcuhge
head-int-n, in order to write a fritiidly mediating letter to the Chikkafah,
in bi.liAlf oi the Mufkohge, tlie Great Mortar, animated with a bitter
refenrment againft any thing tranfaifted by any of the Britilh nation,
introduced a confiderable number of his relations, merely to difcuncert thij
pLin. The letter, and ufual Indian tokens of peace and fricndlhip, were
however carried up by a Chikkaiah trader : but the Great Mortar timed
it fo well, that he foon fet oil" after the other with ninety warriors, till hi
arrived within 150 miles of the Chikkaiah country, wlii^h was halfway
from the weftern barriers of his own-, there he encamped witli Sj, and Pent
off feven of the ftauncheft to fui prize and kill whomfocver they could.
Two days after the cxprcfs was delivered, they trcachcrouQy killed two
young women, as they were hoting in the fn Id v all the people bcii.g off
their guard, on account of the late friendly tokens tluy received, and tlie
alTurance of the white man that tliere were no vifible tracks of any perfon
on the long trading path he had com.e. This was the beginning of Mav,
in the year 1768, a few hours after I had fet off for South -Carolina. As
foon as the fculking barbarians had difchargcd tlie contents of their guns
into their innocent vidims, they tomohawked them, and v/ith their long
fliarp knives, took off" the fcalps, ^^\^ty\^ \.\\t di^2X\i iJohoo-vjb'jop-vjhQop, and
bounded away in an oblique courie, to (hun the dreaded purfuit. I'lie
Chikkaiah foon put up their fhrill war-whoop, to arm and purfue, and
lixty fet off on horfe-back, full fpeed. They over-ffiot that part of
the woods the enemy were mcil likely to have fled through •, and four
young fprightly Chikkafah w/.i'.irs who outran the reft, at laft difcovered,
and intercepted them ; — they ffio-. dead the Great Mortat's brother, wiio was
the leailer, fcalped him, and retook one of the young women's fcalps that
was faffened to his girdle. Three continued the chale, and die fourth in
a Ihort time overtook them : foon afterward, they came up again with the
enemy, at die edge of a large cane-fwamp, thick-warped with vines, and china
briers ; there they flopped, and were at firft in doubt of their being fome of
their
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272
yln Account of the Mufkolige Nation,
I
their own company : the piirfucd foon dilcovered them, and immedialcly in-
fwamped, whereupon tlie four were forced to decline the attack, the difad-
vantage being as tour to ciglit in an open engagement. In a few days
after, I fell in with them ; their gloomy and fierce countenances cannot
be expren'ed •, and I had the uncourted honour of their company, three
different times before I could reach my dellined place, on account of a very
uncommon and fudden flow of the rivers, without any rain. Between iww'
fet and eleven o'clock the next day, tlie river, that was but barely our heiglit
in the evening, was fwelled to the prodigious iieight of twenty-live feet per-
pendicular, and fwept along with an impetuous force.
It may not be improper here to mention the method wc commonly ufc
in croIUng deep rivers. — Wlien we expcdt high rivers, each company of
traders carry a canoe, made of tanniicd leather, the fides over-lapped about
three fingers breadth, and well fewed with three feams. Around the gun-
nels, which are made of fapplings, are ftrong loop-holes, for large deer-fkin
firings to hang down both the fides : with two of thefe, is fecurely tied to the
ftem and ftern, a well-fliaped fappling, for a keel, and in like manner
the ribs. Thus, they ufually rig out a canoe, fit to carry over ten horfc
loads at once, in the fpace of half an hour j the apparatus is afterwards
commonly hidden with great care, on the oppofite lliore. Few take
the trouble to paddle the canoe ; for, as they are commonly hardy, and
alfo of an amphibious nature, they ufually jump into the river, with their
leathern barge a-head of them, and thruft it through the deep part of
the water, to the oppofite fliore. When we ride only with a few lug-
gage horfes, as was our cafe at S,if-fe., or " Poplar," the above-mentioned
high-fwelled river, we make a frame of dry pines, which we tie together
with ftrong vines, well twifted ; when we have raifed it to be fufficiently
buoyant, we load and paddle it acrofs the flilleft part of the water we can
conveniently find, and afterward fwim our horfes together, we keeping at
a little diftance btlow them.
At the time we firft began to fearch for convenient floating timber,
I chanced to ftand at the end of a dry tree, overfet by a hurricane,
within three feet of a great rattle fnake, that was coiled, and on his
watch of felf-defcnce, under thick herbage. I foon efpied, and killed
7 him.
Art At count of the Mufkohgc Xation. 27 j
killed him. But an aftrologer, of twenty years ftunding among the In-
dians, immediately declared with Itrong aneverations, we fliould loon be
cxpofed to imminent danger •, which he expatiated upon largely, from his
imagined knowledge of a combination of fccond caulcs in the celetlial re-
gions, actuating every kind of animals, vegetables, &c, by their fubtil
and delegated power. I argued in vain to hulli his groundlefs fears : how-
ever, wliile iho I aft was getting ready, another gentleman, to quiet his
tiinorous apprchenlons, accompanied me witli fire-arms, pretty near the
path in the beforementioned cane-1'wamp, and we (laid there a confiderable
while, at a proper difcance apart — at lall we heard tiie well-mimicked voice
of partridges, farther off than our fight could difcover, on which one of
us ftruck up the whoop of friendfliip and indifterence ; for I knew that the
bell way of arguing on fucli occafions, was by a firmnefs of countenance and
behaviour. 1 then went near to my companion, and faid, our cunning man
was an Aberdeen wizard, as he had fo exactly foretold the event. TIv"
favages had botli difcovered our tracks, and heard the found of the ax.
We foon met them ; they were nine of the mifchievous Ohchai town,
who had feparat<*d from tlic reft of their company. We converfed a little
while together upon our arms, and in this manner exchanged provifions
with each other — then we went down to the bank of the river, where
they opened their packs, fpread out fome hairy deer and bear flvins
with the flefliy fide undermoft, and having firfl: placed on them their heavy
tilings, and th-n the lighter, with the guns which lay uppermofl:, each
made two knots with the fiianks of a flcin, and in the fpace of a few mi-
nutes, they had their leathern barge afloat, which they foon thrufl: before
them to the other fliore, with a furprifingly fmall deviation from a diredl
courfe, confidering the ftrong current of the water. When our aftrologer
faw them fafe eff, he wilhed them a fpecdy journey home, without being
cxpofed to the necefiity of any delay. Me was foon .ifter carried fafe over
on our raft, though once he almoll over-fet it, either by reafon of the ab-
fence, or difturbance, of his mind. Had he contrafled a fever, from the
impending dangers his knowledge afiured him were not yet paft, the cold
fweat he got when left by himfelf, while we were returning with the raft,
and afterv/ard fwimming with the horfes, mull have contributed a good
deal to the cure. Soon afterwards, we came in fight of their camp in
a little fpot of clear land, furrounded by a thick cane-fwamp, where
fome traders formerly had been killed by the Choktah. Our aftrologer
N « urged
m
p 1 "1
'mi
274
An Acaunt of the Miilliohgc Nation.
iii-ifcd tlic nccfrtity of proceeding; a pood \v,\y f.iitlicr, to avoid the danger.
I endeavoured to convince him by I'ever.il recent inlhinccs, tluu a timorous
condurt was a great incentive to the bale-minilcd favanes, to do an injury,
not expcfting any defence •, wlulc an open, free, and relulute behaviour, a Ihow
of taking pleafurc in tlieir company, and a difcrcet care of our fire-arms,
feldom failed to gain the good will of Uich as arc not engar,ed in acUial war
againfl our country : he acquiofced, as I cn£,.iged to lit next to t!»e Indian
camp, which was about a do;:cn yards apart from our's. lie chofe his place
pretty near to mine, but in the evening, I told him, that as I did not under-
Itand the Mulkohge dialed, nor they much of the Chikkalah language, I
would give him the opportunity of diverting himfelf at leifurc with then"),
whilll on account of the fatigues of tlie day, I would repofe myfelf dofe at
the root of a neighbouring tree. This method of encamping in different
places, on hazardous occafions, is by far the flifeft way. I told them, be-
fore my removal to my night quarters, that he was almofl: their countryman,
by a refidence of above twenty years among them, — their chieftain therefoie
readily addreflcd him, and according to what I expcJled, gave me an op-
portunity of decently retiring. But when he expefted a formal reply,
according to their uliral cuftom, our aftrological interpreter fpoke only a
few words, but kept pointing to the river, and his wet clotiies, and
to his head, (liaking it two or iliree times •, thereby informing them of
tlie great danger he underwent in crofling the water, which gave hin) fo
violent a head-ach, as to prevent his fpeaking with any pleafurc. I
laughed, and foon after endeavoured to perfuade him to go over a little
while to their camp, as I had done, and by that means, he might know
better their prcfent difpofition \ he replied with a doleful accent, t!iat he was
already too near them, to the great danger of his life, which he now too late
faw expofed, by believing my docu-ine of bringing them to obferve friendly
meafures, inflead of pufliing beyond them as he had earneftly propolcd. I
afkcd him how he could reafonably fear, or expeifl to fhun a Hidden death, no
account of his knowledge of the Harry influences, and fkiil in expound-
ing dreams, and efpecially as he ieemed firmly to believe the deity had
pre-determined the exafl tin;e of every living creature's continuance here :
upon this he prevaricated, and told me, that as I knew notiiing of
aftrology, nor of the ufeful and fkilful expofuion of important dreams,
neither believed any thing of v;itches and wizards being troublefonic
and hurtful to others, he could not imagine I believed any thing of a
divine providence or a refurreiftion of the dead •, which were evidently,,
5 alike
An Account of the MiilkoI)''c Niuion.
^7S
alike true, as appeared both by divine writ, and tlic united conlcnt of
every ancient nation. He laid, people wire oidered to watch and
pray , I tlicrttorc couKi not be ruled by the I'cripture, for why did
I go to bed lb loon, and leave ail tliat trouMe to iuin. I told luni,
I wiilicd he nii;;ht by prayer, obtain a i ilrii coiiipoliire of mind,
lie laid, I was the caufe of all his uneafnuts, by iiukiCing him, con-
trary to his over niylit's bloody dream, to lie lb near thole wolfifli ra-
vages. Then, in an an|.',ry panic, he curfed me, and laid, he lliould not
that night have prayetl there, only that the ilevil tempted hiii) to be-
lieve my damned lies, and lin againll the divine intimationi he had re-
ceived jiift before.
\ • If'
Wiil.in half a day's ride of Aiigufta, I met the gentlemen wlio were ap-
pointed to meet cenain headmen of the Miill;uhgc, to run a line, be-
tween Georgia and the Miifkohge country. The fiipcrintendant's deputy
before-mentioned, accompanying them ; I then informed him of the bad
fituation of the Indian trade, both in the Chikkafah, and Mu(kohge na-
tions — The caufe thereof — The dangerous policy of having reconciled thofc
jarring warlike favages — the ill dii'pofitiun of the latter toward us, — and
that it was the opinion of all tl\e traders (one excepted) that nothing, but
their hot war with tlie Choktah, prevented them from executing their mif-
chievous intentions againll us. I faid this to the comminiiry before the
feveral gentlemen ; but his conduft, and that of his brother oflicer in the
Chikkafah country, were no way correfpondent to the advice. While he
benefited the ungrateful Mufkohge, and gave them a plea to injure
the traders, he was free from perfonal danger, from the red quarter;
but one night at camp, after the line had been, at the friendly
and artful perliiafions of G. G. Efcp, run above twenty miles beyond
the fouthern limits agreed upon, he almoft fatally experienced the
cfie(fls of their revengeful temper •, which cannot be rellrained when
they imagine themfelves really injured, and afterwards infulted : for
as he was chiding a noted warrior with Iharp language, the favage
leaped up, feized the other's gun, cocked, and prefented it againft his
breaft 1 but luckily he could not difcharge it, as it was double- tricker'd,
contrary to the model of their fmooth-bored guns. The public prints,
however, echoed the fuccefs of our direftors of Indian affairs, on this
important occafioDi though it was entirely owing to the abilities and
N n 2 faithful
i
276
An Account of the Mufkohge Nation,
faithful application, firft, of IVIr. G. G. and afterwards of Mr. L. M. G. which
the deputy almoft prevented by his imprudent condudV, that liad nearly
coft him alfo his life, and endangered the public tranquility.
In the year 1749, when I was going to Charles-town, under the provincial
feal of South-Carolina, with a party of the Chikkafah Imlians, the iinallpox
attacked them, not far from the IVIulkohge country ; which beconiing general
through the camp, I was under the neceiruy of fetting ofF Lv myielf, between
Flint river, and that of the Okmulgeh. I came up with a large camp of Mul-
kohge traders, returning from the Englilh fcttlements : tlie gt ntlemen told
me, they had been lately alTured at Augufta by the Cheerake traders, that
above a hundred and twenty of the French Shawano n-iight be daily ex-
pefted near that place, to cut off the Englidi traders, and plunder their
camps, and cautioned me, with much earneltnefs at parting, to keep a
watchful eye during that day's march. After having rode fifteen miles,
about ten o'clock, 1 difcovered ahead through the trees, an Indian afcend-
ing a fteep hill : he perceived me at the fame inftant, for they are ex-
tremely watchful on fuch dangerous attempts — Ambufcade is their fa-
vourite method of attack. As the company followed their leader in a line,
each at the diftance of a few yards from the other, all foon appeared
in view. As foon as I difcovered the foremofl:, 1 put up the flirill
whoop of friendfhip, and continually fecmed to look earneftly behind
me, till we approached near to each other, in order to draw their atten-
tion from me, and fix it that way, as fuppofing me to be the foremoft of
a company ftill behind. Five or fix foon ran at full fpeed on each fide of
the path, and blocked up two vallics, which happened to be at the place
of our meeting, to prevent my efcape. They fcemcd as if their defign
was to attack me with their barbed arrows, lert they fliould alarm my fup-
pofed companions by the report of their guns. I obferved that inftead of
carrying their bow and quiver over their flioulder, as is the travelling
cuftom, they held the former in their left hand, bent, and fome arrov/s. I ap-
proached and addreflcd them, and endeavoured to appear quite indiflx;rent
at their hodile arrangement. While I held my gun ready in my right hand
about five yards diftant from them, their leader who flood foremofl: came
and flruck my brcaft with the but-cnd of one of my piftols, which I had
in my left hand : I told him with that vehemence of fpeech, which is al-
ways requifite on fuch an occafion, that I was an Englifh Chikkafah ; and
informed him by expreflive geftures that there were two tens of Chik-
5 kalah
Aft Account of the Mufkohge Nation.
277
kafah warriors, and more than half that number of women, befides chil-
dren, a little behind, juft beyond the firfl: hill. At this news, they ap-
peared to be much contufed, as it was unexpctlcd for fuch a number of
warlike encnnes to be fo near at hand. This Shawano partly confided only
of twenty-tlirec middle fized, but ftrong bodied men, with large heads and
broad flat crowns, and four tall young perfons, whom I conjeiflured to be of
the Cheerake nation. I fpoke a little to a hair-lipped warrior among them,
who told me lie lived in Tukkafihibe, a northern town of that country. The
leader whifpered lomething to his v»'ai:er, wliich, in like manner, was com-
nninicated to the red, and then tliey all pafled by me, with lliUcn looks and
glancing eyes. I kept my j^iiard till they were out of arrow-lliot, when
I went on at a fecniingly indifferent pace. Bui, as foon out of their
view, I rode about feventy miles with great fpced, to avoid the danger
of a purfuir, as I imagined they would be highly enraged againd me for
their double difippointir.ent. About fun-fet of the lame day, I dif-
covered more Indians a-head ; but, indead of founding the ullial whoop
of def.ance, I went on flowly, and fdcitly, a little way, realbning with
niyfelf abcait the fated method in lb dangerous a fituatiun : Ihad appre-
henfiors of their beinp- another party of ihc Shawano company, feparated
in that manner to avoid a purllii: ; whicli otherwile mi .ht be very eafy,
by the plainnefs of their tracks, through the long grafs and herbage.
But, at 'he critical time, w.'-.en I iiad concluded to ufe no chivalry, but
give them leg-bail indead of it, by leaving my bapgage-horfes, and making
for a deep fwamp, I difcovered them to be a condderablc body of the Muf-
kohge head-men, retorninc hom*.- vvitli prel'ents Irom Chailes Town, which
they carried chiefly on their back'.. The wolf-kii g (as the traders termed
liim) our old fteady friend of the Amooklalah Town, near the late Ale-
bahma, came foremoft, hameded i:ke a jack-afs, with a faddle on his
•back, well girt over one dioulder, and acrofs under the other. We feemed
e<jually glad to meet each other •, tlicy, to \v::\r how affairs flood in their
country, as well as on the trading padi ; and I to find, that inftead of bit-
ter-hearted foes, they were friends, and would fecure my retreat from any
purfuit that might happen. 1 told them the whole circumdances attending
my mcetmg the Shawano, with their being condui^cd by our deceitful
Cheerake friends, who were defirous of fpoiling the old beloved white
path, by making it red •, and earnedly perfuadcd them to be on their
guard that night, as I imagined the enemy had purfued me when they
found
1^
fli
1 Si
.1 f\'ii
. i : n
m>
^ \
27^
An Account of the Muflcolige Nation.
found I had eluded their bloody intention. After a long converfation to-
gether, I advifed them to go home through the woods, to prevent a larger
body of the lurkincr enemy from fpoiling them, and their beloved country,
by the lofs of fo many old beloved men, and noted warriors. I faid this,
to roufe them againll the Cheerake ; well knowing that one pack of wolves,
was the beft watch againft another of the fame kind. They thanked me for
the friendly notice I gave them, and the care I (liewed for their fafety, and
engaged me to call the next day at a hunting camp, where was a war-
leader, the fon of the dog-king of the Huphale-Town, with a confiderable
number of their people, and defire them to remove with all fpeed to
their camp, at the place they then fixed on. We fmokcd tobacco, and
parted well pleafed. According to promife, I went the next day to the
camp, and delivered their mefTage, which was readily complied with. The
Shawano whom I had eluded, after rambling about, and by viewing the
fmoke of fires from the tops of high hills and trees, and carefully liftening
to the report of guns, fell in with two Chikkafah hunters, who were
adopted relations of the Mufkohge, and killed, and fcalped them, and then
ran off to the northern towns of the Cheerake. This was the true and fole
caufe of the laft war between the Mufkohge and Cheerake : and the fol-
lowing account of the caufe of thofe nations entering into amity with each
other, will, on the ftridleft enquiry, be found as true. The caufe and
direful elFefts are ftill feelingly known to great numbers of the fuffering
inhabitants, which I infert by way of caution to ftatesmen hereafter.
I!V?
H;f
As the Indians have no public faith to fecure the lives of friendly
mefTengers in war-time, their wars are perpetuated from on^ generation
to another, unlefs they are ended by the mediation of fome neutral party.
A very polilhed courtier prefided in South Carolina, who was faid
to have cafl: a very earned eye on the fuppofed profits of the Cheerake
trade, which were much leffened by the Mufkohge war ; and, in or-
der to eflablilli it at its former value, fo as to be worth fome hazard, he
exerted himfelf to reconcile the Muflcohge and Cheerake. If he fucceeded,
he was fure to be fomething in pocket, and could report at home, the pro-
found peace he had effedled between thofe nations by his unwearied endea-
vours. He accordingly applied to fome of the moft intelligent and lead-
ing traders among thofe warring favages, and attempted tq perfiiade them
by
An Account of the Mufkohge Nation.
279
by the ruling motive of mutual intereft, to be reconciled through his bro-
therly mediation, i'hough the Cheerake were great lofcrs in the war, yet
the furviving relations of thole who had been killed without equal revenge
of blood, were at firtl inflexible, and deaf to the mediation : but, by the ora-
tory of fome of their own fpeakers v/hohad not fufTcred, coniicfted with our
traders perfuafions, each leparate family at lail confcntcd to meet their ene-
mies, at the time and place appointed by brotherly requeft, and there bury
the bloody tomohawk under ground, and fmoke together, out of the
friendly wiiite pipe. But, as the Mufliohge were conquerors, and fre-
quently returned home in their favourite and public triumphant manner,
and liad then no mifciiievous views againd the luiglifh, as at prefent, it was
a very difiicult talk to reconcile them to our beloved man's pacific mca-
fures : their head-men had great fway over the ambitious, and young rifing
warriors, and by the former manly condufl of South-Carolina, in obtaining
fpeedy redrefs for every material injury, tlie more fenfible and honeft pare
of the old leading men were as mucli averfe to peace, as the light-headed
warriors. Tliey wtll knew the tickle and ungovernable temper of their
young m.en, and ambitious leaders, wlien they had no red enemies to war
with, to obtain higher war-titles by fcalps — and their vvildom faw at a dif-
tancf, the dangerous confequences that niuft attend a general peace : for a
confiderable time, tlicicforc-, they highly inveighed, and himly guarded
againll; it. But when a man's private intereft coincides with wliat he intends
to accomplill), lie is adiduous and more intent to effeft it. This was veri-
fied by the unwearied diligence of the prime magiftrate alluded to ; he
knew the Indians could not kill fo many deer and beaver in the time of war
as of ; eace, and by his addrefs, he perfuaded feveral of the leading traders,
evon contrary to their own outward I'ecurity and inward choice, to exert their
ftrongcfl: endeavours with the Mufls.oh.ge for a reconciliation with the Chee-
rake. Tlie chief of thofe trading gentlemen, who unv/illingly involved
himfclf in this pernicious affair, was the humane and intelligent L.
jyi'G — 1 — wr — , Lfq. Each had their leflbns, to let forth the reciprocal ad-
vantages of tlie contending parties, by fucli a coalition-, but it was finiflied
1 .■ that gentleman's earnefl and well-i -d application, conneifted with his
great natural fcnfe, and eafy flow of i own bold figurative way of ex-
prefilon — and their favourable opinion of his Ready, honeft principles. Since
tliat unlucky period, he has as often lamented his fuccefs in that affair, as the
dilcerning honeft rulers of the Mufkohge oppofcd it. He told me, that:
when:
f
'Mi-
t1
I ,i
t V
\\.
i' =1
28o
yin Account of the IVIul'k.ohge Nation.
when he was ibliciting fome of the head-men to comply with the fraternal
propofals of our kindly ruler, he unexps'9:cdly met with a very (liarp repulfej
—for, when he had finifhed his oration, on the diladvantages of frowning
war, and the advantages of fmiling peace, an old war-leader retorted every
paragraph he had fpoken, and told him, that till then he always had reckoned
the Englilh a very wife people, but now he was forry to find them unwife, in
the mod material point: adding, " You have made yourfcif very poor, by
fweating, far and near, in our fmoky town-houfes and hot-houfes, only to
make a peace between us and the Cheerake, and thereby enable our young
mad people to give you, in a fhort time, a far worfe fweat than you have yet
had, or may now expeft. But, forafmuch as the great Englifli chieftain in
Charles Town, is lliiving hard to have it fo, by ordering you to fliut your
eyes, and ftop your ears, left the power of conviction fliould reacii your
heart, we will not any more oppofe you in this mad fcheme. We fiiall be
filent concerning it -, otherwife, I fliould be as mad as you, if I reafoned
any more with one who is wilfully blind and deaf."
,;j i
A number of their warriors met at Charles Town, at the time ap-
pointed : their high-ftationed Englifli friend then took a great deal of pains
to inform them of the mutual advantages, that would accrue to them, by a
firm peace, and he convinced their fenfcs of it, by a vifible proof;
for he borrowed from one of them an arrow, and holding each end
of it in his hands, he readily broke it, which furprized none of the
red fpe(n:ators, except the owner, — they did not then regard it as a fym-
bolical performance, but a boyifh adion. He again requefted from the
fame young warrior, the loan of his remaining flieaf of arrows, who
reludlantly gave them, as he feared they would all fingly fare the fate of
the former. But, when he held the bundle by each end in his hands, and
could only bend it a little, he revived the watchful owner, and pleafingly
furprized the attentive favages, as he thereby had flrongly demon-
ftrated to them, that vis unita fcrtior,\^^vr\ which he expatiated, in eafy fine
language, to the great joy of his red audience. By fuch evidence, they
were induced to fliake hands firmly together •, and likewife to endeavour
to preferve a perpetual union with all their neighbouring nations, left the
wolf fliould attack them feparatcly. And ever fince that impolitic media-
tion, they have been fo ftrongly convinced of their great advantage and fe-
ui:; \
curitv,
f 'Mm
An Account of the Mu/kol)ge Nation.
2S1
ciirlty, by a clofe friendly union with each other, that all tlic efforts of the
wife and honed Georgia patriot, Governor Ellis, in concert with the Indian
trading merchants, to diflblve it in the year 1760, proved abortive witi;
the wary and jealous Mufliohge, while we were at war with the Clice-
rake — and many of the out-fettlers of Georgia and South Carolina were
plundered and murdered by tliem, witliout fparing women or children •,
many inftances of which we were too often well acquainted with on the
fpot. The Cheerake, however, flood in fuch great awe of about fixty
Chikkafah warriors, that except once when they were repulfed by a troble
inferior number, they durft not attempt any fort of attack on Georgia bar-
riers, during the whole continuance of the war. The wifdom of the ru-
ling members of that weak colony direfled them, in their dangerous circum-
ftances, to chufe the leaftof two evils, — to humour, and bear with thofe mif-
chievous Mufkohge, rather than involve themldves in a complicated war with
thofe two confederated nations ; which muft have ruined Georgia, in the
weak condition it then was. And, notwithftanding they have confiderably
increafed fince, both in wealth and number of inhabitants, it is probable,
the colony is now lefs capable of bearing with any fort of firmnefs, a
fudden fliock from thefe favages, than they were at that time. For,
though the people were then fewer in numbers ; yet their fettlements were
more compaft. By this means, they could eafily join in focial defence, on any
alarm : and, as the circumftances of mod of them did not tempt them to
enervating luxury, fo the needful excrcifes they daily purfued, enabled tlieni
to make a diverfion of ranging the woods, when occafion required. Plan-
tations are now fettled, often at a great diftance from each ctlier, even to
the outmoft boundaries of the colony, where commonly the befl gunfmen
refide, but who probably would be cut off by furprize, at the firit onfet :
and, lower down, their difperfed fettlements are often feparated, cither by
difficult or unpafTable morafies, — flow running black waters, — or broken
fait- vater founds ; which of courfe would be a great impediment to the
people fupporting each other : fo that each plantation is expofed to a
feparate aflault, by a fuperior body of thofe cunning favages, who attack,
and fly away like a fudden thunder gull. We have no fure way to figiit
them, but in carrying the war into the bowels of their own country, by a
fuperior body of the provincial troops, mixed with regulars •, and as wc
can expedl no mercy in cafe of a defeat, we fliould not defpife their power,
but prepare ourfelves for a fure conqueft.
Oo ACCOUNT
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THE Choktah country lies in about 33 and 34 Deg. N. L. According
to the courfe of the Indian path, their weftern lower towns are fituatcd
two hundred computed miles to the northward of New Orleans ; the upper
ones an hundred and fixty miles to the fouthward of the Chikkafah nation -,
150 computed miles to the weft of the late dangerous French Alebahma
garrifon, in the Mufkohge country i and 1 50 to the north of Mobille,
which is the firft fettlement, and only town, except New Orleans, that the
French had in Weft-Florida.
Their country is pretty much in the form of an oblong fquare. The
barrier towns, which are next to the Mufkohge and Chikkafah countries,
are compadly fettled for focial defence, according to the general method
of other favage nations ; but the reft, both in the center, and toward the
Mifllfippi, are only fcattered plantations, as beft fuits a fcparate eafy way
of living. A ftranger might be in the middle of one of their populous ex-
tenfive towns, without feeing half a dozen of their houfes, in the dire(fl
courfe of his path. The French, to intimidate the Englilh traders by the
prodigious number of their red legions in Weft-Florida, boafted that the
Choktah conlifted of nine thoufand men fit to bear arms : but we find the
true amount of their numbers, fince Weft-Florida was ceded to us, to be
not above half as many as the French report afcertaincd. And, in-
deed, if the French and Spanifh writers of the American Aborigines, had
kept fo near the truth, as to mix one half of realities, with their fiourifliing
wild
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yJn Account of the Choktah Nution,
283
wild hyperboles, the literati would have owed tlicm more thanks than is
now their due.
Thofe who know the Choktah, will firmly agree in opinion with the
French, concerning them, that they are in the higheft degree, of a bafc,
ungrateful, and thievifh dil'pofuion — fickle, and treacherous — ready-witted,
and endued with a furprizing flow of fmooth artful language on every fub-
jeft, within the reach of their ideas; in each of thefc qualities, they far ex-
ceed any fociety of people I ever faw. Tiiey are fuch great proficients in
the art of dealing, that in our ftore-houfes, they often thieve while they are
fpeaking to, and looking the owner in the face. It is reckoned a fliamc
to be dete(n:ed in the a£t of theft ; but, it is the reward they receive, which
makes it fliameful : for, in fuch a cafe, the trader baftinadoes the covetous
finner, almoft as long as he feems fenfible of pain. A few years ago,
one of the Chikkafah warriors told me, he heard a middle-aged Choktah
warrior, boaft in his own country, at a public ball-play, of having artfully
ftolcn feveral things from one and another trader, to a confiderable
amount, while he was cheapening goods of us, and we were blind in our
own houfcs.
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As their country is pleafantly interfperfed with hills, and generally abounds
with fprings and creeks, or fmall brooks ; and is in a happy climate, ic
is extremely healthful. Having no rivers in their country, few of them can
fwim, like other Indians; which often proves hurtful to them, when high
frefhes come on while they are out at war. Their towns are fettled on
fmall ftreams that purl into Mobille river, and another a little to the fouth-
ward of it. Koofah, the largeft town in their nation, lies within i So miles
of Mobille, at a fmall diftance from the river which glides by that low,
and unhealthy old capital. The fummer-breezes pafs by Mobille, in two
oppofite diredtions, along the channel of the river; and very unhealthy va-
pours keep floating over the fmall femicircular opening of the town, which
is on the fouth-fide of the river, oppofite to a very low marfh, that was
formed by great torrents of water, fwecping down rafts of fallen trees, till
they fettled there, and were mixt with the black foil of the low lands,
carried, and fubfiding there in the like manner. From thence, to
the oppofite fliore, the river hath a fandy bottom, and at low water
is fo very fliallow, that a perfon could almoft walk acrofs, though
O o 2 ic
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284
An Account of the Choktah Ntithn.
it is two leagues broad. The fouthern fide of the river is fo full of great
trees, that flo ips and fcliooners I\ave conliderablc dilHciilty in getting up
abreall : and for a confidcrablc dillance from the fea-coaft, the land is low,
and generally unfit for planting, even on the banks of the river. About
forty miles up, the l-'rcnch had a fmall fettlement of one plantation deep,
from the bank of Mobiilc river. The reft of the land is fandy pine barrens,
till within forty miles of the Choktah country, where the oak and the hic-
cory-trees firft appear j from whence, it is generally very fertile, for the
extenfive fpace of about fix hundred miles tov/ard the north, and in fome
places, two hundred and fifty, in others, two hundred and fixty in breadth,
from the Miffifippi: This trad far exceeds the beft land I ever faw be-
fides in the extenfive American world. It is not only capable of yielding the
various produce of all our North-American colonies on the main conti-
nent, as it runs from the fouth, towards the north j but, likewife, many
other valuable commodities, which their fituation will never allow them to
raife. From the fnull rivers, which run through this valuable large tradt,
the far-extending ramifications are innumerable; each abounding with ever-
green canes and reeds, which are as good to raife cattle in winter, as the
beft hay in the northern colonies. I need not mention the goodnefs of the
fummer-ranges ; for, where the land is good, it always produces various
forts of good timber, fuch as oak of difi!i;rent kinds ; hiccory, wall-nut,
and poplar-trees. The grafs is commonly as long and tender, as what the
beft Englifii meadows yield; and, if thofe vacant fertile lands of the Mif-
fifippi were fettled by the remote inhabitants of Virginia, the Ohio, and
North-Carolina, they, from a fmall ftock, could in a few years raife a
prodigious number of horfes, horned cattle, Iheep, and fwine, without
any more trouble than branding, marking, and keeping them tame, and
deftroying the beafts of prey, by hunting them with dogs, and fhooting
them from the trees. Soon they might raife abundance of valuable produc-
tions, as would both enrich themfelves and their ofi^-fpring, and, at the
fame time, add in a very high degree to the naval trade and manufaflures-
of Great-Britain.
The Choktah flatten their foreheads with a bag of fand, which with.
grtat care they keep faftened on the fcuU of the infant, while it is in its
tender and imperfeft ftate. Thus they quite deform their face, and give
themfelves an appearance, which is difagrceable to any but thofe of their owa
5 likencfs.
yin Account of the Choktuh Nation.
285
likencfs. Their feitures and mind, indeed, exaflly correfpond together \
for, except the intenfe love they bear to their native country, and their
utter contempt of any kind of danger, in defence of it, I know no other
virtue they are pofleded of : the trcneral obfervation of* the traders among
them is juft, who allirm tliem to be diverted of every property of a human
being, except fliape and language. Though the Frencii at Mobille, and
fome at New Orleans, coultl fpcak tlie Choktah hngua;j;e extremely well,
nnd confequently guide them much better tlian the I'lnglilh (notwith-
llanding we gave tlieni a far greater fupply of every kind of goods than
they could purchafe) yet, the French allowed none of them arms and am-
munition, except fuch who went to war againfl: our Chikkafah friends.
One of tiiore outibinding companies was compofed aUb of feveral towns ;
for, uRially one town had not more than from live, to feven guns. VVIien
the owners therefore iiad hunted one moon, lliey lent them for hire to
other?, for the like fpacc of time ; whicli was the reafon, that their deer-
fkins, by being chietly killed out of feafon, were then much lighter tlian
now. Tiie Frencli commandant of Tumblkpe garrifon iupcrvifed tlie
trade, as none was ever chofen to prefide in fo critical a place, unlefs
well and early acquainted in the dialed, manners, and cuftoms of
the favages. The F'rench Indian garrifons confilted of chofen pro-
vincial families, who had not the lead fpark of that haughty pride
and contempt, which is too often predominant, at lead among the
ignorant pan of the I'oldiery, againft all, except their own fraternity. The
Choktah were known to be of fo fici.le, treacherous, and bloody a difpo-
fition, that only three or four pedlars were ■';> ed to go among them at a
time : when they returned to tlie fort, the fame number went out again,
with as many tritles as a fmall barrel would :onveniently contain. Thus
they continued to amufe the favages of low rank, but they always kept
the head-men in pay. T'hefe, at every public meeting, and convenient occafion,
gave ftated energetic orations in praiil" of the French •, and, by this means,
the reft were influenced. The pedlars thus got almoft what they were
pleafed to afk, in return for their wortiilefs trifles. All the way up the
numerous ftreams of the Millifippi, and down thofe of Canada river, their
wifdom direded them to keep up the price of their goods, and, by that
means, they retained the favages in the firmefl: amity with them ; no trader
was allowed among them, except thofe of fufficient Ikill, in that dangerous
fphere of life, and of faithful principles to government. The French very
juftly fay, tb.e Engliih fpoil t!ie favages, v.hcrever their trade extends among
them.
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them. They were too wife ever to corrupt them, according to our modern
mad fchemes. They had two great annual marts, where the Indians came
to traffic for their deer-lkins, beaver, and peltry •, the one, at Montreal ;
and the other, at the Illinois, under the cannon ot' thok" garrifons. But the
Philadelphians, in order to ingrofs the trade of the latter place, by a foolifli
notion of under-felling the old French traders, have ruined, and, as I am
lately informed, entirely difcontinued it. They who fpeak fo mucii in favour
of lowering the Indian trade, ought firft to civilize the favages, and con-
vince them of the abfolute neceflity there is of felling the fame fort of
goods, at various prices, according to different circumftances, either of
time or place. While the prefent ill adapted meafures are continued, no-
thing lefs than the miraculous power of deity can poflibly effed the Indians
reformation i many of the prefent traders are abandoned, reprobate,
white favages. Inftead of fhewing good examples of moral condufl, be-
fides their other part of life, they inftru<5l the unknowing and imitating
favages, in many diabolical leflbns of obfccnity and blafphcmy.
"When the Englilh were taking poflenion of Mobille, the French
commander had given previous orders to a fkilful interpreter, to in-
form the Choktah, that his Chriftian Majcfty, for peace-fake, had given
up Mobille garrifon to the avaricious F.nglilb nation ; but at the end of
three years, the French would return and lee to wiiat purpofe they had ap-
plied it. The Choktah believed the declaration to be as true, as if feveral
of their old head-men had dreamed it. The fore-fighted French knew
their fickle and treacherous difpofition, and that by this ftory, well fup-
ported with prefents, they would be able, when occafion required, to ex-
cite them to commence a new war againft us. The mafterly fkill of the
French enabled them to do more with thofe favages, with trifles, than all
Gur experienced managers of Indian affairs have been able to effect, by the
great quantities of valuable goods, they gave them, with a very profufe
hand. The former bellowed their fmall favours with exquifite wifdom ;
and their value was exceedingly inhanced, by the external kindly beha-
viour, and well adapted fmooth addrefs of the giver. But our wife men
in this department, bcftow the prefents of the government, too often,
in fuch a manner as to rivet the contempt they have imbibed againft us-,
for I have been frequently upbraided, even by the old friendly Chikkafah,
when inebriated, that the Englifli in general defpifcd their friends, and
were
yf/i Account of the Choktah Nation.
287
were kinclcft to thofe wlio mod infultctl and injured them •, and, tliat the
furell; way for the red people to get plenty of prtfcnts, was not to dcfcrvc
them, but to aft the murdering part of the ill-hearted Mulkohj^e In
confirmation of their ftrong invedivcs, they recited above fevcnty inllancca
of the Muikohge having murdered the Kngliili, not only wich impunity,
but witli filent approbation •■, as they ibon afterward received large prefents,
which muft be either as a due for the bloodflied, or tribute given through
fear. They enumerated fome fadts, wiiich were attended with fhocking
circumllanccs : as, an innocent mother of good report, and two of her
little children, put to flow torture in boiling water -, and feveral of the
like nature, which tlie Mufkohge themfclves had informed them of
in a way of boalling, and to induce tliem to imitate their mifchievous,
but profitable example. While we bear any cool premeditateii acts of
Indian h ilility with that crouching bale bcliaviour, fuch pafTive con-
du(5l will ferve only to tempt tlie Indians to advance in their favourite
fcience of blood, and commence a general war. For cowards they always
inlult and defpife, and will go any dillance to revenge the blood of one of
their tribe, even that of an old woman.
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As it was confidently reported, that a military governrHent would be con-
tinued by us in Welt Floritla, till it was thick fettled, the French inhabitants
imagining that event could not happen till doom' -day, moltly retired to
New Orleans, in order to fhun iiich a tyrannic police. 'Ihey were afraid
of being imprifoned, and whipped, at the Governor's caprice, and even
for things unnoticeable in the eye of the law ; for as he ruled imperial
over the foldiery, he would expccl: all his orders to be readily obeyed
by every other perlbn, without any hefitation. Such things arc too com-
mon in a military government, and it was fatally experienced in this. In
order to cftablilh his ablblute power, as the merchants, and other gentlemen
at Mobille, of generous principles dcfpifed it, he found a plea 10 contend
with one of them, though it was both illegal, and entirely out of his element.
A Choktah having bought a fmall brafs-kcttle of one of the principal mer-
chants of that place, was perfuaded by a Frenchman, to return it, bring
the value to him, and iie would give him a better one in its (lead •, for there
happened to be a very i'mall crack of no confequence, and fcarcely dif-
cerniblc, juft above the rim. The Indian accordingly went to return it j
but the gentleman would not receive it, as it was good, and fairly fold at
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the vifual price. The Choktah went back to tlic Frenclunan to excufc liim-
Iclf in not being able to deal with him, as propofcd ; who perfiiadcd him
to complain to the (Jovernor of the pretended injullice he had received
from the , Mchant — he did, and the ruler gladly embraced the opportunity
to Riatify his pride, and agt^rundize hir, power. I le immediately lent fome
of his underlings, with a pofitive verbal command to the gentleman, to
cancel the bargain with the Choktah, and deliver to hitn what he claimed,
on receiving his own : the free-born Briton cxcufed his non-compliance, in
a rational and polite manner, according; to his conftant eafy behaviour.
Upon this, like a petty tyrant, the chief lent a file of mufqueteers for him.
When he appeared before his greatnefs, he afTerted the common privileges
of a trading free fubjcd of Great Britain, with decent tirmnefsi and fet
forth the ill confequences of giving the troublefome favages an example fo
hurtful to trade, with other arguments well adapted to the occafion.
The return was, an order to thruft the gentleman into the black-hole of the
garrifon, where ho was detained and treated as a capital criminal, till,
by the lofs of health through the dampnefs of that horrid place, the
love of life prompted him to comply witli every demand. Had he
waited the award of a court-martial, probably he would have had juftice
done him i for, except a couple of ilie otHcers of the commander's own
principles, all the reft blamed, if not defpifcd him for his haughtinefs and
ungenerous principles. This is a genuine fample of inilitary governments —
the Canadians may expecT: many fuch inftances of juftice and humanity in
confequence of the late Qiiebec adl, if it be not repealed. While this military
man afted in the magifterial office, though in pain when not triumphing
over thofc peaceable fubjeds who would not ftoop before him below the
chararter of freemen, to flatter his lordly ambition •, yet it was aftirmed, he
could not rtand the fight of the inebriated Choktah. One inftance of his
paflive conducfl toward them, deferves to be recorded — As the centinels
at the gates of his houlV, were ftritlly ordered not to refift the favages,
thefe foon became fo impudent as to infult them at pleafure -, and one of
them, without the Icaft provocation, ftruck a foldier (while on his duty
ftanding centry) with a full bottle on his head, with that violence, as to
break his fcull \ the unfortunate foldier languiflied, and died, by the
blow, without the leaft retaliation -, though fo abfolutely needful in our
early ftate of fettling that part of the continent.
We
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^n ^tc:unt of the Choktali Nutw'!.
289
Wc well know tlio fate of' tlic Uritilh Aiv.cricans in [;ciict,iI, a-i to
property, liberty, and liiV, il" tlicir court-enemies could but mct-inioriiliofe
them u\'o afTcs, and quietly inipofc upon tlicin military men as gover-
nors, and m.igiltrates, to inforcc a drift obedience to their grafjiing hand,
and boundlels will. Hur, m.iy our wile (buefmcn henceforth nithcr keep
t' .n at hoiPL', and place ihcn^ over fuch mean fpirits as have fold their
birth-lights for a meh of pottage, and arc degenerated from every virtue
of tlie true and brave Englifliinan '
Though the French Americans were as dcfirous of purchafing Indian
dcerfl<ins and beaver as the Knglilli could well be ; yet they wil'ely de-
clined, where ilie public peace and fccurity required it. By tlieir vvif-
dom, they employed the iava[i;es, as occalion otVered, and kept them
entirely dependant. They diftributed tlirough each nation, a confiderable
number of medals and flourifliing conmiillions, in a very artful gradation,
fo as to gratify their proud tempers, and obtain an univerfal fway over them.
They alio fent a gun-fmith to each of their countries, to mend the locks
of their guns, at the expence of government : and any warrior who
brought his chieftain's medal as a certificate, was waited on, and fent off
with honour, and a very bon grace, to his entire fatisfaflion : with this, and
other inllances of good conduct, they led the favages at jileafure. When the
Frencli evacuated the Alcbahma garrilbn, the Mulkohge defpitefully ob-
jedled againfl receiving any fuch favours from us. Even our old friendly
Chikkalah were only tantalized with our friendihip on that occafion, for
the gun-fmith was recalled — which, joined with the lell of the bad con-
dudl of our managers of Indian affairs, vexed them lb exceedingly, that
they were on the point of committing hoftilities agai:,fl: us, iii the year
1769 : fo widely difllrent is our Indian-trading conduft from that of the
French.
? 1
They wifely preferred the fecurity of their valuable, but weak coun-
try to the dangerous profits of trade ; they kept the befl orators and the
head men as penfioners, on their fide, and employed rl;e refl of the warriors
in their favourite fcience agairH: r.he Chikkalah. As with the hir.': placed
mercenaries in Great Britain, fo it v>ill be a very difRcult talk (for fome time)
to manage any of the Indians well, particularly the Choktah, unlels they in
P
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jin Account ef the Choktah Nation^
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fomc manner receive a favourite bribe, under the name of prefents, as
they ufually had from the French. By reafon of our mifconduft, and
the foolifh diftribution of prefems, fince Florida was ceded to us, they
have been twice on tlie point of breaking with us, though the managers
of our Indian affairs were at the fame time echoing in the public papers
of Georgia and South-Carolina, the peaceable and iVientHv dil'pofuion of
all the favagc nations around the colonics. The Chokcali were de-
figned to ftrike the firfl: blow on their traders, and immediately to follow it
en the inhabitants of Mobille ; which, they imagined, they could eafdy
effed by furprife in the night, and fo enrich themfclves with an immenfe
booty. The firft of tiaofe bloody plans was concerted againft us, Oclober
the 1 8th 1765. The caufe of which I fliall relate.
In the eaftern part of the Chikkafah nation, there is a young, and very
enterprifing war- leader, called " the Torrepine Chieftain," or " The leader
of the land-tortoife family :" his ambitious temper, which one of the
traders at firft imprudently fupported againft our old friendly war clueftain,
Pa-Tah-Maiabah, has unhappily divided the nation into two parties, which
frequently ai.^ in oppofnioa to any falutary meafure, which is either pro-
pofed, or purfued by the other. The Torrepine chief received an embafly
from the Mufkohge Great Mortar to engage him againft us, through a
falfe pretence that we intended to take their landr, and captivate their
women and children j as the vaft ftrides we lately made through that exten-
five tradl, from Georgia to New Orleans,, and up tlie MifTifippi, all the
way to the Illinois, he faid, would clearly convince fo wife a people. He
exhorted the Cho'ctah war-leaders and old beloved men to roufe their mar-
tial temperj to defend their liberty and property, and preferve their holy
places, and holy things, fiom the ambitious views of the impure and co-
vetous Englifli people, to liften to the loud call of liberty, and join heart
and hand in its generous defence, which they now could eafily efledl, by
crufliing the fnake in its infant flate •, v/hercas delay would allow it time
to colled ftrength, to the utter danger of every thing they held as valu-
able — that now was the time to avert thofe dangerous evils, and that
their mutual fafety was at ftake. He affured them from repeated expe-
rience, that the very worft that could befall them would be only a trifling
fcolding in their ears, and prefents iu their liands to make up the breach.
The afpiring Chikkafah leader was, in a great meafure, induced to fall
la
An Account of the Choktah Nation.
291
in with that cunning deceiver's meafures by having fecn above fixty of the
Mufkohge head-men and warriors, who received confiderable prefents from
Geo. Johnftone, Efq-, Governor of Weft-Florida, at Penfacola. They told
him our liberality proceeded intircly from fear-, that when they killed
any of our defpicable and helpkfs fwarms, they always received the like
quantity, to quiet the martial hearts of their gallant young warriors ; and
that the fole reafon we were fo frugal to the Chikkafah, was owing to
their unwife attachment to usj but if they followed their copy, they
would foon become as rich as themfelves.
If the fagacious, and gallant governor could have executed his will,
they would not have thus boafted — he warmly debated in council to order
each of them to be fecured, as hoftages, and kept aboard a man of war in
the harbour, till fatisfadtion was remitted for the unprovoked, and wil-
ful murders that nation had committed on feveral of his majefty's peace*
able fubjefts : but his fpirited refolution was overborne by a confiderable
majority of votes. However, when they got home, they told our traders
that his excellency's fpeech was quite different to that of the beloved
white man, meaning the fuper-intendant, for it was very Iharp and wound-
ing i and that his eyes fpoke, and glanced the fire alfo which was burning
in his heart. No people are more obfervant of the pafTions in the ho-
neft face than they. Their eyes and judgment are furprifingly piercing ;
and in confequence of this Governor's open, fteady, virtuous condu6t, all
our neighbouring nations honour and love him, to this very day.
Ill
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The Chikkafah chief fent his bloody embafly to the Choktah by a cunning
and trufty uncle, who accompanied me to the late Tumbikpe-fort. I
was ignorant of the mifchievous plan, till we arrived at camp, near the
Great Red Captain's : there, in bed at night, I plainly overheard the
whole, and faw the white fwan's wings, and others painted red and black, —
perfiiafive and fpeaking emblems of friendfliip to the one party, and war,
blood, and death to the other. They received thole bafe tokens, accord-
ing to the mifchievous intention of thofe who fent them. As they are fond
of novelty, the news was conveyed through the nation, with profound fe-
crefy : befides, they were very much rejoiced at fo favourable an opportu-
nity Oi making peace with the Mufkohge, who awed them exceedingly, on
account of their repeated lofles, which were chiefly occafioned by tiicir want
P p 2 of
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An Account of the Choktah Nation.
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of d<ill in fvvimming. Tumbikpe gairifon, a little before this time, wao
very unwiftly removcJ. -, but, to fupply that wrong mcafure, our fiiper-
inter.danc of Indian affairs, ilat>)ned here one of his reprdentatives. He
was as much unacqiiainied with rhc language, manners, and cuftoms of
the Indians, as his employer: and yet wrote a confiderable vdiime how
to regulate Indian afhiirs in freneral, and particularly in the Choktah coun-
try. Eefidcs his want of proper qualifications in fo nice and difficult an
office, he was in his temper fo turbulent, proud, and querulous, that his
prtfence inftead of quieting the favapes, was ir.ore ihan fufficient to dif-
oblige, and dillraft tliem, in the mok friendly tiircs. He lived in the
deiVrted garrilbn, as a place of fecurity, kept weighty pullies to the gates,
and his own door fhiit, as if the place had been a monaftery ; which was
the worfl meafure he could polfibly have purfued, coniidering the proud
and familiar temper of thole he had to deal with, and the late loothing
treatment of tlie French to them. Kapteny Ilumma Echcto " the Great
Red Captain," lent word to him he would call there, on a certain day, to
confer with him on fome material bufinefs. On account of their fluctuating
councils in fo w'cighty an afl'air as the intended war, he prolonged the
time of going there, for the Ipace of eiglit days-, the gentleman engaged
me to ftay till the affair was decided. I continued without the leall re-
ludlance, as I faw the black ttorm gathering, and hoped I might be able
in fome meafure to difpel it. When the Red Captain came, his chief
bufinefs was to demand prefents, in the fame manner they received
them from the French, as the war-chiefs and beloved men were grown very
poor ; and to know whether our government would enable them to revenge
their dead, by bellowing on them ammunition to continue the war againft the
Mufkohge, who highly defpifed us, and frequently committed ads of hoiti-
lity againft our people. Contrary to my advice, he gave a plain nega-
tive to each of his queries, without confidering contin<_>;cncies — Becaule
the neighbouring town was filenr, and very few of tliem came near the
fort, he flattered himielf that thole dangerous tokens proceeded intirely
from the cold reception, and frequent denials he had given them ; and that
for the future, he could live there in a retired and ealy manner. But
had he taken the trouble to go among them, as I did, he might have k(:n
by their gloomy faces what bitter rancour was in their liearts. Next day, I
difcovered at the moft untVcquented part of tiic fort, v/hich was near the
fouth eaft corner, on the rivcr-fidc, that the wary favages had in the iiiglit time
forced
An Account cf the Clioktah Nation.
203
forced two of the great poRs fo far apart, as one perfon could eafily pafs
through at a time ; as fiicli ocular proof might have made my ho!l iin-
eafy, I tliought it wrong to molcfl liis tranquillity by the difcovery. The
Red Chief would now drink no iJMrituous liquors, thougli I prcflld him to
it. They know their weaknefs then, which might lead them to divuh^e
their country's fecrots, — a great diigracc to a warrior. He went home
with his heart grcady inebriated however, on account of the flat denials
he had received ; efpccially, as the warriors would depreciate hini for his
ill fuccefs.
In a few days afcer, I fet off with my red coinpp.pion, and lay all
night at the Red Captain's houfe, which (lands in one of their northern
barrier towns. He walked out with me in the evening, but in his diicourfe,
he ufed as much evafion and craft, as an old fox in his intricate windings to
beguile the earnell purfuers. At night his houfe was very quiet, as if their
long heads and Treacherous Iiearts were equally at reft ; — but I plainly faw into
their favourite and laboured plan, and one of tfieir I'emales told me there
was at that time, a great many head-men of different towns, at a neighbour ■
ing houfe, conferring together concerning the white people -, and that (liti
believed their fpeech was not good, as they did not allow any women or
boys to hear it. The Red Chief and I parted like courtiers ; it foon began
to rain, fo as to fwell the waters to fuch a confiderable height, as rendered
them unpafTable to horfemen, whofe circumftances were not quite defperate.
The Choktah leader fent a Iprightly young man, his nephew, with me,
under pretence of accompanying me and the above-mentioned Cliikkafali
warrior -, but I was not without ftrong fufpicion, that lie was fent to flioot
me by furprifo, as foon as he heard the whcoping death-fignal in purfuit of
me. For they had fent runners to call home thofe who were huntinr.-
in the woods, and the laft company of them we met, reaching our camp in
the niglit, flaid there till the morning. We convcrfed together with-
out the leaft difguife •, they were confident the traders were killed, and
their favourite war and death-cry would foon reach their liftening cars.
I thought it improper to make a jeft of fo ferious an affair, and determined
to fet off, though my red companions endeavoured to delay me as much as
they could. Early in the morning I took out my faddle, which the Choktah
mentioned to the others through a fufpicion I intended to make my cfcape ;
but they quieted his jealouiy, by telling him I did fo, only bccaufe I was lazy •
to walk. About half a mile from camp, I foon catched and mounted one of
3 "'•y
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An Account of the Choktah Nation^
my horfes, and fetoff, keeping clear of the trading path for about four miles,
in order to perplex any purfuers that might be fent after me. When my horfe
tired, I led it on foot through the pathlefs woods about fifty miles, and heard
no more of them. Had the Choktah known how to obtain a fufficient fupply
of ammunition, they would at this very time, have commenced war againft
us. That only checked their bloody aim, to their unfpeakable grief, and
prevented our being engaged in a dangerous war.
All our Indian-traders well know, that the mifconduft and obftinacy of
the firft fuper-intendant of Indian affairs, was the fole occafion of irritating
the Great Mortar to become bitter-hearted againft us, and devoting him-
felf with a blood-thirfty defire to injure us, wherever his black policy could
reach. And as the firft, by his ftiff behaviour fet on the Mortar,— his fuc-
ce/Tor, by ill-timed prefents inftead of demanding fatisfadion, gave him as
good an opportunity as he could have defired, to imprefs the warriors of
his own and other nations, with a ftrong opinion of our timid difpofition,
and incapacity of oppofing them. The impreflion of Governor Johnftone's
fpeech, plainly declares they would not have been fo weak as to utter their
bafe threats againft us, to the Chikkafah leader at Penfacola, only that
they were previoufly corrupted by the mifmanagement of Indian affairs. I
am well affured, they frequently applauded his martial condudl when they
returned home, and faid he was a man and a warrior, which is as great an
encomium, as they can beftow on any mortal. May Weft-Florida, and
New Georgiana on the extenfive and fertile lands of the meandring Mifli-
fippi, have a continual fucceffion of fuch chief magiftrates as Mr. John-
ftone, and his worthy fucceffor Montfort Browne, Efq-, to ftudy and pro-
mote the public good, and caule the balance of juftice to be held with an
even hand !
a ■■
The following relation will ferve to dlfplay what (hould be our manner of
treating the Indians — A white man, onMobille river, fold fpirituous liquors
to a couple of the Choktah, till they were much intoxicated, and unable to
purchafe any more j he then ftrenuoufly denied to credit them : their ufual
burning thirft exciting them to drink more, they became too troublefome for
any fpirited perfon to bear with. He took up an ax, at firft in his own
defence, but when they endeavoured to run off, he, in the heat of paflion
purfued, and unhappily killed one of them. The other ran, and told his
3 relations
An Account of the Choktah Nation,
295
relations the fad difafter. Prefently, nothing could be heard through the
nation, but heavy murmurs and fliarp threats. Governor Johnftone had the
murderer foon apprehended, and confined him to be tried in due courfe of
law. This delay of executing juftice on one, and whom we only fecured
from their refentment as they imagined, tempted them to think on a general
malTIicre. Soon after the fitting of the general court, their revengeful
hearts became eafy : for the man was fairly tried, and condemned, bccaufe
he did not kill the favage in his own defence, but while he was re-
treating from him. I have reafon to believe the Indians would not have
allowed the French, when in garrifon among them, to delay (liooting
any of their people, whom they but even fufpefled of having killed tlie
meanefl: of their kindred : for, in the year 1740, the Mufi'Cohge, on a falfe
fufpicion, forced the commanding officer of the Alebahma garrifon, by
their loud threats, to kill one of the militia foldiers. When they were
leading him to the place of execution, he requeued the favour of a bottle
of wine, to enable him to die with the firm conftancy of an honeft French
warrior : he received, and drank it off, and declared his innocence of the
imputed crime, with his laft words. The fignal was given, and the foldiers,
by order, quickly (hot the unfortunate man. But the Englifliman, who
had been likewife a foldier, would not have been condemned by the mere
aflfertion of the Choktah favage, coft what it would ; as it was both re-
pugnant to our law, and too dangerous a precedent to give to fo treach-
erous a people. He was juftly condemned on his companion's oath. His
excellency Governor Johnftone afted fo fairly and tenderly in this affair,
that, by his rcqueft, one of the Chikkafah traders was fummoned to fit on
the trial, as he of a long time knew the bafe difpofition of the Choktah ;
but no favourable circumftances appearing on his fide, he was condemned.
Although the Choktah had their defired revenge, yet, when their leader
came parading into Tumbikpe garriibn, with a gun he had taken from a
white man, whom he murdered on the Chikkafah trading path •, our fuper-
intendant's reprefentative fliamefuUy refufed to a6t the part of the magi-
Urate, or to impower the commanding ofiicer of the Fort tofecure the mur-
derer, though he prefTcd him with manly earneftnefs, and protefted that he
would gladly confine him, were it not contrary to the tenour of his com-
miflion. The favage having boafted a v/hile after his triumphal entrance,
returned
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y//; Account of the Choktah Nation.
returned exultingly to his country-men, to the lliamc and regret of tlic
traders. Our white beloved man thought himfelf bcfb employed in other
affairs than thefe, and doubtlels, profitable family jobbs ougiit to be well
minded.
His fucceflbr was equally fl^ilful in managing the Indians as himfelf,
though much his inferior. His only merit was, the having been a
clerk to the Chikkafah white beloved man, who rcfigned his place, on
account of the difcontinuance of his Bricidi pay. He corrupted and
praclifed with the Indians, according to the fyltem his teaclier pur-
fued. One inftance, among many, will fliew this : a gentleman came to
view the MifTifippi lands, from the fettlements which are on the Yad-
kin, a large and beautiful river, that, after gliding down 300 miles
to the Sand-hill, Wilmington, and the walle Brunfwick, is ftilcd Cape-
Fear-River. He was higlily pleafed with the foil, climate, and fituation of
the lands he came in queft of: but told me, in a humorous manner, that,
when he was at a French man's houfe, on the Spanilli fide of the river, a
very Uifty Choktah called there, in company with others upon a hunt.
As the French Choktah was defirous of ingratiating himfelf into the
favour of the hoft, he began to ridicule my friend with geftures, and
mocking language : the more civilly the Englifliman behaved, fo much
the more impudently the favage treated him. At length, his paf-
lions were inflamed, and he fuddenly feized him in his arms, carried him a
few fteps ofF, and threw him down the bank into the Miffifippi. The
laugh now turned againil him loud ; for, if the Indians faw their grand-
mother break her neck by a fall from a horfe, or any other accident, they
would whoop and halloo. The Baptift, or dipped perfon, came out
adiamed, but appeared to be very good-humoured after his purification, as
he found he had not one of the French wood-peckers to deal with.
However, one night, when the gentleman was on his return, the
favages purfued, and endeavoured to kill him, and did feize his horfes
and baggage. He had a narrow efcape for his life before he came
to Quanflieto, where the towns-people of the late Great Red Shoes had fet-
tled, and our white beloved man refided. He made his complaint to him,
which might have been expedled to produce botli pity and juftice in any
heart that was not callous. But, inllead of endeavouring to redrcfs his
gi-ievance, which he could have eafily effected, he aggravated his fufferings
by
An Account cf the Choktah Nation.
■97
by abuil*. y\s tlie favage had been brought up with the Englilli trades, lb
ab to be calljd the boy of one of tliein, and lived in 2'ajijco, the town of
the prefcnt Red Shoes, our chief couKl cafily have had every thing returned,
had lie only demanded it in form. Hut, like his predecefTor, he endea-
voured to keep in with the Indians — he deemfd their favourable re-
l)ort of his friemlly conduft toward them, to be the main point he ought
to oblfi ve, in order to fecurc the tmbally from iiilllring damage, what-
ever became of truth, orjuftice.
The Choktah have a remote, but confidcrable tov/n, called 2'oxi.-a)inc,
which h the name of a worm that is very deflrut^ive to corn in a wet leu-
fon. It lies forty miles below the feven fouthernmoll towns of the nation,
toward Mobille, and 120 computed miles from thence, on a pleafant rmal!
river, that runs fouth of the town. As it is a remote barrier, it is
greatly harrafFed by the Mufl<ohge, when at wa^with them. Here, a com-
pany of them came lately looking for prey ; but miHing it, as the Clioktali
were apprized, and ftaid at home, their pride and diiappointment excited
t!iem to injure thofe ftrangers who clianced to f.ill in their way. About
fix miles below the town, they came to the camp of two white men, who
were jufl: ready to fet off" to Mobille, with loaded horfes ; being refolved
not entirely to mifs their errand of blood and plunder, they attacked
them witli their tomohawks, cautious of not alarming the neighbouring
enemy by the report of their guns. They fpeedily difpacchcd one of them ;
but the other being ftrong bodied, very fiery, and delperate, held them a
fharp (Iruggle, as it appeared afterward : his gun was found much battered,
and the long grafs quite beat down for a confidcrable way round the place
•where the Yowanne Indians found him fufpended in the air. For as fooii
as thofe favages perpetrated that diabolical aft, they hanged each of
them on trees, with tlie horfes halters, and carried away fix of the horfes
loaded with drefl: deer-Hcins, as far as Mobille-river. Miuggo llnnma
EchetQ, the Great Red Chieftain, of the aroreiaid town, on his return
from war \ .th the Mufkohge, fortunately intercepted them, killed and
fcalped two, and retook the horfes and leather. Thefe, he fent home, as he
imagined the owner then refidcd in the nation, and would gladly redeem
them with reafonable prefents : while he went down to Mobille to fliew his
trophies of v/ar, in full hopes of getting a new fupply of ammunition from
the deputy fuper-intendant, to be ufed againfi: the common enemy. Mc
fiattered himfelf that the fcalps brought into our maritime town, in folemn
Q^q triumph,
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All Account of the Clioktah Nation.
triumph, would prove a gladfome fight to our people, and enlarge their
hearts towards him and liis fatigued poor warriors. But he perceived no-
thing of this kind, of which he complained to me with very (liarp language,
and returned liome, highly incenled againft his new Rnglifli friends.
I have reafon to remember tiiis too well ; for, a little after thofii
white men were murdered, bufinefs calling me to Mobille by mylclf, I chole
to decline the euftern path, and the middle one that leads by the Chakckooma
old fields, as they were much expofed to the incurfions of the Mufkohge ;
and rode through the chief towns of the nation, along the horfe-path that
runs from the Chikkafah, neareft the Miflifippi, to Mobille. About fix miles
below the feven-towns that lie clofe together, and next to New Orleans, I
met a confiderable party of the leaders and head-warriors returning home
from war. We fliook hands together, and they feemed very glad to lee me.
They earneftly difluaded me from proceeding any farther, advifed mc to re-
turn to their friendly towns, and reft awhile among them, declaring, that if
my ears were mad, and would not hear their friendly fpeech, I fliould furely
be killed, the enemy were ranging the woods fo very thick. They were
good judges of the danger, as they knew the treacherous plan they had con-
certed toi^ether at I'owanne. But the memory of paft times, moved thena
to give me that kindly caution. I thanked them, and faid, I wilhed
bufinefs allowed me to act according to their advice, and accept of
their generous invitation ; but it did not : however, if my limited days were
not fiiiifiicd before, I would fiiortly have the pleafure to fee them again. I
proceeded, and met feveral parties of the fame main company, feveral
miles diftant from each other, carrying fmall pieces of a fcalp, finging the
triumphal fong, and founding the fnrill death-whoop, as if they had killed
hundreds. On my refting and fmoking with the laft party, they informed
me, that their camp confifted of two hundred and fifty warriors, under great
leaders, who were then returning from war againft a town of the Kno-
faahte Indians, who had fettled twenty-five miles above Mobille, on the
eaftern fide of the river ; that they had killed and wounded feveral of them,,
fufpediiig them of abetting the Mufkohge, and fortunately got one of
their fcalps, v.'hich t-he warriors of feparate towns divided, and were carry-
ing home, with joyful hearts.
A ftranger would be much furprifed to fee the boafting parade thefe
A'avages made with one fcalp of a reputed enemy. To appearance, more
than-
Jin Account of the Clio k tali NiitioK.
■99
than a tlio'jfan.l men, women, liifly boys, and girls, wont loaJed with
provifions to meet them j and to dance, fi;)'?, ami icjoice at this cain[;, t'ui'
th'.'ir luccefs in war, and fafc return. Tlieir camps were made v/itli
the green bark and boughs of trees, ai. gave a ilriking picture of the
caiy and limple modes of early ages. Their chieftains and great war-
riors fat in iLue, with the afVuming greatnefs of the ancient fenators of
imperial Rome. I had the honour to fit awhile with them, and was di-
verted with the old circling and wheeling dances of the young men and
women. I fmoked with them, and then took my leave of this lall camp of
rejoicing heroes. The Choktah are the moft formal in their addrellc-,, of
all the Indian nations I am acquainted with : and they reckon the neglect
of obferving their ufual ceremonies, proceeds from contempt in the traders,
and from ignorance in ftrangers.
I encamped early, and within two leagues of Tozvannc, as it fecT.ed to be a
good place for killing wild game. I imagined alfo, that here the people were
awed by the Muikohge from ranging the woods, but, it happened other-
wife: for, foon after the horfe-bells began to ring, two fprightly young fel-
lows came through the canc-fwamp, and as enemies, they crawled up the
fteep bank of the creek, near to me, before I difcovered them. My fire-
arms were clofe at hand, and I inftantly ftood on my guard. They looked
earneftly around, to fee for the reft of my company, as it is very unufual for
any of the traders, to take that journey alone. I afl^ed them who they
were, from whence they came, and what they were fo carneftly fearching
for. They evaded anfwering my queries, and alked me if I did not
come by myfelf. 1 told them, without hefitation, that fome way behind,
my companion rode out of the path to kill deer, as his gun was good,
and he could uCe it extremely well. On this, they fpoke a little together,
with a low voice; and then told me, that they belonged to 2'owanne,
and were part of a hunting camp, which was near at hand, and in view
of the path. I afked them to fit down, which they did, but their difcourfe
was difagreeable, as my fuppofed fellow-traveller was the chief fubjed of it.
They faid they would go back to their camp, and return to mine foon, to
fee whether the white man was come from hunting. They went, and were
as good as their word ; for, they did me the honour to pay me a feco-d
vifit. As they were fo very earnefl in that which did not concern them,
unlefs they had ill intentions, the fight of them would have inilantly in-
flamed the heart of one not infefled witn ftoicifm, to wi(h for a proper
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An Account of the Choktah Nation.
place to make a due retribution. At this time, the fun was near three
hours from fetting. The white hunter's abfence wns the firfl and chief fub-
jedt of their difcourfe, till evening. As on a level place, all the fa.aj^es fit
crofs-leggcd, fo my vifitors did, and held their guns on their knee, or
kept tlicm very near, with their otter-fl<in fliot pouch over one of their
flioulders, as is ufiial in time of danger. I obferved their mifchievous eyes,
inllcad of looking out eailwardly toward the Mufkohge country, were ge-
nerally pointed toward the N. W. the way I had come. As by chance, I
walked near to one of them, he fuddtnly fnatched up his gun. No
friendly Indians were ever known to do the like, efpecially fo near home,
and a confiderable camp of his own people : innocence is not fufpicioos,
but guilt. He knew his own demerit, and, perhaps miagincd 1 knew it,
iVom concurring circumllanccs. To fee whether his conduct proceeded
from a fear of danger, or from accident, I repeated the trial, and he did
the lame ; which confirmed me in my opinion of their bafe intentions.
i ,
In this uneafy and reftlefs manner we continued till (un-fct, when
one of them artfully got between me and my arms. Then they or-
dered me to (lop the bells of my horfes, which were grazing near the
cam.p, (uftd partly on account of the number of big flies that infeft the
country.) I aiked them the reafon — they told me, becaufe the noife
frightened away the deer. I took no notice at firfl: of their haughty
command, but they repeated it with fpiteful vehemence, and I was
forced to obey their mandate. They looi:ed, and lifl;ened earneftly
along the edge of the fwamp, but being difappointed of their ex-
pected additional prey, in about the fpace of ten minutes they ordered
me to open the bells again. Of the manifold dangers I ever was
in, I deemed this by far the greatefl:, for I ftood quite defenctlels.
Their language and behaviour plainly declared their mifchievoas delig;is..
I expefted every minute to have been fliot down-: and though I eniiea-
voured to fliew a manly afpcft, the cold fweat trickled down my face
through uneafinefs, and a crowd of contrary pafllons. After fone time, in
this alarming fituation, they told me the ugly white man fl:aid long, and
that they would go to their camp a little while, and return again, —
they did as they faid. To deceive tliem, I had made my bed as for
two people, of foftencd bear and buflalo Ikins, with the lonti; hair and
wool on, and blankets. My two watchmen came the third time,
accompanied with one older than thcmfelves : he fpoke little, was artful,.
7 and,
An Account of / ' Chuktah \\i!bn.
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to fliei* the
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and very defigning. They fcemed much concennid ac cin
fuppofed companion, left he fliould by vinkicky milchanc
or killed by the Mufl-cohge. I gave thciu fcveral i '
futility of their kindly feu, and afTurcd them he ui
barbicue the meat, when lie killed much, as he could not oilicrways jring
it to camp ; but that he never failed, cm fuch an occafion, to come fome
time in the night. Tiie cunning fox now and then afl^ed nie a lUidicd
fliort quellion, in the way of crofs examination, concL-rning the main
point they had in view, and my anfweis were lb cool and uniform, that
I almoft peri'uaded them firmly to credit all I laid. V/Iicn he roiild no
way trepan me, and tlicre was filence for fevcral minutes, he alkcJ me,
if I was not afraid to be at camp alone. I told him I w.is an iMi^lifli
warrior, — my heart was honeft — and as I fpoiled nobody, why fhould I
be afraid .'' I'iieir longing eyes by tliis time wore quite tired. The
oldclt of them very politely took his leave of me in J'rencii ; and rho
others, through an earneft: friendly defire of fnoking, anil chatting a litilc
with my abfcnt companion, told me at parting, to be Hire to call them, by
founding the news-whoop, as fuon as he arrived at camp. 1 readily pro
milld to comply, for the fake of the favour of tluir good company ;
and to prevent any fulpicion of the truth of my talc, 1 added, tliat if
he failed in his ufual good luck, they ought to fupply us with a leg of
vtnifon, or we would give tliem as much, if iie fucc'eded.
7\nd now all v/a'; well, at lealT, with me; for I took time by ih**
fore-lock, and kit theni to echoe the news-wliooj'. }'c\<:t:i:-i!.' lay iic.uly
fout!i-ca;l from me-, but to avoid my being ciiiier intercepted i-n the
path, or heard liy tlic quick-tar'd favages, I went a quarter 0/ a nvAc up
tlie large cane !\vanip, and paficd through it on a fouLh well courfe, but
very flow, as it was a dark thicket of great c\nes and vines, over-topped v, ith
large fprtading tree.-:. 1 leldom had a glimpie oi any (lar to direi:': vv.y
courle, the moon being then far '^-'-'t. About an hour before day-liulit, I
heard them from the top of an high hi'J, fire off a gun at cvvp; v.lvch I
fuppul'ed was when t'-.ey found me gone, arid in order kj t'.eci^y iiiv kip-
poled companion to answer then with the like nport ; ccjniec-cu'in^. he
would imagine it wa? I who fired for him, according to cuiioni in fioii-
lar cafes. I kept nearly at the dillance of three mdes frotn the path, till I
arrived at the out-houfes of Yovvanne. As I had never before ken th;!i
town, nor gone to Mobille that w.y, one cf tliC warriors at w ■• requi.il;
eoi<duiktd
ff
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302
/// i'lccjunt of the Chuktah Nation.
cniuliKHftl ir,c tj llic riwr, winch \vc wadcl brciift-higli, and went to the
jMliiulntxl fort oF Ml»igo lUuinui EJjclo, which Hood coniinodioufly
Hii the I).uik of till- river. He received and treated mc very kindly, I con-
cealed what befcl me at cani|), thotigli I had realbn to believe, he was in-
fonned of my efiape by ;i runner, as I faw f.efh tracks wlicn I rc-
tiiriicii. I pretended to have come from cam[), only to confer with him,
concerning tiic fitiiation of MubiUc path, and follow his advice, eic!icr
to proceed on, or return home, being convinced fo great a cliieftaiii
as he, who lived in dei'iancc of the Midkoiigc on that rcmnie barrier,
mud be a better juds^c, tlian any of thofc I had met. He commended
me tor my caution, and airuied me there were leveral companies of the
Mufliohge, then out at war on the path; and that as they hated and dc-
fpifcd the Knglill-, they would furely kill me, if I continued my jour-
ney. I thanked him for his friendly caution, and told him it fliould not
fall to the ground. I foon difcovered his great refentment agaitift tlie
I'.nglilli, on account of the impolitic and unkiml treatment he had re-
ceived at Mobdle. He reafoned upon it with flrong natural good kn['c,
and lliewed me in his mufcum, tiie two red-painted fcalps of the IVIufkohge
who had murdered our people, and left them in contempt hanging like
mangy df)gs, with a horfc's rope round each of their necks. He then
fliewed me thefiourifliing commifTions he had received from both French and
Knglifli. He defcaiued minutely on the wife and generous liberality of the
former, on every material occafion -, and on the niggardly difpofition antl
difcouraging conduct of the latter, when they ought to ftrctch out both
their hands to thofe red people who avenged their wrongs, and brougiit
them the fcalps of the very enemy who had lately (lied their blood.
The French never {o ftarved the public caufe j and though they fre-
quently gave fparingly, they beftowcd their favours with a winning grace,
and confummate wifdom.
•Ji 1
^■y
This conduft of ours excited the crafty Minggo Humma Echeto, to give loofe
to his vindiiflive temper ; and at the fame time, to make it coincide with the
general welfare of his country. For as the Mufkohge had proved an over-
match for them in almoft every engagement, and had lately committed hofti-
lities againft us in their neighbourhood, he perfuaded thofe head-men I
had met, when convened in a council of war, that if they with proper fe-
crefy repeated tlie like hoftile adl on any of our people who firft came
that way, and reported it to have been done by the Mufkohge, it would
certainly
! f
/!n Account of the Clioktuh Niition.
303
certainly obtain that favourite point they had long wiflied for, of drawing
us into an alliance with them againft the common enemy, as we mud have lomc
of the inward feelings of men for our loll people. Probably, the decree of
that red council would have been foon put in execution had it not been for
me. \V1h 11 I took my leave of the red chief to return, tlie drum was beat
to convene the people to tell them the caulc of my coming to him, and re-
turning home -, and that as the women and children had ken me in the
town, their late plan of execution muft be entirely laid afide. One of the
warriors was fent to accompany me, though rather by way of elcortment.
In my return I called at the before mentioned camp, and put up the whoop ;
my two former watclimen, on feeing me, refemblcd wolves catched in a pit,
they hung down their heads, and looked gloomy, and wrathful. I alked them
why they were alliamed, and why their hearts weighed fo heavy they fald
they were afliamed for me, I was fo great a liar, and liad eariiclVly told them
fo many ugly falflioods. I faid, my fpeecli to them could hurt no honell
perfons. — My head, my eyes, my heart, afllircd me their liearts were then
like the fnakes j and my tongue only fpoke the fpeec!) of honell wildom,
fo as to fave myfelf from being bitten — That it was the property of poiionous
fnakcs, when they mifs their aim, to be enraged, and hide their heads in
their hateful coil ; and concluded, by telling them 1 went through the
woods to Yowanne, to flievv them publicly I was not hurt by Uirkin;^
fiKikcs — and that I would now return to tiie harmlefs Ciiikkafah, aiul tell
them fo — on this we parted.,
A timely application of proper meafures with the favages, is our only
nuthod to fecure thtir feeble altcdions. If thofc, who are employed for
that fakitary piirpofe, juilly purfued that point, its tfieCc would foon be
openly tleclared, by the friendly behaviour and honed conduct of the va-
rious weltern nations. But where intcreft governs, iniquitous meafures are
purfued, and p.\inttrs can be got who will flatter the original, be it ever
fo black. Some of our chiefs, with a certain military officer in VVed-i-'lo-
ridd, like trembling mice, humbly voted not to demaiid any fatisfaLtion
from tl.e favages, for that moft ihockmg aft of cool murder I have jull
mentioned, 1 ft it fhould provoke them to do us more milchief. But to the
honour of George Johnltone, Efq; then Governor of WcIt-Florida, as a
rcprefentative of the fuflxMing pcoi)le, he defpii .d fuch ob.equious and pu-
fillaninious councils, and infifted, in his ufual manly nr.nner, on nn equal
revenge
304
An Accjunt of the Choktah Nation.
%
rjT
revenge of blood, and had it i'peedily granted, as far as the fituation of af-
fairs coLild pofiibly allow : for by a council of the red Sanlicdrim, they con-
demned three of the chief murderers to be killed, and formally fent
down to him two of their fcalps to (top tlie loud voice of blood : but the
third made off to the Cheerake, by whicli means lie evi-.ded his JMilly de-
ferved fate — and too nice a icrutiny at fuch a time would not have been
convenient. All the v/ertern Indian nations, bear the high.cft regard to
that paternal governor, and plain friend of all the people : and I record
his conduct to do jullice to fo uncommon a character in America, as
well as to engage his fucceilbrs to purfue the fame meafures, and copy
after him.
The Choktah, by not having deep rivers or creeks to purify thcm-
felves by daily ablutions, are become very irreligious in other refpeds, for
of late years, they make no annual atonement for fin. As very few
of tliem can fwim, this is a full proof that the general opinion of the young
brood of fiivages bt'.iig able to fwim like filh, as foon as they come
into the v.'orld, ought to be intirely exploded. The Indian matrons have
fenfe enough to know, that the fwimmino; of human creatures is an
art to keep the head above water, which is gained by experience ; and that
their hclplefs infants are incapable of it. Probably, the report fprung from
rhcir immerfing the new-born infants in deep running water by tlie way
of purification.
The Choktah are the craftieft, and mod ready-witted, of any of the
red nations I am acquainted wich. It is furprifing to hear the wily
turns they ufe, in perfuading a perfon to grant them the favour they have
in view. Other nations generally behave with modefty and civility, with-
out ever kliening tliemfelves by afi-iing any mean favours. But the
Choktah, at every fealon, are on the begging lay. I feveral times told
their leading men, they were greater beggars, and of a much meaner
fpirit, than tiie wliite-haired Chikkafah women, v.'ho often were real
objedts of pity. I was once fully convinced that none was fo fit to baffle
them in thofe low attempts vvitliout giving offence, as their own coun-
try-men. One, in my prefence, expatiated on his late difappointment and
lodes, with the feveral imexpedled caufes, and prefiangly follicited his
auditor as a benevolent kinlman, to affill him in his diftrefs : but the other
kcpr
An Account of the Choktah Nation.
kept his ear deaf to his importunity, and entirely evaded the artful aim of
the petitioner, by carrying on a difcourfe he had begun, before his rela-
tion accofled ium as a fuppl'ant. Each alternately began where tiiey
had left off, the one to inforce the compliance of his prayer, and the other,
like the deaf adder, to elude the power of its charming him. Nature has
in a very furprifing manner, endued the Indian Americans, with a rtrong
comprehenfive memory, and great flow of language. I liilcncd with clofc
attention to their fpeeclies, for a confiderable time ; at laft the petitioner
defpairing of imprefTing the other with fentiments in his favour, was forced
to drop his falfe and tragical tale, and become feeminrly, a patient hearer
of the conclufion of the other's long narrative, wiiich was given him with
a great deal of outward compofurc, and cool good-nature.
P
■U
'iirl
In the years 17+6 and 1747, I was frequently perplexed by the Clioktah
mendicants ; wliich policy direfted me to bear, and conceal as well as I
could, becaufe I was then traniacting public bufitiefs with them. In 1747,
one of their warriors anil a Chokchooma came to me for prefents ; which
according to my ufual cuftom in thofe times, I gave, though much Icfs
than they prcfumed to expecl. I'iie former, llrongly declaimed ngainft
the penurious fpirit of the French, and then highly applauded the open
generous temp:.'rs of the Englifli traders : for a confiderable time, he con-
traded them with each other, not forgetting, in every point of compa-
rifon, to give us the preference in a high degree. He was endued with
fo much eloquence and Jkill as to move the pafllons, and obtain his point.
A confiderable number of Chikkafaii warriors who were prefent, told mc
foon after, that his Ihilful method of addrefling me for a bottle of fpiri-
tuous liquors, feemed to them aftonilking : an old beloved man replied,
that the worft fort of fnakes were endued with the greateft fl<.ill to infnare
and fuck their prey, wliereas, the harmlefs have no llich power.
n
The Ii.dians in general do not chufe to drink any fpirits, unlefs they can
quite intoxicate themfelves. When in that helplefs and fordid condition,
weeping and afl<ing for more ookka hocwe, " bitter waters," I faw one of
the drunkard's relations, who fomc time before had taken a like dofe, hold
the rum-bottle to the other's head, faying, when he liad drank deep, " Hah,
you were very poor for drinking." Though I appealed to all the Chik-
kafah warriors prefent, that rum never rtood on hand with me, when th^;
R r peopl'-
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306
An jiccount of ths Choktah Nation.
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people \vt:re at home, and fcrcral times affirmed to the importunate Chok-
t.ili, that it was entirely expended i yet my denial fervcd only to make him
more earned : upon this, I told him, that thoiigli I had no ookka hoome, I
liad a full bottle of tl.e water of ane booiiie, " bitter ears," meaning long
pepper, of which he was ignorant, as he had feen none of that kind. We
were cf opinion that his eager third for liquor, as well as his ignorance of
the burning quality of the pepper, and the refemblance of ths words, which
fignify things uf a hot, tliough different nature, would induce the baccha-
nal to try it. I le accordingly applauded my generous difpofition, and faid,
" his heart had all the while told him I would not adl beneath the charac-
ter I bore amung his country-people." The bottle was brought : I laid it
on the table, and told him, as he was then fpitting very much,, (a general
cullom with the Indians, when they are eager for any thing) " if I drank it
all at one fitting, it would caufe me to fpit in earneft, as I ufed it, only
when I ate, and thtn very moderately ; but though I loved it, if
his heart was very poor for it, I (liould be filent, and not in the leaft
grudge iiim for plealing his moutli." He faid, " your heart is honeft in-
deed •, I thank you, for it is good to my heart, and makes it greatly to
rejoice." Without any farther ceremony, he feized the bottle, uncorked it,
and fwallowed a large quantity of the burning liquid, till he was near
ilrangled. He gafped for a confiderable ti ■'le, and as foon as he reco-
vered his breatii, he faid Flab, and foon after kept ftroaking liis throat
with his right hand. When the violence of this burning draught was pretty
well over, he began to flourifli away, in praife of the ftrength of the
liquor, and bounty of the giver. He then went to his companion, and held
the boLilc to his mouth, according to cuftom, till he took feveral hearty fwal-
lows. This Indian feemed ratlier more fenfible of its fiery quality, than the
other, for it fuffocated him for a confiderable time ; but as foon as he reco-
vered his breath, he tumbled about on the floor in various poftures like a
drunken perfon, overcome by the force of liquor. In this manner, each
of them renewed their draught, till they had finiflied the whole bottle,
into which two others had been decanted. The Chikkaflxh fpedators
were furprifed at their taftclefs and voracious appetite, and laughed heartily
at them, mimicking the aftions, language, and gefture of drunken fa-
vages. I'he burning liquor fo highly inflamed their bodies, that cne of
the Choktah to cool his inward parts, drank water till he almofl: burfl: : the
Other rather than bear the ridicule of the people, and the inward fire that
diftraded
An Account of the Choktah Natiun.
Z^7
didra^tcd him, drowned hiinfelf t!>e fccond niglu afctr in a broad and Hial-
low clay hole, contiguous to the dwelling lioufc ot" Ids uncle, who was the
Chikkalah Archimagus.
There was an incident, fomediing fimilar, which happened in tlic year
1736, in Kauootare, the moR northern town of the Chcerake. When all the
liquor was expended, the Indians went home, le.iding with tlicm at my re-
queft, thoie who were drunk. One, however, i'oon came back, and earneftly
importuned me for more Nazvobti, which fignifies both phyfic and fpirituous
liqviors. They, as they are now become great liars, ful'peft all others of
being infected with their own difpofition and principles. The more I cx-
cufcd myfelf, the more anxious he grew, {o as to become ofFenfive. I then
told him, T j-.ad only one quarter of a bottle of ilrong phyfic, which fick
people mi^j.it drink in I'mall quantities, for the cure of inward pains : and
layin.', it down bef )re him, 1 declared I did not on any account choofc to
part with it, but as his Ipeech of few words, had become very long an;!
troublefomc, he migiit do jull as his heart direifted him concerning it. lie
took it up, laying h:s heart was very poor for phyfic, but that would cure
it, and make it quite ilreight. The bottle contained almoll three v^W-, or'
flrong fpirits of turpentine, which in a fliort time, he drank olT. Hucli a
quantity of the like phyfic would have demolilhed me, or any white perfon.
The Indians in genera!, are cither capable of fuftering e.vquifite pain longer
tlian we are, or of fliewing more confirancy and compolure in their tor-
ments. The troiiblefome vifitor foon tumbled down and foamed prodigi-
oufly. — I then feiit for ibme of his relations to carry Idm home. They
came — I told th.eni he drank greedily, and too much of the phyfic. I'iu'y
faid, it was iiis uldal cuitom, when the red people bought tlie Knglifii phyfic.
I'hey gave him a dccod::on of proper herbs and roots', the next day iweated
him, repeated the former draught, and he foon got v/ell. As tiiofc tur-
pentine fpirits did not inebriate him, but only infiamed his intcllinc?, he
well remembered tlic burning quality of my favourite phyfic, which he liad
fo indifcreetly drank up, and cautioned the reft from ever teizing me for
any phyfic I had concealed, in any fort of bottles, for my own ufe ; other-
wife they might be fure it would fpoil them, like the eating of fire.
The Choktah are in "eneral more (lender than any other nation of ^.x-
vagcs I have fcen, 'i'hey are r.iw-boned, and furprifingly active in ball-
R r 2 ]^l''7in£ •
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y/« Account of the Choktah Nation.
playing ; which is a very fliarp excrcile, and requires great ftrength and
exercion. In this manly txercik*, no pcrfons are known to be equal to
them, or in running on level ground, to v/hich they are chiefly ufed from
their infancy, on account of the fituation of their country, which hath
plenty of hills, but no mountains -, thefe lie at a confiderable diflance be-
tween them aiid the Mufliohge. On the furvey of a prodigious fpacc of
fertile land up the Millifippi, and its numberlefs fine branches, we found
the mountains full three hundred miles from that great winding m.afs of
waters.
Though the lands of Weft-Florida, for a confiderable diftance fiom
the fe.i-lliore, arc very low, four, wet, and unhealthy, yet it abounds
with valuable timber for fliip-bullding, which could not well be ex.-
pendcd in the long fpace of many centuries. This is a very material
article to lb great a maritime power, as Great Britaini efpecially as
it can be got with little expence and trouble. Tlie French were faid
to deal pretty mucii th.it way i and the Spaniards, it is likely, will
now refume it, as the bounty of our late miniftry has allowed the F'rcnch
to transfer New-Orleans to them, and by that means they are able to dif-
turb the Britidi colonies at pleafure. It cannot fail of proving a conftant
bone of contention : a few troops could foon have taken it during the late
war, for it was incapable of making any confiderable refirtance ; and even
French cfirontery could not have prefumed to withhold the giving it up, if the
makers of our lall memorable peace had not been fo extremely modcft, or
liberal to them. If it be allov/ed that the firft difcoverers and pofleflbrs of
a foreign walle country, have a jull title to it, the French by giving up New
Orleans to Great Britain, would have only ceded to her, poficfilons, which
they had no right to keep \ for Col. Wood was the firft diicoverer of the
iVliflliippi, who ftands on public record, and the chief part of ten years he
employed in fcarching its courie. This fpirited attempt he began in the
year 1654, and ended 1664. Capt. Bolton made the like attempt, in the
year 1670. Doctor Cox of New Jerfey fent two fliips Anno 1698, which
difcovered the mou'.h of it ; and having failed a hundred miles up, he took
poflefiion of the whole country, and called it Carolana : whereas the French
did not dilcover it till the year 1699, when they gave it the name of Col-
berc's-river, in honour of their favourite minifter, and the whole country
they called Loifinana, which may foon be exchanged for Fhilippiana — till
the Americans give it another and more defirable name.
The-
^n Account of the Choktah Kation.
h^9
The^Choktah being employed by the Frcncli, together with their otlicr rcJ
contederates, againlt the Kn^lilli Chikkafah, they had no opportunity ol'
inuring themfelves to the long-winded chace, among a great chain of lleep
cra<7gy mountains. They are amazingly artful however in deceiving an ene-
my ; they will faften the paws and trotters of panthers, bt\irs, and buflalos,
to their feet and hands, and wind about like the circlings of fuch animaU',
in the lands they ufually frequent. Tiiey alfo will mimick tlie diOercnt notes
of wild fowl, and thus often outwit the linages they have difputes with.
Their enemies fay, that wiien at war, it is impollible to difcover their
tracks, unlefs they Hiould be fo lucky as to lee their pcrfons. I'hey ait
very timoroufly againll: the enemy abroad, but beiiave as dcfpcrate veterans
when attacked in their own country. 'Till they were fupplied by the En-
glilli traders with arms and airanunitiun, tliey had very lirtle Ikili iii
killing deer; but they Improve very fail in that favourite art: no fa ■
vages are equal to them in killing bears, panthers, wild cat.s, 6cc. tha:
refort in thick cane-fwamps ; which fvvamps are Ibmetimes two or three
miles over, and an luindred in length, without any break citiier fide of
the ftream^
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About Cliriflmas, the he and ike bears always feparate. The former ufually
fnaps off a great many branches of trees, with which he makes the b ttom of
his winter's bed, and carefully raifes it to a proper height, with the j;reen top3
of large canes ; he chooles fuch folitary thickets as are impenetrable by ihe \\.w\~
beams. The (he bear takes an old large hollow tree for her yeaning wir.Lcr-
houfe, and chufes to have the door above, to enable lier to lecurc her ycuiig
ones from danger, Wlien any thing didurbs thvm, they g.diop up a tree,
champing their teeth, and briiUing their hair, in a irigiuful m<ini,er: and
when they are wounded, it is furprifnig from what a height iliey wiii pitch
on the ground, witli their weighty bodies, and how icon they ^c: up, and
run oft, V. iien they take up tiieir winter-quarters, they continue ilic r;vea-er
part of two months, in almofb an entire llate of inactivity : during than
time, their tracks reach no farther than to the next water, of wliich the-/
IclJom drink, as they frequently Rick their paws in t!ieir lonely recc :s,
and impoverilh their bodies, to nourilh them. While t'. arc ei.i-
pl')ytd in that furprifing talk of nature, they cannot contain themielvtn
in iilence, but are fo well pkafed with their repail, that they continue lin.;-
ing hum itin urn : as their pipes are none of the v/eakclt, the Indi.ins './ liiis
\v.<
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ylii Accour.l of the Chbktah "Nation.
iv.cius cncn jrt.' loci ro them from a confRl'-'rablc (iiflance, and then flioot tlicn
down. Due t!icy .nc ibrcvJ f) cu: a hole near the root of the tree, wiiiirc-'m
I'.i.; Ills bear and her cubs arc lodged, and drive them out by the force of
fire and ft.iffuc.itir.g fmokc •, and as the tree is partly ro:ten, and the infide
dry, it loon takes lire. In this cafe, tliey become very fierce, and would
fiL^'it any kind of enemy ; but, commonly, at the firft iliot, tliey are eitl.cr
killed or n'.ori.dly wounded. However, if tlie hunter chance to mifs his
ai:n, he Ij.K'cilily makes oil* to a fapplir.g, which the bear by over-clafping
c.innot climb : the crafty huntinn; dogs then ac^ their pur, by biiinr^ b;'-
hind, and gnawing its I-ams, till it takes up a tree. I have been often af-
fured both by Indians and o'.her?, who get their bread by luT.iiivj; in the
v.'oods, that :he rn;:'-bear always endeavours to keep apart fiom ih; mule
durmg the heljilei's ftate of her young ones-, otherwife he v.'ould endeavour
to kill ihcm ; and that they had frequently \^'^'^■ the 0;C" bear i.iU tl;e male
on the fpot, after a defperate engagement for the defence of iier young ones.
Of the great numbers I have feen with tlieir young cubs, I never law a
lie bear at fu..h times, to affociate with them : I'o that it kerns one part of
the Roman Satyrift's fine moral leffon, inculcating peace and friendiliip, is
no: juft, SCrfvis inter fe ccnveni: Urfis.
lin
At tliC time Mobille ''that crrave-vard for Britons) v/as ceded to Great-Piii-
t.'.in, tlie lower towns of the Choktah brought ujwt all the Chikkafah
lealps they had taken, in their tliievifli way of warring, and iiaci them new
j^ainted, and carrried them in procclfion on green boughs of pine, by way
of bravado, to ilicw their contempt of the F.nglifii. They would not
fp-eai; a word to the Chikkafali traders, and tliey follicited the French for
their canknt ro re-commence war againfl: us, and ellablilh them agam by force
of arms, in tlieir weftern pofiefTions ; but they told them, their king had
firmly concluded upon the cefiion, through his own benevolence oi heart, to
prevent the further cfFufion of innocent blood. — By this artful addrefs, they
fupported their credit with the favages, in the very point which ought to
have ruined it.
When the Choktah found thcmfelves dipped in war with the Muf-
kohge ; they fcdlicited tlie Kngliili for a fupply of ammunition, urging with
much truth, that common fenfe ought to direct us to alTift them, and deem
the others our enemies as mucii as theirs. But Tumbikpe-garrifon was
livacuated through the unmanly fear of giving umbrage to the Muf-
kohge.
.
An Account of the Choktah Katkn.
\i
kohge, at tlie very time it would have been of the vittvioft lei vice to the
gen':ral intereil of our colonies to have continued it.
The commander concealed his timorous and precipitate retreat, even from
me and another old trader, till the very night he confulcdly fet off for Mo-
bille by water, and left to us the trouble of npo!op;izin_^ to the favages for
his mifcondufl. But after lie got to a place of fafecy, lie flouviflicd away of
his wifdom and prowcls. As a juft ftipjna on thofe vvho abufe their public
trufl, I cannot help obfervinf^, that in imitation of foip.e other rulers, he
perfuaded the Indians not to pay us any of our numerous out-ftanding debts,
thougli contrary to what was fpccified in our trading licences. They
have not courage enough to venture their own valuable lives to thole red
marts of trade ; if they had, they .vould perfuade the Indians ratlier to
pay their debt? honeftly, year by year, as we truft them in the)r want,
and depend on their promife and fidelity. The gentlemen, who ibinurly
traded v/ith the MuPiCoIige, told niP thr.t the Georgia- governor, t!irout;h \
like generous principle, forgave tliat nation once all the numerous dthts
they owed the traders. But as foon as the Indians iinderltood they would
not be credited again, under any circumilances whatfoever, tiiey contented to
pay their debts, and declared the Governor to be a great niad-man, by pri?-
tending to forgive debts contracb-'d for valuable goods, whivh !ie nevt;
purchafed, nor intended to pay for.
Though the French, Louifianians were few, and far dii'perfl'd, a.^ v.t!l ,-,•:
kirrounded by the favages, yet elole application and abilities in their va\;--
ous appointments, fufHcienrly made up their lad; of numbers. W'-.en, and
where, their fecuri:y leeined to require it, they with a r^reat deal of art !umer',i..d
diviuons among their turbulent red neiglibours, and endcavoiired to keep the
balance of power pretty even between them. Though they had only one
garrifon in the country of the Muikohge, and another in tli;it of the Ciiok
tall, yet tlie commanders of tliofe two pofiis, mrnacjcd lb well, that they
intimidated thole two potent nations, by railing n.'!i;nderftandir.gs between
them, and threatening (when occalion required) to ict the one ngainfl; the
other, with their red legions of the north, unit !"i .i/Pj-le fatisiadion was
fpeedily given by the offending party, and iblemn promifes of a Uriel
obk-rvance of true frienddiip for the time to come, ilow far our fi:p;r-
intendants, and commillioners of Indian affairs, ha\e imitated t;;ac wili,'
7 eop'/j
yA ' ^ ' I
e.
312
An Account of the Choktah Nation.
\[\m
'h
i 1'
:.( ^>
1^
co;-y, our trr.rlers can feelingly clefcribe : and it will be a liappinefs, if
our three wcRern colonics iiavc not the like experience, in the fpacc
of a few years. We afllire them, that eith.er the phi.', or the means,
for producing fuch an cfTed, has been pretty well concerted by tlie authors
of that danp,erous and fatal peace between the Mufl<ohge and Choktah.
Tlicir own party indeed will greatly applaud it, and fo will the rnucli
obliged Spaniards, efpecially if they foon enter into a war with Great Bri-
tain. It is to be wiflied, that thofe wlio preach peace and good-will to
all the favagc murderers of the Britifli Americans would do tlic fame
as to their American fellow-fubjcLls, — and nor, as fume have hitely done,
cry peace to the Indians, and leek to plunge the meicenary fwords of Ibl-
diers into the breads of thcfc of our loyal colonifts, who are the mofb
powerful of us, becaufe they oppofe the meafures of r.n arbitrary ininiftry,
and will not be cnflaved.
In the year l'■^6, the Choktah received a confiderable blow from the
Miin<ohge, Their old dirtinguitlu'd wardeader, before fpoken of, Minggo
Uii>:ima Echcto, let off againft the Mufl<ohge, with an hundred and
fixty warriors, to cut ofl' by furprife one of their barrier towns : as the
vvr.[trs were low, a couple of runners brought him a mcffage from
the nation, acquainting iiim there were two white men on their way to
the Mufl-iohge, and therefore clefired him to fend them back, left they
fliould inform them of the cxjiedition, and by that means, endanger
t!.i.' lives of the wlio'e. I'm*- though he treated tliefe traders kindly at
his war-cair.p, snd did not Hk'w the leaft diffidence of tlicm refpeJting their
fecrf.cy ; and fent this account back by the running mcflengers to his
advifers, that the r'ngliPii were his friends, and could not be rcafona-
bly fufpedled of betraying them, if it were only on the fituaticn of
their own trading bufinefs, which frequently called them to various
places, — yet thofe bafe-minded and perfidious men violated the ge-
nerous faith repofcd in them, and betrayed tlie lives of their credulous
friends. They fet off with long marclies, and as foon as th.cy arrived
in the country of the Mufl-^ohge, minutely inforined them of tlie Chok-
itah's lioltile intentions, and number, and the probable place of attack-
ing the aforefaid camp, to tiie beft advantage. The news was joy-
fully received, and, as they had rcafon to believe they could fur-
prife the enemy, or take them at a difadvantage, in fome convenient
7 place
!)
!5
i
4
\ "
:fl
An Account of tie Chuktah Nation.
313
place neUr their own barriers, a number of chofen warriors well pre-
pared, fet off in order to fave their former credit, by revenging the re-
jieated affronts the Choktah leader had given them in every engagement.
He, in the moft infulting manner, had often challenged their whole nation
to meet him and his at any fixt time of a moon, and place, and fight
it o; ., .vhen the conquerors fhould be matters of tie conquered — for the
Muflcohge ufed to ridicule the Choktah, by laying, they were like wolf-
cubs, who would not take the water, but the thick fwamp, as their only
place of fecurity againft the enemy. It mufl: here be remembered, that the
Indians in general, are guided by their dreams when they attend their holy
ark to war, reckoning them fo n any oracles, or divine intimations, de-
figned for their good : by virtue of thofe fuppofed, facred didlates, they will
fometimes return home, by one, two, or three at a time, without the lead
cenfiire, and even with applaufe, for this their religious conduct. Thus,
one hundred and twenty of thefe Choktah, after having intimidated them-
felves apart from the reft, with vifionaiy notions, left the war-camp and
returned home. Our gallant friend, Minggo Humma EchctOy addrefled his
townfmen on this, and perfuaded them to follow him againft the enemy,
faying, it was the part of brave warriors to keep awake, and not dream like
old women. He told them their national credit was at ftake for their
warlike conduft under him ; and that honour prompted him to proceed
againft the hateful enemy, even by himfeif, thougli he was certain his
townfmen and warlike relations would not forfake him. Forty of them
proceeded, and next day they were furrounded by an hundred and fixty
of the Mufkohge, feveral of whom were on horfeback to prevent their
efcape. When the Choktah faw their dangerous lituation, and that
they had no alternative but a fudden, or lingering death, they fought as
became defperate men, deprived of hope. While their arrows and ammu-
nition lafted, they killed and wounded a confiderable number of the oppo-
fite party : but the enemy obferving their dirtrefled fituation, drew up into
a narrow circle, and ruflied upon the remaining and b.clplcfs few, with their
guns, darts, clubs, and tomohawks, and killed tliiity-eight. They v/ere
not able to captivate but two, whom they deflined for the fiery torture :
but at night, when the carup was aflcep in too great fecurity, one of them
fortunately made his efcape out of a pair of wooden ftocks. They had
flattered lii-r. with the hopes of being redeemed i but he told them he was
S f too
= ea
IH
All ylccrunt of the Choktah Niition.
too much of a warrior to confide in their falfc promifcs. Ik got faic iionu*.
and related the whole afiair.
i\ ■ I
Formerly, by virtue of the preiring engagement of a prime magiftratc
of South-Carolina, I undertook to open a trade with tlic Choktaii, and re-
concile their old-flanding enmity with the Chikkafah. I was promifed
to be indemnified in all neceflary charges attending that attempt. As
the Choktah, by the perfiiafions of the French, had killed my partner
in the tiade, I was dtfirous of any favourable opportunity of retaliating :
clpecially, as we were expofcd to perpetual dangers and lofles, by the French
rewards oft^ered cither for our fcalps or horfes-tails •, and as the French were
iilually Ihort of goods, while Great Britain was at war with them, wc
were liable to moft damages from them in time of peace. They ufed
to keep an alphabetical lift of all the names of leading favages, in the va-
rious nations where they ingarrifoned themfelves •, and they duly paid them,
every year, a certain quantity of goods befides, for all the damages they
did to the Chikkafah, and our traders \ which tempted them conftantly
to exert their abilities, to the good liking of their political employers. It
happened, however, that one of the French of Tumbikpe-forr, being
guided by Venus inftead of Apollo, was detected in violating the law of
marriage ,with the favourite wife of the warlike chieftain of Qiianlheto,.
Sbulajhummafljtahe, who by his feveral tranfcendant qualities, had arrived to
the highefl: pitch of the red glory. He was well known in Georgia and
South-Carolina, by the name of Red Shoes •, as formerly noticed. As there
lived in his town, a number of the Chokchoomah, the fcnior tribe of the
Chikkafah and Choktah, and who had a free intercourfe with each of
their countries, we foon had an account of every material thing thac
paired there. I therefore refolved to improve fo favourable an opportu-
nity as feemed to prefent iifelf, and accordingly foon privately convened
two of the leading men of the Chikkafah nation, to alTift me to execute the
plan I had in view. One was the Archimagus, Paftabcy known in our
colonies, by the name of " the Jockey," — and the other, by that oi Pahe-
niingo-Amalahta^ who was the only Indian I ever knew to die of a
confumption •, which he contracted by various engagements with the
enemy when far ofi" at war, contrary to their general rule of martial purifi-
cation. The violent cxercife of running a great dillance under the violent
rays of the fun, and over fandy, or hilly grounds, would not allow him to
infwamp,.
',' r;
yf« Account of the Choktah Ndiioa.
Z^S
tnfwamp, and he fired his blood to fiich a degree, tlut a few years after
this, when on a vifit to our Knglifli Icttlcments, he died at Aiigufta with
this ailment. It is necdfid 'o mc ition thole well-known circumftances,
as the following relation of facts, depends in a confidcrable meafurc on
them.
We three agreed to fend fome prefents to Red Sbocu wit!i a formal fpeech,
defiring him to accept them witli a kind heart, and Ihake hands with us as
became brothers, according to the old beloved fpeech. Their own friendly
mellijges, and treaties of peace, are always accompanied with fo many forts
of prefents, as their chiefs number. We in a few days packed up a
fufficient quantity, to bury the tomohawk which the French had thrull
into their unwilling hands, and to dry up tlie tears of the injured, and fet
their hearts at eafe, for the time to come, by joining with the Englifli and
their old friendly Chikkafah, Itiggona Sckanocpa toocbemje, " in the triple
knot of friendfliip," in order to cut off the dangerous fnake's head, and ut-
terly deftroy tlie power of its forked tongue. As our real grievances
were mutually the fame, and numerous, we gave liberally. Having every
thing as well concerted for the embaffy, as fuch oocafions require, my
two red friends fent a trufty meflenger for a couple of tlie forefaid neu-
tral Indians, who had been a few days in the Chikkafah country, to
accompany him late at night to my trading houfe. They readily obeyed j
and, as the good-natured men and their families, through friendfliip to us,
muft infallibly have been facrificed to French policy, if we failed of fuc-
cefs, or they were difcovered by captives, or any other means, we ufcci
the greatcft fecrefy, and placed a centinel to keep off all other perfons dur-
ing our private congrefs. After we had converfed with them a confiderablc
time, on the necefTity of the propofed attempf, and the certainty of fucceed-
ing in it, we opened our two large budgets, and read over the ftrong em-
blematical contents, according to their idiom, till we gave them a true
imprefiion of the whole. The next day we took care to fend them off
well pleafcd : and as feveral material circumftances confpired to afliire us they
^vould faithfully difcharge the office of truft, which we repofod in them,
\vc ia a fliort time had the fatisfaflion to hear by other private runners of
their countrymen, from our brave and generous patron, Red Shoes, that
they were fo far from breaking the public faith, that they read to him every
•material head of our cmbafTy, and urged it with all t'leir powers.
S f 2 That
'■ V.
r'lH
H
316
jin ylccotmt of tie Choktali Nation.
That rcii chieftain intruduccd our friendly cmbanTy, with fiich fccrefy
and addrcfs to all thi' licadmen he could contidc in, that he foon pcrluadcd
mod of them in all the nciglibouring towns, to join heartily with hitn in
his laudable plan. 1 he (harpnefs of his own feelings for ti>e bafe injury he
had received from the I'rench, and the well-adapted prcfents we fent him
and his wife and gallant affociates, contributed greatly to give a proper
weight to our cmbafly. Srch motives as thefe are too often the main-
fprings that move tlie various wheels of government, even in the chriftian
world. In about a month from the ri-rie we began to treat with Red-
Shoes, he fent a confiderable body of his warriors, with prefents to me, as
the reprefcntative of the Knglifh traders, ind to my Chikkafah friends,
confiding of fwans-wings, white beads, pipes and tobacco ; which was a
ilrong confirmation of our treaty of peace,— and he earneftly requefted of
me to inform them with that candour, which fliouid always be obfervcd by.
honcft friends, whether I could firmly engage that our traders would live^
and deal among them, as we did with the Chikkafah ; for a difappointmeni
that way, he faid, would prove fatal, fhould we entangle them with the
French, in refentment of the many injuries they had long unprovokedly
done us. 1 quieted their apprehenfions on that material point of jealoufy,
to their entire fatisfadion, and my two Chiklufah friends non expatiated
upon the '"v.bjeft to him, with a great deal of that life, wit and humour, fo
peculiar to the red Americans. We explained and confirmed anew, the
whole contents of our former talk concerning the dangerous French fnake ;
afluring them, that if they did not foon exert themfelves agiinft it, as be-
came brave free-men, they would ftill continue not only pcor, and fliame-
fully naked, below the ftate of other human beings, but be defpifed, and
abufed, in proportion to their mean paflive conduft,— their greateft and moft
favourite war-chieftains not excepted, as they faw verified in their chief
leader, Sheolajhummaflitabe. But if they exerted themfelves, they would
be as happy as our friendly, brave, and free Chikkafah, whom the French
armies, and all their red confederates, could no way damage but as hidden
fnakes, on account of their own valour, and the fteady friendfhip of the
Englifh, — who were always faithful to their friends even to death, as every
river and creek fuffieiently teflified, all the way from the English fettlements
to the Chikkafah country. We mentioned how many were killed at fe-
veral places, as they were going in a warlike manner to fupply their be-
loved friends, without any being ever captivated by the numerous enemy,
though.
yhi Account of the Choktah Nation.
3^7
though often attacked at a dif.ulvantagc — which ought to afTurc them,
chat whenever the Knylilh fliaked hands with people, their hearts were,
always honed. Wc requclVed tluni therefore to think, and aA, as our
brotherly Chikkafah, wlu) by flronf^ly holdiig the chain of friendfhip be-
tween them and tiie Englifh, were able in their open ficKls, to dellroy the
French armies, and in the woods bravely to fight, and baffle all the
ortorts of their defpicable mercenary enemies, though their numbers of
lighting men confided of few more than one* hundred to what the Choktah
contained in old liundreds, or thoufands. The I'rcnch, we added, were
liberal indeed v but to whom, or for what ? ^^ey g;^"e prefents to the
head-men, and the mod eloquent fpeakers of their coui.try, to inflave the
red, but would not fupply them with arms ami ammunition, without the
price of blood againd our traders and the friendly Chikkafah v that they
themfclves were witnefl!es, a whole town of fprightly promifing young men
had not now more than five or fix guns ; but they would learn to
kill as many deer as the didinguilhetl Chikkafah hunters, if they firmly
fhook hands with the Englifh. We convinced them, that the true emblem
of the Englidi was a dreft white deer-fkin, but that the French deah
with them only in long fca'ping knives •, that we had a tender feeling,
when we heard the mourning voice of the tender-hearted widow, and only
lupplied our friends in their own defence, or in revenge of crying blood -,
but that the Frencli delighted in blood, and were always plotting how to
dedroy them, and take away their lands, by fetting them at war againd
thofe who loved them, and would fecure thci.. liberties, wiiliout any
other view than as became brothers, who fairly exchanged their gooJ.s. \V«
di'fired them to view the Chikkafah driplings, how readily their kindly
heaits led them to liden to the friendly fpeecli of their Knglilli trading
fpeakcr, becaufe they knew we loved them, and enabled theni to appear
in the genteel drefs of red people.
II
At the whoop, they foon appeared, and cheerfully complied with our
various requcds, to the great fatisfaction of our new Clioktah friends. The
Chikkafah head-men told them with plcafure, that they were glad their
own honeft eyes had feen the pure efFefls of love to their Fnglifh trader ; and
that their old people, time out of mind, had taught them fo. Then they
humouroufly < nlarged on the unfriendly conduft of the French in a com-
parative manner, and perfuaded them to keep their eyes open, and re--
member-
'1 1
; 3
3 1 8 An Account of the Choktah Nation.
member well what 'hey had feen and heard, and to tell it to all then
head-men.
,u ^
Wc adjufted every thing in the mod friendly manner, to the intire fatil-
f.iLlion of the Choktah. I fupplied each of them with arms, ammunition,
and prei'ents in plenty — gave them a French fcalping knife which had
been ufed againft us, and even vermilion, to be ufed in the floiirifhing way,
uith the dangerous French fnake« *vhen they killed and fcalpcd chem.
They returned home extremely well pleafed, echoed every thing they had
feen and heard -, and declared that the Chikkafah, in their daily drcfs, far ex-
ceeded the beft appearance their country-men could make in the moil fliowy
manner, except thofe whom the Frcn.h paid to make their lying mouths
(trong. They foon went to work — they killed the ftrolling French peJiars,
— turned out againll the MilTifippi Indians and Mobillians, and the flan.'e
fpeedily raged very high. One of the Choktah women, nVi privately to
inform a French pedlar of the great danger he was in, and urged him
immediately to make his eicape. He loon faddled a fine Itrong fprightiy
horfe he chanced to have at hand : juft a: i.e mounted, the dreadful death
whoo whoop was founded in purfuit of luin, with the fwift-footed red
Afahcl, Shcolinfiummajlotahc, leading the chace. Though, from that place,
the land-path was moftly level to Tumpikbe-garrilbn (about half a day's
march) and though the Chikkafah and Choktah horfes are Spanifli barbs,
and long winded, like wolves j yet Red-Shoes, far ahead of the reft, ran
him down in about the fpace of fifteen miles, and had fcalped the unfortu-
nate rider feme time before the reft appeared.
It is furprifing to fee the long continued fpeed of the Indians in general —
though fome of us have often ran the fwifteft of them out of fight, when
on the chafe in a colleftive body, for about the diftance of twelve miles ;
yet, afterward, without any feeming toil, they would ftretch on, leave us
out of fight, and out-wind any horfe. When this retaliating fcheme was plan-
ned and executing, I was the only Britifh fubjecl in the Chikkafah country i
and as I had many goods on liand, 1 ftaid in the nation, while we fent down
our horfes to the firft Englifh fettlements, — which was full eight hundred
miles diftant, before tlie two Floridas were ceded to us. Seventeen were
the broken days, accortling to the Indian phrafe, when the Choktah en-
gaged to return with the French fcalps, as a full confirmation of their hav-
I iiig
j/in Account of the Choktah Nation.
19
ing declared war againft them, and of their ardent dcfire of always fliaking
hands with the Englilh. The power of the French red mercenaries was
however fo very great, that Red Shoes could not with fjfcty comply with
his deputy's promife to me, to fend the French fnake's head, in the time ap-
pointed by our fticks hieroglyphically painted, and notched in due form.
Tlie fall time drawing on, obliged me to fet oil for the Koofali-town,
which is the mod weftern of the Mufkohge nation, about three hundred
miles diftant. I was accompanied by my two cheerful and gallant Chik-
kafah friends, already mentioned, with forty of their chofen warriors,
brave as ever trod the ground, and faithful under the greatcfl: dangers
even to the death. On our way down, efcorting the returning cargo, four
Chikkafah, who were palTing home through the woods, having difco-
vered us, and obferving in the evening a large camp of 80 French
Ghoktah in purfuit of us ; they returned on our tracks at full fpeed, to
put us on our guard : but though we were lb few, and had many women
and children to proteiT-, befidcs other incumbrances, yet as the enemy
knew by our method of camping, and marching, we had difcovered them,
they durft not attack us.
Another time there was a hunting camp of only feventeen Chikkafah,
with their wives and children, who were attacked by above fixty Chok-
tah •, but they fought them a long time, and fo defperately, that they killed
and wounded feveral, and drove them (hamefuUy off", without any lofs.
It is ufual for the women to fing the enlivening war fong in the time of xw
attack i and it inflames the men's fpirits fo highly, that tliey become as
fierce as lions. I never knew an inftance of tlie Indians running off, though
from a numerous enemy, and leaving their women and children to their
barbarous hands.
Soon after we arrived at the upper weftern town of the Mufkohge,
which was called Ooe-Afah, and fettled by the Chikkafah and Nahchee,
a great company of Red Shoes warriors came up wit!' me, with the
French fcalps, and other trophies of war : but bccaufe a body of our
Mul"kohge mercenary traders found their account m dealing with the
French at the Alebahma-fort, they to the great rifle of their own
country's welfare, lodged fo many caveats in my way by the mediation
of
3-0
iin Acccnnt of the Choktah Nation.
a\ the Miiiliohge, that 1 found it r.ecefTary to confent that the fculps
iViOuU be lent with the other trophies, in a MoflvohG,c white deer-fl^.i^,
to the Frencli fort at the diftance of fevcnty miles, to be buried deep
in the ground, inllead of fcriding them by the Choktah riinncr3, to
his excellency the governor of South-Carolina, who had engaged tne
ro drive to open a trade wiih thofe Indians. Thefe opulent and mer-
cenary white faVages being now dead, I fhall not difgrace tiie page with
tlieir worthlefs names. Soon after we had reached the Chikkilah country,
Red Shoes came to pay us a friendly vifir, accompanicJ \vith a gieat
many head-men and warriors, both to be relieved in their povci ry, and to con-
cert the bed mealures of ftill annoying the common enemy. We behaved
kindly and free to them, to their entire fatisfaftion, and iirii confiderabic
prefents to many head-men wiio (laid at home, in confir naiion of our
ftrong friendfliip ; acquainting them of our various plans ol operation
againft the enemy, m defence of their lives, freedom, and libeiry of trade,
in which the Englilh and Chikkafah would faithfully fupporr thtm. Every
thing was delivered to them according to our intention, and as kindly re-
ceived. And as all the Indians are fond of well-timed novelty, ei'peci-
ally when they expedl to be gainers by it, the name of the friendly and
generous Englifh was now echoed, from town to town, except in thofc
few which had large penfions from the French.
In the beginning of the following fpring, which was 1747, above fifty
■Nvarriors from feveral towns of the Mufl-cohge, came to the Chikkafah coun-
try, on their way to war againft the Aquahpah Indians, on the weftern fule
of the Mifllfippi, one hundred and fifty miles above the Nahchee old fields.
By our good treatment of them, and well-timed application, they joined
a body of Chikkafah warriors imder Pnyah Mainhah, and made a fleet of
large cyprefs-bark-canoes, in which they embarked under the direflion of
three red admirals, in long pettiaugers that had been taken from the Frencii,
as they were pafllng from New Orleans up to the Illinois. They pro-
ceeded down the MilTifippi to the French fettlements, and attacked and
burned a large village at break of day, tiiough under the command of a
■ftockade-fort; from which the Chikkalah leader was wounded with a
grape-fliot in his fide. On this, as they defpaired of his life, according
<o their univerfal method in fuch a cafe, they killed moft of their unfortu-
-nute captives on the weftern bank of the Miflifippi ; and enraged with
t fury,
.m
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V ■ ,1
yhi Auount of the Choktali Nation.
321
fury, tliey oveifpread the French fettlements, to a great diftancc, like -x
dreadful whirlwind, deftroying every thing before tiicni, to the aftoiiiftiment
and terror even of thofe who were fir remote from the fliirts of the dire-
ful ftorm. The French Louifianians were now in a dcfponding flate, :is
we had beaten them in their own favourite political clcnienr, in which they
had too often been fuccefsful even at the Britilh court, after our troops
and navies had fcoured them out of the field and the ocean. They had
no reafon here to expefl any favour of us, as we were only retaliating the
long train of innocent blood of our fcllow-fubjeds they had wantonly caufed
to be filed by their red mercenaries, and their fears now became as great as
their danger — but they were needlefs -, for though the Alebahma French,
and many towns of the Mufkohge, were in a violent ferment, when the fore-
faid warriors returned home, yet by the treacherous mediation of the above-
mentioned traders anc" their bafe aflbciates, the breach was made up. Had
they been bleft with the leaft fpark of that love for the good of their coun-
try, which the favages and French are, they could huve then perfuaded
the Indians, to have driven the French from the dangerous Alebahma ;
and an alliance with the Chikkafah and Choktah would have effeftually
deftroyed the dangerous line of circumvallation they afterwards drew
around our valuable colonies. And as the Cheerake, by their fituation,
might eafily have been induced to join in the formidable treaty, they with
encouragement, would have proved far fuperior to all the northern red
legions the F'rench were connefled with.
€
■I jj
At that time I fcnt to the Governor of South Carolina, a large packer,
relating the true fituation of our Indian affairs, direfted on his majefty's
fervice: but though it contained many things of importance, (which the
French, under fuch circumftances, would have faithfully improved) and
required immediate difpatch; our Mufl<ohge traders, to whofe care I
had fent it by fome Chikkafah runners, were fo daringly bafe as to open it,
and dcftroy what their felf-interefted views feemed to require, and delayed
the conveyance of the reft a confiderable time, to prevent others from reap-
ing the benefit of the trade before them. When I went down, ! com-
plaini-d of their mifconJud, and the Governor having promifed me a
public feal, threatened them loudly ; but fome after circumll-anccs in trade
made him to tliink it not worth while to put his t!\reats in execution.
When the French were deftitote of goods at Tumblkpc j^arrilon, while
'J t ihty
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%
til
322
jin Account of the Chc'ctah "Nation.
iM
they were at war with the Englifli, their policy allowed them to fud'er,
fevera' of our traders to deal with the Choktah, without any intcrrupiion,
in order to keep them quiet ; but as loon as they had a proper iupply, they
excited their treacherous friends to plunder, and kill our people. They,
who had the fortune to get fafe away, made great returns; which induced
fome to entertain too high notions of their profits, and fo flrangcrs hazarded
too much at once. While the French had ponilTion of Tumbikpe,
we, who knew them, ufed to fend there only fmall cargoes from the
Chikkafah country, to avoid tempting them too far : but one of our great
men was reported to have perfuaded a couple of gentlemen to join in com-
pany with his brother, (well known by the name of the Sphynx com-
pany) in the Choktah trade, and to have fupplied them very largely.
They loaded, and fent off 360 valuable horfes, which with all other
concomitant charges, in going to fuch a far-diftant country, fwelled
it to a high amount. The traders, who were employed to vend the
valuable cargo, gave large prefents to fix of the iVIuflcohge leaders,
known to be moft attached to the Britifli intereft, to efcort them, with a
body of the Choktah, into the country. They pafled by /Mebahma,
in the ufual parade of the Indian-traders, to the terror of tiie people
in the fort. They proceeded as far as a powerful body of our Choktah
friends had appointed to meet them, but confiderably overrtaid the fixed
time there, in want of provifions, as their commOiV fafety would not allow
them to go a hunting : by the forcible perfuafion of the Mulkohge head-
men, they unluckily returned about one hundred and forty miles back on
a north-eaft-courfe. But a few days after, a party of Choktah friends
came to their late camp, in order to encourage them to come on without
the lead dread, as a numerous party were watching an opportunity to
attack the French, and their own flaviili countrymen; and that they would
furely engage them very fuccefsfully, \shile the traders were fording Mo-
bille-river, eight miles above Tumbikpe- fort, under a powerful efcortment
of their faithful friends. So wifely had they laid their plan, though it was
dilconcerted by the cautious condud of the Mufi-cohge head-men : for they
aie all fo wary and jealous, that when they fend any of their people on a
dillant errand, they fix the exact time they are to return home ; and if they
exceed but one cay, they on the fecond fend out a party on difcovery*.
Our
• I (liaU licrc mention an inil iiite of t'n.U kind : at this tine, a hunting camp of theChik-
kiua.*! went ou; to the extent ol" thcLi wir.tei-liinitj buiween tin: Choktah aiiJ Mulkolige
countiies :
B'S i
An Account of the Clioktah Nulion.
1-3
Our Choktah traders havinji; been thus induced to return to the Muf-
kohge country, proceeded foon afterwards feventy miles on almoll: a nor-
thern courfe, and from thence to the Chikkafah about well by north — 300
miles of very mountainous land, till within forty miles of that extenfivc
and fertile country — afterward, on a fouthern direction to tiie Choktah, 160
miles. This was a very oblique courfe, fomewhat refembling the letter
G reverted, its tail from Charles-town, confilling of 720 miles, and
the head of 530, in all 1250 miles — a great diftance to travel through
woods, with loaded horfes, where they fhiftcd as they couki, when
the day's march was over; and through the varying feafons of the
year. Thefe traders were charged with great negledl, in being fo long
countries : but being defirous of enlarging their hunt, they fent ofF a fprightly young warrior
to difcover certain lands they were unacquainted with, which they pointed to by the courfe
of the fun, lying at the diftance of about thirty miles. Near that place, he came up with a
camp of Choktah, who feemed to treat him kindly, giving him venifon and parched
corn to eat : but while he was eating what fome of the women had laid before him,
one of the Choktah crceped behind him, and funk his tomohawk into his head. His
aflbciates helped him to carry away the vidlim, and they hid it in a hollow tree, at
a confiderable diftance from their camp ; after which they fpeedily removed. When
the time for his return was elapfed, the Chikkafah, next day, made a place of fecurity
for their women and children, under the protefkion of a few warriors ; and the morning
following, painted themfclves red and black, and went in quell of their kinfman.
Though they were ftrangers to the place, any farther than by their indications to him
before he fet off, yet fo fwift and flcilful woods-men were they, that at twelve o'clock
that day, they came to the Choktah camping place, where, after a narrow fearch, they
difcovcrcd the trace of blood on a fallen tree, and a few drops of frefli blood on the
leaves of trees, in the courfe they had dragged the corpfe ; thefe dirrftcd them to the wooden
urn, wherein the remains of their kinlman were indofcd. They f.iid, as they were men and
warriors, it Iiclonged to the female relations tc v.ecp for the dead, and to them to revenge it.
Thi y foon concluded to carry off the corpft.', to the oppofite fide of a n'.'ighbouring fwamp,
and then to puifue. Having depofited the body out of the reach of bcalls of prey, thev fet
eft" in purfuit of the Choktah : they came up with them before day-light, furrounded their
ramp, attacked t'..:m, killed one, and woundfJ ftveral, whooping aloud, " that they were
Chikkafah, who never firft loofcd the friend-knot betrtten them and oilicrs, nor failed in re-
venging blood ; but ye are rortuilh Choktah ; you know you jre likewife cowards ; and that
you arc worle than wolves, for they kill, only tliat they may eat, but you give yom
friends fonicthing to ea', that you may kill thcni with fafety." 'i'hey told them, as they had
left their gallant relation unfcalped in a tree, tlity left their cowardly one in like manner,
:Jong lide <f another tree. They put up the death whoo whoop, returned, ftartblJ.J their
dtJid l:i:ilman, and joined their own camp without any interruption. The reader will be
;ible to lenn a piopcr judgment of the teoipcr and abiliii^.-. ofihc Indian favnc^e;, from thcl'e
tu.cls.
T t 7. before
iiy;
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W\'" .. :
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324
An Account of the Choktah Nation.
before they reached the Choktali country; this was to invaUiiate the
pretcnfions of two oth.-r gentlcint-n, towards obt ..ning bills of excliange on
the government, according to the (Irong promifcs they had, for any
loflcs they might fiidain in their Choktah cargo of goods, &:c. Not-
withftanding the former were utter ftrangers to the Chikkalah and Choktah,
and in jjllice could only expedt the common privilege- ot Eritifli
fubjefts, yet his Excellency beRowed on them a l;irge piece of written
flieep-flvin, bearing the impreflion of the threatening lion and unicorn, to
frighten every other trader from dealing with the Choktah, at their peril.
The Chikkalah traders were mucii terrified at the unufual fight of the en-
livened pictures of fuch voracious animals. My fituation caufed me then
to be filent, on that llr;inge point •, but when the chief of them, who carried
thofe bees-wax-pi(5lures, came to my trading houfe, chiefly to inlarge on
the dreadful power of thofe fierce creatures, — I told him, as they anfwered
the defign, in making lb many trembling believers, among the Indians,
I did not imagine him fo weak as to attempt to impofe his fcare-crows
upon me •, but that, as his Excellency had dipped me too deep in a
dangerous and very expenfive afluir, and had done me tlie honour to
fend for me to Charles-town on his majcfty's fervice, at the very time
I could have fecured them in the efteem of the fickle Choktah, I fliould
not by any means oppofe their aim of grafping the whole Choktah trade,
be their plan ever fo unwife and unfair. The letter the gentleman deli-
vered to me was dated April 22, Anno 1747, in which his excellency ac-
knowleged, in very obliging terms, that I had been very ferviceable to the
government, by my management among the Choktah, and might be af-
fured of his countenance and friendfhip. As the reft of it concerned my-
felf in other matters^ and contained fome things of the meafures of go-
verr.mcnt relating to the point in view, it may be right not to publifh it :
but it is among the public records in Charles-town, and may be feen in
it\e fecretary's office. The traders, after this interview, f?t off for the
Choktah ; and I in a few days to South Carolina.
Soon after I arrived at Charles- town, I could not but highly refent the
povernor's ungenerous treatment of, and injuftice to me, in fending for me
to tl'.c negkift of my trade, only to carry on his unparalleled favourite
Ich.emc, — and 1 foon let ofi" for theCnikhafah, without taking the leaft for-
mal lcav<." of his Exceikiicy. By fome ineans, he foon knew of my depar-
3 ture.
h '»
:i|
An Account of the Choktah Nation.
325
tiire, and perfuatleJ G. G n, Efq; (one of the two friends in South-
Carolina, who only could influence me againft my own liking) to follow
till he overcook me, and urge me to return, and accompany me to his
Excellency's houfe. At Lis earned follicitations, the gentleman complied,
came up with me, and prevailed on me to go back according to requefh
I had plenty of courtly excufes for my complaints and grievances, and in
the hearing of my friend was earneftly prefTcd to forget and forgive all
that was pad ; with folemn promifes of full redrefs, according to his for-
mer engagement of drawing bills of erchangc in my favour, on the go-
vernment, if South-Carolina had not honour enough to repay me what I
id expended in opening a trade with the numerous Choktah — bcfides
tuities for hardfliips la rus, &c.
I wifli I could here alfo celebrate his finccrity and fiithfulneison tliis occa-
fion — As I could not well fufpecl a breach of public faith, after it had been
pledged in fo folemn a manner, he had not much difficulty in detaining me
on fundry pretexts, till the expe(5led great Choktah crop of deer-fkins and
beaver muft have been gathered, before I could poffibly return to the
Chikkafiih country, and from thence proceed to rival the Sphynx-com-
pany. Under thofe circumftances, I was detained fo late in November,
that the fnow fell upon me at Edifto, the firft day, in company with
Captain W d, an old trader of the Okwhufke, who was going to
Savanah, In the fevcrity of winter, froll, fnow, hail, and heavy rains
fucceed each other, in thefe climes, fo that I partly rode, and partly fwam
to the Chikkalah country -, for not expefling to flay long below, I took no
leathern canoe. Many of the broad deep creeks, that were almoll: dry
when I went down, had now far overflowed their banks, ran at a rapid
rate, and were unpafla!4e to any but defperate people : when I got within
forty mdes of the Chikkalah, the rivers and fwamps were dreadful,
by rafts of timber driunp, down the former, and the great fallen trees
floating in the latter, for near a mile in length. Being forced to wade deep
through cane-fwamps or woody thickets, it proved very troublefome to
keep my fire arms dry, on wiiich, as a fecond means, my life depended ,
for, by the high rewards of the French, fome enemies were always rambhng
about in fearch of us. On the eaflern fide of one of the rivtrs, in tal.i'ig a
fweep early in a wet morning, in quefl of my horl'es, I difcovcrcd linokc
on a i'mall piece of rifsng ground in a fwamp, pretty near the ed;^e ; I
moved
\-
\ v, '
i Jl
( 1 1
"i^
:26
yln Account of the Choktah Nc/tioti.
moved nearer from tree to tree, till I difcovered them to be Choktah creep-
ing over the fire. I vvitlidrew without being difcovered, or the lead ap-
prchcnfion of danger, as at the word, I could have immediately infwamped,
fecured a retreat with my trufty fire-arms, and taken through the river
and the broad fwamp, which then refcmbled a mixt ocean of wood and
water, I foon oblerved tiie tracks of my horfes, found them, and ftt off.
At the dirtancc of an hundred yards from the river, there was a large and
deep lagoon, in the form of a femi-circlc. As foon as I fwam this, and got
on tlie bank, I drank a good draught of rum : — in the middle of the river, I
was forced to throw away one of my belt-piftols, and a long French Icalp-
ing knife I had found, where the Choktah killed two of our traders.
When I got on the oppofite fhore, I renewed my draught, put my fire-
arms in order, and fet up the war-whoop. I had often the like fcenes,
till I got to the Chikkafah country, which was alfo all afloat. The peo-
ple had been faying, a little before I got home, that fliould I chance to
be on the path, it would be near fifty days before I could pals the neigh-
bouring deep fwamps ; for, on account of the levelnefs of the land, the
waters contiguous to the Chikkafah, are ufually in winter lb long in
emptying, before the fwamps become pafiable. As I had the misfor-
tune to lofe my tomohawk, and wet all the punk in my fliot-pouch by
fwimming the waters, I could not ftrike fire for the fpace of three days, and
it raineil extremely hard, during that time. By being thoroughly wet fo
long, in tlie cold month of December, and nipped with tlie froU, leven
.months elapfe.l before I had the proper ufe of the fingers of my right-
hand. On that long and dangerous war path, I was expolVd to many
dangers, and yet fo extricated mylclf, that it would appear like Quixotifm
to enuiiiera'.e them.
V .
'ii ;.
I'll
1,1
I 'i
1. 1?
ii ■ ' ^
ill
I often repented of truUing to the governor's promifes, and fo have
many others. The Cheerake, yluab Kullah Kullab, w hofe name is the fuperla-
tiveof a fkilfulcutter of wood, called by us, " The Little Carpenter," had
equal honour with me of receiving from his l'',xcellciuy a confiderable num-
ber of letters, which he faid were not agreeable to the old beloved fpeech.
Me kept tliem regularly piled in a bundle, according to the time he re-
ceived them, and often flievved them to the traders, in order to cxpofs
their fine promifin^ contents. The firft, he ufed to fay, contained a little
truth
fiti Account of the Choktah Nation.
327
truth, and he excufcd the failure of the greater part of it, af5 he imagined
much bulincfs miglu have perplexed him, fo as to occafion him to forget
complying with his Ibong proinife. " But count, faid he, the lying black
marks of this one:" and he defcanted min.ite]y on every circumftance of it.
His patience being exiuufled, he added, " they were an heap of black
broad papers, and ought to be burnt in the old years firs."
Near the Mufkohge country, on my way to the Chikkafah, I met mjr
old fri -nds. Pa I'ah-Matahah, the Chikkafah head war-chieftain, and Ming-
go -PuJljkooJJ}^ tlie great Red-Siioes' brother, journeying to Charles-town,
with one of the beans of the Sphynx-company, to relate the lofs of the
moll part of that great cargo they fo unwifely carried at once, and to fo-
licit for a further fupply. Thole traders, one excepted, were very indif-
creet, proud and llubborn. They llrove who could out-drefs, or mod
vilify the other even before the Indians, who were furprifed, as they
never heard the French to degrade one anotlitr. The haughty plan they
laid, againll the repeated perl'ualions of the other, was the caufe of all their
lofles — they firll loll the affeclion of the free, and equally proud Choktah ;
for they fixed as an invariable rule, to keep them at a proper diftance, a^
they termed it ; whereas I, according to the frequent, fliarp, upbraiding
language of the familiar favages to them, fat and fmoked with the head-men
on bear-fkins, fet the young people to their various diverfions, and then
viewed them with pleafure..
Notwithftanding the bad treatment T had received ; as I was apprehenfive
of the difficulties they would neceflarily be expofed to, on account of
their ignorance and haughtinefs, I wrote to them, by a few Chikkafah
warriors, trulv informing them of the temper of the Indians, and the
difficulties chey would probably be expofed to, from the policy of the
French at Tumhikpc -, and that though I had purpofed to fet off" for
South-Carolina, I would poftpone going fo foon, if :!iey were of my opi-
nion, that Mr. j. C — 1 (who joined with me in the letter) and I could be
of any fervice to their mercantile affairs. They received our well-in-
tended epiftle, and were fo polite as to order their black intcrpretrcfs to
bid our red couriers tell us, they thanked us lor our friendly ofter, bur
did not ftand in need of our affiftance. They walked according to the weak
I rooked rule they had received below, and fared accordingly : for the dif-
obliged.
^' :
i
328
yln Account of the Choktah Nation.
obliged favagcs took mofl: part of the tempting cargo. At this time, the
French had only two towns and a half in their intercft, and thoy were fo wa-
vering, that they could not rely on their friendrtiip, much lefs on their abi-
lity of refilling the combined power of the reft of the nation-, and they
were on the very point of removing that uieful and commanding garrilbn
Tumbikpe, and fettling one on another ealUrn-branch of the river,
called Potagahatchc, in order to decoy many of tlie Choktah to fettle
there by degrees, and intercept the Englilh traders, on their way up from
our fettlements. This was as wife a plan as could pofi'ibly have been con-
certed, under the difficult circumftances they laboured at that time.
But the unjull and unwife meafures of the governor of South-Caro-
lina, in fending his favourite traders with a fcare-crow of bees-wax, to keep
off others who were more intelligent, gave the defponding French a fa-
vourable opportunity to exert their powers, and regain the loft affcdlions
of a confiderable number of our red allies -, for none of our traders had now
any goods in the Choktah country, nor were likely foon to carry any there.
i !
i.j k
•II
Mr. C 1, the trader I juft mentioned, was of a long ftanding among
the Chikkafah, and indefatigable in fcrving his country, without regard-
ing thole dangers that would chill the blood of a great many others ;
and he was perfect matter of the Indian language. About a year after this
period, he went to Red Shoes' town, and in a fummer's night, when he
was cliatting with our great Englifli friend along-fiJe of his Chikkafah
wife, a party of the corrupt favages, that had been fent by the French,
fliot him through the fhoulder, and her dead on the fpot. Red Shoes af-
terwards fared tlie fame fate, by one of his own country-men, for the fake
of a French reward, while he was efcorting the forcfaid gallant trader, and
others, from the Chikkafah to his own country. He had the misfortune
to be taken very fick on the path, and to lye apart from the camp, accord-
ing to their ufual cuftom : a Judas, tempted by tlie high reward of the
French for killing him, officioufly pretended to take great care of him.
While Red Shoes kept his face toward him, the barbarian had fuch
feelings of awe and pity, that he had
wicked defign ■, but when he turned his
fliot. In a moment the wretch ran olT,
were out in an inftant, to a confiderable
not power to perpetrate his
back, then he gave the fatal
and tliough the whole camp
breadtli, he evaded their
puri'uit, by darting himielf like a fnaki:, into a deep crevice of the
earth.
III.
An Account of the Choktah Nut ion.
329
earth. The old trader, who was fliot through the fhoulder, coing two
years after the death of this our brave red friend, unfortunately a quarter of
a mile into the woods, from the fpacious clearing of the Chikkafah coun-
try, while all the men were on their winter hunt, and having only a to-
mahawk in his hand, the cowardly French Indians attacked him by furprife,
fliot him de?.d, and carried his fcalp to Tumbikpe-fort : another wiiitc
man unarmcii, but out of the circle they had fuddenly formed, ran for
his fire-arms j but he and the traders came too late to overtake the blood-
hounds. In this manner, fell thofe two valuable brave men, by hands that
would have trembled to attack them on an equality.
The French having drawn off fome towns from the national confederacy^
and corrupted them, they began to fhew themlclvcs in dieir proper colouu,
and publicly offered rewards for our fcalps. Of this I was foon informed
by two Choktah runners, and in a few days time, I fent tliem back well
pleafed. I defired them to inform their head-men, that about the time
thofe days I had marked down to them, were elapfed, I would be ih their
towns with a cargo, and difpofe of it in the way of the French, as they
were fo earned in dealing the Englifli people. 1 charged them with a long
relation of every thing \ thought might be conducive to the main point
in view ; which was, the continuance of a fair open trade with a free
people, who by treaty were become allies of Great Britain ; not fuhjeHs.,
as our public records often wrongly term them — but people of one fire.
As only merit in war-exploits, and flowing language and oratory, gives any
of them the lead preference above the red, they can form no other idea
of kings and fubjecls than that of tyrants domineering over bafe flaves ;
of courfe, their various dialedls have no names for fuch.
t;
'"
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'r ■
^'! ■■
r. '
I left the Chikkafah, and arrived in the Choktah country before the ex-
piration of the broken days, or time we had appointed, with a confidernble
cargo. By tiic intended monopoly of our great beloved man, in fri-^liten-
ing the Chikkanih traders, there were no Englidi goods in the nation, when
I went: and tiie neceffity of the times requiring a liberal didribution,
according to my former meffage, that alone mud have fidlen heavy upon
me under the public faith, without any additional expences. A dixy
before I got there, Mitiggo PuJbfcoGjIj, the half-brother of Red Sliocs, was
returned home from Charles-town, and by him I had the honour of re-
U u ceiving
kl
i
330
An Account of the Choklah Nation.
"t
chiving a fiiemlly ami polite IcLier from the governor. Ilij main aim, ac
this lickenal time of Indian trade, was to recover the value of the goods
that IiaJ been loft in tiie Choktah country, lie recommended one of the
traders of ti.e Sphynx-company to my patronage, prclfing me to aflift him
as far as I pofTibly could, and likewil"? to endeavour to Ilurm Tumbikpe-forr,
proniifing at the fame time, to become anfvverable to me for all my rea-
Ibnable charges in that afTair. I complied with every tittle of the gentle-
man's rtqueft, as far as I could, without charging him for it in the
leaft. As 1 had then, the greatcft part of my cargo on hand, I lent the
other what he flood in need of, that he might regain what his former
pride and folly had occafioncd to be loll. At that time, powder and b.jll
were fo very fcarce, that I could have fold to the Choktah, as much as
would have produced fifteen hundred buck-fkins, yet the exigency was fo
prefllng, I gave them the chief part of my ammunition, though as fpar-
ingly as I could — for the French by our purfuit of wrong meafures, (al-
ready mentioned) and their own policy, had dipped them into a civil war.
As I had then no call to facrifice my private intereft for the emolument
of the public, without indemnity, fo I was not willing to fufpe(5l ano-
ther breach of public faith. Red Shoes' brother came up freighted with
plenty of courtly promifes, and for his own fecurity he was not backward
in relating them to his brethren j otherwife, they would have killed both
him and me ; which would have reconciled them to the French, who a
few days before, had propofed our maflacre by a long formal melTage to
them, as they afterwards informed me. I plainly faw their rninds were
unfixed, for their civil war proved very Iharp. Minggo Pujhkocjh and feve-
ral head-men condudled me from town to town, to the crowd of the feven
lower towns, which lie next to N .'w Orleans ; but they took proper care
to make our ftages fhort enougli, that I might have the honour to con-
verfe with all their beloved men and chief warriors, and have the favour
to give them plenty of prefents, in return for fo great an obligation.
The Indian head-men deem it a trifle to go hundreds of miles, on fuch a
gladfome errand j and very few of them are Qow in honouring the traders
with a vifit, and a long, rapid, poetic fpeech. They will come feveral.
miles to difpofe of a deer-fliin.
When I arrived at the thick fettlement of thefe lower towns, I began to
imagine they had opened a communication with their fubterranean brethren
of Nanne Yah j I was honoured with the company of a greater number
of
An Account of tie Clioktah Nation,
33'
of red chiefs of war, and old beloved men, than probably ever appeared
in imperial Kome. They in a very friendly manner, tied plenty of
bead-garters round my neck, arms, and legs, and decorated me, a la mode
jifuerka. I did myfclf the honour to fit them out with filver arm-plates,
gorgets, wrift-plates, ear-bobs, &c. &c. which they kindly received, and
proicftcd they would never part with them, for the lake of tlic giver. How-
ever, by all my perfuafions, they would not undertake to dorm Tumbikpc-
fort, though I offered to accompany them, and put them m a fure way
of carrying it. They told me I was mad, for the roaring of the cannon
was as dreadful as the fliarpcft thunder, and that the French with one
of tiicir great balls would tear me in pieces, as loon as I api)cared iu
view.
While they declined \ French war, their own civil war became bitter
beyond exprcfTion. They frequently engaged, one party againft the other,
in the open fields : when our friends had fired away all tlicir ammunition,
they took to their hiccory-bows and barbed arrows, and rufhed on the
oppofite party, with their bare (.winohawk-, like rlic moil defperate ve-
terans, regardlefs of life. They did nor f \. i to regard dying fo much,
as the genteel appearance they made w: e;i they took the open field, on
purpofe to kill or be killed. T! ■;» vfed to tell th Englifli traders they
were going on fuch a day to fig! r, o? die for them, and earneftly impor-
tuned them for a Stroud blanket, or white fhirt a-piece, th-it ihey might
make a genteel appearance in Englifh cloth, when they dird. It was not
fafe to refufe them, their minds were fo diftrafted by t!ie defperate fitua-
tion of their affairs', for as they were very fcarce of ammunition, the French
wifely headed their friend-party, with fmall cannon, battered down the
others ftockaded-forts, and in the end reduced them to the necelTity of a
coalition. Thefe evils were occafioned merely by the iwarice and madnefs of
thofe I have ftiled the Sphynx-Company.
At this dangerous time, the fmall-pox alfo was by fome unknown means
conveyed into thf '•' ,h' ;itah country, from below : and it depopulated them
as much as the civil war had done. The Choktah who tfcorted me into
the Chikkafah nation, were infedled with that malady in the woods, and
Ibon fpread ii among others •, thefe, a little time after, among the Mufkohge,
who wf'c in company with me, on our way to Charles-town. I unluckily had
U u 2 tlyr
. ' »
.(1
H
132
An Account of the Choktah Nation,
i~'!"li!
the honovir to receive from the Governor, another polite letter, dated Sep-
tember the 17th, anno 1749, citing me, under the great leal ot the pro-
vince, to come down with a party ot" Indians, as 1 had given his excel-
Icncy notice of t!ieir defirc of paying a friendly vifit to South Carolina.
And having purchafed and redeemed three French ciptivcs which the Chik-
kafah had taken in war, under their leader Pa-Tab- Matahab, I now be-
llowed them on him, to enable him to make a flourifliing entrance into
Charles-town, after the manner of their American triumphs. He was
very kind to them, though their manners were as lavage as his own : ex-
cepting a few beads they ufed to count, with a fmall filver crofs faftened
to the top of them, tliey had nothing to diflinguifli them, and were
ignorant of every point of ChrilVianity. I fet off v;ith above twenty
warriors, and a few women, along with the aforefaid war-leader, for
Charles-town. As the French kept a watchful eye on my conduft, and
the commanding officers of Tumbikpe garrifon in the Choktah, and the
Alebahma in the Mulkohge country kept a continual communication with
each other, the former equipped a party of their Choktah to retake the
French captives by force, if we did not previoufly deliver them to a
French party of the Muflvohge, who were fent by the latter as in the name
of the whole nation, though falfely, to terrify us into a compliance. We
had to pafs through the Mufkohge country in our way to the Britidi let-
tlements ; and though the French were at a great diftance, yet they planned
their fchemes with confummatc wifdom : for the two companies met at the
time appointed, from two oppofite courfes of about a hundred and
fifty miles apart, on the moft difficult pafs from Charles-town to the
Miffifippi, where the path ran through a fwamp of ten miles, be-
tween high mountains •, which were impaflablc in any other place fur
a great diftance, on either fide. Here, the Mufkohge left the Choktah
company, and met us within half-a-day's march of their advantageous
camping place. The foremoft of our party had almoft fired on thofe
Mufkohge who were a- head of the reft •, but, as foon as they faw their
white emblems of peace, they forebore, and we joined company. As
foon as I heard them tell their errand, I fent out three warriors to recon-
noitre the place, left we fliould unawares be furrounded by another party
of them ■, but there was no ambufcade. The Mufkohge leader was called
by the tra'lcrs, " the Lieutenant," and had been a fteady friend to their
intcreft, till by our ufual mifmanagement in Indian aftairs, he became
entirely
[<
{ 1
!' 1 J '
u
An Account of the Choktah Nation.
333
aii'i
f ntircly devoted to tlie French ; his bcliaviour was conndcnt, and his ad-
drcls artful.
' \
The red ambaflTador fpokc much of the kindly difpofition of the French
to fuch of his countrymen as were poor, and of iheir generous protection
to the whole ; contrafted with the ambitious views of the Fnglilh, who were
not content with their deer-flcins and beaver, but coveted their lands. Mc
faid, " the iVTufkohge were forry and furprifed tluit their old friends the
Chikkafah, in concert with a mad Englifliman, fliould feduce their warriors
to join vvith them to fpill the blood of their French beloved friends, when
they were by national confent, only to revenge crying blood ag;;inll
the Aquahpah -, and that the former would be afliamed to allow the latter
to carry thofe captives, who were their friends, through their nation to
Charles-town. But, faid he, as .'he Muflvohge are defirous always to fliake
hands with the Chikkafah, the head-men have lent me in their name, to
requeft you Pa-Tah-Matahab and other beloved warriors, to deliver to me
thofe unfortunate prifoners, as a full proof you arc defirous of tying fad the
old friend-knot, which you have loofed in fome meafure." In this manner,
the red ambalTador of the dangerous Alebahma French captain flouridied
away and waited for a favourable anfwer, according to the confident hopes
his employer had taught him to entertain, by the ftrong motive of felf-
iiiterelh
■'■)
But though the daring Chikkafah leader, and each of us, according to
cuftom were filent, during the recital of the difagreeable harangue, only by
ftern-fpeaking countenances, Pa-1'ab-AUtahab replied, " O you Mulkohge
corrupted chieftain, who are degenerated fo low as to become a Ihong-
mouthed friend of the French, whofe tongues are known of a long time,
to be forked like thofe of the dangerous fnakes ; your fpeech has rua
through my ears, like the noife of a threatening high wind, which attacks
the traveller as foon as he climbs to the top of a rugged ftcep mountain :
though as he came along, the air was fcarcely favourable enough for iiiin
to breathe in. You fpeak highly in praife of the French ; and fo do the
bafer fort of the Choktah, becaufe every year they receive prefcnts to make
their lying mouths ftrong. That empty founding kettle, faftcned at
the top of your bundle along fide of you, I know to be French, and a
true pidure both of their meflTagcs, and methods of fending th...' The
other
<>)>
^y
334
An Account of the Choktah Nation.
otTicr things it contains, I guefs, are of the fame forked-tongucd family ;
for if your fpeech had come from your own heart, it muft have been
ftraigliter. What can be more crooked than it now is ? Though I have no
occafion to make any reply to your unjuft complaints againft the Englifh
people, as their chieftain, my friend, has his cars open, and can cafily con-
fute all you faid againft his people and himfelf ; yet to prevent any need-
lefs delay on our day's march, I fliall give as full an anfwer to your fpeech,
as the fhort time we can ftay here will allow. Since the time the Englilh
firft fliaked hands with you, have not they always held you faft by the arm,
clofe to their heart, contrary to the good liking of your favourite French ?
And had they not helped you with a conftant fupply of every thing you
flood in need of, in what manner could you have lived at home ? Befides,
how could you have fccured your land from being fpoiled by the many
friendly red people of the French, iffuing from the cold north ? Only for
their brotherly help, the artful and covetous French, by the weight of pre-
fents and the flcill of their forked tongues, would before now, have fct you
to war againft each other, in the very fame manner they have done by the
Choktah •, and when by long and Hiarp ftruggles, you had greatly weakened
yourfelves, they by the alTiftance of their northern red friends, would have
fcrved you in the very fame manner, their lying mouths, from their own guilty
hearts, have taught you fo unjuftly and Ihamefully to repeat of the Englilli.
You have openly acknowledged your bafe ingratitude to your beft and old
fteady friends, who, I believe, could damage you as much as they have be-
friended you, if you provoke them to it. Allowing the fpeech you have ut-
tered with your mouth to be true, that you are fent by all the red chieftains
of your Mufkohge people, were your hearts fo weak as to imagine it could
any way frighten the Chikkafah ? Ye well know, the ugly yellow French
have proved moft bitter enemies to us, ever fince we difappointed them
in their fpiteful defign of inflaving and murdering our poor, defencelefs,
and inoffcnfive red brethren, the Nalichee, on the banks of the Mtlhef-
heepe water-path. Ye may love them, if it fcems good to your hearts ;
your example that way fliall have no weight with us. We are born ;, d
bred in a ftate of war with them : and though we have loft the greater
part of our people, chiefly through the mean fpirit of their red hirelings,
who were conti ually ftealing our people for the fake of a reward ; yet they
feelingly know we beat them, and their employers, in every public engage-
ment. W^e are the fame people, and ,ve Ihall certainly live and die, in
I fuch
1 ! "1
^n Account of the Choktah Nation.
335
fuch a manner as not to fully the ancient cliarafter of our warlike fore-fathers.
As the French conftantly employed their red people in a^ls of enmity
againfl; our Englilh traders, as well as us, — my beloved friend, (landing there
before you, complained of it to the Goweno-Min^go in Charlostown, (the
Governor of South-Carolina) and he gave him Iloclbo Ilcorcfo Parcrjka
Orehtoopa, (their method of cxprefTing our provincial fcal, for hocibo fignifics
a pi(flure, hcorefo marked, or painted, parajha made bread of, and oretoopa
beloved, or of high note or power,) I and my warriors gladly fhaked hands
with his fpeech ; and fo did thole of your own country, who afflired
us, they always fcorned to be fervants to the crafty lying French, At
their own defire, our old beloved men crowned them warriors, in
the moft public and folemn manne/. They were free either to fliut
or open their ears to the Englilh beloved fpeech. And why fliould
we not be as free to go to war againft our old enemies, as you are againft
yours ? We are your friends by treaty j but we fcorn a mean compliance
to any demand, that would call a difgrace on our national charadler. You
have no right to demand of me thofe ugly French prifoners. We
took them in war, at the rifque of blood : and at home in our national
council, we firmly agreed not to part with any of them, in a tame man-
ner, till we got to Charles-town. If the Muflcohge are as defirous as we,
to continue to hold each other firmly by the hand, we (hall never loofe
the friend-knot : we believe fuch a tie is equally profitable to each of
us, and hope to continue it, to the latcd times."
When the French amba(rador found he mufl fail in his chief aim, he
with a very fubmi(rive tone, requefted the Chikkafah war-leader to give
him a token, whereby he might get the other captives who were left
at home : but as they ufually deny with modefty, he told him, he could not
advife him to take the trouble to go there, as he believed the head-men had
kept them belund on purpofe that they fliould be burnt at the (lake, if any
mifchance befell him and his warriors, before they returned home, on ac-
count of his French prifoners. Finding that his threats and entreaties both
proved inefFedlual, he v/as obliged to acquiefce. Soon after, we fet off, and
he and his chagrined mercenaries quietly took up their travelling bundles,
and followed us.
On that day's march, a little before we entered the long fwamp,
all our Chikkafah friends ftaid behind, killing and cutting up buf-
falo ;
I
iM
''I, •?
S ■ i
336
yfn Account of the Choktah Nation.
falo : By this means, I was a confiderable way before the pack-horfcs,
when we entered into that winding and difficult pafs, which was a
continued thicket. After riding about a mile, I difcovcred the frefli
tracks of three Indians. I went back, put the white people on their
guard, gave my horfe and fword to a corpulent member of the Sphynx-
company, and fet off a-hcad, (hunning the path in fuch places where the
fuvages were mod likely to poll themfelves. Now and thtn I put up the
whoop on different fides of the path, both to fecure myfelf and intimi-
date the oppofite fcout-party -, otherwife, I might have paid dear for it, as
1 faw from a rifing point, the canes where they were paffing, to fhake.
I became more ci"uious, and they more fearful of being inchfed by our
party. They ran off to their camp, and fpeedily from thence up the craggy
rocks, as their tracks tcftificd. Their lurking place was as artfully chofcn,
as a wolf could have fixed on his den. When our friendly Indians came to our
camp, it was too late to give chafe : they only viewed their tracks. At
night, the Chikkafah war-leader gave out a very enlivening war fpeech,
well adapted to the circumffances of time and place, and each of us
lay in the woodland-form of a war-camp. As we were on our guard,
the enemy did not think it confident with their fafety to attack us
— ambufcading is their favourite plan of operation. The next day
by agreement, the Indians led the van, and I brought up the rear with
the French prifoners. A fliort way from our camp, there were deep
rocks, very difficult for leaded horfes to rear and afcend. Moft of them
had the good fortune to get fafe up, but fome which I efcorted, tum-
bled backwards •, this detained us fo long, that the van gained near three
miles upon us. I pofted myfelf on the top of one of the rocks, as a
centinel to prevent our being furprifcd by the Choktah, and difcovered them
crawling on the ground behind trees, a confiderable way off, on the fide of
a fteep mountain, oppofite to us. I immediately put up the war whoop,
and told a young man with me the occafion of it i but he being
fatigued and vexed with his fharp exercife, on account of the horfes,
only curled them, and fuid, we were warriors, and would fight them,
if they duill come near enough. As 1 was cool, I helped and haf-
tened him ofi": in the mean while, I cautioned the captives againft at-
tempting to fly to the enemy in cafe they attacked us, as their lives
fhould certainly pay for it — and they promifed they would not. We at
Lift fet off, and met with no interruption : the enemy having a fliarp
I dread
An Acc(,uut of the Choktah Nation,
:^n
dread of our party alit-ail, who would have foon ran back to our an'iftance,
had tliey attacked us — About an hour after our company, we got to camp.
The Choktah at night came down fi vim the mountains, and creeped after us.
Our camp was pitched on very convenient ground, and as they could not
furprife us, they only viewed at a proper diftarce, and retired. Dut tiicy
iil'ed an artful (Iracagem, to draw Ibme of us into iheir treaclierous fnares ;
for they Hole one of tlie bell horfes, and led it away to a place near
their den, which was about a mile below us, in a thicket of reeds, where
the creek formed a femi-circle. This horfe was a favourite with the "allant
and aftive young man I had efcorted the day before to camp.
As he was of a chearful and happy temper, the people were much furprifed •
to find him at night peevifli and querulous, contrary to every part of his
paft condudli and though he delighted in arms, and carried tliem con-
ftantly when he went from camp, yet he went out without any this night,
though I prefled him to take them. In iefs than an hour, he returned
flife, but confufed and dejected. When he fat down, he drooped his
Jiead on his hands, which were placed on his knees, and faid, the enemy
were lurking, and that we fliould foon be attacked, and fome of us killed.
As I pitied the ftate of his mind, I only told him, that yefterday, he
and I knew the French favages were watching to take an advantage of us-,
but for his fatisfaflion I would take a fweep, on foot, while tie Chik-
kafah painted themfelves, according to their war-cuUom when tliey ex-
pedl to engage an enemy. I went out with my gun, pouch, and belt-
piflols, and within two-hundred yards of the camp, difcovercd the ene-
mies tracks ; they had pafled over a boggy place of the creek, upon an
old liurricane-tree. 1 proceeded with the utmoft caution, porting mylelf
now and then behind large trees, and looking out fliarply left I fliould fall
into an ambufcade, which the Choktah are cunning artifts in forming.
In this manner I marched for three quarters of an hour, and then took to
high ground, a little above the enemies camp, in order to return for help to
attack them. But the aforefaid brave youth, led on by his ill genius, at this
time mounted a fiery horie, which foon ran into the ambufcade, where they
Ihot him with a bullet in his breaft, and another entered a little below the heart.
The horfe wheeled round in an inftant, and fprung off, but in pitching over
A large fallen tree, the unfortunate rider, by reafon of his mortal wounds,
X X fell
i 1
3.18
An Account of the Choktah Nation.
^'jj
fell off, .1 viiflim to the barbarians. One of them foon ftruck a tomohawk
into his head, juft between his eyes, and jerked off a piece of fcalp
.ibout the bignefs of a dollar — they took alio his Indian breeches, and
an handkerchief he had on his head, and immediately flew through
.1 thicket of briars, to fecure their retreat. When they fired their two
guns, I immediately gave the llirill war-wlioop, which was refounded by one
of the Chikkafah that had been out a hunting from the camp. They in-
ftantly fet off full fpeed, naked, except their Indian breeches and macca-
fcnes, I put myfelf in the fame flying trim, on the enemies firing ; we
fooii came to tlie tr-igical fpot, but without (lopping, we took their
tracks, gave chafe, and continued it a great way : unluckily, as we were
running down a fteep hill, they difcovered us from the top of ano-
ther, and foon difperfed thcmfclves •, by which means, not being able
to difcover one track of thofe foxes on the hard hilly ground, we were
obliged to give over the chace, and returned to camp. We buried our friend,
by fixing in a regular manner a large pile of great logs for the corpfe, with
big tough fapplings bent over it, and on each fide, thruft deep into the
ground, to fecure it from the wild beafts. Though the whole camp at
firft imagined the enemy had killed me and captivated the other, yet the
warriors did not ffiew the leaft emotion of gladnt fs, nor even my favourite
fr'end, the war-leader, when they firft faw me fafe : but the women received
me with tears of joy. I mention this to fiiew the force of education and
habit — thofe who are ufed to fcenes of war and blood, become obdurate and
are loft to all the tender feelings of nature ; while they, whofe employment it
is to mourn for their dead, are fufceptible of the tender imprcffions they
were originally endued with by Deity.
As the French frequently had been great fufferers by the Chikkafah,
ever fince the year 1730, neccflity obliged them to bear their lofles with
patience, till they could get them revenged by the friendly hands of their
red mercenaries. As Ibon as they had ingratiated themfclves into the af-
feftions of all thofe Indians who were incorporated among the iVlufkohge,
and had fettled them near the Alebahma-garrilon •, and other towns, be-
fidcs head-men, in fundry parts of the nation, being devoted to their fervicc,
they imagined they had now intcreft enough to ge: feveral of thofe warriors
killed, who had joined the Chikkafah againft their people over the Mifli-
fippi. But the old head-men of tiw Mulkohge convened together,
and
I- I
An Account of tbe Choktah Nation.
339
and agreed to fend a peremptory mcfllige to the French, ordi ring them,
forthwith, to defifl: from their bloody politics, otherwife the river flijulJ
carry their blood down to Mobi".le, and tell that garrifon, their own
treachery was the fole occafion of it, by mifchievouQy endeavouring to
foment a civil war between them, as they boafted they had done among
the foolifh Choktah. With much regret they laid afide their fcheire, and
were forced openly to wipe away the memory of every thing which had
before given them offence i and to include all indifcriminately in the
treaty of friendfliip, as all had only one fire. This proved a mortifying
ftroke to the French on fundry accounts : and during the continuance of
this diftrafted fcene, if any Britifli governor of capacity and public Ipirir,
had properly exerted himfelf, they muft have withdrawn to Mobille,
without any polTibility of ever returning. For the ennity would foon
have advanc.j to a moll implacable hatred, as in the cafe of the Chik-
kafah and French : but fuch a condufl was incompatible with the private
views of fome amons us.
i
As the fmalUpox broke out in our camp, when we got nigh to the Muf-
kohge country, and detained the Indians there till they recovered, I fet off
without them for Charles-town. By the benefit of the air, and their drink-
ing a ftrong decodion of hot roots, they all recovered. A Choktah warrior of
Yahlhoo-town, humoroufly told me afterwards, that ookka boomeh, "-the
bitter waters," meaning fpirituous liquors, cured fome people, while
it killed others. He, by the advice of one of the Englifli traders, ad-
miniftcred it in pretty good dofes to feven of his children in the fmall-
pox, which kept out the corrupt humour, and in a (hort time perfeftly cured
each of them, he faid, without the leaft appearance of any dangerous
fymptoms ; whereas the diforder proved very mortal to the young
people in the neighbourhood, who purfucd a different courfe of phy-
fic. As molt of the Indian traders are devotees of Bacchus, their mate-
ria medica confifts of fpirituous liquors, compounded with ftrong herbs
and roots, of which they commonly have a good knowledge: and I have
obfcrvcd thofe who have left off the trade, and refide in the Britilh fettle-
tnents, to give their negroes for an anti-venereal, a large dofe of old Ja-
maica and qualified mercury mixt together, — which, they fay, the blacks
cheerfully drink, without making a wry face, contrary to their ufagc
X X 2 witli
I •
I'd
340
uin Account of tbc Choktah Nation.
u >
with every other kind of phyfic •, and i: is affirmed, that by this prefcrip-
tion, they foon get well.
The fmall pox with which the upper towns of the Mufkohge were in-
fected, was of the confluent fort, and it would have greatly depopulated
them, if the officious advice of fome among us, for all the other towns to cut
oft' every kind of communication with them, on the penalty of death to any
delinquent, had not been given and purfued. They accordingly ported cen-
tinels at proper places, with ftrift orders to kill fucli, as the mod dangerous
of all enemies : and thcfe cautious meafures produced the defired effeft. And
by the mean mediation of feveral of our principal traders, joined with the in-
terefl: of their red friends, the commandant of the ^Icbahma fort, prevailed
at laft on the Chikkafah chieftain to take the '^fpe French prifoners to him,
as he would pay him to his own fatisfaiftion, giVC him prefcnts, and df'ik
with him as a friend, who had buried the bloody tomohawk deep in the
ground. They were delivered up ; and by that means the French were
enabled to difcourage thofe Mufl^ohge warriors, who had joined the Chik-
kafah in the aforefaid a(5ls of hoftility againrt: the Miffifippi inhabitants.
In about the fpace of three months from the time the Chikkafah left their
own country with me, they arrived at the late New-Windfor garrifon, the
weftern barrier of South-Carolina, and beautifully fituated on a high com-
manding bank of the pleafant meandering Savanah river ; fo termed on
account of the Shawano Indians having formerly lived there, till by our
fooliffi meafures, they were forced to withdraw northward in defence of
their freedom.
At the requeft 'of the governor and council I rode there, to accom-
pany our Chikkafah friends to Charles-town, where, I believe, on my
account, they met with a very cold reception : for as fomething I
wrote to the two gentlemen who fitted out, and fuftained the lofs of
the Sphynx-company, had been inferted in the " modell reply to his Excel-
lency the Governor," formerly mentioned, in order to obtain bills of ex-
change on Great Britain, I was now become the great objeft of his
difpleafure, ' and of a certain fett, who are known to patronife any
perfons if they chance to be born in the fame corner of the world with
themfelves. The Chikkafah had a very ungracious audience : On account
of
An Account of the Choktah Niition-
341
of the tfxcefTivc modcfty of this warlike people, their ciiicftain gave out a
flu)rt oration, without hinting in tiie moll diftant mariner, at any difficul-
ties they underwent, by reafon of their llrong attaciimcnt to the Briuih
Americans, — concluding, that as the Englilh beloved men were endowed
with a furprifing gift of exprefTing a great deai in few words, long Ipceches
would be troublefome to them. He intended to have fpokcn afterwards of
the Choktah affairs, and that I was a great futfLTor by them, without any
juft retribution, and accordingly was very dcfirous of a fecond public in-
terview V but our cunning beloved man artfully declined it, though they
ftaid as late as the middle of April. It was a cuftom with the colony of
South-Carolina towards thofe Indians who came on a friendly vifit, to allow
them now and then a tolerable quantity of fpirituous liquors, to cheer
their hearts, after their long journey -, but, if I am not miltaken, thofe I
accompanied, had not a drop, except at my coll. And when the Governor
gave them, at the entrance of the council-chamber, fome trifling prcfents,
he hurried them off with fuch an air as vexed them to the heart ; which
was aggravated by his earneftly pointing at a noted war-leader, and
myfelf, with an angry countenance, fwearing that Indian had been lately
down from Savanah, and received prefents. They had fo much fpirit that
they would not on any account have accepted his prefents, but for my perfua-
fions. As for myfelf, I could not forbear faying, honour compelled me as fo-
lemnly to declare that his aflertion was not true, and that I had often given
more to the Choktah at one time, than he had ever given to the
Chikkafah, in order to rivet their enmity againft the French of Louifiana,
and thereby open a lading trade with them, from which I was unfairly
excluded, ou account of a friendly monopoly, granted by him for a certain
end to mere llrangers. My words feemed to lie pretty Iharp upon him, and
I fuppofe contributed not a little to tlie uncourtly leave he took of
our gallant, and faithful old friends. Soon after, at the rcqueft of the
Governor and council however, I accompanied them the firft day's march,
on their way home from Charles-town : they had no public order of credit
for their needful travelling charges, though I follicited his Excellency and
the council to grant them one, according to the ancient, hofpitable, anvl
wife cuftom of South-Carolina, to all Indians who paid them a friendly vi fir,
whofe journey was far fliorter, were often uninvited, and of much Icfs
fervice, than the Cliikkafah to the Britifli intereft. As their horfes were
very
'^
I
A-
if-
((■
il^
'j-\ }
342
yln Account cf the Choktah Not ion.
very poor, I toKl the Governor tlicy could travel only at a (low pace, uiij
as the wild game was fcarce in our fettlcments, hunger, and rcfent-
ment for their unkind ufage, would probably tempt them to kill the planters
ftock, which might produce bad confctiiiences, and ought to be cau-
tioully guarded againl\ ; but I was an unfortunate fulicitor.
With a flow of contrary pafTions I took my leave of our gallant Chikkafah
friends. I viewed them with a tender eye, and revolved in my mind the
fatigues, difficulties, anci dangers, they had cheerfully undergone, to teftify
the intenfe afFcclion they bore to the Eritifh Americans, — with the ill treat-
ment they had received from our chief magiftrate, on account of his own dif-
appointments, and (harp-felt cenliires, for Ibme ("uppofed mi(management,
or illicit meafures in trade. He is reported to have been no way churlilTi to
feveral of the daftardly Choktaji, notwichftanding his unprecedented and
unkind treatment of our warlike Chikkaliih — two hundred of which would
attack five hundred of the others, and defeat them with little lofs. Their
martial bravery has ofcen teftified this againd enemies even of a greater
Ipirit.
Not long after the Chikkafah returned homeward, I advcrtifed in the
weekly paper, that as I intended to leave Charles-town in a (hort time, I was
ready and willing to anfwer any of the Icgiflative body fuch queftions
^s they might be pleafcd to propofe to me concerning our Indian affairs,
before the expiration of fuch a time -, and that if his Excellency defired
my attendance, and either notified it in writing, or by a proper officer,
I might be found at my old lodgings. On the evening of the very laft
day I had propofed to (lay, he fent me a peremptory written order to at-
tend that night, on public bufinefs, concerning Indian alfairs ; I punL^ually
obeyed, with refpedt to both time and place. He was now in a dilemma,
by reafon of his (fuppofed) fcU ii '•erefted conduft concerning the Chok-
tah trade, which occafioned the aforefaid modeji reply, that arraigned his
proceedings with feverity and plainncfs. As I came down with the Indians,
and was detained by his Fxccllency, under the great leal of tlie pro-
vince, till this period, April 1750, I had juft reafon to cxpc(5b that good
faith would have been kept with me — that I fliould h.ivc been paid ac-
cording to promife, at leaft for all the goods I gave the Indians, by vir-
tue thereof i and have had a juft compenfation for the great cxpences I
was
i,; a
':il
An AccQuni of the Choktah Nation.
343
was at in fcrving the government i — but except the the trifling futn of four
pounds fterling, when I was letting ofl" for tlie Indian rountry, I never
received one farthing of the public money, for my very expenfive, faithful,
and difficult fcrvices.
In moft of our American colonies, there yet remain a few of the natives,
who formerly inhabited thole extenfive countries : and as tliey were
friendly to us, and ferviceable to our interefts, tlic wilUom and virtue of
our legiflature fecured them from being injured by the neighbouring nations.
The l-'rench ftriftly purliied the fame method, deeming fuch to be more
ullful than any othf-rs on alarming occafions. We called them "■ Parched -
corn-Indians," bec.iule they chiefly ufe it lor bread, are civilized, and live
moftly by planting. As they had no coiine^^Hon with the Indian nations,
and were deilrous of living peaceable under the Hritifli prottcilion, none
could have any juft plea to kill or inflavc them, liut the gralping plan
of the French required tl.ofe dangerous fcout-partics, as they termed them,
to be removed out of the way ; and the dormant condod of the South-
Carolina chief, gave them an opportunity to cflee^t that part of tlieir dc-
fign v though timely notice, even years before, had been given by the Chce-
rake traders, that the French priefts were poifoning the minds of thofc
Indians againft us, who live among the Apalahche mountains, and were
endeavouring to reconcile them to all the various nations of the MifTifippi
and Canada favages ; and that there was the grcaterl probability they
would accomplifli their dangerous plan, unlefs we foon took proper
meafures to prevent it. The informers had ill names and refentment
for their news, and the afiembly 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 friendlhip with the Cheerake :
and their country became the rendezvous of the red pupils of the black
Jefuits. t lence they ravaged South-Carolina, beginning at the fron-
tier weak fettlements, and gradually advanced through the country, for
the fpace of eight years, dcflroying the live ftock, inlulting, frightening,
wounding, and fometimes killing the inhabitants, burning their houfes, car-
rying away their (laves, and committing every kind of devaflation, till they
proceeded fo low as within thirty miles of Charles-town. The kifferers often
exhibited their complaints, in the moft pathetic and public manner ; and
5 the
*>i
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344
yin Account of the Chokt.ih K ion.
i''
\
if:
1
i
Im
the whole country felt tiic ill cftcds of tiie late ov: ■ 'u Arin** and negligent
condudl. Fiilfe colouring could fcrve no longer, ;inc \ f^w inconficlcrable
parties were fent out — but not fmding any enemy, they were in n icw months
dilbaiulcd, and peaceable accounts were again fT.t home.
Our Settlement-Indians were at this time clofely iuinted, many were killed,
and others carried oft". A worthy gentleman, G. H, I'.lq; who lived at the
Conpgarces, liifTcrcd much on the occafion— he was employed to go to tiie
Checrake country, in queft of valuable minerals, in company with an Indian
comminioncr : — 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 oil' from South-Carolina in triumph. While they were beat-
ing the drum, finging, dancing, and pouring the utmoft contempt on the
I'.nglilh name, honour prompted !)im to prefer tlie public credit to his own
fafcty. By the earned mediation of one of the traders, the headmen of
the town confented to be neutral in the all'air, and a<ft as impartial friends
to both parties, lie 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 houie, our captivated friends : — they ftood all night
on tiieir arms, and at a convenient interval, fupplied thofe whom they had
liberated, with neceflaries to carry them to our fettlements, where their
trufly heels foon carried them fafe. The gallant behaviour of thofe
gentlemen gained the applaufe of tiie Cheerake — and each foon returned
in lafety, without any interruption, to their refpeiftive homes, where I
wifli they had ever after continued. But Mr. G. H. having confiderably
engaged himfelf in trade vviili 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, ihey were intercepted,
.»nd taken by fome of the very favages who had threatened him among the
Clieerake, when he releafed our domeftic Indians. The government of
South-Carolina was foon informed of the unhappy affair: and they dif-
patchcd a friendly embaffy to the lower towns of the Cheerake, requeuing
ihem to intercept and retake the prifoners, if they paffed near their coun-
try, and offered a confiderable reward. Our friends were carrieil a
little to the northward of the Cheerake nation, where their captors camped
feveral days, and the Cheerake held with tliem an open friendly intercourle,
as in defpite to the linglifli. The head men of the lower towns, not only
flopped the traders and their red friends from going to relcue them,
5 but
't:
jin Account of 'he Cliokt.iIi Kiitkn.
345
but likcvvirc threatened them fur their genrrous intention. The lavages,
inlkad of keeping a due noithein courfe homcwani, took a l.ir[»r com-
pafs north-weft, by the fule of the Chcerake mountains, being afraid
of a purfuit from the Katahba Indians. Thty inarched fall with their two
captives, to fecure their retreat till tliey got within the bounds of the Frencli
treaty of peace, and then (leered a due northern courl'e, continuing it
till tliey got nigh to their relpedive countries, where they parted in two
bodies, and each took one of tiie priioners witli tliem. But as travelling
fo great a way in tiic heat of fummer, was wiiat Mr. G. 11, was unaccuf-
tomcd to, he was fo much overcome by fatigue and fieknefs, that for fevc-
ral days before, he could not poU'ibly walk. 1 Ic then requefted tlium to
put him out of his mifcry, but tluy would not •, for they reckoned his civil
language to them proceeded from bodily pains and from a martial
fpirit, which they regard. They contented to carry him on a bier, whicli
they did both with care and tcnderncfs. 13ut on parting with his compa-
nion, he refufed abfolutely to proceed any farther with them, when they
tomohawkcd him, juft as his parted friend was out of tl»e hearing of
it. The laft afterwards got home, and told us this melancholy exit of
our worthy and much-lamented friend — who died as he lived, always de-
fpifing life, when it was to be preferved only in a ftate of flavery. Thougli
he was thus loft to his family and the community, by a manly performance
of the duties of his ofRce, in which he engaged by the prefTuig entreaties
of the Governor, yet his widow was treated ungeiieroufly and bafely, as
was Capt. J. P. at tlie Conggarees. — But there would be no end, if wc
were to enter into particulars of court policy, and government honor and
gratitude.
If our watch-men had not been quite remifs, they would have at leaft
oppofcd tlie French emiflaries on their firft approach to our colonies,
and have proteifted our valuable civilized Indians-, for our negroes were
afraid to run away, left they fliould fall into their hands. The fcheming
French knew of what importance they were to us, and therefore ihcy em-
ployed their red friends to extirpate them. And while thofe remote la-
vages of Milfifippi and Canada were pretending to feck the revenge of
fomc old grievance, they wounded us at the fame time in two very ma-
terial points, — in getting a thorough knowledge of the fituation of our
nioft valuable, but weak fouthern colonies, and thus could iuike us the
Y y deeper,
1 1 h"
I
,M-6
An Account of the Choktah Nation,
rf fr
deeper, — and in dedroyiiig fuch of our inhabitants, as were likely to prove
the greatcft check to tTieir intended future depredations. By our own mif-
conducV, wc twice loH: the Shawano Indians ; wiio iuve fince proved very hurt-
ful to our colonies in general. When the French employed them to weaken
.South-Carolina, a fmall company of them were furrounded and taken in a
remote houle of the lower fettlements : and though they ought to have
been inftantly put to death, in return for their frequent barbarities to our
people, yet they were conveyed to prifon, confined a Lonfiderable time, and
then difcharged, to the great lofs of many innocent lives. For as the In-
dians reckon imprifonmcnt to be inflaving them, they never forgive fuch
treatment ; and as foon as thefe got clear, they left bloody traces of their
vindiftive tempers, as they pafled along. About this time, a large com-
pany of French favages came from the head-flreams of Monongahcla-rivcr
to the Cheerake, and from thence were guided by one of them to where our
fcttlcment-Indians refided. They went to a fmall town of the Euhchce.,
about twelve miles below Savanah-town, and two below Silver-blufF, where
G. G. Efq-, lives, and there watched like wolves, till by the mens making
a day's hunt, they found an opportunity to kill the women and children.
Immediately after which, they fcouted off different ways, fome through
Savanah-river, which is about 200 yards broad i and others to the hunting
place, both for their own fecurity, and to give the alarm : We had on this
occafion, a flriking inllance of the tender affccftion of the Indian women to
their children, for all thofe who efcaped, carried off their little ones. The
men, by the alarming fignal of the flirill-founding war-cry, foon joined,
ran home, and without flaying to view the bloody tragedy, inftantly took
the enemies tracks, and eagerly gave chale. To avoid the dreaded purfuit,
the Cheerake guide led the French mercenaries a northern courfe, as far as
the thick woods extended, which was about fifteen miles from the place
of their murders. F'rom thence they Ihifted toward the north-weft, and
were ftretching away about 10 miles to the north of Augufta, for Ninety-
Six, which lay in a diretl line to die lower towns of the Cheerake i when un-
luckily for them, iuft as they were entering into the open, and long-continued
pine-barren, they were difcovcred by one of our hunting white men, who was
mounted on an exccUcnr white horfe, and therefore a fine mark to be ftiot,
which they would have done for their own fecurity, only he outftripped them,
and kept in their back-track", to trace them to their theatre of blord —
their pofture and countenances plainly told him what they had done, on
I foire
yf« Account of lbs Chok(ali Niitiou.
34/
fome of our barriers. He had not proceeiicd far, v/Iien he met the enraged
Euhchee, on the hot purfuit. He told them their courfc, and that ilicir
number was twenty-fix. In running about twelve miles fartlier, they came
in fight -*■ the objecfls of their hatred and rage : p'-fently, they ran on
each fide of them, engaged them clofely, and killed feveral. Thole who
efcaped, were forced to throw away nine ^luns, (they !ud taken from fomc
of our people) and almoft every thing, even their liglit breeches, to fave their
lives. They were To exceedingly terrified, left the enraged purfuers fiiould
continue the chafe, that they pafTed wide of our then weak fettlement of
Ninety-Six, and kept on day and niglir, till they got near to their con-
dudor's mountainous country. This was in the beginning of May 1750:
and in our Indian-trading way, we fay that, when the heat of the new year
enables the fnakes to crawl out of their lurking holes, the favages are
equally moved to turn out to do mifchief. Many have experimentally felt
the trutli of this remark.
'M
S I
I had at this time occafion to go to tlie Cheerake country -, and
happened to have a brave chearful companion, Mr. H. F. of Ninety-
Six fettlement. We had taken a hearty draught of punch, about ten
miles from Keeohwhee-town, oppolite to which the late Fort-Prince-Gcorge
ftood, and were proceeding along, when we difcovered the frclh tracks of
Indians in the path, who were gone a-head. As we could not reafonably
have the lead fufpicion of their being enemies, we rode quite careledy :
but they proved to be the above-mentioned Monongahela-Indians. Their
watchfulnefs, and our finging, with the noife of our horfes feet, made
them hear us before they could pofTibly fee us, — when they fudJenly ported
themfelves off the path, behind fome trees, juft in the valley of Six-mili--
creek, in order to revenge their lofs by the Muhchce, which they afcribed
to the information of the white man. But their Cheerake guide prevented
them from attempting it, by telling them, that as his country was not at
war with us, his life nuift pay for it, if they clninccd to kill either ot us •,
and as we were frefli and well-nrmctl, tli?v ". "t!;ht be fure wc v.-oukl ili'ht
them fo fuccefsfully, ns at leaft one of Uh Would cfcape and alarm ;hr
towns: with this caution they forbore the ha^rrdous attempt. They fqu.ir-
ted, and ke'^t clofe therefore, lb as we did not lee one of them ; and we
fufpcfted no danger. By the d''"''ontiniia:-ice of their tracks, we foort
knew we had pafTed them : but, jufl; when wc had hidden two cags ot
Yv z :a:v
y n
:
fJkf
.Vl-S
An Account of thi Choktah Nation.
mm, about two miles from the town, four of them appeared, unarmed.
Hark naked, and torn by the thickets. When we difcovered them, wc
concluded they had been below on milchief. 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 fluftuating 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
lleep 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
ftartcd out from the (loping rocks, on the nortli 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 furprifcs, it fhocked
him, till they ran down upon him. On this I turned back, and ftood on
my arms, expefting 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
otherwifle, the difpute would have been dangerous. We got over the
mountain, and fafe to Tymahi'e ; here we relied two nights, and found
the people dirtraifled for mifcliicf, to which the many caufes before
mentioned prompted them. The governor, in lei's than a month after
this period, had tlie ftrongcft confirmation of the ill intention of thefe
favages and their allies. Many expreflcs with intelligence I fenr, but the
nev/b was pocketed, and my fervices traduced — becaule I would not aflift the
prime mugillrate in a bad caufe, he and his iuitr.ble fcrvants depreciated
the long leries of public fervices I had faithtuliy performed, and called
them nicie accidental trifles •, contrary to his former acknowledgments, both
verbal and in writing. The French, however, had a difi'ercnt opinion of
myiervicesi thty were fo well actjuainted with the great damages I had
done to them, and feared others I might occafion, as to confine me a
dofc prifoner lor a fortnight when I went to the Alebahma-gairiibn, in
5 tlie
yf« Account of the Choktah Niitton.
349
the Mulkohge country. They were fully refolved to have fent me down to
Mobillc or New Orleans, as a capital criminal, to be hanged for having
abetted the Muflcohge, Chikkafah, and Choktah, to flied a torrent of their
chrillian blood •, tliough 1 had only retaliated upon them, the long train of
blood they had years before wantonly fpilled. They wanted to have
confronted me with the F'rench prifoners I formerly mentioned, and with
the Long Lieutenant, whom we met two days before the Choktah killed
one of our people below Book'pharaah, or the long fwamp. I was well
aflfurcil, he was to have gone down to be baptized, and fo become a good
Well-Florida-French cluillian, in order to condemn me, the poor bloody
heretic. I faw him, and they had by thi- time taught him to count beads ;
but I doubted not of being able to extricate myfelf fome way or other.
They appointed double Gentries over me, for fome days before I was to
be fent down in the French king's large boat. They were ftriflly charged
againft laying down their weapons, or futfering any hoftile thing to be
in the place where I was kept, as thiy deemed me capable of any mil-
chief. I was not indeed locked up, only at night, left it fliould give um-
brage to our friendly Indians, but 1 was to have been put in irons, as
foon as the boat pafTcd the Indian town?, that lay two miles below the
fort, in the forks of the Koofah and Oi.whufke rivers. About an hour
before we were to fet off by water, I efcapcd from them by land : and
though they had horfes near at hand, and a corrupt town of favages fet-
tled within 1.50 yards of the garrifon, yet under thole difadvantagcs, bcfidcs
heavy rains that loofentd the ground the very night before, I took through
the middk- of the low l,md covered with briers, at full fpeed. I heard the
French clattering on horfe-back along the path, a great way to my left
hand, and die hmvling lavage., purfuing my tracks with careful fteps, but
my ufual good fortune i;:,abled me to leave tK m far enough behind, on
a needlefs purfuit. As iirc-f had made my arms prifoners, I allowed them
without the kail egret 1.^ •'arry down my horfes, clothes, &c. and punifh
them by proxy, in the i.,m ler they intended to have ferved the owner, foe
his faithful fervices to ir i ccuntrv.
1:
While Governoi G — prcfukd in South-Carolma, it was needlefs to .np-
ply fur a payment of the large debt the government owed me : but on
his being lucceeded by his Excellency W. H. L. Eft\-, I imagined this a
favourable
35®
An Account of the Choktah Nation.
favourable time to make my addrefs. This worthy patriot had been well in-
formed, by feveral Indian trading merchants of eminent character, of the
cxpenfive, diiHcult, and faithful fervices I had cheerfully done my country,
to the amount of above one thoufand pounds fterling on the public faith,
and of the ungenerous returns I iiad received ; he according to his natural
kincinefs and humanity, promifed to aflift me. I then laid my cafe, with
the well-known and important fafts, before the members of the houfe of
aflembly in Charles town j and when they convened, prefented a memorial
to the legiflative body. But fevtral of the country reprefentatives happened
to be ablent -, and as the governor could not be reafonably cxpefted in a
fhort time, to purify the infedled air which had prevailed in that houfe for
fourteen years, a majority of the members had evidently determined not to
alleviate my long complaint of grievances. 1 o invalidate its force, they
objedled, that my claim was old ; but did not attempt to prove the leaft
tittle of what I exhibited to them to be falfe : they knew they could not.
After a long and warm debate, when my fecret enemies obferved the clerk of
the houfe was drawing near to the conclufion of my memorial, they feized
on a couple of unfortunate monofyllables. I had faid, that " the Indian
Choktah had a great many fine promifes ;" the word fine was put to
th«.. torture, as rcfleding on the very fine-promifing gentleman. And
in another fentence, I mentioned the time his excellency the late Governor
of South-Carolina did me the honour to write me a very y>;;!?o/ifc artful letter,
by virtue of which I went all the way to Charles-town, &c. The word
fmoothy fo highly ruflled the fmooth tempers of thofc gentlemen, that they
carried a vote by a majority, and had it regiftered, importing, that
they objeifled againft the indelicacy, or impropriety, of the language in
my memorial, but not againft the merit of its contents. The minute, I
here in a more public manner record anew, to the lafting honour of the
perfons who promoted it. The voice of opprcfled truth, and injured inno-
cence, can nevfr be wholly ftifled. Left my memorial fttould again appear
at the public bar of juftice, in a lefs infected time, it was not fent to the
office •, whicli indicates that the former art of pocketing was not yet entirely
forgotten. Indeed every ftate fufFcrs more or lefs, from fome malign in-
fluence, one time or other ; but I have the happinefs to fay that tiie infcftion
was not univerlal. South-Carolina has always been blcffed with fteady pa-
triots, even in the moft corrupt times: and may flie abound with firm pii-
li.xi of the conftitution, according to our Magna Charta Americana, as
in
An A 'Count of the Choktah Nation* grj-
m the prefent trying «ra of blefled memory, fo long as the heavenly rays
fhall beam upon us !
As the power and happinefs of Great Britain j^eeatiy depends on the
profperity of her American colonies, and the heart-ibundncfs of her
civil and ecclcfiaftical rulers — and as the welfare of America hangs on the
balance of a proper intercourfe with their Indian neighbours, and can never
be continued but by obferving and inforcingon both fides, a ftriJl adherence
to treaties, fjpporting public faith, and allowing only a fufficient number
of fuch faithful and capable fubjefts to deal with them, as may gain their
affe(5lions, and prove faithful centinels for the public fecurity— I prefume
that the above relations, and obfervationr, inaead of being thought to be
foreign, will be deemed efTeniial to an hiftory of tiic Indians. The re-
marks may be conducive alfo to the public welfare. Ignorance, or felf-in-
tcreft, has hitherto wrongly informed the community of the true fituation.
of our Indian affairs wcftward.
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[ 35» ]
ACCOUNT
OF THE
CHIKKASAH NATION.
THE Chikkafah country lies in about 35 Dcg. N. L. at the dif-
tance of 160 miles from the eaftern iide of the MilTifippi ; 160 miles
to the N. of the Choktah, according to the courfe of tlie trading path ;
about half way from Mcoille, to the Illinois, from S. tc N •, to the W. N.
W. of the Mufkohge (Creeks) about 300 computed miles, and a very
mountainous winding path ; from the Cheerake nearly W. about 540 miles •,
the late Fort-Loudon is by water 500 miles to the Chikkafah landing place,
but only 95 computed miles by lami.
The Chikkafah are now fettled between the heads of two of the molt
weftern branches of Mobille-river -, and within twelve miles of the eaftern
main fource of Tahre Ilachty wiiich lower down is called Chokchooma-
river, as that nation made their firft fettlcrnents there, after they came
on the other fide of the Miflifippi. Where it empties into this, they call
it Tahfl.'00-nstx. Their tradition fays they had ten thoufarid men fit
for war, when they firlt came from the weft, and this account feems very
probable-, as they, and the Choktah, and alfo the Chokchooma, who in pro-
cefs of time were forced by war co fettle between the two former nations,
came together from the weft as one family. The Chil:karah in the year
I 20, had four large ontiguous fettlements, which lay uearly in the form
of three par" ^ of a "';uare, only that the eaftern fide was five miles fhorter
than the weftt'ii, with the open part toward the Choktah. One was called
Yancka^ abo;i> > mile wide, ana lix miles long, a-: the diftance of twelve
miles
An Accciou of ihc Chikkafuh "Nation,
35j
miles fioin tl'.vir prcfcnt towivi. Anotlier was ten co:nputi.\l miles long,
■ at tiie like iliflancc from their prcfcnt fcctlciiicnts, and from one f) two
miles broad. Tlie towns were called Shatara^ CbookhccrcfOy Ilykcba!.\ Tuf-
>\'au;iIhjo, and Pbalachcbo. l"he otiicr fqiinre was fing'.e, bc^:;:i three miL's
from their prdent place of rcfidcncc, and ran four miles in leiigth, and one
mile in breadtli. This was called Chookka P'jiV\ud\ or •' tiu; long houfc."
It was more populous than their whole nation contains at piefent. The
remains of tliis once formidable people make up tin; njrtliern angle of
that broken fquare. They now fcarcely confift of four Iiundred a id fifty
warriors, and are fettled three miles weilward from the d.cp creek, in a
clear traft of rich land, about three miles fquare, running afterward
about five miles toward the N. \V. where the old fields are uhially a mile
broad. The fuperior number of their enemies forced them to take into
this narrow circle, for focial defence ; and to build their towns, on com-
manding ground, at fuch a convenient didance from one anoJier, as to
have their enemies, when attacked, between tv/o fires.
%i
Some of the old Nahchce Indians who formerly lived on the Minifjppi,
two hundred miles weft of the Choktah, told me the French denundL I
from every one of their warriors a dreft buck-flcin, without any value for
it, i. e. they taxed them ; but that the warriors hearts grew very crofs,
and loved the deer-fl<ins. According to the French accounts of the Milil-
fippi-Indians, this feems to have been in the year ijn). As thofe Indians
were of a peaceable and kindly dilpofition, numc.-cus and warlike, and
always kept a friendly intercourfe with the Chikkafali, v.lio never had any
good-will to the French •, thefe foon underflood tlieir heart-burnings, and
by the advice of the old Englifli traders, canicd tiicm white pipes and :o-
bacco in their own name and that of Soutli-Carclina, — pcrfuadiiig thcni
with earnellnefs and policy to cut off the French, as they were rtlblvcd to
inflavc them in their own beloved land. The Ch'kr.aiah fuccceded in their
embafly. But as the Indians are flow ip their councils on tilings of great
importance, though equally clofe and intent, it was the followi.ng year before
tliey could put their grand fcheme in execution. Som.e of their head-
men indeed oppofcd the plan, yet they never difcovercd it. But v,-'icn thef^
wei.t a hunting in the woods, tlie embers burT: into a raging Ikune. Thevat-
tacked the French, who were flourifliing away in t'le greatell fccuriiy •, and,
as was afilrmed, they entirely cut off x.\vc garriion, and ncighbo'.i:iPig kttle-
Z 7 nv;nt?,
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354
An Account of the Chikkaf.ih Natiofi.
ments, confifliiig of fifteen luiiulred men, women, and children — the mif-
rondii(fl of a few indifcrcet perfons, occifioncd fo great a number of inno-
cent lives to be tlius cut off.
The Nahcliee aftcnvards built and fettled a llrong flockadc fort, wc(l-
\v.ud of their old fields, near a Like that cnminunicatcs with Kaycuk Dar-
^I'f/! ; but the L'nfuing fummcr, near 2000 I'a-ncli regulars anti provincials,
befidcs a great body of the Choktah and other favages inverted it. The
befiegcd fallied on them, with the utmoll fury, killed a confiderablc
number, and in all probability, would have totally dedroyed the wliitc
fuldiiTy, B.ii for the Ih.up oppolition of the Choktah in their own method
of fighrin;7. The Nahchtc were at length rcpulled, and bombarded with
three mortals which forced them to ily off dilfcrent ways. The foldiers
were too flow foota' to purfue ; but the Ch.oktali, and other red allies,
captivated a <.-.reat nu.mber of them, and tarried tiicm to New Or-
leans, wlicre fcvvral were burned, and tl.e rcll fent as flaves to the Wcfc
India Iflands : the greater part however went to the Chikkafah, where they
were fecured from the power of their French enemies. The French
demanded them, but being abfoiutely refufed, unluckily for many thou-
fands of them, they formally declared war againfl: the Ciiikkafah. In the
open fields the Chikkafah bravely withftood, and repelled the greateft com-
bined armies they were able to bring againrt' them, north and fouth, and-
gave them and their fwarms of red allies feveral notable defeats.
A body of the lower French, and about fourteen luindrcd Choktah,
attacked the Long Houfe Town, when only fixty warriors were at
home ; yet tiiey fought fo defperately, as to fecure themfclvcs, their
women and children, till fomc of the hunter?, who had been imme-
diately fent for, came home to their afTirtance •, wlien, thougli exceed-
ingly inferior in number, they drove them off with great lols. Anothe;
time, the lower and upper Louifiana-French, and a great body of red auxi-
liaries, furprifed late :\t night all their prefent towns, except Aniaiahta, tlut
had about forty warriors, and which Rood at fomc diflance fiom the others.
A confiderablc number of the enemy were poded at cverv door, to prevent-
their efcape-, and what few ran out were killed on the I'pot. The French
feeir.ed t^uite lure of their prey, having lb well inclofed it. Hut, at the dawn
of day, when they were capering and ufing thofc tlourlfl'.es, tltat arc peculiar
to.
A:i Acc:nn! ■5/ //..• Clul;kafali Nation,
355
to th.it volatile nation, tlic other town drew round tlicni ftark n.ikcd, ami
painted all over red and black -, thus tiiey attacked tlieni, killed nunilu'rsoii
the i'(iot, rcleafed their brethren, w'lo joined tliem like enraged lions, increa-
ling as tlu-y Iwrpt along, -.'.nd in their turn iiicircletl their enemies. Their re-
leafe increafed their joy anil fury, an:l they rent the Iky witli tlieir founds.
Tlicir flalhy enemies, now changed their boading tune, into " Oh mor-
blieu !" and g.ive up all for lolh Their red alHes out-heel'd them, and
Iclt them to i-eeeive their jull fate. Tliey were all cut off but two, an offi-
cer, and a ne^Moe who faithfully held his iiorfe till he mounted, and then
ran along fide of him. A couple of fwift runners were fent after them,
who fuon came up with them, and told them to live and go home and in-
form their people, that as the ChikkafdU 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 tl -ir red friends ; and tliat, as niclfengers, tliey wilhcd
them fafe home. Ti y accordingly returneil with heavy hearts to the
Chikkafah landing pla^c, N. W. on the MilUfippi, 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 prilbners was put to
the fiery torture, without any pofTibility of redemption, their hearts were
fo exceedingly imbittered againft them.
a
I' tl
Flufl'ied with tiiis fuccefs, m.iny parties turned out againfl the French,
and from time to time hunted them fir and near: — ibme went to tiie
Miflifippi, made a llect of cyprefs-b.irk canoes, watciied their trading boats,
and cut off many of them without laving any of t!ie people. 1'he French
finding it impracticable for a few boats to pals tliole red men of war, were
obliged to go in a fleet, carry fwivel-guns in their Ion:', pettiaugres, v.itli
plenty of men i but always ihunning the Ciiikkalah fide of the river, and
obierving the llricteit order in their movements by day, an.l in their flations
at night. The walking of a wild bealt, 1 have been allured, has frequently
called them to their arms, and kept them awake for the whole niglu, tliey
were in fo great a dre.id of this warlike nation. The name of a Chik-
kafah became as dreadful, as it was hateful to their ears. And had it
not been moie owing to French policy than bravery, in uniting all the
Miflifippi and Canada-Indians in a confederacy and enmity againft them, Lou-
Z z 7. ifiana-
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35^
An Account of the Chikkafuh Natiu/i.
■11
II
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■ I'
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iri.inii-fettlcmcr.is would have been long fince, cither entirely ilellroycd, or
confuu'd to fjawifons.
When any of the French armies made a tolerable retreat, they 'Jioiight
tlicnifi-lves very hapi'^y. Once, vvhen the mpnnior. v/as prcify miicli worn
out of their miiuls, antl w'nc infpired them with new Orr-.t i;/cms, and hopes of
better fiiccef?, a j^reat body of tl.em, mixed witli a mulcituJc of favages,
cami: to renew their attack, liiit as tlicir hollile in' ntions were early
difccvcrcd, ilie Chikkafiih hail built a ranqe of ftrong (lockadc forts
on pruimd wl/n.h coiikl not fifcly be appro, hed, as the contigu-
ous land V. )s low, and chnr.ccil then to be wcr. A number of tiie French
and the^' .illifs drew near t!ie weiK-rn fort, but in tlic manner of hornets,
flying about to prevent thtir enemies from taking a true aim, wliile fc-
veral ranks tjllowcd each other in a (Ifnv and fulemn procefTion, lil<c
white-r< 'fd, t.dl, mldnif;;ht-ghoU:., and us if fearlels, :ind impenetrable.
The In. 'ns d 1 no: at firfl know what fort of anin-.als they were, for
fcveral (hots h.ad been fired among tiiem, without incommoding them, or
retardii; ■; their direct courfe to the fort : — as they advanced nearer, the Chik-
kafah kept a continual fire at them, with a fure aim, according to their cuf-
tom i this was with as little fuccefs as before, contrary to every attempt they
had ever made ' efore againfl their enemies. I'he warriors concluded them
to be wizards, ur old }• :'nch-mcn carrying the ark of war a.^ainfl: them.
Jn their i^ounci), they were exceedingly perplexed: but jiilt as they
had concluded tu oppofe fome of their own reputed prophets to dellroy
the pov.^r of thofe cunning t. en, or powerful fpirits of the French, lo f
thofe uncommon appearances fpread themfelves in battle-array, along the
fouth-fide of the- fort, and threw hand granadocs into tlie fort. Hoop Moop
Ha was now jo}fully founded every where by rhc Chikkafah, being con-
vinced they liad fkin and bone to fight wi'.h, inftcad of Ipirits. The
matches of the few fliells the French had time to throw, were too long ;
and as our traders had joined their friends by this time, they pulled out fome,
and threw our oc!ier fliells, as near to the en'-my as they poinbly could. Th.cy
foon found thofe dreadful phantoms were only common Ftvnch-mcn, co-
vered with wool-packs, which made their breafls invuha'rabie to all their
well-aimed bullets. They now turiicd out of the fort, fell on, Hred at
their legs, brought down many of th!.m ar.d fc.dped them, and drove the
others with confiderable lofs quire away to the Ibuthern hjllb\ where the
ivenibling
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An Account of the Chikkafah h\:f:on.
2S7
trembling army h;ul polled thcmldvcs out of datu^cr. In tlic midll of the
ni"lic they decamped, and faved themlclves by x wjll-tinied rette.it, left
the Cl.ikkafah triumphant, and infpircd tliem witli the l;crcen(.rs of lo matiy
tvoeis ; which the Frencli often fatally experienced, far and n .ir, till t!)e
late cefTion of Well-l'lurida to Great Britain. I have two of ihefe (lu-lls,
which I keep with veneration, as fpcaking irophicj over ilic boalling Mun-
fieurs, and tlieir bloody fchcmes.
In tlie year i74?5, the French fent a party of their Indians to fl'irm fome
of the Ciiikkafah traders* hoiifes. They accordin^vly came to iny trading
houfe fiiA, as I lived in the frontier: finding it too tlanger :• to at-
tempt to force it, tlicy patted with their hands a confiderable x\\.\': o-. one
of the doors, as a decoy, imitating the carnell rap of r' .-• yoiiog wo-
men who <^o a ■ "inn; that time ol night. Finding their kibour in vai.i,one
of them lifu'd let of wood, and Itriick the fule of tiie hoiife, where
the women anu ^.uldren lay-, lo as to iii htcn them and awake ine — my
malliffs had been filcsced with their venilon. At lalV, the leader went
a-head with the beloved ark, and pretrndint^; to be dirci^k'd by the di-
vine oracle, to v/atch another principal trader's houfe, liiey accordingly
made for it, when a young woman, liaving occafion to go out of the houfe,
was (hot wuh a bulkt that entered behind one of her bre.dls and tiirough
the other, ranp.ing the bone v (he fuddenly wheeled round, and tumbled
down, within the thrcfliold of the houfe — the brave trader inflantly bounded
lip, founding the war whoop, and in a moment grafped liis gun, (for the
traders beds are always hung round with varitjus arms of defence) and ref-
cued her — the Indian phyfician alfo, by his (kill in fimples, loon cured her.
As fo much hath been already faid of the Chikkalah, in the ac-
counts of tlvj Ciieerakc, Mufkohge, and Choktah, with whole hillorv,
theirs was necelVarily interwoven, my brevity iicre, I hope will be excufed.
— The Chikkafah live in as happy a region, as any under the (un. It is
temperate -, as cool in fummer, as can be wiihed, and but moderately cold
in winter. There is frofl: enough to purify the air, but not to chill the
blood •, and the Inow does not lie four-and-tv/enty hours together. This
extraordinary benefit, is not from its fituation to tl,e equator, for the
Checrake country, among the Apalahche mountains is colder, in a furprifing
degree ; but from tlie nature and levelnefs of the extenlive circumjacent
lands, which in general arc very fertile. They have no running !lrc;':ii in
t!;^:u.-
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j4n Accouni of the Chikkafah Nation.
their prefcnt fettlement. In their old fiekls, they have banks of oyflcr-
lliells, at the diftance of four hundred miks from the fea-fliore ; which is a
vifible token of a general deluge, when it fwept away the loofe earth from
the mountains, by the force of a tempeftuous north-eaft wind, and thus
produced the fertile lands of the MilTifippi, whith probably was fca, before
that dreadful event.
As the Chikkafah fought the French and their red allies, with the utmoft
firmncfs, in defence of their liberties and lands, to the very laft, without
regarding their decay, only as an incentive to revenge their loffcs ; equity
and gratitude ought to induce us to be kind to our fleady old friends,
and only purchafe \o much of their land, as they would difpofe of, for
value. With proper management, tliey svould prove extremely f rviceable
to a Britifh colony, on tlie Miflifippi. I hope no future mifcor^iduft will
alienate their affedtions, after the manner of the fuper-intcndant's late de-
puty, which hath been already mentioned. The fl-Lilful French could never
confide in the Choktah, and we may depend on being forced to hold hot
difputes with them, in the infant ftate of the MifTifippi fettlements : it is
wifdom to provide againft the word events that can be reafonably expecled
to happen. The remote inhabitants of our northern colonies are well ac-
<]uainted with the great value of thofe lands, from their obfervations on
the fpot. The foil and climate are fit for hemp, filk, indigo, wine, and
many other valuable produflions, which our merchants purchafe from fo-
reigners, fometimes at a confiderable difad vantage — The range is fo good for
horfes, cattle, and hogs, that they wguld grow large, and multiply faft,
without the leaft occ.fion of feeding them in winter, or at leaft for a long
fpace of time, by reafon of the numberlefs branches of reeds and canes
that are interfperfed, with nuts of various kinds. Rice, wheat, oats, bar-
ley, Indian corn, fruit-trees, and kitchen plants, would grow to admiration.
As the ancients tell us, " Bacchus amat montes," fo grape-vines inuft tlirive
extremely well on the hills of the MilTifippi, for they are fo rich as to pro-
duce winter-canes, contrary to what is known at any dillance to the north-
ward. If Britifli fubjccls could fettle Weft-Florida in ftcurity, it would in
a few years bcconr." very valuable to Great -Britain : and they would fuon
have as much profit, as they could defire, to reward their labour. Here,
five hundred families would in all probability, be more beneficial to our mo-
ther-country, than the whole colony of North Carolina : befides innumerable
branches toward Ohio and IVTonongalicla.
Fncmicfi
An Account of the Chikkafah Nation.
359
Enemies to the public good, may enter caveats againft our fettling
where the navigation is precarious -, and the extraordinary kindnefs of
the late miniflry to the French and Spaniards prevented our having an
exclufive navigation on the MifTifippi. Abervillc might (till become
a valuable mart to us; and from New Orleans it is only three miles
to Saint John's Creek, where people pafs tlirough the lake of Saint
Louis, and embark for Mobille and Penfacola. The Spaniards hava
wifely taken the advantage of our mifconduct, by fortifying Loui-
fiana, a:id employing the French to conciliate the affections of the fa-
vagcs ; while cur Icgiflators, fermented with the corrupt lees of falfj
power, are flriving to whip us with fcorpions. As all the Florida In-
dians are grown jealous of us, fince we fettled \\. and W. Florida, anJ
are unacquainted wich the great power of the Spaniards in South America,
and have the French to polifli their rough Indian politics, Louifiana i*
likely to prove more beneficial to them, than it did to the French. They,
are fortifying their MifTifippi fettlements like a New Flanders, and their
French artifts, on account of our minifterial lethargy, will have a good op-
portunity, if an European war (hould commence, to continue our valuable
weftern barriers as wild and wafte, as the French left them. The warlike-
Chikkafah proved fo formidable to them, that, except a fmall fettlement
above New Orleans, which was f-overed by the Choktah bounds,
they did not attempt to make any other on theealtern fide of the Mifilfippij
below the Illinois ; though it contains fuch a vail trafl of fine land, aS'
would be fufficient for four colonies of two hundred and fifty miles fquare.
Had they been able by their united efforts, to have dcltroyed the Chik-
kafah, they would not have been idle ; for, in that cafe, the Choktali-
would have been fbon fwallowed up, by the affiftance of their other allies,
as they never fjpplied them with arms and ammunition, except thofe who
went to war ao'iinft the Chikkafah.
From North -C:',rolina to the Miffifippi, the land near the fea, is, in ge-
neral, low and fandy ; and it is very much fo in the two colonies of Flo-
rida, to a conildorablc extent from the fea-fhore, when the lands appear
fertile, level, and diverfified v;ith hills. Trees indicate the goodnefs or
badncfs of land. Tine-trees grow on fandy, barren ground, which pro-
duces long coirfe grafs ; the adjacent low lands abound with canes, reeds,
3 oi,
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A
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360
An Account of the Chikkafah Nation.
or bay and laurel of various forts, which are fliaded with hrgc expand-
ing trees — they coinpofe an evergreen thicket, mofHy impenetrable
to the beams of the fun, where the horfes, deer, and cattle, cliiefly feed
during the winter : and the panthers, bears, wolves, wild cats, and foxes,
refort tliere, both for the fake of prey, and a cover from the hunters.
Lands of a looi'e black foil, fuch as thofe of the MifTifippi, are covered witli
fine grafs and lierbage, and v.'ell fliaded with large antl hign trees of hic-
cor^ , afli, white, red, and black oaks, great towering poplars, black
walnut-trees, falTafras, and vines. The lov/ wet lands adjoining the rivers,
chiefly yield cyprefs-trees, which are very large, and of a prodigious height.
On the dry grounds is plenty of beach, maple, holly, the cotton-tree, with
a prodigious variety of other forts. But we mull not omit tl^.e black mul-
berry-tree, which, likewife, is plenty. It is high, and, if it had proper air
and fun-fhine, the boughs would be very fpreading. On the fruit, the bears
and wild fowl feed during their fcafon ; and alio fwarms of paroquets,
enough to deafen one with their chattering, in the time of thofe joyful
repafts. I believe the white mulberry-tree does not grow fpontaneoufly in
North-America. On the hills, there is plenty of chefnut-trees, and chef-
nut-oaks. Thcfe yield the largeft fort of acorns, but wet weather foon
fpoils them. In winter, the deer and bears fatten themfelves on various
kinds of nuts, which lie thick over the rich land, if the bloflToms have
not been blafted by the north-eaft winds. The wild turkeys live on the
fniall red acorns, and grow fo fat in March, that they cannot fly farther
than three or four hundred yards i and not beuig able foon to take the
wing again, we fpeedily run them down with our horfes and hunting maf-
tilTs. At many unfrequented places of the Minifi[)pi, they are fo tame as
to be fliot with a pKlol, of which our troops profited, in their way to take
pofil'filon of the lUinois-garrifon. There is a plenty of wild parllcj', on
the banks of that river, the roots of which are as large as tliofe of par-
fnips, and it is as good as the other fort. The Indians fay, they have not
feen it grov/ in any woods remote from their country. Tiiey have a large
fort of plums, wliich their anceftors brought with them from South-Ame-
rica, and wliich arc now become plenty among our colonies, called Chik-
kafah plums.
I (
To the North Weft, the Midifippi lands are covered with filberts,
w,'hich arc as fwect, and thin-ilielled, as the iValy bark hiccory-nuts.
3 1 Ia?d-
An Account of the Chikkarah Nation.
361
Hazel-nuts are very plenty, but the Indians feldom eat them. Black
haws grow here in clufters, free from prickles: and pifTimmons, of
which they make very pleafant bread, barbicuing it in the woods. There '
is a fort of fine plums in a few places, large, and well-tafted ; and, if
tranfplanted, they would become better. The honey-locufts are pods
about a fpan-long, and almofl two inches broad, containing a row of large
feed on one fide, and a tough fweet fubftance the other. The tree is
large, and full of long thorns ; which forces the wild beads to wait till they
fall oiF, before they can gather that part of their harveft. — 1 he trees grow
in wet four land, and arc plenty, and the timber is very durable. Where
there is no pitch-pine, the Indians ufe this, or the faflafras, for polts
to their houfes •, as they lafl: for generations, and the worms never take
them. Chinquapins are very plenty, of the tarte of chefnuts, but much Icfs
in fize. There are feveral forts of very wholefome and pleafant-cafted ground
nuts, which few of our colonifts know any thing of. In wet land, there
is an aromatic red fpice, and a fort of cinnamon, which the natives feldom
ufe. The Yopon, or Cufieena, is very plenty, as far as the fait air
reaches over the low lands. It is well tailed, and very agreeable to thofe
who accuftom themfclves to ufe it : inftead of having any noxious quality,
according to what many have experienced of the Eaft-India infipid and
cofily tea, it is friendly to the human fyftem, enters into a conteft
•with the peccant humours, and expels them through the various channels
of nature : it perfeflly cures a tremor in the nerves. The North-American
tea has a pleafant aromatic tafte, and the very fame falubrious property, as
tl ; Cufieena. It is an evergreen, and grows on hills. The buflies are
about a foot high, each of them containing in winter a fmall aroma-
tic red berry, in the middle of the ftalk : fuch I faw it about Chriftmas,
when hunting among the mountains, oppofite to the lower Mohawk
Caftle, in the time of a deep fnow. There is no vifible decay of the
leaf, and Oflober feems to be the proper time to gather it. The early
buds of fafiTafras, and the leaves of ginfeng, make a moft excellent tea,
equally pleafant to the tafte, and conducive to health. The Chinefe
have fenfe enough to fell their enervating and flow-poifoning teas, under
various fine titles, while they themfclves prefer Ginfeng-leaves. Each of
our colonies abounds wi'h ginfeng, among the hills that lie far from tlie
fea. Ninety-fix fettlemcnt, is the lowed place where I have fecn it grow in
South Carolina. It is very plenty on the fertile parts of the Cheerakc
A a a mountain-. ;
:62
yin Account of the Chikkafah Nation.
nioiintalns; it reft-mbles Angelica, which in inoft places is alfo plenty.
Its leaves are of a darker green, anJ about a foot and half from the rootj
the ftalk fends out three equal branches, in the center of which a fmall
berry grows, of a red colour, in Auguft. — The feeds are a very ftrong
and agreeable aromatic : it is plenty in Weft-Florida. The Indians ufe it
on religious occafions. It is a great lofs to a valtublt branch of trade,
that our people neither gather it in a proper fcafon, nor can cure if, fo as
to give it a clear Gaining colour, like the Chinefe tea. I prefume it does
not turn out well to our American traders ; for, up the Mohawk river, a
gentleman who had purchafed a large quantity of ir, told me that a fkippcl,
or three bufliels, coft him only nine (hillings of New York currency : and
in Charles-Town, an inhabitant of the upper Yadkin fcttlements in North
Carolina, who came down with me from viewing the Nalichee old fields
on the Miflifippi, allured me he could not get from any of the South
Carolina merchants, one fliilling ftcrling a pound for it, though his peo-
ple brought it from the Alehgany, and Apalahche mountains, two hundred
miles to Charles-Town.
It would be a fervice, worthy of a public-fpirited gentleman, to inform
us how to preferve the Ginfeng, fo as to give it a proper colour ; for could
we once effeft that, it muft become a valuable branch of trade. It is an
exceeding good ftomachic, and greatly fupports nature againft hunger ;nd
thirft. It is likewife beneficial againft afthmatic complaints, and it may
be faid to promote fertility in women, as much as the Eaft-India tea
caufes ftcrility in proportion to the baneful ufe that is made of it. A
learned phyfician and botanift aflured me, that the eaftern teas are (low, but
fure poifon, in our American climates j and that he generally ufed the Gin-
feng very fuccelsfuliy in clyfters, to thofe who had deftroyed their health, by
that dangerous habit. I advifed my friend to write a treatifc on its me-
dical virtues, in the pofterior application, as it muft redound much to
the public good. He told me, ic would be needlefs ; for quacks could
gain nothing from the beft direflions ; and that already fevcral of his ac-
quaintance of the faculty moftly purfued his praftice in curing their
patients. The eaftern tea is as much inferior to our American teas, in its
nouriftiing quality, as their album gra^cum is to our pure venifon, from
which we here fometimes colled it ; let us, therefore, like frugal and
wife people, ufe our own valuable aromatic tea, and thus induce our Bri-
tilh
:l !i
An Account of the Chikkafuli Nution.
z^:^
tilh brctliren to imitate our pleafaut and Iieahhy regimen-, fliewing the
iitmofl: indilTercnce to any duties the ftatefinen of Great-Britain, in their
aflumed prerogative, may think proper to lay on their Eaft-India poiibn-
ing, and dear-bought teas.
The induflry of the uncorrupt part of the Indians, in general, and of the
ChikkaHih, in particular, extends no farther than to fupport a plain fimplc life,
and fecure themlelves from the power of the enemy, and from hunger and
cold. Indeed moft of theni are of late grown fond of the ornaments of life, of
raifing live ftock, and ufing a greater induftry than formerly, to increafc
wealth. This is to be afcribed to their long intercourfe with us, and the fami-
liar eafy way in which our traders live with them, begetting imperceptibly
an emulous fpirit of imitation, according to tiie ulliul progrefs of human
life. Such a difpofition, is a great advance towards their being civilized ;
which, certainly muft be efFefled, before we can reafonably expeift to be
able to bring them to the rrue principles of chriflianity. Inllead of re-
forming the Indians, the monks and friars corrupted their morals : for,
in the place of inculcating love, peace, and good-will to their red pupils,
as became meflengers of the divine author of peace, they only imprelTed
their flexible minds with an implacable hatred againfl: every Britifli fub-
jeft, without any diftindlion. Our people will foon difcover the bad po-
licy of the late Quebec aft, and it is to be hoped that Great-Britain
will in due time, fend thofe black croaking clerical frogs of Canada home
to their infallible mufti of Rome.
' 11
i'i
I muft here beg leave to be indulged, in a few obfervations on our own
American miffionaries. Many evils are produced by fending out ignorant
and wicked perfons as clergymen. Of the few I know, — two among them
dare not venture on repeating but a few colleds in the common prayer.
A heathen could fay, " if thou wouldft have me weep, thou mull firft
weep thyfelf ;" and how is it poflible we fliould be able to make good im-
prelTions on others, unlefs they are firft vifible on ourfelves .? The very
rudiments of learning, not to fay of religion, are wanting in feveral of our
mifTionary Evangelifts •, the beft apology I have heard in their behalf, is, " an
Englifh nobleman afked a certain bifliop, why he conferred holy orders on
fuch a parcel of arrant blockheads ? He replied, be'raufe it was better to
have the ground plowed by afies, than leave it awafte full of thirties."
A a a 2 It
364
An Account of the Chlkkafah Nation,
It fcems very furpiifing, that thofe wlio are invcded with a power of
conferring ecclefiaftical orders, Ihould be fo carelels in propagating the holy
gofpel, and afllduons to prophane holy things, in appointing and ordaining
illiterate and irreligious perfons to tiie fervice. What is ic ? but faying,
"• go teach the American fools. My bklTing is enough. Cherilli con-
fidence, and depend upon it, they will not have confidence to laugh at you :
Leave the remote and poor fettlements to the care of divine providence,
which is diffufive of its rich gifts. The harveft is great elfcwhere. Only
endeavour to epifcopize the northern colonies •, it is enough : there they
are numerous, and able to pay Peter's pence, as wtll as our old jewiHi, and
new parliamentary tithes ^ and in time your labours will be crowned witlj
fuccefs."
That court however, which lends abroad flupid embafTadors to reprefent
it, cannot be reafonably expedled to have fucccls, but rather fliame and de-
rifion. What can we think at this diftance, when we fee the number of
blind guides, our fpiricual fathers at home have fent to us, to lead us clear of
the mazes of error ? but, that they think of us with indifference, and arc
ftudioufly bent on their own temporal intereft, inftead of our fpiritual
welfare. There are thoufands of the Americans, who I believe have not
heard fix fermons for the fpace of above thirty years — and in fa£b they
have more knowledge than the teachers who are fent to them, and too
much religion to communicate with them. And even the blinder fort oS
the laity not finding truth fufiiciently fupported by their purblind guides,
grow proud of their own imaginary knowledge, and fome thereby proudly
commence teachers, — by which means they rend the church afunder; and,
inftead of peace and love, they plant envy, contempt, hatred, revdingi^,
and produce the works of the flefh, inftead of thofe of the fpirit.
Not fo a(5t the uncivilized Indians. Their fuppofed holy orders arc ob-
tained from a clofe attention to, and approved knowledge of their facred
myfteries. No temptations can corrupt their virtue on that head : neither
will they convey their divine fecrets to the known impure. This condudt
is worthy to be copied, by all who pretend to any religion at all, and efpe-
cially by thofe who are honoured with the pontifical dignity, and afilime the
name of " Right reverend, and Moft reverend Fatliers in God." I have
been importunately requeftcd at different times, by. feveral eminent gentle-
men >
An Account of the Chikkalah Nation.
365
men, who wifli well to both church and ftate, to rcprefent the evils refulting
from fiich mifiionaries, in hope of redrefs ; and on this occafion, 1 thought
it criminal to ret'ufe tlieir virtuous requeft. 'i he reprefcntation is true, and
the writer is perfuaded he cannot give tlie leall olFcnce by it, to any but
tlie guilty.
HI
My fituation does not allow me, to fix the bounds our leglilitofs claim
on the Millifippi : but I have good reafon to believe t'lat the fine court
title wiiich France, in her late dying will, has transferred to Greac-
lirirain, moftly confifts in ideal pollcirions flie never enjoyed. Th.e
monopolies already made, are equally unjuflr and pernicious. They, who
take up valuable lands, efpecially on fuch a barrier, ought to fettle them in
a reafonable time, or bj prevented from keeping out induftrious inhabi-
tants, and caufing the place to continue in a defencelcfs condition. Before
we can fettle the Miffiiippi, with any reafonable view of fucccfs, the go-
vernment muft build fumcient places of ftrength, botii to make the co^-
lony appear refpectable in the eyes of the Indians, and guard it from the
evil eye of the Spaniards, who are watching at New Orleans, and over
the river, to impede our interclls, in that valuable but dangerous quarter.
It might become an impenetrable barrier, if proper encouragement was
given to the laborious and hardy inhabitants of our northern fetdementSi
on the various branches of the Ohio, and in the back fettlements of North
Carolina, who are now almon: ufclefs to the community. As Great-Britain
would be the chief gainer by their removal, fhc ought to encourage them
to remove. Great numbers of them were preparing to come down, even
in the years 1768 and 1769 ; but finding too many inconvenicncies and
hazards in their way, they declined the attempt. As it is natural for every
colony to endeavour to increafe its number of induftrious inhabitants, it
cannot be expeded, even if the m'^her country behaved more prudently
than of late, that any of them wouk iv.;ert themfelves much on fuch an oc-
cafion, as to raife dangerous rivals in their own ftaple commodity — However
rice, indigo, filk, hemp, wine, and many other valuable produdtions are fuit-
ablc to fo fine a foil and climate ; befides great quantities of beef, pork, and
every kind of ufeful timber for Jamaica, which is contiguous to the mouth
of the Mifllfippi. So great an acquifition of raw materials would foon
prove very beneficial to Great-Britain, as well as a great fafe-guard to the
beft part of our other colonies, and a very needful check to Spanifli info-
5, lence.
■f .-ij
y
[66
An Accouni of the Cliikkafah Nation.
I
lence. Such a mateiiul undertaking, as the colonizing of fo important a
barrier, dcfcrves public encouragement to put it in a fair way of doing
well; and the continuance of a fupply, and protedion through its infant
ftate, to fccurc it from any artful attempts the Spaniards and their French
fubic(5ts might plot to diiturb its tranquility, and thereby check its
growth.
There might be introduced even among the Indian nations I have de-
fcribed, a fpirit of induftry, in cultivating fuch produ(5l;ions as would agree
with their land and climates-, efpecially, if the fuper-intcndency of our In-
dian affairs, weftward, was conferred on the fenfible, public-fpirited, and
judicious Mr. George Galphin, merchant, or Lachlan M'Gilwray, Efq-, of
equal merit. Every Indian trader knows from long experience, that both
thefe gentlemen have a greater influence over tiie dangerous Mufkolige,
than any others befides. And the fecurlty of Georgia requires one or other
of them fpeedily to fuperintend our Indian affairs. It was, chiefly, the
fkilful management of thefe worthy patriots, which prevented the Muflcohge
from joining theCheerake, according to treaty, againft us in the years 1760
and 1761, — to their great cxpence and hazard of life, as they allowed thofe
favages to eat, drink, and deep at Silver-Bluff, below New Windfor gar-
rifon, and at Augufta fifteen miles apart, and about 150 miles from Savanah.
I write from my own knowledge, for I was then on the fpot, with a captain's
commifllon from South Carolina. A Mufl<ohge war againft us, could
eafily be prevented by either of thole gentlemen, if chofen, and the de-
flrudive plan of general licences was repealed. It is to be hoped, that they
who are inverted with the power, will retraft their former error, and
have the pleafure of knowing the good effcdl it would produce, by giving an
opportunity of civilizing and reforming the favages j which can never be
effcfted by the former ufual means. Admit into Indian countries, a fufficient
number of difcreet orderly traders.— This needful regulation will likewife
benefit trade, which is almoft ruined ; and our valuable weak frontier colo-
nies would thereby increafe in numbers, proportionable to their fecurlty.
Formerly, each trader had a licence for two towns, or villages j but ac-
cording to the prefent unwifc plan, two, and even three Arab-like pedlars
fculk about in one of thofe villages. Several of them alfo frequently
emigrate into the woods with fpiricuous liquors, and cheating trifles,
c after
yln jiccount of the Chikkafah Nation,
367
after tlie Indiati huntin^r camps, in the winter feafon, to the great injury of
a regular trader, who fupplies them with all tlie convenicncies of hunting :
for, as they will fell even their wearing fhirt for inebriating liquors, they
muft be fupplied anew in the fall of the year, by tlic trader. At my firlt
fetting out among them, a number of traders who lived contiguous to each
other, joined through our various nations in dilFerent companies, and were
generally men of worth •. of courle, thL-y would have a living price for their
goods, which they carried on liorfeback to the remote Indian countries, at
very great expcnces. Thcfe fet an honeft copy for the imitation of the na-
tives, for as they had much at flake, tlieir own interefl: and that of the go-
vernment co-incided. As the trade was in this wife manner kept up to its
juft ftandard, the favages were induftrious and frugal. But, lowering ir,
through a miftakcn notion of .gaining their aflciflions, wc made ourfelves
too cheap to them, and they defpilc.! us for i:. The trade ought to be
raifed to a reafonable fixed pnci-, the firll convenient opportunity — thus
we Ihall keep them employed, and 'lUifclves fecure. ShouUl we lower the
trade, even fifty per cent below the prime cod, they would become only
the more difcontcnted, by thinking we had cheated them all the years paft.
A mean fubmifiive temper can never manage our Indian affairs. The
qualities of a kind friend, fenfible fpeaker, and a<5live brifk warrior, muib
conftitute the charafter of a fuperintcndant. Great care ought to be taken,
not to give the Indians ofl^ence, or a mean opinion of tiic people or govern-
ment our Indian fuperintendants repreJent.
At a general congrefs in Mobille, Anno 1765, where were prefent his
Excellency the learned, cheerful, patriotic Governor of Weft-Florida,
George Johnftone Efquire, the prefent fuperintendant of Indian affairs,
and the head-men and warriors of the Choktah, and warlike Chikkalah
nations, a tariff of trade was fettled on every material article, in the moft
public and folemn manner, moftly according to the Mulkohge ftandard, and
to the great fatisfadlion of the Indians. The price for which the corrupt
and fhamefuUy-indulged vagrant pedlars forced the traders at the rifque
of their lives, to traffic with them, being then about 70 per cent, belov/
the French tariff in Indian trade up the Miffifippi. Each of thefe tra-
ders took out Indian trading licences, to which the fixed prices of vari-
ous goods were annext, thereby impowering them to traffic during the
fpace of a twelvemonth i and they gave penal bonds of fecurity to the
fccretary,
;68
^1n AccAint of thi; Cliikkaf.ih Nathi.
V^V
fe-;
t:
fccretr.nry, for tlie jiift ohfervaiice of their inflriictions. This proved how
ever, throiif^h a bare-faced partiality, only a fhamcful farce on oeconomy
and good order. His Excellency, and the honourable Col. W — n, were
fo (lron(:ly convinced of my former integrity, that in order to teftify pub
licly their approbation of my good conduct, they did mc the hoiiou
to pafs fccurity in the fecretary's office, for my dealing with the Indians
in ftrid conformity to the laws of trade. As I lo(t in the fpace of a
year, to the amount of two and twenty hundred dollars-worth of goods at
prime coil, by the diforderly conduflof other licenfed traders, and had jiid
reafon to hope for redrefs on exhibiting a well-fupportcd complaint \ I
drew up on my own account, and at the importunate rcqueft of the Chik-
kafah head-men, a memorial, letting forth their having notorioully violated
every eflcntial part of their inflruftions, enticing the Indians alio to get
drunk, and tlien taught them to blafpheme their maker. This I -jroved,
and that fome of the lawlcfs traders had furniflied the Indians, in the
fpace of a few montlis, with fo great a quantity of prohibited liquors,
as eidier did, or might enable fome of them to decoy the favages to fquan-
der away thoufands of drcft deer-fkins, — but they efcapcd witli impu-
nity.
A few months before this period, fome family difputes rofe very high
between the Chikkafah, on the following account. The Indians being
ambitious, free, and jealous of their liberties, as well as independent of
each other, where mutual confenr is not obtained •, one half of the nation
were exceedingly difplealed with the other, becaufe, by the reiterated per-
fuafions of a certain deputy, the latter had difpofed of a trafl of land,
twelve miles toward the fouth, on the upper trading Choktah, or Mo-
bdle path, to one of thofe diforderly traders. By the application of the
deputy, the head-men of both parties met him according to appointment,
and partook of a plentiful barbicued feaft, with plenty of fpirituous li-
quors. As fuch conduct was againft his majefty's proclamation, and ap-
peared to me to be calculated, either for a clandeftine trade, or family-job,
I rejefted the invitation, left otherwife I might be charged as a party.
When they became intoxicated with liquor, a war-leader of the diflenting
party, ftruck his tomohawk at the head of a noted chieftain, upbraid-
ing him for bringing a ftrange fire into their land \ but happily the blow
niiffed its aim. Their difputes confequently rofe higher every day -, and the
dilTidents
^n Account of the Cliikkafaii Nation,
369
dilTidcnts informed tlie Mufkolige of tlicir then fituation, ami fiitiuv inten-
tions. Tiw-Tah-lujUna^e^ *• the Great Mortar," a bitter t-ncmy of the
I'.nplilh, Toon lent up a company of his war -relations, to pcifua.ic them to
giard in time, againft our dangerous cncroachinents, by killin-j all the
li'.nglifh, that planted their lands without the general confent of the owner",,
and to take tlieir black jieople as a good prize; bccaufc they were building
and planting for tlie reception of an r'-nglilli garrifon, whicli was to come
from the Miflifippi, and be tlie fnll means of enllaving them. Wlulc
iheir tranfport of madnefs lafled, it was fruitlefs to reaf(jn with them \ but
at every convenient opportunity, I ul'ed fuch plain, friendly, and perfuafiv^i
arguments to footh them, as I imagined miglit regain their loll alTcc-
tions, and procralUnate the dangerous impending blow. They conlcnted
at laft to forbear every kind of refentment againll our late I'ulpiciuus con-
duft, on condition of my writing to tiiofe who could redrefs them, and our
people fpeedily withdrawing from their land the intruding planters. 'Ihii'
I did ; and at Mobille I delivered my remonllrance to the fuperintendanr.
Upon my urging the abfolute neccfTity of pacifying our okl Heady fiiends,
by removing the ungenerous caufe of their jeaiouly, he alUircd me, tliat he
would gladly comply with fo juft a requeil, efpecially, as it exadlly coin-
cided with his majefty's proclamation, then fixed on the fort-gate.
In the fpace of about ten days after, by order of Governor Johnflone, all
the Chikkafah and Choktah traders were cited to appear before him and
the fuperintendant, in order to know the merit of, and anfwer to, my nu-
merous complaints. When they appeared, and every thing was properly
adjufted, his fecretarv read paragraph by paragraph, and his excellency,
very minutely examined all the reputable traders, who confirmed to his full
fatisfadtion, the truth of every thing in my complaint. But iho' the memo-
rial fet forth, among other inftances, 'hat " but a few minutes after I had.
once a troublefomc difpute with the abovementioned Chikkafah leader, on
account of the traders prohibited and poifoning liquors, he went home dif-
traded, and finding none but Lis aged mother, he would have killed her
with his tomohawk, only for her earned entreaties, and then fudden
efcape," — yet none of thofe diforderly people were either fufpendcd from
trading with tiie Indians, or forfeited the penalty of their bonds — neitlier
W.T3 the Indians requeft complied with. Tliough, I believe, the termination,
was to the no fmall mortification of his excellency.
B b b Attno .
\A
{--1
37°
An Account of the Chikkafah Nation.
Anno 1767, the foper-intendant's deputy convened all the Chikkafah
traders and head-men of the nation, declaring that he had received pofitive
orders from the fuperior over Indian affairs, to bring the trade to the late
ftandard of the Mufkohge. The head-men replied, that if their traders,
or the fuper-intendant adted unwifcly, they were not bound to follow the
copy. We urged, that he had already exceedingly lowered the Mifll-
fippi-Indian trade, and had, at the Mobille congrefs, fixed 1 Tariff, a copy
of which every one of us had, as well as a regular licence, having given
approved fecurity for our peaceable condudV, and fair deaHng with the
Indians, for the fpace of a year: and that befides the wrong policy of fuch
an edift, as he now propofed, if we proved rogues to our own intereft
with them, we ought to be arretted as fools below. We concluded, by
obferving the great difadvantage of navigation that Mobille lay under, to
which Charles-town was no way expofed in imports and exports ; and that if
the aforefaid Indian trade (hould, by any act be reduced below its prefent
.ftandard, it muft neceffarily ceafe of itfelf, unlefs as free-men, we faid No
to the command. Which the traders did, and rcfolved to fupport it.
The deputies treatment of Capt. J. C — 1 — b— rt, who has lived among
the Chikkafah from his childhood, and fpeaks their language even
with more propriety than the Englifh, deferves to be recorded — but I
hope the gentleman will foon do it himfelf, to Ihew the higher powers the
confequences of appointing improper, mercenary, and haughty perfons to
fuch offices. Sir William Johnfon aded very differently — he was kind,
intelligent, intrepid — he knew when to frown and when to fmile on the In-
dian nations he was connected with, and blended the ferpent mxh the dove.-
He chofe his deputies or reprefentativcs in the Indian countries, according
to their qualifications in the Indian life ; and not unfkilful men, and mere
ftrangers, like fome who have been obtruded into our fouthern nations. His
prudent and brave deputy Col. Craghan, did our chain of colonies more real
fervice in a few months, tlian all our late fouthern commiffioners of Indian af-
fairs could poffibly have done in ages. In the dangerous time of our fettling
-the lUinois-garrifon, 300 leagues up the Miffifippi, he went from Johnfon's
Hall, in the lower part of the Mohawk country, and from thence courfcd
through the various nations of Indians, to the head-branches of Canada j
and in like manner, down thofe of the Miffifippi, to the garrifon, amidft
the greaieft dangers ; pleating and reconciling the favages as he proceeded.
The
3
J^i
Ah Account of the Chikkafah Nation,
37'
The Chikkafah firft informed me of his journey and fuccefs — and I had it
ibme 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
afling 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 Kulkufkc Indians, whom
the French garrifon had decoyed by their falfe painting of us, to remove
with them over the Miflifippi, — he from thence proceeded down by water to
New Orleans -, afterwards, along the gulph-ftream of Mexico, to the place
from whence he fet oflP, 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 fafcft and ftrongeft barrier garrifons of our colonies — and
a proper number of prudent honcft traders difperfed among the favages would
be better than all the foldiers, which the colonies fupport for their defence
againft tliem. The Indian* are to be perfuaded by friendly language ; but
nothing will terrify them to fubmit to what oppofcs their general idea of
liberty. In the difputes between governors, fuperintendants, their depu-
ties, and the traders, care (hould 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 contraft friendfliip, 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 commiflioner to feize the goods of
fcveral Carolinian traders : in executing his commifllon, he was foon en-
circled by twenty-three Indians, and would have been inftantly difpatched,
hut for the interceflion of one of the fuffering traders, Mr. J. G— r of
Tiennafe. When a governor of any of our colonics, is either' weak in hi"?
Ebb 2 intcllecfcs.
372
An Account of the Chikkafah Nathn.
intellefts, or has felt-intereded purfuits in view, incompatible witli the pub-
lic good, he will firfl: opprefs the Indian traders, and niirirprcfcnt all under
his government who oppofe him •, and then adopt and purine the low and
tyrannical court maxim " divide, and you will fubdue and rule them."
Whether the animofities that fubfifted among the inhabitants of Georgia,
when Mr. Ellis went to prefide there, fprung from any fuch caufe, I will
ROt fay, but I well know that by his wifdom, cheerful and even temper, and
an eafy winning behaviour, he foon reconciled the contending parties in his
gay and friendly hall.
11
'
u
i
i
.
■
The grateful and polite in that colony, have taught their rifing families
to revere his name, on account of his generous and patriotic fpirit. He in-
ftrufled the inhabitants of that infant colony, by example, how to fortify
themfelves againft hoftile dangers. The people were few, weak, harrafled,
a.nd 'diflieartened : but as foon as the father and general put to his helping
hand, their drooping fpirits recovered. Then, defenfible garrifons fprung
up, after the manner of ancient Thebes ; but as he knew that peace with the
numerous nations of neighbouring Indians was eflential to the welfare of a
trading colony, he afted the part of the Archimagus, or great beloved
man, with the fwan's wing, white pipes, and tobacco, between the mif-
chievous Mufkohge and our colonies, at Savanah, in concert with the
two worthy gentlemen before-mentioned. At that time our Indian affairs
in general wore a moft dangerous afpecH: — and the public ftock was ex-
pended : — when the governor faw that he could not ihake hands with the
Indians, empty handed, he cheerfully fupplied their difcontented head-men
with his own effects, and even his domeftic utenfils. They fet a high value
on each gift, chiefly for the fake of the giver, whom they adopted as
brother, friend, father. He gave the colony a ftrong example of public
fpirit, by facrificing his eafe, and private intereft, to the welfare of the
people ; whom he faithfully patronized (during his too fhort flay) according
to the paternal intentions of his late Majefty. He was never ordered by his
Prince to inform the legiflative body of the colony, that, if the eleftors peti-
tioned his majefty for the liberty of chufing reprefentatives, he, through his
own grace and goodnefs, would order his governor to inform them he waspleafed
to indulge them in the objed: of their fubmifTive prayer. But had it been other-
wife, Mr. Ellis would have deemed fuch a minifterial order, a grofs attack
upon his honour, if not on the conftitutional rights of Britifli fubjefts, and
3 have
Aim
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v^-hilvK-uan Ls.iiio/i
27^
have rcjefled it with coinempt. When a gentleman of abilities employs his
talents, in his proper fphere, in pronioiing the general good of fociety (in-
ftead of forwarding only his own intercd) he is both an honour and a blef-
fing to the community : the grateful public always revere fuch a charafter,
and fail not to hand it down to the latell poRerity, to Ihmul.ue others to fol-
low the example. Such was Mr. KHis in Georgia -, and liich was the learned,
wife, polite, affable, and now mucii lamented Sir Henry Moore Bart, the late
"overnor of New-York colony. Mis virtues fo ftrongly endeared him to thofe
he governed, and to every one who had the pleafure of his acquaintance, that
his memory will never be forgotten. He came to his government at the moft
confufed time America ever knew. He found the fenior member of the
council ftrongly barricaded in the fort,— but prefently he ordered away the
cannon, and put a flop to other hoftile preparations. He converfed with
the people as a father. They were foon convinced of his upright inten-
tions, and he lived triumphant in their hearts. If flrift integrity, great
abilities, and the moft ardent defires and endeavours to promote the mu-
tual interefts of prince and people,— if the moft impartial adminiftration
of juftice to every denomination of faithful fubjefts — if indefatigable
application to public bufinefs, and a cheerfulnefs to redrefs every grie-
vance that had the leaft tendency to afFed the lives or property even
of the meaneft perfon : if thefe be the charafteriftics of one of the beft
of governors, our hearts feelingly teftify, and the tears of a grate-
ful people plainly fhewed, he enjoyed them in the moft eminent degree.
His ftay, however, among them was but ftiort, for having given a finiflied
copy for others to purfue, heaven called him home to reward him for his
fliining virtues : and, though the other worthy patriot is in being, yet the
honeft fons of Georgia deeply lament his being loft to them.
i:
GENERAL
i- l¥
' Is
GENERAL
•ill
OBSERVATIONS
ON THE
NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS;
DISPLAYING
Their love to their country — Their martial fpirit — ^Their caution
in war— Method of fighting— Barbarity to their captives— In-
ftances of their fortitude and magnanimity in the vkw of death
—Their rewards of public fervices — The manner of crowning
their warriors after vidlory — Their games— Method of fifliing,
and of building— Their utenfils and manufactures — Conduct
in domeftic life — Their laws, form of government, &c. &c.
<y
11
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GENERAL
OBSERVATIONS
O N T H E
NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS.
,iil
IN the following pages, the reader will find as great a variety of enter-
tainment, as can well be expefted in defcribing a rude and uncivilized
people. The Indians having for a long time no intercourfe with the reft of
the world, and feldom one nation of them with another, their rites and
cuftoms are in feveral refpefts different. But as they agree in eflentials
through the whole extent of the American world, fuch agreement is ap-
parently owing to tradition, and the ufage of their anceftors, before
they were fubdivided as at prefenr. Uniformity cannot be attributed to
chance.
Throufrh the whole continent, and in the remotell woods, are traces of
their ancient warlike difpofition. We frequently met with great mounds of
earth, either of a circular, or oblong form, having a ftrong breaft-work at a
diftance around them, made of the clay which had been dug up in forming
the ditch, on the inner fide of the inclofed ground, and thefe were their
forts of fecuriiy againft an enemy. Three or four of them, are in fome
' places raifed fo near to each other, as evidently for the garrifon to take any
^nemy that pafled between them. They were moRly built in low lands ;
C c c a"^^
;' ir
i
378
General Obfer^athns on
and fome are oveifpread with large trees, beyond the reach of Indian tra-
dition. About 12 miles from the upper northern parts of the Choktah
country, there Hand on a level trafl of land, the north-fide of a creek,
and within arrow-fhot of it, two oblong mounds of earth, which were old
garritons, in an equal ciiieftion with each other, and about two arrow-fhots
apart. A broad deep dit^ii inclofed thofe two fortrcfies, and there they
raifcd an high breaft-work, to fecure their houfes from the invading; enemy.
This was a ihipendous piecj of work, for ib fmall a number of favages,
as could foppoit themfelves in it -, their working inflruments being only
of (lone and wood. They called thofe old fortrefles Nanne 2~ah, " the
liills, or mounts of God."
f-i.fcn
mm At
Probably, different parties, and even nations, were formed at firfl:, eiihct
I'.y caprice, dilllrences, or the fear of punilliment for offences. Tlie
demon of pcrfecution however was never among them — not an individual
durft ever prefume to infringe on anotlier's liberties. They are all
equal — the only precedence any gain is by fuperior virtue, oratory, or
prowefs j and they efteem themlelves bound to live and die in defence of
their country. A warrior will accept of no hire for performing virtuous
and heroic adlions; they have exquifite pleafure in purfuing their own
natural dictates. The head-men reward the worthy with titles of ho-
nour, according to their merit in fpeaking, or the number of enemies
fcalps they bring home. Their hearts are fully fatisfied, if they have re-
venged crying blood, enohlcd themfelves by war anions, given cheerfulnefs
to their mourning country, and fired the breads of the youth with a fpiric
of emulation to guard the beloved people from danger, and revenge the
wrongs of th ir country. Warriors are to protect all, but not to moleft or
injure the meaneft. If they attempted it, they would pay dear for their
folly. The reafon they are more earncft than the reft: ot- mankind, in
maintaining th;u divine law of equal freedom and juftice, I apprehend, is
tlic notion imbibed from their (hippcied) Hebrew ancellors of the divine
theocracy, and that inexprcHible abhorrence of flavery, wliich muft have
taken place after their captivity h; the Aflyrians, or the Babylonians.
Every warrior holds his honour, and the love of his country, in fo high
ctlLcm, that he pref.'VG it to life, and will fuller the moll exquifite tortures
3 rather
tic Noitli American Indians.
ll')
ratlicr tlum renounce it: there is no fiuli thing among the Indians as
dcfcrtion in war, becaulc they ilo not fight Hke tlie Swifs for hire, but for
wreaths of 1 wan- feathers. Iftlie Englifii adcd on that nobL" principle, or
were encouraged by an able, public-lpirited minlllry, to cheriih it, Britan-
nia need neither iiie, nor pay any of t!ie Gjrm.m princc-'i fur protection, or
alliances.
I
The equality among the Indians, and the juft rewards they alv/ays con-
fer on merit, are the great and leading — tlie only motives that warm
their hearts with a ftrong and permanent love to their country. Governed
by the plain and honeft law of nature, their whole conftitution breathes
nothing but liberty : and, when there is that equality of condition, man-
ners, and privileges, and a conftant familiarity in fociety, as prevails in
every Indian nation, and through all our Britifli colonies, tliere glows
fuch a chearfulnefs and warmth of courage in each of their breads, as
cannot be defcribed. It were to be wifhed, that our military and na-
val officers of all ranks, inftead of their iillial harfh and imperious beha-
viour, would adl the part of mild and good-natured patrons to thofe under
them : kind, perfuafive language has an irrefiftible force, and never fails to
overcome the manly and generous heart, and love is ftrong as death. If
the governed are convinced that their fuperiors have a real affedion for
them, they will efteem it their duty and intereft to ferve them and take
pleafure in it. The late gallant Lord Howe, General Wolfe, and Ad-
miral Warren, arc ftill alive in the grateful hearts of the Americans, and
alfo of the foldiers and feamen, who fought : i< er them. No fervice
was too difficult to oblige them, and they Wtre afhamed to do any
thing amifs. If every Britifli officer fet the like example, there would be
little occafion for new mutiny adts, and other fuch like penal regulations.
We have frequent inftances in America, that merely by the power of affa-
bility, and good-natured language, the favage Indian, drunk and foaming
with rage and madnefs, can be overcome and brought to weep. Lately,
fome came among us, inflamed and diftrafted foes j we perfuaded them of
our conftant kindly intentions, and they repented, made atonement in re-
gard to themfelves, and checked the mad conduct of others.
The Indians are not fond of waging war with each other, unlefs
prompted by fome of the traders : when left to themfelves, they confider
C c c 2 with
\So
General Objervations on
with the frreateft exaflnefs aiul forelighc, all the attending circumflances of
war. Should any of the your.g warriors througli forwardncfs, or pafTion,
violate the treaty of peace, the aggrelTing party uliially fend by fome neutral
Indians, a friendly embafTy to the other, praying them to accept of equal
retribution, and to continue their triendfliip, afTuring them that the radi
unfriendly aflion did not meet with the approbation, but was highly con-
demned by the head-men of the wliole nation. If t!.>.' propofal be accepted,
the damage is made up, eiitier by facrilicing one of the aggrefTors, of a weak
family, or by the death of fome unfortunate captive, who had been ingrafted
ill a wafted tribe. If a perfon of note was killed, the offended party take im-
mediate laiisfaLlion of their own accord, and fend back tiie like embafTy,
acquainting tlicm, that as crying blood is quenched with equal blood, and
tlicir beloved reluion's fpirit is allowed to go to rell;, they are fond of con-
tinuing the friend-knot, and keeping the chain of friendlhip clear of ruIV^
according to the old beloved fpecch : but, if they are determined for war>
they fay Alattle, Matt'e, " it is finifhed, they are weighed, and found
light." In that cafe, they proceed in the following nianner.
A war captain announces his intention of going to invade the common enc«
my, which he, by confent of the whole nation, declares to be fuch : he then
beats a drum three times round his winter houfe, with the bloody colours
flying, marked with large ftrokes of black, — the grand war fignal of blood
and death. On this, a fufficient number of warriors and others, com-
monly of the family of the murdered perfon, immediately arm themfelves,
and each gets a fmall bag of parched corn-flour, for his war-ftores. They
then go to the aforefaid winter houfe, and there drink a warm d^coftion
of their fuppofed holy confecrated herbs and roots for three days and
nights, fometimes without any other refrefliment. This is to induce
the deity to guard and profper them, amidft their impending dangers*
In the mod promifing appearance of things, they are not to take the
leaft nourifhment of food, nor fo much as to f;t down, during that time
of fanftifying themfelves, till after funfet. While on their expedition,
they are not allowed to lean themfelves againft a tree, though they may be
exceedingly fatigued, after a flurp day's march ; nor muft they lie by, a
whole day to refrtfli themfelves, or kill and barbicue deer and bear for their
war journey. The more virtuous they are, they reckon the greater will be
their fuccefs againft the enemy, by the bountiful fmilcs of the deity.. Tq
I gain
rls-'i
i*"
the North American L.di.wis.
381
gain that favourite point, feme of the aged warriors n.irrowly wat. Ii the
young men who are newly initiated, Icit they fliould provj in\.;ii:ious,
and prophane the holy fall:, and bring misfortunes on tho ouc-ft.jndin^',
camp. A gentleman of my acquaintance, in liis youthful days oblerved
one of their religious fafts, but under the greatcfh fufpicion of his virtU'.'
in this refpeft, though he had often headed them againft tlie coinnio.i
enemy: during their three days purification, he was not allowed to <>/) otr,
of the fanftified ground, without a trufty guard, le(t huntier Ihould have
tempted him to violate their old martial law, and by that means have
raifed the burning wrath of the holy fir^." againll the whole camp. Other
particulars of this facred procefs for war, have been related in thcr proper
place. *
When they have finifhed their fad and purifications, tiiey fet oil', at tl:e
fixed time, be it fair or foul, firing their guns, whooping, aiul lialloo-
ing, as they march. The war-leader goes firll, carrying the fuppoled holy
ark : he foon ftiikes up tlie awful and iblemn fong before mentioned, wiiich
they never fing except on that occafion. The rcll follow, in one line,
at the diftance of three or four fteps from each other, now and then found-
ing the war whoo-whoop, to make the leader's fong the more ftriking to the
people. In this manner they proceed, till quite out of the fight, and hear-
ing of their friends. As foon as they enter the woods, all are filent ; and,
every day they obferve a profound filence in their marcli, that their ears
may be quick to inform them of danger : their fmall black eyes are almoll
as fliarp alfo as thofe of the eagle, or the lynx ; and with tlieir feet they re-
femble the wild cat, or the cunning panther, crawling up to its prey.
Thus they proceed, while things promife tliem good fucccfs ; but, if
their dreams portend any ill, they always obey the lujipofed divine
intimation and return home, without incurring the lead cenfure. They.
reckon that their readinefs to ferve their country, ihouki not be fubfervienc
to their own knowledge or wifhes, but always regulated by the divine im-
pulfe. I have known a whole company who fet out for war, to return ui
fmall parties, and fometimes by fingle perfons, and be applauded by the
united voice of the people •, becaufe they afted m obedience to their Nana
Jfitohoollo, " or guardian angels," who imprcfied them in the vifions of night,
vrith the friendly caution. Ar, their dreams are reckoned ominous, fo there
is % fmall uncommon bird, called the " kind ill jneflcnger," which they
* Vide p. 145 &c,
I
*
way^
.32
Ccnct\i/ Obfervations on
always deem to be a true oracle of bad news. If It fings near to them,
they arc much intimidated ; but, if it perches, and fin^s over tlic \v.\r-
camp, they ipt-dily break up. This fuperlVitious cultom prevailed witli
the early heatliens, who pretended to prophely by the flight of birds, and it
readied even down to the time of the llomans.
F.vcry war captiin chufes a noted warrior, to attend on him and the
company. He is called Eti(l''(, or " the waiter." l-'vcry tiiinr^ tliey cat or
drink during their journey, he gives them out of his hand, by a rigid ab-
ftemious rule — though each carries on his back all his travelling convenien-
cies, wrapt in a deer flvin, yet they are fo bigoted to their religious
cudoms in war, that none, though prompted by fliarp hunger ,or burning
thirft, dares relieve himfelf. They are contented with fuch trifling allow-
ance as the religious waiter diftributes to them, even with a fcanty haml.
Such a regimen would be too mortifying to any of the white people, let
their opinion of its violation be ever lb dangerous.
When I roved the woods in a war party with the Indians, though I car-
ried no fcrip, nor bottle, nor ftaff, I kept a large hollow cane well corked
at each end, and ufed to flieer oflf now and then to drink, while they fuf-
fered greatly by thirfl:. The conftancy of the favages in mortifying their
bodies, to gain the divine favour, is aftonifliing, from the very time they
beat to arms, till they return from their campaign. All the while they
are out, they are prohibited by ancient cuftom, the leaning againfl: a tree,
either litting or flianding : nor are they allowed to fit in the day-time, under
the fliade of trees, if it can be avoided ; nor on the ground, during the
whole iourney, but on fuch rocks, fliones, or fallen wood, as their ark of
war refts upon. By the attention they invariably pay to thofe fcvere rules
of living, they weaken themfelves much more than by the unavoidable fa-
tigues of war : but, it is fruitlefs to endeavour to diflliade them from thole
things which they have by tradition, as the appointed means to move
the deity, to grant them fuccefs againfl: the enemy, and a fafe return
home.
It may be expefted I Ihould defcribe the number of men their war compa-
nies confillof, but it is various, and uncertain : fometimes, two or three only
■will go to war, proceed as cautioufly, and ftrike their prey as panthers. In
the
the Nortii American Indlai):
the yfir 1747, a cou()lc of the Moluwk Imlians came agalnfk tli luwcr
towns ol ilie Chcerake, and fo cunningly ambufcadcd tlic:n tlimvigli moll
part of the fprjng and fiimmcr, as to kill above twciuy in diHi'rcnt:
attack?, before they v^ re difcovcred by any party of tlic en;/.ged an I
dcjc'i'l'i'd pe(jplc. They had a thorough knowledge of the moll: convcniL-nt:
grouna [jr their purpolc, and were extremely I'wifc and long wmdeil — w!»en-
ever they killci! any, and got tl>e icilp, they made otF to the neigh'o inrinjj
mountains, and ran over the broad ledges of rocks, in contrary toinfL's, ai
occafion offered, fo as the purfu'^rs could by no means trace tlunn. Oac^-,
when a large company was in chac; of them, they ran round a lleep hill ac
the hcacl of the main eaftern branch of Savana river, intercipted, killeil,
and fcalped the hindmoft of the party, and then made off bet.vcjn tlieni
and Kecowlice: us this was the town to which the company belonged,
they haftencd honie in a clofe body, as the proper place of llcurity fioni
fuch enemy wizards. In this manner, did thofe two Iprigluly gallant {x-
vages perplex and intimidate their f.ies for the fpacc of four moons, in th^
gieatelt fecurity •, though they often were forced to kill and barbicue wiut
they chieily lived upon, in the midit of their watchful enemies. Having
fufficiently revenged their relations' blood, and gratified their own ambitiori.
with an uncommon number of fcalps, they relblved to captivate one, and
run home with him, as a proof of their having killed none but the ene-
mies of their country. Accordingly, they approached very near to Keeo-
whee, about half-a-milc below tiie late Fort Prince Cieorge, advancino-
with the ufual caution on fuch an occafion — one crawled along under
the befl: cover of the place, about the diftance of an hundred yards a-!icadj
while tlic other fliifced from tree to tree, looking fliarply every way. \n
t!ie evening, however, an old beloved man difcovered them from tlic top
of an adjoining hill, and knew them to be enemies, by the cur of their hair,
light trim ibr running, and their pofturcs •, he returned to the town, and
called firfl; at the houfe of one of our traders, and informed him of the
afiuir, enjoining him not to mention it to any, lell the people fhould fct
off againft them without fuccefs, before their tracks were to be difco-
vered, and he be charged with havin<i^ dcreivcd them. But, contrary to
the true policy of traders- among '. ^orgiving favages, that tlioughtlefs
member of the Choktah Sphynx-company bufied himfclf as ufua! out of
his proper fphere, lent for the head-men, and told them the fcry. Ar,
the Mohawlvs were our allies, and not kn.own to moleft any of i; c traders
ia
'Jil
I. 'i; 'I
'■: IS
3^4
CcKcral Ohfervations on
in the path;; and woods, he ought to Iiave obferved a ftriifl neutrality.
1 hs youth of tlie town, by order of their head-men, carried on their
noify public diverfions ir. their ufual manner, to prevent their foes from
having any fulpicion of their danger, while runners were fent from the
town to their neighbours, to come fdently and adifl: them to fecure the
prey, in its ftate of fecurity. They came like filent ghofts, concerted their
plan of operation, palTed over the river at the old trading ford, oppofite to
tlie late Fort, which lay between two contiguous commanding hills, and
proceeding downward over a broad creek, formed a large femi-circle from
the river bank, while the town feemed to be taking its ufual reft. They
then clofed into a narrower compafs, and at laft difcovered the two brave
unfortunate men lying clofe under the tops of fome fallen young pine-
trees. Tlie company gave the war fignal, and the Mohawks bounding up,
bravely repeated it : but, by their fudden fpring from under thick cover,
their arms were ufelefs •, they made defperate efforts however to kill
or be killed, as their fituation required. One of the Cheerake, the
noted half breed of Iftanare town, which lay two miles from thence,
was at the firft onfet, knocked down and almoft killed with his own
cutlafs, which was wrefted from him, though he was the ftrongeft of the
whole nation. But they were overpowered by numbers, captivated, and
put to the moft exquifite tortures of fire, amidfl; a prodigious crowd of
exulting foes.
One of the prefcnt Choktah traders who was on the fpot, told me, that
wlicn they were tied to the ftake, the younger of the two difcovering our
traders on a hill pretty near, addrefled them in Englifli, and entreated them
to redeem their lives. The elder immediately fpoke to him, in his own lan-
guage, to delill — on this, he recollected himfelf, and became compofed like
a floic, nianifclling an indifference to life or death, plcafure or pain, accord-
ing to their llandard of martial virtue ; and their dying behaviour did not
rcfletft tlie leaft diflionour on their former gallant .adions. All the pangs of
iiery torture ferved only to refine their manly fpirits : and as it was out of the
power of the traders to redeem them, they according to our ufual cuftom
retired, as foon as the Indians began the diabolical tragedy.
The common number of an Indian v/ar company, is only from twenty
to forty, let their tracks Oiould be difcovered by being too numerous :
but
tbc North American Indians.
3S5
but \i tlie warrinrr nations are contiguous to each other, the invading partjr
generally chules to out-number a common company, that they may ftrikc
Jie blow with greater fafcty and fuccefs, as their art of war is chiefly kil-
ling by furprife •, confident that in cafe of a difappointment, their light
heels will enfure their return to tlieir own country. When a Imall
company go to war, they always chufe to have a fwamp along fide of
them, with a thick covert for their flicker, becaufe a fuperior num-
ber will fcarcely purfue them where they might rcafonably expeft to
lofe any of their warriors. Wlien they arrive at the enemies hunting
ground, they aft with the greatcfl: caution and policy. They fcparate them-
felves, as far as eacl) can hear the other's travelling fignal, which is the
mimicking fuch birds and beaflis as frequent the Ipot. And they can cx-
aftly imitate tlie voice and found of every quadruped and wild fowl
through the American woods. In this way of travelling, they ufually keep
an hundred yards apart on the courfe agreed upon at camp. When the
leader thinks it the furcfl: way of fuccceding againft the enemy, he fends
a few of the beft runners to form an ambufcade near their towns : there, they
fometimes fix the broad hoofs of buftalos, and bear's paws upon their feet, to
delude the enemy: and they will for miles together, make all the windings
of thefe beafts with the greatefl: art. But, as both parties are extremely
wary and Aigacious, I have known fuch arts to prove fatal to the delu-
ders. At other times, a numerous company will walk in three different
rows, by way of a decoy, every one lifting his feet fo high, as not to beat
down the grafs or herbage ; and each row will make only one man's
track, by taking the ftcps of hi ni who went before, and a gigantic fellow
takes the rear of each rank, and thereby fmooths the tracks witli his feet.
When they are convinced the enemy is in purfuit of them, at fo confiderable
a difl:ance from the country, as for themfelves not to be over-powered by
numbers, they poft themfelves in the mofl: convenient place, in the form of aa
half-moon, and patiently wait a wliole day and night, till tiie enemy
runs into it ; and in fuch a cafe, the vidory at one broad-fide is ufually
gained.
"When they difcover the tracks of enemies in their hunting ground,
or in the remote woods, it is furprifing to fee the caution and art they
ufe, both to fecure themfelves, and take advantage of the eaemy.
If a imall company be out ac war, they in the day time crawl tlirough
D d d tliickets
\ \
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General Obfervations on
Mm ."'■
MI
fc*:r:
wll
tliickets and fwaiv.ps in the manner of wolves — now and then they climb
trees, and run to tlic top of hills, to dilcover the fmoke of fire, or hear the
report of gvins : and when they crols through the open woods, one of them
rtands behind a tree, till the reft advance about a hundred yards, looking out
lljarply on all quarters. In tliis manner, they will proceed, and on tiptoe,
peeping every where around •, they love to walk on trees which have been
blown down, and take an oblique courfe, till they infwamp themfelves
attain, in order to conceal their tracks, and avoid a purfuit. As we can gaia
nothing by blows, with Inch warriors, it is certainly our intereft, as a trading
people, to ufe proper meafures to conciliate their affedlions -, for whether we
are conquerors, or conquered, we are always great Iclirs in an Indian war.
When the invaders extend themfelves crofs the woods, in queft of their
piey, if they make a plain dilcovery, eit!icr of frelh tracks, or of the
enemy, tliey immediately pafs the war-fignal to each other, and draw
their wings toward the centre. If the former, they give chace, and com-
monly by their wild-cat-method of crawling, they iurround, and furprife
the purfued, if unguarded — however, I have known them to fail in fuch
attempts •, for the Indians generally are fo extremely cautious, that if three
of them are in the woods, their firft objedt is a proper place for defence,
and they always fit down in a triangle, to prevent a furprife. When enemies
difcover one another, and find they can take no advantage, they make them-
fclves known to each other; and by way of infulting bravado, they fpeak aloud
ail the barbarities they ever committed againft them ; — that they are now,
to vindicate thofe aftions, and make the wound for ever incurable ; that
they are their moft bitter enemies, and equally contemn their friendfhip
and enmity. In the mean while, they throw down their packs, ftrip them-
felves naked, and paint their face« and breafts red as blood, intermingled
with black ftreaks. Every one at the fignal of the fhrill-founding war-cry,
inftantly covers himfelf behind a tree, or in fome cavity of the ground where
il admits of the beft fafety. The leader, on. each fide, immediately blows
the fmall whiftle he carries for the occafion, in imitation of the ancient
trumpet, as the laft fignal of engagement. Now. hot work begins —
The guns are firing -, the chewed bullets flying -, the ftrong hiccory bows,
a twanging •, the dangerous barbed arrows whizzing as they fly ; the furc-
ftafted javelin ftriking deatli wherever it reaches ; and the well-aimed to-
mohawk killing, or difabling its enemy. Nothing fcarccly can be heard
for
I
II
tbe North American Indians.
387
for the fhrill echoing noifc of the war and death-whoop, every one fii-
riouny piirfiies his adverfary from tree to tree, driving to incircle him
for his prey ; and the greedy jaws of pale death are open on all fides, to
fwallow them up. One dying foe is intangled in the hateful and fal-
tering arms of another : and each party defperately attempts both to fave
their dead and wounded from being fcalped, and to gain the fcalps of
their opponents. On this the battle commences anew — But rafh attempts
fail, as their wary fpirits always forbid them from entering into a gene-
ral clofe engagement. Now they retreat : then they draw up into various
figures, ftill having their dead and wounded under their eye. Now they
are flat on the ground loading their pieces— then they are up firing beliind
trees, and immediately fpring off in an oblique courfe to recruit— and thus
they ad till winged viflory declares itlelf.
The vanquiflied party makes for a fwampy thicket, as their only afy-
lum : but fliould any of them be either unarmed, or {lightly wounded,
the fpeedy purfuers captivate them, and ufually referve them for a worfc
death than that of the bullet. On returning to the place of battle, the
vigors begin, with mad rapture, to cut and flafh thofe unfortunate perfons,
who fell by their arms and power •, and they difmember them, after a moll
inhuman manner. If the battle be gained near home, one hero cuts off and
carries this member of the dead perlbn, another that, as joyful trophies of u
decifive vidtory. If a ftranger faw them thus loaded with human flefh, with-
out proper information, he might conclude them to be voracious canibals,
according to the fhameful accounts of our Spaniili hiftorians. Their firfl.
aim however is to take off the fcalp, when they perceive the enemy hath
a proper fituation, and ftrength to make a dangerous refiftance. Each
of them is fo emulous of exceeding another in this point of honour, that
it frequently flops them in their purluit.
This honourable fervice is thus performed—They feize the head of tlie
difabled, or dead perfon, and placing one of their feet on the neck,
they with one hand twifted in the hair, extend it as far as they can —
with the other hand, the barbarous artifts fpeeddy draw their long flurp-
pointed fcalping knife out of a ffieaih from their brfaft, give a flalh round
the top of the flcull, and with a few dexterous fcoops, foon drip it off.
D d d 2 They
>M
General Ohfervat'tous on
Tlicy arc fo expeditious as to take olT a fcalp in two minutes. When
they have perfonned this part of their martial virtue, as icon as time per-
mits, they tie with bark or deer's finews, their I'peaking trophies of blood in
a fmall hoop, to preferve it from putrefadion, and paint the interior part
of the fcalp, and the hoop, all round with red, their flourilhing emblematical
colour of blood.
I
They are now faiiated for the prcfent, and return home. Tradition,
or the native divine imprefTion on human nature, diflates to them
that man was not born in a ftate of war ; and as they reckon they are
become impure by fliedding human blood, they haften to oblerve the faft
of three days, as formerly mentioned, and be fanftifieti by the war-chief-
tain, as a prieft of war, according to law. While they are thus impure,
though they had a fair opportunity of annoying the common enemy
again, yet on this account they commonly decline it, and are applauded
tor their religious conduifl, by all their countrymen. Indeed, formerly,
v/hen the whole combined power of the French, and their Indians,
was bent againft the warlike Chikkafah, I have known the laft fometimes
to hazard their martial virtue and fuccefs, and to fight three or four com-
panies of French Indians, before they returned home •, but the leaders
excufed themfelves, by the neceffity of felf-defence. They have no fucli
phrafc as the " fortune of war." They reckon the leader's impurity to
be t!ie chief occafion of bad fuccefs j and if he lofe feveral of his war-
riors by the enemy, his life is either in danger for the fuppofed fault, or he
is degraded, by taking from him his drum, war-whiftle, and martial titles,
and debafing him to his boy's name, from which he is to rife by a frefli
gradation. This penal law contributes, in a good meaiure, to make them
fo exceedingly cautious and averfe to bold attempts in war, and they are
ufually fatisfied with two or three fcalps and a prilbner.
It has been long too feelingly known, that inftead of obferving the ge-
nerous and hofpitable part of the laws of war, and faving the unfortunate
who fall into their power, that they generally devote their captives to death,
with the moft agonizing tortures. No reprefentation can pofllbly be
given, fo fliocking to humanity, as their unmerciful method of tormenting
their devoted prifoncr j and as it is fo contrary to the ftandard of the reft of
5 the
11 A '
■is«P
the North American Indians.
339
the known world, I flail relate the circumftances, fo far as to convey proper
information thereof to the reader. When the company return from w/ir,
and come in view of their own town, they follow t!ie leader one by one, in
a dircdl line, each a few yards behind the other, to magnify their triumph.
If they have not fucceeded, or any of their warriors are loft, they return quite
fdent ; but if they are all fafe, and have fucceeded, they fire off the Indian
platoon, by one, two, and three at a time, whooping and infulting their
prifoners. They camp near their town all night, in a large fquare plot of
ground, marked for the purpofe, with a hig!i war-pole fixed in the middle of
it, to which they fecure their prifoners. Next day they go to the leader's houfe
in a very folemn proceflion, but ftay without, round his red-painted war-
pole, till they have determined concerning the fate of their prifoners. If any
one of the captives fliould be fortunate enough to get loofe, and run into the
houfe of the archi-magus, or to a town of refuge, he by ancient cuftom, is
faved from the fiery torture — thefe places being a fure afylum to them if
they v/ere invaded, and taken, but not to invaders, becufe they came to
Ihed blood.
'Ill
Thofe captives who are pretty far advanced in life, as well as in war-gra-
dations, always atone for the blood they fpilt, by the tortures of fire. —
They readily know the latter, by the blue marks over their breafts and
arms •, they being as legible as our alphabetical chara<fters are to us. Their
ink is made of the foot of pitch-pine, which fticks to the infide of a
greafed earthen pot ; then delineating the parts, like the ancient Pifls of
Britain, with their wild hieroglyphics, they break through the fkin with
gair-fidi-teeth, and rub over them that dark compofition, to regifter them
among the brave ; and the imprefiion is lading. I have been told by the
Chikkafah, that they formerly erazed any falfe marks their warriors proudly
and privately gave themfelves — in order to engage them to give real proofs
of their martial virtU'-, being furrounded by the French and their red allies ;
and that they degraded them in a public manner, by ftretching the marked
parts, and rubbing them with the juice of green corn, which in a great
degree took out the imprelTion.
The young prifoners are faved, if not devoted while the company wcra
fandifying themfelves for their expedition •, but if the latter be the cafe,
they
\
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390
General Ohfervatiom on
they are conde;nned, and tied to the dreadful (lake, one at a time. The
viftors firfl ftiip their milerable captives quite naked, and put on
their feet a pair ot" bear-(l;in maccafeenes, with the black hairy part
outwards -, otliers faften with a grape-vine, a burning fire-brand to the pole,
a little above tlie reacli of their heads. Then they know their doom — deep
black, and burning fire, arc fixed fcals of their death-warrant. Their punifh-
mcnt is always left to the women ; and on account of their falfe ftandard of
education, they are no way backward in their office, but perform it to the
entire fatisfaftion of tlie greedy eyes of the Ipeiftators. Each of them pre-
pares for the dreadful rejoicing, a long bundle of dry canes, or tlie heart of
fat pitch-pine, ar.d as the vidims a-v led to the flake, the women and their
young ones beat thcni with thefe in a mod barbarous manner. Happy
would i: be for the miferable creatures, if their fuiftrings ended here, or a
merciful tomohawk finiflied them atone llroke i but this fhameful treat-
ment is a prelude to future fufFerings.
The death-fignal being given, preparations are made for ading q more
tragical part. The vidlims arms are fall pinioned, and a ftrong grape-vine
is tied round his neck, to the top of the war-pole, allowing him to track
around, about fifteen yards. They fix fome tough clay on his head, to fe-
ciire the fcalp from tlie blazing torches. Unfpeakable pleafure now fills
the exulting crowd of fpecftators, and the circle fills with the Amazon and
mercilefs executioners — The fuffering warrior however is net difmayed ;
with an infulting manly voice he fings the war-fong! and with gallant con-
tempt he tramples the rattling gourd with pebbles in it to pieces, and
outbraves even death itfelf. The women make a furious on-let with their
burning torches : his pain is foon fo excruciating, that he rufhes out from
the pole, vvfith the fury of the mod favage bead of prey, and with the vine
fwctps down all before him, kicking, biting, and trampling them, with
the greateil defpite. The circle immediately fills again, either with the
fame, or frefli pcrfons : they attack him on every fide — now he runs to the
f ole for flielter, but the flames purfue him. Then with champing teeth,
and fpaikling eye-balls, he breaks through their contrafted circle afredi,
arc! afvs every part, that the highell courage, mod raging fury, and blacked
dcfpair can prompt him to. But he is fure to be over-power'd by numbers,
.M-.d aJttr lome time the fire afil'£ls his tender parts. — Then they pour
'>vcr ;iini a quantity of cold water, and allow him a proper time of relpite,
7 till
m
the North American Indians.
91
:\\
till his ipirits recover, and he is capable of differing new tortures. The:
the like cruelties are repeated till he falls down, and happily bccomc;s in-
fenfible of pain. Now they fcalp him, in the manner before defcribed :
dlfmember, and carry off all the exterior branches of the botly, (pudendis
non exccptis) in (hameful, and fiivage triumph. This is the mod fava:;r-
able treatment their devoted captives receive: it would be too (liocking
to humanity either to give, or perufe, every particular of their conduft
in fuch doleful tragedies — nothing can equal thefe fcenes, but thole of the
merciful Rom;(h inquifition.
Not a foul, of whatever age or fex, manifefts the lead pity during the
prifoner's tortures : the women fing with religious joy, all the while they
are torturing the devoted vidlim, and peals of laughter relbiind through
the crowded theatre — efpecially if he fears to die. But a warrior puts on
a bold auHere countenance, and carries it through all his pains : — as long
as he can, he whoops and out-braves the enemy, defcribing his own martial
deeds againft them, and thole of his nation, who he threatens will force
many of them to eat fire in revenge of his fate, as he himfelf had often
done to fome of their relations at their coft.
Though the fame things operate alike upon the organs of the human
body, and produce an uniformity of fenfations j yet weaknefs, or conftancy
of mind derived from habit, helps in a great mcafure, either to heighten,
or leffcn the fenfe of pain. By this, die afflicted party has learned to ftifle
nature, and (hevir an outward unconcern, under fuch flow and acute tor-
tures : and the furprifmg cruelty of their women, is equally owing to
educadon and cuftom. Similar inftances verify this, as in Lilbon, and otlicr
places, where tender-hearted ladies are transformed by their bloody priefts,
into fo many Medeas, through deluded religious principles; and fit
and fee with the highefl: joy, the martyrs of God, drawn along in dia-
bolical triumph to the fiery ftake, and lufilung death with lingering tor-
tures.
I cannot forbear giving another inftance or two here of the conftancy,
vifible unconcern, and prefence of mind, of the Indians, at the approach
of deaths in its luoG: alarming drefs and terrors.
About
\\
i»4
.w^
GcNCfii/ Olifervat'ions on
m
About four yens before the Shawano Indians were forced to remove
from the late Savaiiali town, they took a Mufkohge warrior, known by the
name of " Old Scrany •," they baftinadoed him in tlie ufiial manner, and
condemned Iiim to the fiery torture. Me underwent a great deal, without
fliewing any concern ; his countenance and bcluviour were as if he fufiered
not the leaft pain, and was formed beyond the common Kiws of nature.
lie told them, with a bold voice, that he was a very noted warrior, and
gained mofl: of Iiis martial preferment at the expence of their nation, and
was defirous of lliewing them in the aft of dying, that he was Hill as
much their fuperior, as when he headed his gallant countrymen againft
them. — That although he had fallen into their hands, in forfeiting the
protcifiion of the divine power, by fome impurity or other, when car-
rying the holy ark of war againft his devoted enemies -, yet he had dill fo
much remaining virtue, as would enable him to punifli himfelf more cx-
quifitely than all their defpicable ignorant crowd could pofllbly do, if they
gave him liberty by untying him, and would hand to him one of the red hot
gun-barrels out of the fire. The propofal, and his method of addrefs, ap-
peared fo exceedingly bold and uncommon, that his requeft was granted.
7. lien he fuddenly feized one end of the red barrel, and brandifliing it from
fide to fide, he forced his way through the armed and furprifed multitude,
and leaped down a prodigious fteep and high bank into a branch of the
river, dived through it, ran over a fmall idand, and pafied the other branch,
amidft a fhower of bullets from the commanding ground where Fort-Moore,
or Ncv/ Windfor-garrifon flood ; and though numbers of his eager enemies
■were in clofe purfuit of him, he got to a bramble fwamp, and in that naked,
mangled condition, reached his own country. He proved a fharp thorn in
their fide afterwards to the day of his death.
The Shawano alfo captivated a warrior of the Anantooeah, and put him
to the ftake, according to their ufuai cruel folemnities. Having uncon-
cernedly fufFered much fliarp torture, he told them with fcorn, they did
not know how to punifli a noted enemy, therefore he was willing to teach
tliem, and would confirm the truth of his afifertion, if they allowed him
the opportunity. Accordingly he requefted of them a pipe and fome to-
bacco, which was given him : as foon as he lighted it, he fat down,
naked as he was, on the women's burning torches, that were within his
circle, and continued fmoking his pipe without the leaft dircompofure — on
this
ibe North American Indians.
393
this a head-warrior leaped up, and faid, they had fccn plain enough, that
he was a warrior, and not afraid of dying \ nor (hould he have died, only
th:it he was both fpoiled by the fire, and d 'otcd to it by their laws : how-
ever, though he was a very dangerous ent. /, and his nation u treache-
rous people, it fliould appear they paid a regard to bravery, even in
one, who was marked over the body with war ftrcaks, at the coft of
many lives of their beloved kindred. And then by way of favour, he,
with his friendly tomohawk, inftantly put an end to all his pains : — though
the merciful but bloody inftrument was ready fome minutes before it gave
the blow, yet I was aflljred, the fpeftators could not perceive the fufterer
to change, either his pofture, or his fteady eredt countenance, in the
leaft.
A party of the Senekah Indians came to war againft the Katahba, bitter
enemies to each other. In the woods, the former difcovered a fprightly
warrior belonging to the latter, hunting in their ufual light drefs i on his
perceiving them, he fprung off for a hollow rock, four or five miles
diftant, as they intercepted him from running homeward. He was fo
extremely fwift, and fkilful with the gun, as to kill feven of them in
the running fight, before they were able to furround and take him. They
carried him to their country in fad triumph : but, though he had filled
them with uncommon grief and fhame, for the lofs of fo many of their
kindred, yet the love of martial virtue induced them to treat him, during
their long journey, with a great deal more civility, than if he had adted
the part of a coward. The women and children, when they met him at their
feveral towns, beat and whipped him in as fevere a manner as the occafion
required, according to their law of juftice, and at laft he was formally con-
demned to die by the fiery tortures. It might reafonably be imagined that
what he had for fome time gone through, by being fed with a fcanty
hand, a tedious march, lying at night on the bare ground, expofed
to the changes of the weather, with his arms and legs extended in a
pair of rough flocks, and fufrering fuch punifhments on his entering into
their hoflile towns, as a prelude to thofe fharp torments for which he
was deftined, would have fo impaired his health, and affefted his imagina-
tion, as to have fcnt him to his long fleep out of the way of any more fuf-
ferings. Probably, this would have been the cafe with the major part of
white people, under fimilar circumftances ; but I never knew this with any
E e e of
i
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394
Gerii'ral Olifervations on
r
of the Indians: and this cool-headed brave warrior ditl not deviate from
their rough lellbns of martial virtue, but adled his part io well, as to fur-
prife and forely vex his numerous enemies. For, when they were takint^
him unpinioned, in their wild parade, to the place of torture, whicii
lay near to a river, he fuddenly dafhed down thole who Hood in hii
way, fprung off, and plunged into the water, Iwimming underneatli like
an otter, only rifing to take breath till he made the oppofite fliore. He
now s'.fcended the ileep bank ; but though he had good realbn to be in »
hurry, as many of the enemy were in the water, and others running
every way, like blood-hounds, in purfuit of him, and the bullets flying
around him, from the time he took lO the river, yet his heart did noa
allow him to leave them abruptly, without taking leave in a formal
manner, in return for the extraordinary favours they had done, and in-
tended to do him. He firft turned his backfide toward them, and flapped
it with his hand-, then moving round, he put up the flirill war whoo whoop,
as his laft falute, till fome more convenient opportunity offered, and darted
off in the manner of a beaft broke loofe from its torturing enemies. He
continued his fpced fo as to run by about midnight of the fame day, as far
as his eager purfuers were two days in reaching. There he refl:ed, till he
happily difcovered five of thofe Indians, who had purfued him — he lay hid
a little way off their camp, till they v.'ere found afleep. Every circumftancc
of his fituation occurred to him, and infpircd him with heroifm. He was
naked, torn, and hungry, and his enraged enemies were come up with
him. But there was now every thing to reliev* his wants, and a fair
opportunity to fave his life, and get great honour, and fweet revenge, by
cutting them off. Refolution, a convenient fpot, and fudden furprize,
would effedt the main obje(5t of all his v/iflies and hopes. He accord -
inglycreepcd towards them, took one of their tomohawks, and killed theni
all on the fpot. He then chopped them to pieces, in as horrid a manner,
as favage fury could excite, both through national and perfonal refent-
ment, — he ftripped off their fcalps, clothed him felf, took a choice gun, and
as much ammunition and provifions as he could well carry in a running
march. He fet off afrefli with a light heart, and did not fleep for feveral
fucceffive nights, only when he reclined as ufual a little before day, with his
back to a tree. As it were by inftinft, wliea he found he was . free from
the purfuing enemy, he made diredtly to the very place where he had
killed feven of his enemies, and was taken by them for ilie fiery torture*
He
ihe North America Indians
395
He digged thein up, fcalped them, bunu r'leir bo<- to iflv >« I wenr
home in Iht'ety with fingular triumph. Other pun iij^ ^ camt
on the evening of the lecond day to the camp of thni J pcopli
when the fight gave them a g—'^ter fliock, than they had cvp ^nown be
fore. In their chilled war coui ;ii, they concluded, that, a*. . ' dor
fuch furprifing things in his defence, before he was captivated, and fincc
that, in his nai<cd condition, and was now well armed, if they continued
the purfuit, he would fpoil them all, for lie furely was an enemy wizard.
And therefore they returned home.
When the Chikkafah were engaged in a former war with the Mufkohgc,
one of their young warriors fet off alone againfl: them, to revenge the blood
of a near relation : his burning heart would not allow him to delay its gratifica
tion, and proceed with a company, after their ufual forms of purification were
obferved, in order to gain fuccefs. He was replete with martial fire, and re-
venge prompted him to outrun his war virtue : however, he purfued as mor-
tifying a regimen, as if he had been publicly fed like a dove, by the fcanty
hand of a religious waiter. Bur, as he would not wait a few days, and accom-
pany the reputed holy ark, they reckoned him irreligious, by depending on
the power of his own arms, inltead of the powerful arm of the fiipreme fa-
therly chieftain, Yo He Wah^ who always bellows vicflory on the more virtu-
ous party. He went through the mod unfrequented and thick parts of the
woods, as fuch a dangerous enterprife required, till he arrived oppofite to
the great, and old beloved town of refuge, Koofah, which ftands high on
the caftern fide of a bold river, about 250 yards broad, that runs by the
late dangerous Alebahma fort, down to the black poifoning Mobille, and
fo into the gulph of Mexico. There he concealed himlelf under cover
of the top of a fallen pine tree, in view of the ford of the old trading path,
where the enemy now and then pafled the river in their light poplar canoes.
All his war (lore of provifions confilted in three ftands of barbicued vcnifon,
till he had an opportunity to revenge blood, and return home. He waited,
with watchfulness and patience alino.v three days, when a young man, a
woman, and a girl paflTcd a little wide of him, about an hour before fun-
fet. The former he fliot down, tomohawked the other two, and fcalped
each of them in a trice, in full view of the town. By way of bravado,
jjc fliaked the fcalps before them, founded the awful death whoop, and
E c e z fet
1
i.il
It
u
19<>
Ceneriil Obfervathns on
fct olF along the trading path, truding to his heels, while a great manf
of the enemy ran to their arms, and gave chacc. Seven mile» from
thence, he entered the great blue ridge of Apalaliche mounuins. About
an hour before day, he had ran over Jcvcnty miles of that mountainou*
traclv — then, after flceping two hours in a fitting polhire, leaning his back
againft a, tree, he fet off again with frelh fpccd. As he threw away his.
venifon, when he found himl'elf purfued by the enemy, he was obliged to
fupport nature with fuch herbs, roots, and nuts, as his ibarp eyes with x
running glance, dircifted him to fnatch up in his courfe. Though I often
have rode that war path alone, when delay might have proved dangerous,
and with as fine and ftrong horfes as any in America, it took me five days
to ride from the aforefaid Koofah, to this fprightly warrior's place in the
Cliikkafah country, the diltance of 300 computed miles •, yet he ran ic>
and got home fafe and well, at about eleven o'clock of the third day \
which was only one day and half, and two nights.
K"!iv
Thefc two well known inftances, of the young Katahba, and this Chik-
kafah warrior, evince the furprifmg and fuperior abilities of the Indians in
their own elemenr. And the intrepid behaviour of the two other red ftoics,
their furprifing contempt of, and indifference to life or death, inftead of
leffening, helps to confirm our belief of that fupernatural power, which
fupported the great number of primitive martyrs, who fealed the chriftian
faith with their blood. The Indians, as 1 obferved in the former parr,
have as much belief, and cxpedation of a future ffate, as the greater part of
the Ifraelites fccm to have poffcffed. But the chriftians of the firft centu-
ries, may juftly be faid to exceed even the moft heroic American Indians ;
for they bore the bittercft perlecution, with fteady patience, in imitation of
their divine leader, McflTiah, in full confidence of divine fupport, and of a
glorious rccompence of reward ; and, inftead of even wifliing for revenge
on their cruel enemies and malicious tormentors (which is the chief prin-
ciple that aftuates the Indians) they not only forgave them, but in the
midft of their tortures, earneftly prayed for them, with compofed counte-
nances, fincere love, and unabated fervor. And not only men ot different
conditions, but the delicate women and children fuffered with conftancy,
and died praying for their tormentors : the Indian women and children,
and their young men untrained to war, are incapable of difplaying the like
patience and magnanimity.
5 When
the North American Indians.
197
When the Indians have finilhed their captive tragedies, they return to
the neighbouring town in triumph, with the wild fliricking noife of dc-
ftroyii:;; demons: there, they cut the Icalps into feveral pieces, fix tlvcin
on dirt'i-rent twigs of the green leaved pine, anil place them on the tops of
the circular inter houfcs of their deccalcd relations — whofc deaths (if by
the hand of an enemy) they efteem not revenged till then, and thus their
gholls arc enabled to go to their intermediate, but unknown place of reft,
till, after a certain time, tiicy return again to live for ever in that trafl of
land which plcafcd them bell, when in their former ftate. They perform this
fuppofcJ religious duty with great folemnity, attended by a long train
of rejoicing women, chanting with foft voices, their grateful fong of
triumph to Yo UelVah; while the favoured warriors echo their praifes of
the giver of vicfkory, with awful notes, and intermix with them the death
whoo-whoop. They dance for three days and nights, rejoicing bcfr the
divine prefcnce, for tlieir vivflory i and the happinefs of fending the fpirits
of their killed relations from the eaves of their houfes which they haunted,
mourning with fuch painful notes as Koo-Koo-Koo, like the fuffering owls of
night in pinching winter, according to their creed. In their dance, they
reprefent all the wild cat movements they made in crawling to furprife tha
enemy, and their wolfifh conduft in killing with lafety -, or the whole en-
gagement, when they could no way attack by furprife. Now, they lift up
one foot, then put it down flowly on tip- toe in a bent pofture, looking
(harply every way. Thus, they proceed froni tree to tree, till the fuppofed
enemy be either defeated by rtratagem, or open battle. Then they ftrut
about in parade, and the chief will tell the people he did not behave like
a blind white man, who would have ruflied on with his eyes fhut, impro-
vident of danger ; but having wifely confidered that his bare breaft was not
bullet proof, he cunningly covered himfelf from tree to tree, and by his
fkilful conduiSl vanquifhed the hateful enemy, without expofing his own
valuable life to danger. All people praife, or blame another's condufb, in
proportion to the parity or dilparity it bears to their own ftandard, and no-
tion of virtue.
In the time of their rejoicings, they fix a certain day for the warriors to
be crowned -, for they cannot fleep found or eafy, under an old title, uhi!c
anew, or higher one is due. On that long-wifhed for day, they all appear
on the field of parade, as fine and cheerful as the birds in fpring. Their mar-
ti.il
i
w
I
3^8
General Obfervations on
tial drums beat, their bloody colours are difplayed, and mod of the young
people are dancing and rejoicing, for the prefent fuccefs of their
na-
if -i
tion, and the fafe return and preferment of their friends and relations.
Every expeftant warrior on that joyful day wears dccr-fls.in maccaleenes,
painted red, his body is anointed with bear's oil, a young foftened otter-
flcin is tied on each leg, a long collar of fine fwan feathers hangs round his
neck, and his face is painted with the various llreaks of the rain-bow.
Thus they appear, when two of the old magi come forth holding as many
white wands and crowns, as there are warriors to be graduated : and in
a (landing pofture, they alternately deliver a long oration, with great vehe-
mence of exprcffion, chiefly commending their ftrict obfervance of the law
of .purity, whiJe they accompanied the beloved ark of war, which induced
the fupreme chieftain to give them the vidory, and they encourage the reft
to continue to thirft after glory, in imitation of their brave anceftors, who
died nobly in defence of their country Ac the conclufion of their orations,
one of the magi calls three times with a loud voice, one of the warriors by
his new name, or war title, and holds up the white crown, and the fcep-
ter, or wand. He then gladly anfwers, and runs whooping to, and
around them, three times. One of the old beloved men puts the crown on
his head, and the wand into his hand ; then he returns to his former place,
whooping with joy. In like manner, they proceed with the reft of the gra-
duate warriors, to the end of their triumphal ceremony, concluding with
ihis ftrong caution, " Remember what you are (fuch a warrior, mentioning
his titles) according to the old beloved fpeech." This is equal to the bold
virtuous leflbns of the honeft Romans, and uncorrupted Greeks. The
concluding caution of the magi to the warriors, points at the different
duties of their honourable ftation, that they fhould always afpire after mar-
tial glory, and prefer thtir own virtue, and the welfare of their country,
more than life itfclf. The crown is wrought round with the long feathers
of a fwan, at the lower end, where it furrounds his temples, and it is cu-
rioufly wcaved with a quantity of white down, to make it fit eafy, and ap-
pear more beautiful. To this part that wreathes his brows, the fkilful
artift warps clofe together, a ringlet of the longcft feathers of the fwan,
and turning them carefully upward, in an uniform pofition, he, in the ex-
adleft manner, ties them together with deer's finews, fo as the bandage will
oot appear to the fliarpeft eyes without handling it. It is a little open at
the top, and about fifteen inches high. The crowns they ufe in confti-
5 tuting
the North American Indians.
399
tilting war-leaders, are always worked witii feathers of the tail of the che-
rubic eagle, which caules them to be three or four inches higher than the
former, Tliis latter cuftoin bears a rtriking refemblance to the ufage of
the ancients on fimilar occafions, according to the conltitution of their dif-
ferent forms of government.
iis
They are exceedingly pointed againfl: our methods of war, and con-
ferring of titles. By the furprifing condudt of a Georgia governor, both
the Muflvohge and Cheerakc, who attended our army in the war be-
fore the laft, againft St. Auguftine, have entertained, and will continue
to have the meaneft opinion of the Carolina martial difpofition, till by fome
notable brave a(5tions, it wears ofi\ The Indians concluded that there
was treachery in our letting prifoners of diftincTcion return to the fort
to put the reft on tlicir guard, and in our Ihutting up the batteries
for four or five days furcellivcly, not having our cannon difmounted, nor an-
noying the enemy, but having Hags of truce frequently pafling and repaf-
fing. They faid, that it was plain to their eyes, we only managed a Ihatn
fight with the Spaniards — and they became very unealy, and held many
conferences about our friendly intercourfe with the garrifon •, concluding that
we had decoyed them dov/n to be llaughtered, or delivered to the Spaniard
to purchafe a firm peace for ourfelves — and they no fooner reached their own
countries, than they reported the wliole affair in black colours, that we al-
lured them to a far-diftant place, where v/e gave them only a fmall quan-
tity of bad food -, and that they were obliged to drink faltidi water, which,
inftead of allaying, inflamed their thirft, while we were caroufing with
various liquors, and lliaking hands with the Spaniard, and fending the
white beloved fpeecli to one another, by beat of drum, although we
had the affurance to affirm that we held fad the bloody tomohawk.
The minuteft circumftance was fo ftrongly reprefented, that both nations
were on the very point of commencing war againft us. Rut the " Raven'*
of Euwafe, a leading head warrior of tlie Cheerake, was confined in Au-
gufta garrifon, till he fent up runners to ftop a war, that his fpeeches
and mefiages had nearly fomented — his life was threatened on failure, and'
he had large promifcs given, if he complied and fucceeded.
The Indians are much addi(fted to gaming, and will often ftake every
thing they poflefs. Ball-playing is their chief and moft favourite game :.
and is fuch fevere cxercife, as to fhew it was originally calculated for a;
hardy
400
Ot'nernl Obfcrvations on
liardy and expert race of people, like themfelves, and the ancient Spartans.
The ball is made of a piece of fcraped deer-(kin, moiftened, and ftufted hard
with deer's hair, and (Irongly fewed with deer's finews. — The ball-fticks are
about two feet long, the lower end fomewhat refembling the palm of a
hand, and which are worked with deer-fkin thongs. Between thefe, they
catch the ball, and throw it a great dillance, when not prevented by fome of
the oppofite party, who fly to intercept them. The goal is about five
hundred yards in length : at each end of it, they fix two long bending poles
into the ground, three yards apart below, but (lanting a confiderable
way outwards. The party that happens to throw the ball over thefe,
counts one ; but, if it be thrown underneath, it is caft back, and played
for as ufual. The gamefters are equal in number on each fide ; and,
at the beginning of every courfe of the ball, they throw it up high in the
center of the ground, and in a direft line between the two goals. When
the crowd of players prevents the one wlio catched the ball, from throwing
it off with a long direflion, he commonly fends it the right courfe, by
an artful fharp twirl. They are fo exceedingly expert in this manly
cxercife, that, between the goals, the ball is moftly flying the differ-
ent ways, by the force of the playing fticks, without falling to the ground,
for they are not allowed to catch it with thei: hands. It is furprifing
to fee how fwiftly they fly, when clofely chafed by a nimble footed
purfuerj when they are intercepted by one of the oppofite party, his
fear of being cut by the ball fliicks, commonly gives them an opportunity of
throwing it perhaps a hundred yards-, but the antagonift fometimes runs up
behind, and by a fudden ftroke daflies down the ball. It is a very unufual
thing to fee them ad: fpitefully in any fort of game, not even in this fevere
and tempting exercife.
Once, indeed, I faw fome break the legs and arms of their opponents, by
hurling them down, when on a defcent, and running at full fpeed. But
I afterward underftood, there was a family difpute of long continuance
between them : that might have raifed their fpleen, as much as the high
bets they had then at ftake, which was almofl: all they were worth. The
Choktah are exceedingly addicted to gaming, and frequently on ;he
flighteft and mod hazardous occafions, will lay thiir all, and as much as
their credit can procure.
By
the North American Indians.
401
By education, precept, and cuftom, as well as ftrong example, tliey have
learned to flicw an external acquiefcencc in every thing tlut befalls them,
cither as to life or death. By this means, they reckon it a fc.uidal to the
character cf a Oeady warrior to let his temper bj r'j'R'fd by any accidents, —
their virtue they fay, Ih.ould prc-/ent it. Tlieir conducl is equal to their
belief of the power of thole principles : jjievioiis to this fnarp e::crcire
of ball playing, notwithflaivling tlve irreligion of t':c Chokcah in other
refpefts, they will fupplicate To Ih h'''ah, to blefs them vv-ith fucccfs. To
move the deity to enr.ble tliem to conquer the party i!icy are to play againll,
they moriify themfclves in a farprifiiig manner-, and, except a fmall
intcrmifiion, their female relations dance out of d.oors all t\\.: preceding
night, chantinn; reliffior.s notes with their Ihriil voices, to n^ove To lie
JTah to be favourable to their kindred party on the morrow. TJie men
faft and v/nl from funfet, till the bail play is over tlx next ^\xy, whicli
is abou. one or two o'clock in the atternoon. Dtirins; the whole ni'^ht,
they are to forbear fleeping under tlic penalty of reproaches and fivame ;
which would fit very fnarp upon tliem, if t'v,;r party ciianced to
lofe the game, as it v/ould be alcribed to that unmanly and viciou.';
conduct. They turn out to the ball ground, in a long row, painted
white, whooping, as if Pluto's prifoners were all broke loofe : when thatea-
thufiallic emotion is over, ih.e leader of the company begins a religious in-
vocation, by faying iV;/', fiiort •, tlien 'I'o long, wliicli tlie reft of the train
repeat with a ihort accenr, and on a low key like tlie leader: and thus
they proceed v, ith llich acclamations and invocations, as have been al-
ready noticed, on other occafions. Kach party are defirous to gain t'lc
twentieth ball, which tliey eltcem a favourite divine gift. As it is in the
time of laying by the corn, in the very heat of lununer, tliey ufe this fe-
vere cxercife, a flrangcr would v.-onder to fee them hold it fo long at full
fpeed, and under the fcorching fun, hungry alfj, an,! faint v/iih t!ie excef-
five ufe of fuch iliarp phyfic as the buiton Inakc root, tin; want of natural
reft, and of every kind of nourilhment. But their conflancy, which they
pain by cuftom, and tlieir love of virtue, as the fure means of fuccefs,
enable them to perform all their cxercifes, wltlicut fading in the lca!l,
be they ever fo fevere in the purfuit.
7"he warriors have another favourite game, called Cbn-^gkc \ v.'hieli, with
propriety of language, may be called "• Running hard labour." They
V f f have
I;
■/
:( !1
i
■i i
402
General Ohjcrvations on
have near their ftate houfe, a fquare piece of ground well cleaned, and
Hne fand is carefully ilrewed over it, wlien requifite, to promote a fwifter
motion to what they throw along the furfacc. Only one, or two on a fide,
play at this ancient game. They have a ftone about two fingers broad at
the edge, and two fpans round : each party has a pole of about eight feet
long, fmooth, and tapering at each end, the points flat. They fet
off a-breafl; of each other at fix yards from the end of the play ground;
then one of them hurls the ftone on its edge, in as dire6l a line as he can, a
conliderable diftance toward the middle of the other end of the fquare :
when they have ran a few yards, each darts his pole anointed with bear's
oil, with a proper force, as near as he can guefs in proportion to the
motion of the ftone, that the end may lie dole to the ftone — when
tliis is the cafe, the perfon counts two of the ga-me, and, in proportion
Ko the nearnefs of the poles to the mark, ciie is counted, unlefs by
meafuring, both are found to be at an equal diftance from the ftone.
[n this manner, the players will keep running rnoft part of the day,
\t half fpeed, under the violent heat of the fun, ftaking their filver
ornaments, their nofe, finger, and car rings ; their breaft, arm, and
wfift plates, and even all their wearing apparel, except that which
barely covers their middle. All the American Indians are much addifted
to this game, whicli to us appears to be a tafiv of ftupid drudgery : it
Teems however to be of early origin, when their fore-fathers ufed diver-
fions as fimple as their manners. The hurling ftones they ufe at prefent,
were time immemorial rubbed fmooth on the rocks, and with prodigious
labour ; they are kept with the ftrifteft religious care, from one generation
to another, and are exempted from being buried with the dead. They
belong to the town where they are ufed, and are carefully preferved.
Their manner of rambling through the woods to kill deer, is a very la-
borious exercife, as they frequently walk twenty-five or thirty miles through
rough and fmooth grounds, and fafting, before they return back to camp,
loaded. Their method ot fifiiing may be placed among their diverfions, but
this is of the profitable kind. When they fee large fifti near the furface of the
water, they fire direclly upon them, fometimes only with powder, which^^
noife and furprize however fo ftupifies them, that they inftantly turn up
their bellies and float a top, when the fiftierman fecures them. If they
ftioot at fidi not deep in the water, either with an arrow or bullet, they aim
7 at
the North American Indians.
4-'3
at the lower part of the belly, if they are neari and lower, in like manner,
according to the diftance, wliicli rddoin fails of killing. In a dry fummer
feafon, they gather horfe chefnuts, and different forts of roots, which hav-
ing pounded pretty fine, and fteeped a while in a trough, they fcatter this
mixture over the furface of a middlc-Iiztd pond, and (lir it about with
poles, till the water is iufficiently impregnated with the intoxicating bittern.
The fifh are foon inebriated, and make to the furface of the water, with
their bellies uppermofl:. I'he fifliers gather them in bafkets, and barbicue
the largeft, covering them c;;refully over at night to prcferve them from
the fuppofed putrifying influence of the moon. It feems, that fifli catched
in this manner, are not poifoned, but only lUipified ; for they prove very
wholcfome food to us, who frequently ufe them. By experiments, when
they are fpccdily moved into good water, they revive in a few minutes.
I«
The Indians have the art of catcliing fifii in long crails, nude with canes
and hiccory fplinters, t.apering to a point. They lay thefe at a fiill ot
water, where ftones are placed in two Hoping lines from each bank, till they
meet together in the middle ot the rapid ftream, where the intangled (ifli arc
foon drowned. Above fuch a place, I 'have known them to fallen a
wreath of long grape vines together, to reach acrofs the river, with ftones faf
tcned at proper diftances to rake the bottom ; they will fwim a mile with it
whooping, and plunging all the way, driving the fifli before them into their
large cane pots. With this draught, wliich is a verv heavy one, they make a
town feaft, or (c.x'Ht of love, of which every one partakes in the niofl
focial manner, and afterward they dance together, finging Halelu-yab^ and
the reft of their ufual praifes to the divine eflence, for his bountiful gifts
to the beloved people. Thofe Indians who are unacquainted with the ufe of
barbed irons, are very expert in ftriking large fifli out of their canoes, with
long fliarp pointed green canes, wliich are well bearded, and hardened' in
the fire. In Savanah river, I have often accompanied them in killing ftur-
geons with thofe green fwamp harpoons, and which they did with much
pleafure and eafe ; for, when we difcovered the filli, we foon thruft into
their bodies one of t!ie harpoons. As the fifli would immediately ftrike
deep, and rufh away to the bottom vtr^ rapidly, their ftr' ^th was
foon expended, by their violent ftruggles againll the buoyant force of the
green darts : as foon as tlic top end of them appeared again on the furface
1- f f 2 of
404
General Ohfcyvatlons on
of the water, we made up to then-., renewed the attack, and in lll;e manner
continued it, till wc fccurcd our game.
m.
lil
ii
They have a furprifing method of fifliing under the edges of rocks, that
ftand over deep places of a river. I'hcre, they pull olT their red breeches,
or their long flip of Stroud cloth, and wrapping it round their arm, fo as
to reach to the lower part of the palm of their right hand, they dive under
the rock where the larcrc cat-fifii lie to fiielter themfelves from the fcorch-
ing beams of the fun, and to watch for prey : as foon as thofc Herce
aquatic animals fee that tempting bait, they immediately feize it with the
srrcrttc-Il violence, in order to fv/allow it. Then is the time for the diver to
improve the favourable opportunity : he accordingly opens his hand, fcizes
tl'.e voracious fifli by iiis tender parts, hath a fiiaip ftruggle with it againft
the crevices of the rock, and at laft brings it I'afc alhore. Except the
Choktah, all our ^ndians, both male and female, above tiie (late of infancy,
are in the water/ clement nearly equal to amphibious animal?, by prac-
tice : and from the experiments neccHlty has forced them to, it feems as i£
few were endued with fuch ftrong natural abilities, — very few can equal
them in their wild fituation of life.
There is a favourite method among them of fifliing with 'und-nets. The
nets are about three feet deep, and of the fame diameter at the opening,
matle of hemp, and knotted after the ufual manner of our nets. On
cr.ch fide of the mouth, they tie very fecurely a llrong elaftic green cane, to
which the ends are fattened. Prepared with thefe, the warriors a-breaft,
jump in at the end of a long pond, fwimming under v/ater, with their
net ftretched open with both hands, and the canes in a horizontal po-
fition. In this manner, they will continue, citlier till their breath is ex-
pended by the want of refpiration, or till the net is fo ponderous as to force
them to exonerate it afliore, or in a bafket, fixt in a proper place for
that purpofe — by removing one hand, the canes inltantly fpring together.
I have been engaged half a day at a time, with the old-friendly Chikkafah,
and half drowned in the diverfion — when any of us was fo unfortunate as
to catch water-fnakcs in our fvvecp, and emptied them a.liore, we had the
rant'ng voice of our friendly pofle comitatus, v/hooping againft us, till ano-
ther party was fo unlucky as to meet with the like misfortune. During this
excrcife, the women are fitlnng an-.or'- with coarfe balkets, to catch the fiHi
7 that
the North American Indians.
405
t!iut cTcape our nets. At the end of our friendly diverfion, we cheerfull/
return home, and in an innocent and friendly manner, eat together, ftu-
diouHy diverting each other, on the incidents of the day, and make a
cheerful night.
The Indians formerly had (lone axes, which in form commonly rcfem-
bled a fmith's chifel. Each weighed from one to two, or three pounds
weight — I'hey were made of a fiinty kind of ftone : I have fccn feve-
rul, which chanced to cfcape being buried with their owners, and were
carci'ully preil-rved by the old people, as rcfpeclable remains of antiquity.
They twitted two or three tough hiccory flips, of about two feet long,
round the notched head of the axe ; and by means of this fimple and ob-
vious invention, they deadened the trees by cutting through the bark,
and burned them, when they either fell by decay, or became thoroughly
dry. With thefe trees they always kept up their annual holy fire;
and ihey reckon it unlawful, and produdive of many temporal evils, to ex-
tinguilh even the culinary fire with water. In the time of a ftorm, when
I have done it, the kindly women v/ere in pain for m.e, through fear
of tiie ill coniequences attending To criminal an aft. I never law them
to damp t!ic fire, only when they hung up a brand in the appointed place,
with a twilted grape-vine, as a threatening fymbol of torture and tieath
to the enemy •, or when their kinfinan dies. In the Lift ca!e, a father
or brotlier of the deceafed, takes a fire-brand, and brandilliing it two
or tliree times round his head, with lamenting v/ords, he with his ri^ht
hand dips it into the v/atcr, and lets it fink dov/n.
By the aforefaid difficult method of deadening the trees, and clearing the
woods, the contented natives got convenient fields in procefs of time. And
their tradition fays t.iey did not live firaggling in tlic American woods, as do
the Arabians, and rambling Tartars -, for they made houfes with the branche-
and bark of trees, for the fummer-feafon ; and warm mud-v;alls, mixt witli
foft dry grais, againit the bleak winter, according to their prefent plan of
building, which 1 flniU prefently defcribe. Now, in the firft clearing of their
plantations, they only bark tlie large tiniber, cut down the ihpplings and un-
derwooj, and burn them in heaps •, as the luckcrs flioot up, they chop tiiem
off clofe by the ftump, of which they make fires to deaden the roots^.
till in time they decay. Though to a itranger, tl.is may I'eem to be a.
lazj.
I
4o6
General Ohfetvathns on
%
it
lazy method of clearing the wood-lands •, yet it is the 'mon: expcJicIous
method they could have pitched upon, under their circumftanccs, as ,i
common hoe and a fmall hatchet are all their implements for clearing and
planting.
Every dwelling-houfe has a fmall field pretty clofe to it : and, as foon as
the ipring of the year admits, there they plant a variety of large and I'mall
beans, peas, and the fnialler fort of Indian corn, which ufually riptns in
two months, from the time it is planted ; though it is called by the Knglifli,
the fix weeks corn. Around this fmall farm, they fallen Hakes in the
ground, and tie a couple of long fplit hiccory, or white oak-fapplings, at
proper diftances to keep ofi' the horfes : though they cannot leap fences,
yet many of the old horfes will creep through thefe enclofures, almoft as
readily as fwine, to the great regret of the women, who fcold and give them
ill names, calling them ugly mad horfes, and bidding them " go along,
and be fure to keep av/ay, othcrwife their hearts will hing fiiarp within them,
and fet them on to fpoil them, if envy and covetoufnefs lead them back."
Thus they argue with them, and they are ufually as good as iheir word, by
ftriking a tomohawk into the horfe, if he does not obferve the friendly cau-
tion they gave him at the laft parting. Their large fields lie quite open
with regard to fencing, and they believe it to be agreeable to the befl
rules of ceconomy ; bccaiife, as they fay, they can cultivate the bcft of
their land h?rc and there, as it fuits their conveniency, without waRin^^
their time in fcru.es and childifhly confining their improvements, as
if the crop v^ould eat itftlf. The women however tether the horfes with tough
young bark-ropes, and confine the fwine in convenient penns, from the time
the provifions are planted, till they are gathered in — the men improve this
time, either in -killing plenty of wild game, or courfing againft the common
enemy, and thereby fecure the women and girls, and get their own temples
furroundrd v,/ith the fwan -feathered cap. In this manner, the Indians have
to me, excufed tlieir long-contracled habit and praftice.
The chiff pare of the Indians begin to plant their out-fields, when the
wild fruit is fo ripe, as to draw off the birds from picking up the grain.
This is their pcncrai rule, which is in the beginning of May, about the
time the traders let ofl-' for the Enolifii fettlcments. Among feveral nations
of Indian?, each town «jfually works together. Previous thereto, an oJd
beloved
//(' Kcrth American ImliatiG.
40/
beloved man warns the inhabitants to be ready to plant Oii a prefixed day.
Ac tlic dawn of ir, one by order i^oes alofr, and wlioops to them with
flirill calls, "■ tliat the new year is far advanced, — that lie who experts to
cat, mull work, — and tiiat he who will not work, mufl: expect to pay il-.c
line according to old cudoni, ot leave the town, as they will not Iweat
themielves ^- an healthy idle waller." At fuch times, mny be feen ir.any
war-c!iicftains workinf^ in common with the people, thougii as great em-
perors, as ihofe the Sjjaniards beflowed oa the old fimple Mexicans ;uul-
Peruvians, and equal in power, (i. e. perfuafive force) with the imperial and
puillant Powhatan of Virginia, wlioiii our generous writers raifcd to tl-,at:
prodigious pitch of power and grandeur, to rival the vSpanifli accounts.
About an hour after fun- rife, they enter the field agreed on by h.-t, and
flill to work with great checrfulnei's -, fometimes one of their orators
cheers them with jells and humorous old tales, and fiiigs fevcral of their
moft agreeable wild tunes, beating alfo with a ilick in his right hand,
on the top of an earthern pot covered with a wet and well-ilretched dcer-
fl<in : thus they proceed from field to field, till their feed is fov/.i.
Corn is their chief produce, and main dependance. Of this they have
three forts ; one of which hath been already mentioned. The fccond fort
is yellow and flinty, which they call " hommony-corn." The third is the
largefl, of a very white and foft grain, termed " bread-corn." In July,
when the chefnuts and corn are green and full grown, they half boil the for-
mer, and take off the rind ; and having fliced the milky, fwelled, long rows
of the latter, the women pound it in a large wooden mortar, which is wide
at the mouth, and gradually narrows to the bottom : then they knead both
together, wrap them up in green corn-blades of various fizes, about an inch-
thick, and boil them well, as they do every kind of feethed food. This fore
of bread is very tempting to the tafte, and reckoned mofl delicious to their
ftrong palates. They have another fort of boiled bread, which is mixed with
beans, or potatoes ; they put on the foft corn till it begins to boil, and pound
it fufficiently fine ; — their invention does not reach to the ufe of any kind
of milk. When, the flour is ftirred, and dried by the heat of the fun
or fire, they fift it with fieves of different fizes, curioufly made of the coar-
fer or finer cane-fplinters. The thin cakes mixt with bear's oil, were for-
merly baked on thin broad fliones placed over a fire, or on broad earthen
bottoms fit for fuch a ufe : but novr they ufe kettles. When tliey intend to
bake
i
4oS
Gi'Kcml Ohfcvcat'ions on
bal;c f^rcat io.r/c::, tlicy trakc a Aioni^ blazing fire, wicli fl:ort ilry fplit
wood, on t!i'." heart!]. When it is burnt down to c(\ih, they circiLilIy
rake them off" to c.uii fide, and Ivveep away th.- remaining;; afli-.s : then tl-,"y
put tliJr well-knccded broad loaf, firO. deeped in Iiot water, over t: c
hearth, and :'.n earthen bafon above it, with the embers and, coals a lop.
This metiiod of baking is as clean and el:'caciou3 as eould pliably be 1 .iil-
in any oven •, wiien they take it ofi', tliev v.-afli the loaf with warm w ter,
and it loon becomes firm, and very wliite. It is likewife w'l-v wholefuriie,
and well-tafted to any except the vitiated palate of an Epicure.
Iff
mi
• The French of Vv'efl- Florida, and the Englidi colonifls, n;nt from
t'ie Indians dllTerent forts of beans and pea", with v;hicli they were be-
tbre entirely unacquainted. And they plant a fort of fmall tobacco, v.hicii
t!c I-'rench and F.nf^lilh have not. All the Indian nations we liavc ar.y nc-
(uiaintance v/ith, frequently ufe it on the moft religious occafions. 1 \vi
women plant alfo pompions, and different forts of melonr, in f-parate ficldi,
at a confiderable diflance from the town, where each owner raifes an high
icaffuld, to over-look this favourite part of their vegetable pofillTions : and
though the enemy fometimes kills them in this tlieir ftrie't watch du'y,
yet it is a very rare thing to pafs by thofe fields, without feeirj them
there at watcli. I'his ufually is the duty of the old women, who fret at ti.e
very fliadov/ of a crow, v/hcn he chances to pafs on his wide furvey of
the fields ; but if jiinching hunger fliould excite him to defcend, they Ibcn
frigiiten him away with their fcreeches. When the pompions are ripe, they
cut them into long circling fliccs, which they barbacuc, or dry v.ith a
flow heat. And when they have half boiled the larger fort of potatoes,
they likewife dry them over a moderate fire, and chiefly ufe them in t!ie
fpring-feafon, mixt with their favourite bear's oil. As foon as the lar-
ger Ibrt of corn is full-eared, they half-boil it too, and dry it eith.er
by the fun, or over a flow lire-, wliich nnight be done, as well, in
a moderately iiot oven, if the heat was renewed as occafion required.
Tiiis they boil with venifon, or any other unfdted flefh. They commonly
have pretty good crops, which is owing to the richnefa of the foil ; for
they often let the weeds out-grow the corn, before they begin to be in
.^arnefi: with their work, owing to their lazinefs and unficilfulnefs in plant-
inir : and this method is general throuah all thofe nations that work ie-
parately
tic North American Indians.
409
paiatoly in their own fields, which in a great meafure checks the growth
of tlicir crops. IJi-fiiles, they are lb dolirous of having niuUitm i:i f'r.rv^,
without much fwcating, that they plant the corn-hills fo clolV, as to tiiereby
choak up the field. — They plint their corn in llraight rows, puitin^i; five or
fix grains into one hole, about two inches diflant — They cover tlieni with
clay in the form of a finall hill. Each row is a yard afunder, and in the
vacant ground they plant pumpkins, water-melons, marih-mallows, fun-
flowers, and fundry forts of beans and peas, the laft two of whicli yield
a large increafe.
They have a great deal of fruit, and they dry fuch kinds as wil! bear
it. At the fall of the leaf, they gather a number of hiccory-nuts, which
tiicy pound with a round ftone, upon a ftone, thick and hollowed for
the purpofe. When they are beat fine enough, they mix them with cold
water, in a clay bafon, where the fhells fubfide. The other part is an oily,
tough, thick, white fubftance, called by the traders hiccory milk, and by
the Indians the fle(h, or fat of hiccory-nuts, with which they eat their
bread. A hearty ftranger would be as apt to dip into the fediments as
I did, the firft time tliis vegetable thick milk was fet before me. As
ranging tlie woods had given me a keen appetite, 1 was tlic more rea-
dily tempted to believe they only tantalized me for their diverfion, when
they laughed heartily at my fuppofed ignorance. But luckily when the ba-
fon was in danger, the bread was brought in piping hot, and the good-na-
tured landlady being informed of my fimplicity, fhewed me the right way
to life the vegetable liquid. It is furprifing to fee the great variety of
diflies they make out of wild flefh, corn, beans, peas, potatoes, pompi-
ons, dried fruits, herbs and roots. They can diverfify their courfes, as
much as the Englifli, or perhaps the French cooks : and in either of the
ways they drefs their food, it is grateful to a wi:olefome ftomach.
Their old fields abound with larger ftrawberries than I have feen in
any part of the world •, infomuch, that in the proper feafon, one
may gather a hat-full, in the fpace of two or three yards fquare. They
have a fort of wild potatoes, which grow plentifully in their rich low
lands, from South-Carolina to the MifTifippi, and partly ferve them in-
(lead of bread, either in the woods a hunting, or at home when tiie fore-
going fummer's crop fails them. They have a fmall vine, which twines,
G g g chiefly
mi
410
General Obfervations on
ti" \
chiefly round the wairy alder ; and the hogs 'feed 'often upon the grajies.
Their furfact is uneven, yet inclining to a round ligure. They arc large, of a
coarfe grain, well-tafted, and Vi'ry wholcfome •, in tiie woods, they are a
very agreeable repaft. There grows a long llag, in fliallow ponds, and on
the edges of running waters, with an evcr-grccn, broad, round leaf, .1
little indented wliere it joins the ilalk j it bears only one leaf, that always
floats on the furface of the water, and affords plenty of cooling fniall nuts,
which make a fweet-tafted, and favourite bread, when mixed with Indian
co.n flour. It is a fort of marfli-mallows, and reckoned a fpeedy cure for burn-
ing maladies, either outward or inward, — for the former, by an outward ap-
plication of the leaf J and for the latter, by a dccoJlion of it drank plenti-
fully. The Choktah fo highly cftcem this vegetable, that they call one of
their head-towns, by its name.
Providence hath furniflied even the uncultivated parts of America with
fufficient to fupply the calls of nature.— Formerly, about fifry miles to the
north-eaft of the Chikkafah country, I faw the chief part of the main camp
of the Shawano, confiding of about 450 perfons, on a tedious ramble to
the Mufl<ohge country, where they fettled, fevcnty-miles above the Ala-
bahma-garrifon : they had been ftraggling in the woods, for tht fpace
of four years, ai Jicy aflfured me, yet in general they were more lorpu-
lent than the Chikkafah who accompanied me, notwithfl:anding they had
lived during that time, on the wild produifls of the American defarts. This
evinces how eafily nature's wants are fupplied, and that the divine goodnefs
extends to America and its inhabitants. They are acquainted with a great
many herbs and roots, of which the general part of the Englilh !iave not
the leaft knowledge. If an Indian were driven out into the extenfive
woods, with only a knife and tomohawk, or a fmall hatchet, it is not to be
doubted but he would fatten, even where a wolf would ftarve. He could foon
colleft fire, by rubbing two dry pieces of wood together, make a bark hut,
earthen veflels, and a bow and arrows •, then kill wild game, fifh, frefli water
tortoifes, gather a plentiful variety of vegetables, and live irv affluence. For-
mer)y, they made their knives of flint-ftone, or of fplit canes ; and fome-
times they are now forced to ufe the like, in flaying wild animals, when
in their winter hunt they have the misfortune to lofe their knives.
Ifhall
the North American Indians.
411
I (liall mention one inftance, which will confirm what I have f.iiJ of
their fiirprifing fkill and ability of living in defarts, inhabited only by
wild hearts. In the winter of the year 1747, one of the ChikkaUh
traders went from home, about ten miles, accompanied only by a
negro; fix of the miles was an old walle fielu, which the Chikkafah
formerly had fettled, when they were more numerous. On their return
home, within two miles of the outer-houfes, while riding careledy near
two deep gullies, there ftood a couple of Canada Indians behind a tree,
(befidc two others a little way off) within a few yards of the path, with their
trunk guns, watching two boys then in fight — when the trader and his fer-
vant came abreaft of them, the negro's horle reccivec. mort- ' fhot, and
after carrying him about a quarter of a mile, on leaping a difficult pafs,
he fell dead on the fpot •, the rider's heels carried him the reft of the
way fafe : but, unluckily, it did not fare {0 well with the gentleman,
for as he rode a young Choktah horfe, which had been ufed only to a rope
round his neck, the reining hinj with a bridle, checked him, and the
French favages had an opportunity to give the gentleman two mortal
wounds, with brafs-barbed arrows, the one in his belly, and the other a
little below the heart -, bcfide two others in his left flioulder. His horfe
being frightened, fprung off at full fpeed, and brought him home. The
gentleman in his rapid courfe twifted the murdering arrows out of his
bowels, but could not reach thofe that were deeply lodged in his Ihoul-
der. He lived two nights and a day after this in mofl cxquifite tor-
tures, but fcnfible to the laft-, when he had been forcibly kept down,
a confiderable lime on the bed, he entreated in the moft importunate
manner, to be helped to lean his back againft the wall, and it would
give him eafe. At my requeft it was allowed hin. -he immediately ex-
pired, and it is to be hoped, that, according to his defire, he immedi-
ately entered into eternal reft. While he lay a corpfe, and till we the
next day buried him, the Indians were filent, and almoft invifible. The ne-
gro and his mafter, as foon as they difcovered the Canadians, put up the
Ilirill whoop, both to warn the Chikkafah, and draw them againft the ene-
my ; this made the two boys to ftretch home, which they did a little be-
fore fun-fet. But the latenefs of the day, prevented our friends purfuing,
till next morning. By the diftance the enemy ran in the night, they for
that time evaded 'heir eager purfuers. Some went to the place of
ambufcade, and found that the enemy being difappointed of the prey
falling into tlieir hands, had purfued till they came up with
\\
Go
g
negros
horfe.
4^2■
General Obfervatlons on-
f
horfe, which they had chopped, and the faddle, with their tomohawka,
all to pieces. However, about half way between the Chikkafah country
and ilie Ilhnois, three old Chikkafah warriors, on their way to join the main
camp, came up with thofe Canadians in wet bufhy ground -, — they cloll'ly
chafed them for feveral miles, and forced them by degrees to throw away
every thing they carried, and feek their fafety by leaping quite naked into
s deep and broad creek, that was much frozen on the two banks ; it was
for fome time imagined they had periflicd !•. tlie woods, by the fevcrity
of winter, but we were well informed afterwards, that like hardy beafts
of prey, they got fafe home.
None of the Indians however eat any kind of raw fallads ; they reckon
fuch food is only fit for brutes. Their tafte is lb very oppofite to that of
cannibals, that in order to deftroy the blood, (which with tliem is an abomi-
nation to eat) they over-drefs every kind of animal food they ufe. I n.^ve
often jefted them for prefling me to eat eggs, that were boiled fo much as
to be blue, and told them my teeth were too bad to chew bullets. They
faid they could not fuck eggs after the manner of the white people,
otherwife they would have brought them raw •, but they hoped I would
cxcufe the prefent, and they would take particular care not to repeat
the error, the next time I favoured them with a vifit. In the fpring of
the year, they ufe a great many valuable greens and herbs, which nature
has peculiarly adapted to their rich, and high-fituated regions : few of them
have gardens, and it is but of late they have had any angelica, or belly-
ach-rooti this is one of their phyfical greens, which they call Lock-
foojhe.
I fliall now defcribe the domeftic life of the Indians, and the traders
among them. The Indians fettle ti/.^-iifelves in towns or villages after an
eafy manner •, the houfes are not too clofe to incommode one another, nor
too far diltant for fecial defence. If ihe nation where the Hnglilh traders
reiide, is at war with the French, or their red confederates, which is the
fame, their houfes are built in tlie middle of the town, if defired, on ac-
count of greater fecurity. But if they are at peace with each other, both
the Indians and traders chufe to fetile at a very convenient diftance, for the
fake of their live ftock, efpccially the latter, for the Indian youth are as
deftrudive to the pigs and poultry, as fo many young wolves or foxes.
TJicir
the North American Iiuli.in?,
4'3
Their parents now only give them ill names for llich niifconi-KKfl, calling
them mad; but the niilchicvoiis, ami thievilh, were tbrincrly lure to be
dry-fcratched, whicli punilhiiicnt liata been already dclcibed.
Mofl: of the Indians have clean, near, dwcHinrr honles v.hitc-wa'ilKd
within and without, either wltli decayed oyfter-lhclls, coarfo-chalk, or
vfhite marly clay-, one or other of which, each of our Indian nations
abountls vvitii, be they ever fo f.'.r diltant from the fea-ihore : the Indian?,
as Well as the traders, ufually decorate their iummer-houles with this fa-
vourite white-wafli. — The former have likewil'e each a corn-houfe, fowl-
houfe, and a hot-houfe, or (love for winter : and lb have the traders
likewife feparate flore-houfes for their goods, as well as to contain the pro-
per remittances received in exchange.
The traders hot-houfes are appropriated to their young-rifing prolific fa-
mily, and their well-pleafed attendants, who are always as kindly treated as
brethren ; and their various buildings, are like towers in cities, beyond the
common fize of thole of the Indians. Btfore the Indians were corrupted by
mercenary empirics, their good fenfe led them to efteeni the traders among
them as their fecond fun, warming their backs with the Britilh fleeces and
keeping in their candle of life both by plentiful fupport, and continual pro-
reftion and fafety, from the fire-arms and ammunition which they annu-
ally brought to them. While the Indians were fimple in manners, and un-
corrupt in morals, the traders could not be reckoned unhappy ; for they
were kindly treated, and watchfully guarded, by a fociety of friendly,
and fiigacious people, and poflined all the neeilful things to make a rea-
fonable life eafy. Through all the Indian countries, every perfon lives ac
his own choice, not being forced in tlie lealt degree to any thing con-
trary to his own inclination. Before that mod impolitic ftep of giving
general licences took place, only a fufficient number of orderly reputable
traders were allowed to traffic, and refide among the Indians : by wliich
means the laft were kept under proper rcflraint, were cafy in their minds,
and peaceable, on account of the plain honeft Icffons daily inculcated
on them. But at prefent, mod of their countries fwarm with white people,
who .are generally the dregs and off-fcourings of our colonies. The de-
fcription is fo exceedingly difagreeable, that I fliall only obferve, the greater
part of them could notably dillinguilh themfclves. among the molt profli-
I gate
I
414
General Obferjations on
l.i-
li: i.
if;
gate by land or fea, no day of the week excepted, indeed the Ubbath i.'ay
is the worft. This is the true fituation of our Indian affairs, — the unavoid-
able refult of ignorant and wicked clergymen fettled as Miflionaries on the
frontiers; and of that' pernicious prsitice of general licences, by which
crowds of diforderly people infeft the Indian countries, corrupt their morals,
and put their civilization out of the power of common means : the worft
and meanefl: may "readily get nominal fecurity to intitle them to a trading
licence i and ill ufes are made of them with impunity.
Till of late years, the honeft traders lived among the Indians in the
greatefl: plenty. They abounded with hogs, which made very firm ftreaked
bacon, and much preferable to that in the Englifh fetdements chiefly ov/-
ing to the acorns and hiccory-nuts they feed on : but the Indians are now
grown fo proud and lazy, by having goods too cheap and plenty, that
very few raife any. There are at leaft five times the number of trading houfes
in all the weftern Indian nations, fince general licences, through the wif-
dom of our civil rulers, were firft granted, than was formerly, while expe-
rience direded South-Carolina to purfue and enforce proper meafures. Such
a number of lewd, idle white favages are very hurtful to the honeft
part of the traders, by heightening the value of vegetables, efpecially in
the time of light crops, to ?n exorbitant price •, for by inebriating the
Indians with their nominally prohibited, and poifoning fpirits, they pur-
chafe the neceflfaries of life, at four or five hundred per cent cheaper, than
the orderly traders ; which is a great check to the few, who have a love to
the welfare of their country, and ftridlly obferve the laws of trade. Bc-
fides, thofe men decoy the intoxicated favages to defraud the old fair
dealer every winter, of many thoufand pounds of dreft decr-(kins, by the
enchanting force of liquors, which, on account of their indolence and im-
provident difpofition, intereft abfolutely required him to credit them for :
but when at the end of their mad career, they open their diftra<flcd eyes,
and bitterly inveigh againft the tempting authors of their nakednels, then
there is the fame necefiity of trufting them a-new for the next feafon's hunt,
and likewife the fame improbability, cither of better fuccefs, or any fort of
redrefs •, for family jobs muft not be interrupted or retarded on any ac-
count.
The
%i
the North American Indians.
415
The indiiftrious old traders have ftill a plenty of hogs, which they raife
in folds, moftly on the weeds of the fields during the whole time the crops
arc in the ground ; likewifc fome hundreds of fowls at once, — plenty of
venifon, — the dried flefli of bears and buffalos, — wild turkeys, ducks,
geefe, and pigeons, during the proper feafon of their being fat and plenty ;
for the former fort of fowls are lean in the fummer, and the others are
in thefe moderate climates only during the winter, for they return north-
ward with the fun. The buffalos are now become fcarce, as the thoughtlefs and
wafteful Indians ufed to kill great numbers of them, only for the tongues
and marrow-bones, leaving the reft of the carcafes to the wild beads.
The traders commonly make bacon of the bears in winter; but the Indians
moftly flay off a thick tier of fat which lies over the flefli, and the latter
they cut up into fmall pieces, and thruft them on reeds, or fuckers of fweet-
tafted hiccory or faffafras, which they barbecue over a flow fire. The
fat they fry into clear vell-tafted oil, mixing plenty of faffafras and
wild cinnamon with it over the fire, which keeps fweet from one winter
to another, in large earthen jars, covered in the ground. It is of a
light digeftion, and nutritive to hair. All who are acquainted with its qua-
lities, prefer it to any oil, for any ufe whatfoever : fmooth Florence is
not to be compared in this refpeft with rough America.
I have known gentlemen of the niceft tafte, who on the beginning of
their firft trip into the Indian country, were fc greatly prejudiced againft
eating bears-flefli, that they vehemently protefted, they would as foon eat
part of a barbecued rib of a wolf, or any other beaft of prey, as a fpare-
rib of a young bear ; but, by the help of a good appetite, which their ex-
crcife and change of air procured, they ventured to tafte a little : and
prefently they fed on it more plentifully than others, to make up the
iofs they had fuftained by their former fqueamiflinefs and ncglefl. In the
fpring of the year, bear-bacon is a favourite difti with the traders, along
with herbs that the woods afford in plenty i efpecially with the young tops
of poke, the root of which is a very ftrong poifon. And this method
they purfue year by year, as a phyfical regimen, in order to purge their
blood.
Buffalo flefli is nothing but beef of a coarfer grain, though of a fweeter
tafte than the tame fort : elk-flefti has the like affinity to venifon. The deei
are
5
11
416
General Obfervations on
are very tat in winter, by reafon of the great quantities of chefnuts, ami
warious forts of acorns, that cover the "boundlcfs woods. Though mod
•of the traders who go to the remote Indian countries, iiave tame flock,
as already defcribed, and are very expert at fire-arms and ranging the woods
a hunting j yet every fervant that each of them fits out for the winter's
hunt, brings home to his mafter a large heap of fat barbecued brifkets,
rumps, and tongues of buffalo and deer, as well as plenty of bear-ribs,
which are piled on large racks : thefe are laid up and ufed not for ne-
cefluy, but for the fake of variety. The traders carry up alfo plenty of
chocolate, 'coffee, and fugar, which enables them with their numberlefs
quantity of fowls-eggs, fruit, &c. to have puddings, pyes, parties, fritters,
and many other articles of the like kind, in as great plenty, as in the En-
glifb fettlements. Several of the Indians produce fugar out of the fweet
maple-tree, by making an incifion, draining the juice, and boiling it to a
proper confiftence.
!V'!
Sfr'
^1!
Though in moft of the Indian nations, the water is good, becaufe
of their high fituation, yet the traders very feldom drink any of it at
home ; for the women beat in mortars their flinty corn, till all the hufks
are taken off, which having well fifted and fanned, they boil in large
earthen pots-, then draining off the thinned part into a pot, they mix
it with cold water, till it is fufficiently liquid for drinking : and when
cold, it is both pleafant ?nd very nourilliingj and is much liked even
by the genteel flrangers. The Indians always ufed mortars, inftead of
mills, and they had them, with almoft every other convenience, when
we firft opened a trade with them — they cautioufly burned a large log,
to a proper level and length, placed fire a-top, and wet mortar round it, in
order to give the utenfil a proper form : and when the fire was extinguifhed,
or occafion required, they chopped the infide with their ftone-inftruments,
patiently continuing the flow procefs, till they finilhed the machine to the
intended purpofe. L have the pleafure of writing this by the fide of a Chik-
kifaii female, as great a princefs as ever lived among the ancient Peruvi-
ans, or Mexicans, and llie bids me be fure not to mark the paper wrong,
after the manner of moft of the traders ; otherwife, it will fpoil the making
good bread, or hommony, and of courfe beget the ill-will of our white
women.
I null
the North American Indians.
417
I /hall now defcribe their method of building houfes to fcciire themlclvcs
and their food from injury — I'hcy -x^o. a very dihitory people, and noted
for procraftinating every thirg that admits of the leafl; delay : but they are
the readieft, and quickeft of all people in going to flied blood, and return-
ing home •, whence the traders fay, " that an Indian is never in hade,
only when the devil is at his arfe." This proverb is fully verified by their
method of building •, for while the memory of the bleak pinching winds
latls, and they are covered with their winter-blackened ikins, they turn out
early in the fpring, to ftrip clap-boards and cyprefs-oark, for the co-
vering of their houfes : but in proportion as the fun advances, they
ufually defift from their undertaking during that favourable feafon ; fay-
ing, " that in the time of warm weather, they generally plant in the
fields, or go to war ; and that building houfes in the troublefome hot fum-
mer, is a needlefs and foolifli affair, as it occafions much fweating," —
which is the moft offenfive thing in life to every red warrior of manly
principles. On this account, if we except the women chopping fire- wood
for daily ufe, it is as rare to hear the found of an ax in their countries,
as if they lived under the unhofpitable torrid zone ; or were ne«rly related to
the South-American animal Pigritia, that makes two or three days journey
in going up a tree, and is as long in returning. When the cold weather ap-
proaches, they return to their work, and necefllty forces them then to per-
form what a timely precaution might have executed with much more eafc.
When they build, the whole town, and frequently the neareft of their tribe
in neighbouring towns, aflift one another, well knowing that many hands
make fpeedy work of that, which would have difcouraged any of them
from ever attempting by himfelf. In one day, they build, daub with their
tough mortar mixed with dry grafs, and thoroughly finifli, a good com-
modious houfe.
They firft trace the dimenfions of the intended fiibric, and every one
has his tafk prefcribed him after the exafteft manner. In a few hours
they get the timber ready from the Hump : every piece being marked,
it is readily applied to the proper place, in a great hurry, and fo very
fecure, as if it were to fcreen them from an approaching hurricane. Not-
withftanding they build in this haity mr.nncr, their houfes are commonly
genteel and convenient. For their fummer houfes, they generally fix
itrong ports of pitch-pine deep in the ground, which will lall for feveral
ages — The trees of dried locuil:, and falTafras, are likewifc very durable.
H ii h ' The
%
4i8
General Objewations on
i'l
1^
The ports are of an equal height -, and the wall-plates are placed on top
of thefe, in notches. Then they fink a large poft in the center of each
gable end, and another in the middle of the houfe where the partition is
to be, in order to fupport the roof-tree ; to thefe they tie the rafters with
broad fplinrers of white oak, or hiccory, unlefs they make choice of fuch
long fapplings, as will reach from fide to fide over the ridge hole, which,
with a proper notch in the middle of each of them, and bound as the other
fort, lie very fecure. Above thole, they fix either fplit fapplings, or three large
v.'inter canes tog'.ther, at proper diftances, well tied. Again, they place
abo"e the wall-plates of both fides the houfe, a fufficient number of ftrong
crooks to bear up the eave-boards : and they faftcn each of them, both ta
one of the rafters and the wall-plate-, with the bandages before defcribed.
As the poplar tree is very foft, they make their eave-boards of it, with
their fmall iiatchets : having placed one on each fide, upon the crooks, exr
ceeding the length of the houfe, and jutting a foot beyond the wall, they,
cover the fabric with pine, or cyprefs clap-boards, which they can fplit rea-
dily ; and crown the work with the bark of the fame trees, all of a proper,
length and breadth, which they had before provided. In order to fecure
this covering from the force of the high winds, they put a fufficient number
of long fplit fapplings above the covering of each fide, from end to end,
and tie them fall to the end of the laths. Then they place heavy logs above,
refting on the eave-boards, oppofite to each crook, which overlap each other,
on the oppofite fides, about two feet a-top, whereon they fix a convenient log,
and tie them together, as well as the laths to the former, which bind it
together, and thus the fabric becomes a favage philofopher's caftle, the fide
and gables of which arc bullet proof. The barrier towns cut port holes in
thofe fummer houfes, daubing them over with clay, fo as an enemy canr
not difcove. them on the outfide ; — they draw a circle round each of them
in the infide of the houfe, and when they are attacked, they open their
port holes in a trice, and fall to work. But thofe, that live more at eafe,
indulge themfelves accordingly. Herein, they teach us tc fecure our bar-
rier fettlements with proper places of defence, before we flatter ourfelves
with the uncertain liope of reaping what we plant, or grow fond of the
fliowy parts of life. Wlien the Britifii empire hath a fufficient plenty of
ftrong frontitrr gariifons to proteft fuch as the weak, and valuable colony of
"Wed Florida, tir.c and well furnilhed houfes will foon rife of courfe. The
Indians always make their doors of poplar, becaufe the limber is large,
and
the North American Indians.
419
ond very light when feafoned, as well as eafy to be hewed -, they cut tlic
tree to a proper length, and fplit it with a maul and hard wooden wedjos
when they have indented it a little, in convenient places with their fm.'.d
hatchets. They often make a door of one plank in breadth, but, when ;r
requires two planks, they fix two or three crofs bars to the inner fide, at ;i
proper diftancc, and bore each of them with a piece of an old gun barrel,
heated and battered for the purpofe, and few them together with ftrap-s
of a fhaved and wet bufialo hide, which tightens as it dries, and it is
almoft as ilrong as if it were done with long nails, riveted in the ufual manner.
Thus, they finifl; their fummer houfc of pleafure, without any kind of iron,
or w<-^' 'ng tools whatfoever, except a fmall hatchet of iron (that formerly
-vas .. >g fliarpened ftone) , -' ->. Inife-, which plainly fhevvs them to be
mgenioui, and capable of attu.-ing all the liberal arts and fciences, under
ft proper cultivation.
The clothing of the Indians being very light, they provide themfelves for
the winter with hot-houfes, whofe properties are to retain, and refleft the
heat, after the manner of the Dutch ftoves. To raife thefe, they fix deep
in the ground, a fufiicient number of ftrong forked ports, at a proportional
diftancc, in a circular form, all of an equal height, about five or fix feet
above the furface of the ground : above thefe, they tie very fecurely large
pieces of the heart of white oak, which are of a tough flexible nature, in-
Ui weaving this orbit, from top to bottom, witli pieces of the fame, or the
like timber. Then, in the middle of the fabric they fix very deep in the
ground, four large pine ports, in a quadrangular form, notched a-top,
en which they, lay a number of heavy logs, let into each other, and
rounding gradually to the top. Above this huge pile, to the very top,
they lay a number of long dry poles, all properly notched, to k?ep
rtrong hold of the under ports and wall-plate. Then they svcave them thick
with their fplit fapplings, and daub them all over about fix or ieven inches
thick v.ith tough clay, well mixt with withered grafs : when this cement is
half dried, they tliatch the houfe with the longcrt fort of dry grafs,
that their land produces. They firrt lay on one round tier, placin'T
a fplit fappiing a-top, well tied to difTerent parts of rhc under pieces
of timber, about fifteen inches below the cave : and, in tliis n:.uinL'r,
ihey proceed circularly to the very fpire, wliore cominonly a pole is fixed,
<l)ar difplays on the top the figure of a large carved eagle. Ac a fmnll dif-
' 1 li ii 2 tance
420
General Obfervations en
II
ftance below which, four heavy logs are ftrongly tied together acrofs, in a
quadrangular form, in order to fecure the roof from the power of envious
blafts. The door of this winter palace, is commonly about four feet iiigh,
and fo narrow as not to admit two to enter it abreall, with a winding paf-
fage for the fpace of fix or fevcn feet, to fecure themfelves both from
the power of the bleak v/inds, and of an invading enemy. As they ufiially
build on rifing ground, the floor is often a yard lower than the earth,
which ferves them as a ureafl: work againfl: an Ciicmy : and a fmall peeping
window is level with the furfiicc of the outfidc ground, to enable them to
rake any lurking invaders in cafe of an attack. As diey have no metal to
reflect the heat ; in the fall of the year, as foon as the fun begins to lofe
his warming power, fome of the women make a large lire of dry wood, with
which they chiefly j)rovide themfelves, but only from day to day, through
their thoughtlcfsnels of to-morrow. When the fire is a little more than half
burnt down, they cover it over with aflies, and, as tlie heat declines, they
ftrike off fome of the top embers, with a long cane, wherewith each of
the couches, or broad feats, is confl;antly provided \ and this method they
purfue from time to time as need requires, till the fire is expended,,
which is commonly about day-light. While the new fire is burning down,
the houfe, for want of windows and air, is full of hot fmoky darknefs ; and
all this time, a number of them lie en their broad bed places, with their
heads wrapped up.
II
1
i-
11
1
i;
!?'• fit''" * I
The infide of their houfes is furnillied with genteel couches to fit, and lie
upon, raifed on four forks of timber of a proper Iieight, to give the fwarmino-
fleas fome trouble in their attack, as they are not able to reach them at one
fpring : they tic witli fine white oak fplinters, a fufiicient quantity of mid-
dle-fized canes of proper dimenfions, to three or four bars of the lame fort,
which they fallen above the frame •, and they put their niattrefles a- top,
which are made of long cane fplinters. Their bedding confifls of the
fkins of wild beails, luch as of buftalos, panthers, bears, elks, and
deer, which they drcf;, with the hair on, as fofc as vclvec. Their male
children they chiile to raile on the ikins of panthers, on account of the
communicative princiiile, wliich tlicy reckon all nature h pofleft of,
in conveying qup.litics according to t!ic rc[!;i:ncii tliat is followed :
and, as the pr.ntlicr ij endued Vvitli many qualities, beyond any of
his Rllow animal: in tlic American woods, as f.nelling, llrength, cun-
ning,.
!,:h
the North American Indians.
42Ii
ning, and a prodigious f|)nng, they reckon fiich a bed is the firft: ludi-
nicnts of war. Eut it is woriliy of notice, they change the regimen ia
niirciiring their young females ; thefe tlicy lay on the fl:ins of fawns, or
bi'.Pralo calves, becaufe they are ihy and cinioroiis : and, if the mother be in-
difpol'ed by ficknefs her neareft female relation fuckles the child, but only
till llie recovers. This praftice gives a friendly leflun to ftich mothers,
who, oftricli like, as foon as the tender infant lucks in the firit breath of
air, commit it to the fwarthy breads of a foetid African to gnift it on her
groli ftock.
,, Their ftools they cut out of poplar wood, all of one piece, and of a
convenient height and fliape. Their cherts arc made of chp-boards fcwed
to crofs bars with fcraped wet buffalo rtrings. Their domellic iitenfds con-
fid of earthen pots, pans, jugs, mugs, jars, &c. of various antiquated
forts, which would have puzzled Adam, to have given them fignificanr
names. Their wooden diflies, and fpoons made of wood and buffalo
horn, fhew fomething of a newer invention and date, being of nicer work-
manfliip, for the fculpture of the laft is plain, and reprefents things that;
arc within the reach of their own ideas.
Every town has a large edifice, which with propriety may be called the
mountain houfe, in comparifon of thofe already defcribed. Hut the only
difference between it, and the winter houfe or dove, is in its dimenfions,
and application. It is ulually built on the top of a hill j and, in that fepa-
rate and imperial date houfe, the old beloved men and head warriors meet
on material bufinefs, or to divert themfelves, and fead and dance with the
red of the people. They furnifli the infide with genteel couches, either
to fit or lie on, about feven i^^t wide, and a little more in length, with a
delcent towards the wall, to lecure them from falling off" v,hen aflecp.
Every one takes- his feat, according to his reputed merit -, a worthlefs cox-
comb dare not he guilty of the lead intrufion — Ihould he attempt it, he ij
ordered to his proper place, before the multitude, with the vileddilgrace.,
and bears tl'.eir dinging', laughter. This may not be an unprofitable Icffon
to fome of our younti; red coated men, v/ho never traverfed t!ie roucrh
blocdy ficKh of Flanders -, t'ley would be more rcfpeiSted if they w^yt more
moded, and difplaycd fuperior virtues to thofe whom they affccl to d-.Tpik-,
Thou, who boad':d of tlvj noble blood of the Scipios running in th}- veins,
dcf;
>
422 Coicral Ol>fcyoations on
doft thou equal the brave anions of the Scipios^? If not, thou art a dif-
grace to them-, their virtue would renounce thee, and (hould make thcc
afhamcd to own them.
Formerly, the Indians made very handfome carpets. They have
a wild hemp that grows about fix feet higli, in open, rich, level lands,
and which ufually ripens in July : it is plenty on our frontier fciilements.
When it is fit for ufe, tiiey pull, fteep, peel, and beat it; and the
old women fpin it off the diftatFs, with wooden machines, having fome
clay on the middle of them, to haftcn the motion. When the coarfe
thread is prepared, ihty put it into a frame about fix feet fquare,
and infl:ead of a fiiuttle, they thruft through the thread with a long
cane, having a large fl:ring through the web, which they flaift at every
fecond courfe of the thread. When they have thus finitlied their arduous
labour, they paint each fide of the carpet with fuch figures, of various
colours, as their fruitful imaginations devife ; particularly the images of
thofe birds and beads they are acquainted with ; and likewife of them-
felves, ading in their focial, and martial fl:ations. There is that due pro-
portion, and fo much wild variety in the dcfign, that would really ftrike a
curious eye with pleafure and admiration. J. W — t, Efq-, a moft fkilful
linguiiV in the Mufkohge dialeft, alTures me, that time out of mind they
pafil'd tlie woof with a fliuttle ; and they have a couple of threddles, which
they move with the hand fo as to enable them to make good difpatch,
fomething after our manner of weaving. Tliis is fufficiently confirmed by
their method of working broad garters, fafhes, fhot-pouches, broad belts,
and the li!;e, which are decorated all over with beautiful ftripes and
chequers. Probably, their method of weaving is fimilar to the prac-
tice of the eaftern nations, when they came from thence, during the in-
fant ftate of arts and fciences. People who were forced to get their daily
bread in the extenfive defarts with their bows and arrows, and by gathering
herbs, roots, and nuts, would not be fond of making new experiment?,
but for the neceflities of common life •, and certainly they would not iiave
chofen a more troublefome method of clothing thenifelves, if they knew
an eafier and quicker manner of efFefling it — whoever knows any thing of an
Jndian, will not accufe him of that fin.
Tl)c
the North American Indians.
4v
The women are th.e chief, if not chc only manufafliircrs •, the men judge
that if they performei! that office, it would exceedingly depreciate tiiem. The
weiglit of the oar lies on the women, as is the cafe with the German Americans.
In the winter feafon, tiie women gather buffalo's hair, a fort of coarlb
brown curled wool ; and having f[)un it as fine as they can, and properly
doubled it, they put fmall beads of different colours upon the yarn, as
they work it : th.e figures they work in ihofe fmall webs, are generally
uniform, but fomeiimes they diverfify them on bcth fides. The Choktah
weave Ihot- pouches, which have railed work infide and outfide. They
likcwife >-,iakc turkey feather blankets with the long feathers of the neck
and breail of that large fowl — they twill the inner end of the feiuhers very
fad into a llrong double thread of hemp, or the inner bark of the mul-
berry tree, cf the fize and ftrength of coarfe twine, as the fibres arc liiiFi-
ciently fine, and they work it in the manner of fine netting. As the fea-
thers are long and glittering, this fort of blankets is not only very warm,
but pleafing to the eye.
They make beautiful ftone pipes ; and the Cheerake the bed of any of
the Indians : for their mountainous country contains many different forts and.
colours of foils proper for fuch ufes. They eafily form them with their to-
mohawks, and afterward finifh them in any defired form with their knives •,
the pipes being of a very foft quality till they are fmoked with, and ufed
to the fire, when they become quite hard. They are often a full fpan long,
and the bowls are about half as large again as thole of our Englifli pipes.
The fore part of each commonly runs out with a fnarp peak, two or three
fingers broad, and a quarter of an inch thick — on both fides of the bow!,,
lengthwife, they cut feveral piiftures with a great deal of fkill and labour;
fuch aa^a buffalo and a panther en trie oppofite fides of the bowl •, a rabbit
and a fox •> and, very often, a man and a woman puris naturalibtis. Theii^
fculpture cannot much be commended for its modefty. The lavages work
fo flow, that one of their artifls is two months at \ pipe with his knife, before
he finiflies it : indeed, as before obferved, they are great enemies to pro-
fufe fweating, and are never in a hurry about a c;ood thing. The ftems are
commonly made of foft wood about two feet long, and an inch thick, cut
into four fquares, each fcooped till they join very near the hollow of the
ftem : the beaus always hollov/ the fquares, except a little at each corner to
hold them together, to which they fallen a parcel of bell-buttons, different
3 fori:.-.
1
424
General Ohfcrvntlom on
\^. I
forts of fine feathers, and Icveral fiiiall battered pieces of copper kettles
hammered, round deer-fkin thongs, and a red painted fcalp i this is a
boalling, valuable, and fiiperlativeornaincnt. According to their ftandard,
fiicii a pipe conftitiites the 'pofll-fTor, a grand beau. Tiicy lb accurately
carve, or paint hieroglyphic c!iara«5lers on the Hem, that all the war-actions,
and the tribe of the owner, with a great many circiimftances of things, are
fully delineated. This may feem llrange to thofe who are unacquainted
with the ancient fkiil of the Ivgyptians this way, and the prel'ent knowltdge
of the Tiirkini mutes. But lb it is, and there is not pcrliaps tlie like num-
ber of mimic mutes on the face of the earth, nor ever were among the old
Greek or Roman Pantomimi, as with the Indian Americans, for reprelent*
ing the great and minute things of life, by different geftures, movements
of the body, and expreflive countenances ; and at the fame time they arc
pcrfedly underftood by each other.
f'1'
:l
I'/
I;:
They make the handfomeft clothes bafkets, I ever faw, confidering their
materials. They divide large fwamp canes, into long, thin, narrow fplin-
ters, which they dye of feveral colours, and manage the workmanlliip fo
well, that both the infide and outfidc are covered with a beautiful variety
of pleafing figures ; and, though for the fpace of two inches below the
upper edge of each bafkct, it is worked into one, through the other
parts they are worked afunder, as if they were two joined a-top by fomc
ilrong cement. A large neft confifts of eight or ten bafkets, contained
within each other. Their dimenfions are different, but they ufually make
the outfide bafket about a foot deep, a foot and an half broad, and almoft
n yard long.
The Indians, by reafon of our fupplying them fo cheap with every
fort of goods, have forgotten the chief part of their ancient mechani-
cal ficill, fo as not to be well able now, at leaft for fome years, to live
independent of us. Formerly, thofe baflcets which the Cheerake made,
were fo highly efteemed even in South Carolina, the politefl of our colo-
nies, for domeftic ufefulnefs, beauty, and Ilvilful variety, that a large neft
of them coil upwards of a moidore.
They make earthen pots of very different fizes, lb as to contain from
two to ten gallons •■, large pitchers to carry water ^ bowls, diflics, platters,
baibns,
the Norlli Amcricaa Indians.
425
bafons, anJ a prodigious number of otllcr vefTcls of fucli antiquated furm^
as would be tedious to defcribe, and impolliblc to name. Tlicir mtthud of
glazing them, is, they place them over a large fire of fmuky pitch pine,
which makes them fmootli, black, and firm. Their lands abound with
proper clay, for that ufe •, and even with porcehiin, as has been proved by
experiment.
They make perhaps the fined bows, and the fmoothell barbed arrows,
of all mankind. On the point of them is fixed either a fcooped point
of buck-horn, or turkey-cock fpurs, pieces of brafs, or Hint Itonc. Ihc
latter fort our fore-fathers ufed, whicii our witty grandmothers call elf-
ftones, and now rub the cows with, that are fo unlucky as to be lliot by
night fairies. One of thole flint arrow-points is reckoned a very extraor-
dinary blefTing in a whole neighbourhood of old w jmen, botli for the fornici
cure, as well as a prefervative £• jainfl: every kind :f bcv\ itching charm.
No people are more expert than the Irdians in the ufe of fire-arms,
and the bow and quiver : they can frefi ftock their guns, only witli a
fmall hatchet and a knife, and ilreighten the barr ,a, fo a; to flioot with
proper diredlion. They likewiie alter, and fix :;'.'. a.c fprings of the lock,
with others of the fort they may have out of ufe j but f-'ch a job cofts
the red artift about two months work.
They are good fadlcrs, for they can finifli a faddle with their ufual
inftruments, without any kind of iron to bind the work : bui. the liapc
of it is fo antiquated and mean, and fo much like ihofc of tlie Dutch Weft-
Indians, that a perfon would be led to i^iagine they had formerly met, and
been taught the art in the fame fchool. The Indians provide themfelves
with a quantity of white oak boards, and notch them, io as to fit the
faddle-trees j which confift of two pieces before, and two bel.ind, crcfung
each other in notches, about three inches below the top ends of the frame.
Then they take a buffalo green hide, covered v/ith its winter curls, and
having properly fhapcd if "> r' e frame, they few it with large thongs of the
fame flcin, as tight and fecure as need be; when it is thoroughly dried, it
appears to have all the properties of a cuirafs faddle. A trimmed bear-
skin ferves for a pad , and formerly, their bridle was only a roj'j round t!;e
I i i horfc's
II
y
426
General OhferviUkns on
.a
1
\ '
horfe's neck, with which they giikled him at pleafure.
Choktah ufe that method to this day.
Moft of the
It is (Irange that all the Indians mount a horfe on the off fide as we term
:t, eipecially as their horfes were originally brought from Europe. In
the Chokuh country, when I was going to a great ball play, at a confider-
able diftance off, in company with feveral of the head-warnors, we alighted
at a cool ftream of water, to fmoke, and drink parched corn-flour and
water, according to our uiual cuftom in the woods — when we again fee
off, wejefted each other for mounting on the wrong fide. They urged it
was moft natural, and commodious, to put the right foot into the ftirrup,
and at the fame time lay hold of the mane with the ftrongeft hand, inftead
of ufing either of the farthermolt or oppofiie ones, as they term the left.
They carried it againft me by a majority of voices, whooping and laughing ;
but, as they were boafting highly of the fwiftncfs of their horfes, and their
fkill in riding and guiding them, much better with a rope than with a
bridle, I refolved to convince them of their miftake; for as the horfe I
rode was juftly named Eagle, and reckoned the fwifteftof any in the Chik-
kafah country, I invited them to a trial by way of diverfion, in fo merry a
feafon, and they gladly accepted the offer. We ranged ourfelves in a broad
row, on each fide of the wood path, which was rather narrow and crooked,
as is the cafe in their countries — they allowed me to take the center, and
at the whoop fignal of the by-ftanders we ftaited. My horfe being ufcd
to fuch diverfion loon left them behind, a confiderable diftance ^ prefently
I luckily difcovered a fwampy thicket, a-head on my right hand, v/hich
ran almoft our direft courfe along-fidc of a creek. As the wild courfers
chiefly followed one another, according to their general cuftom, I there flew
acrofs, and led two of them off the path,, into the thicket covered with high
brambles. I had little trouble in difpofing of the reft; my whooping,
and cracking the whip, fcnt each of them along with his neighbour, at full
fpeed, and I continued them fo a great way : for, as their horfes were
frightened, the riders had no command over them, with their boaftcd neck
bridles. The horfes, at laft, brought them out into the open woods, to
their great joy, when they whooped and hallooed, as defpifing what they
had undergone •, they were however in a difmal pickle. For ii being their
ir ornaments, and looking glaffes over their fbouldcr»
carry
on.
the North American Indians.
4-7
onTuch public occafions, my companions were fully trimmed out, and did
not ftrip themfelves, as they expeclcd no llich dilailer. By Hooping to lave
themfelves from being difmountcd, their favourite looking glalles were (bat-
tered to pieces, the paint mollly rubbed off their faces, their fl-:.ns of fm:dl
hawks, and tufts of fine plumes, torn from their heads, and their other or-
naments, as well as their clothing and ll<in, fliared alfo in the misfortune. As
foon as they could (top their horfes, they alighted : and, when I had done
laughing at them, they according to cuftom, faid only, I.a fbene, " O
Ilrange !" The Indians are very happy in not fliewing the lead emotion
of anger, for any niir':hance that befalls them, in their Iportful cxercifes. I
jefted them in commending the Iwiftnefs of their horfes, even through a
bramble thicker, and applauded their (kill in fitting, and guiding tlicni
lb well, by the help of their neck bridles. By this time, the hindmoft
of our company came up, who laugh';d heartily at the fl^ht of our
tattered horiemen, and told them, that they expected I wouki jockey
them in fome fucli manner. But the young ambitious heroes alcribcii
the whole dilufter only to the vicioufnefs of my horfe, laying " he wus
mad."
From what hath been already faid, it muft be evident, that with proixn
cultivation, they would (Inne in higher fpiieres of life ; and it is not ari
cafy matter to feduce them from tlieir fuppol'ed intcrefts, to the incoherent
projcds, that our home-bred politicians confidently devife over their fpark-
Jing bowls and decanters. The friendly and warlike Indians have an intenfe
afleftion to their country and people, and fo have the Britilh Americans : and
whatever Ibme may think of the colonics martial abilities, our wife ftatelmcn
may be foon convinced, tiiat they will be able to maintain all th.e invalu-
able blelTings of free men for themlelves, and convey them to their pofte-
rity in their purity and luftre, according to the old Englifli conftitution,
which is built on plain wholefume laws, and not on the fophii'ms ot
tyranny.
This leads me to fpeak of the Indian method of government. — In ge-
neral, it confifts in a federal union of the whole Ibciety for mutual fafety.
As the law of nature appoints no frail mortal to be a king, or ruler,
over his brethren ; and humanity forbids the taking away at plcafure, the
I i j 2 lite
4^
Cenen:! ObfirV:ti(ons en
they
1-
life or property of any who obey the good laws of their country,
ficltr chat the tranrga-ifur oiiglit to have his evil deeds retaliated upon him-
ll'lf in an equal manner. The Indians, therefore, have no luch titles or
perfons, as emperors, or kings ; nor an appellative for luch, in any of their
dialcils, 7"hcir hightft title, either in military or civil life, fignifies only
a Chieftain : they have no v/ords to cxprefs defpotic power, arbitrary kings,
opprelTed, or obedient fubjeifls ; neither can they form any otiier ideas of
the former, tiian of " bad war chicfiains of a numerous family, who in-
flaved tlie reil." The power of their cliiefs, is an empty found. They
can only perfuade or difiu.'.de th'.' people, either by tlie force of good-na-
ture and clear realbning, 'or colouring things, fo as to fuit their prevail
inp; paTions. I: is repuud mtric alone, that gives them any titles of
diltin(ftion above the meanctt of the pc;o[):e. If we conncfl with this their
opinion of a tlieocracy, it does not promife v/tll •■") the reputed eftablifli-
mcnt of extcrifive and puifiant Indian American empires. When any national
affair is in debate, you m:iy hear every fatlier of a family fpeaking in his
houfe on the fubjecl, with rapid, bold langu.ige, and t!ie utmofl freedoni
that a people can ufe. Their voices, to a man, have due weight in every
public affair, as it concerns their v/elfare alike. Every town is independent
of another. Their own friendly compaft continues the union. An obfti-
nate war leader will fometimes commit afts of hoftility, or make peace for
his own town, contrary to the good liking of the reft of the nation. But
a few individuals are very cautious of commencing war on fmall occafions,
without the general confent of the head men : for fhould it prove un-
fuccefsful, the greater part would be apt to punidi them as enemies,
becaufe they abufcd their power, which they had only to do good to
the fociety. They arc very deliberate in their councils, and never give
an immediate anfwer to any mcflage fent them by llrangers, but fiifFer
Ibme nights firft to clapfe. They reafon in a very orderly manner,
with much coolncfs and good-natured language, though they may dif-
fer wid Jy in their opinions. Through rtlpeift to the filent audience, the
fpeake*- always addrelTes them in a ftandirig pofture. In this manner
they proceed, till each of the head men hath given his opinion on the
point in debate. Then they fit down together, and determine upon the
affair. Not the leaft \ TiOnate expreffion is to be heard among them, and
they
I!::
the North AiucriCa.'i /ndi.uij.
4-9
they beiiave with the greatcft civilicy to cac'i otJ.cr. Iii all tii.-ir RatiJ ura-
tions t'ley liave a beautiful niodell w^y of expicliinv^ tlicir cliliko or" ill
things. They only f.;y, " it is nut good, <:ooui\', or comnu-iui.iblc."
And their whole behaviour, on public occjfions, is highly wort'iy of iniit-i-
tion by fome of our BritiCi ic-nawrs and lawyeis.
Mofl: of their regulations are derived from the pl.'.in i.uv of nature. Na-
ture's fcliool contemns all quibbles of art, and toacl'.cs tiiem t'r.e plain eaiy
rule, " d.o to others, as you would be done by •," wlicn they are able, with-
out greater damage to tlicmfelves, than benefit to tlicir creditor, th-y ilif-
charge their honed debts. But, tliough no dilpures pufb betwein the;n on
fuch occafions, yet if there be fome heart-burnings on panicul.ir nii.-.irs, as
foon as they are publicly known, their red Archimagus, and his old beloved
men, convene and decide, in a very amicable manner, when both parties
become quite eafy. They have no compulfive povv-er to force the debtor to
pay, yet the creditor can diflrain his goods or chattels, an.', jullly fatisfy
himfelf without the lead interruption — and, by one of his relations, he fends
back in a very civil manner, the overplus to the owner. Thefe inftances
indeed feldom happen, for as they know each other's temper, they are very
cautious of irritating, as the confequences might one day prove fatal — they
■•ever fcold each other when fober — they conceal their enmity be it ever fo
violent, and will converfe together ^wirh fmooth kind language, and an
obliging eafy behaviour, while envy is preying on their heart. In general,
they are very pundual in paying what they owe among themfelves, but
they are grown quite carelefs in dlfcharging what they owe to the traders,
fince the commencement of our deltrueTiive plan of general licences. " An
old debt," is a proverbial cxprelTion with them, of " nothing."
There are many petty crimes which their young people are guilty of, —
to which our laws annex fevere punifliment, but their's only an ironical
way of jefting. They commend the criminal before a large audience, for
praflifing the virtue, oppofue to the crime, that l^e is known to be guilty
cf. If it is for theft, they praife his honell: principles ; and tliey com-
mend a warrior for having behaved valiantly againlT: the enemy, when
he afted cowardly ; they introduce the minuted circumdanccs of the
aifair, with fevere farcafms which wound deeply. J have known them
CO
\
S\
i
M
m
M'
4::o
Gc>:ci\il Ohfcwathr.! on
to fl.ilcc tl.cir dv;li!ic,ut.'!Us with tliofe fweetened tlarts, fo good x\x-
tuicdly and (kiliullV) that tdcy would Iboner die by torture, than renew
tl'.cir lliame by repcati/iy the adions. In this they exceed many chrillians.
'I hey arc capable of being fliamed out of their ill habits, and their method
cif cure is exceedingly more proper and merciful, than what we apply.
Srripcs and fines only inflame the diftemper •, when inflidcd publicly for
jiotty crimes, the culprit lofcs what is mofl valuable to human nat -.re, the
fenle of fhame. He that watches for perfons crimes, to benefit and enrich
himfelf at their damage, and the ruin of their families, is an enemy to fo-
ciety. If it is beneath our dignity to learn from the untaught Indian, let
us turn to the records of Athens, Sparta, and Roire. When their flaves
were guilry of intemperanc, they expofcd them before their children, and
thus fliewed them its deformity. And, by that, they infuled into them
an early flume and abhorrence of vice, and a great love of virtue.
Formerly, the Indian law obliged every town to wor^ together in one body,
,in fowing or planting their crops \ though their fields are divided by proper
•marks, and their harveft is gathered feparatcly. The Cheerake and Muf-
kohge ftill obfcrve that old cuftom, which is very neceiTary for fuch idle
people, in tlieir clement. The delinquent is aflefled more or lefs, according
to his neglcft, by proper officers appointed to colleft thofe afTeirmentE,
which they flriifily fulfil, without the Icaft interruption, or exemption of
any able perfon. 1'hey are likewise bound to aflifl in raifing public edi-
fices. They have not the lead '.race of any other old compulfive law
among them j and they did not Hand in need of any other in their ftate.
As they were neither able nor defirous to obtain any thing more than
a bare I'upport of lifi.-, they could not credit their neighbours beyond a mor-
fel or" food, and that they liberally gave, whenever they called. Moft of
them obferve that hofj^itable cuilom to this day. Their throwing away all
their old provifions, as impure food, whenever the new harveft was fanifli-
ficd, helped greatly to promote a fpirit of hofpitality. Their wants, and
daily exercife in fearch of needful things, kept them honeft. Their igno-
rance of the gay part of life, helped in a great meafure to prcferve their
virtue. In their former ftate of fimplicity, the plain law of nature was
f-nough i bur, as they are degenerating very faft from their ancient fimpli-
( jty, tiiey, without doubt, muft have new laws to terrify them from com
7 mitting
tke North American Indians.
431
mitting new crimes, according to the iifage of other nations, wl.o multiply
their laws, in proportion to tlie exigencies of time.
I niall now give their opinion of our focial and military virtues i which
joined with tlie foregoing, will fet the Indians in a yet clearer light. We
can trace people by their opinion of things, as well as if we faw them prac-
tife them. Mod of them blame us for ufing a provident care in domcftic
life, calling it a davifl-i temper : they fay we are covetous, becaufe vve
do not give our poor relations fuch a (hare of our pofTcnions, as would
keep them from want. There are but few of themfclves we can blame,
on account of thefe crimes, for they arc very kind and liberal to every
one of their own tribe, even to the laft morfel of food they enjoy. When
we recriminate on the penurious temper of any of their people, they fay, if
our accufation be true, we by our ill examples tainted tiiem on than
head, for their fore-fadiers were endued with ail tlie virtues. They fre-
quently tell us, that though we are poflefll'd of a great deal of yellow and
white Hone, of black people, horles, cows, hogs, and every thing elfe our
hearts delight in — yet they create us as much toil and pain, as if we had
none, inftcad of that cafe and pleafure, which flow from enjoyment -,
tlierefore we are truly poor, and deferve pity inftead of envy : they wifh
fome of their honefl warriors to have thefe things, as they would know
how to ufe them aright, without placing their happinefs, or merit,
in keeping them, wiiich would be of great fervice to the poor, by
dlffufing them with a liberal hand. They fay, they have often feen u
panther in the woods, with a brace of large f.it bucks at once, near a
cool ftream -, but that they had more fenfe than to value the bead, on ac-
count of his large poflelTions : on the contrary, they hated his bad princi-
ples, becaufe he would needlefsly deftroy, and covetoully engrofs, the good-
tilings he could not ufe himfelf, nor would allow any other creature to (hare of,
though ever fo much pinched with hunger. They reckon, if we made a true
eftimate of things, we fliould confider the man without any falfe props, and
efteem him only by th^ law of virtue, which ennobles men by infpiring
them with good fentiments and a generous difpolition ; they fay they are
fure, from fundry obfervations, we fell to the higheft bidder, our high
titles of war, which were only due to brave men who had often fought the
' \ fuccels in defence of their country : that they had fcen, even
enemy
m:
i
43^
Gt'Ncral Obfcrvatiohs on
I
.511
n
m
in Charles-town, fevcral young, lazy, deformed white nr^n, with bio-
bellies, who Icemed to require as much help to move them along, as
over-grown old women ; yet they underftood thefe were paid a great deal
of our beloved yellow ftone for bearing the great name of warriors, which
fhould be kept facred from the effeminate tribe, even if they offered
to purchafe it with their whole poiTeffions. — That thefe titles fliould
only be conferred on thofe v/ho excel in martial virtue ; otherwife, it
gives a falfe copy of imitation to the young warriors, and thereby cxpofes
the whole body of the people to contempt and danger, by perverting the
means which ought to fecure their lives and properties •, for, when a coun-
try has none but heiplefs people to guard it from hoftile attempts, it is li-
able to become a prey to any ambitious perfons, who may think proper to
invade ir. They allow that corpulency is compatible with marking paper
black wirh the goofe quill i and with ftrong-mouthed labour, or pleading
at law ; becaufe old women can fit bed to mark, and. their mouths are al-
ways the moft fliarp and biting. But they reckon if our warriors had
gained high titles by perlbnal bravery, they would be at leaft in the Ihape
of men, if not of aeTiive brilk warriors ; for conftant manly exercife keeps
a due temperament of body, and a jufl: proportion of fliape. They faid,-
fome were not fit even for the ferv.ce of an old woman, much lefs
for the difficult and lively exercifes which manly warriors purfue in their
rough clement — that tlicy could never have gone to war, but bought their
beloved, broad paper with yellow ftone, or it muft have pafl'ed from father
to fon, like the reft of their pofll-flions ; and that by their intemperate me-
thod of eating and drinking without proper exercife, they had transformed
chcmfelves into tholl- over-grown fliapes, which our weavers, taylors, and
plaiters of falfe hair, rendered more contemptible.
The old men tell us, tliey remember our colonies in their infant
ftate, — that when the inhabitants were poor and few in number, they main-
tained profperous wars againfi the numerous combined nations of red people,
who furrounded them on all fides ; becaufe in thofe early days, the law of
■reafon was their only guide. In tliat time of fimplicity, they lived after
the temperate manner of tlic red people. They copied after honcft nature,
in their food, drefs, ami every purfuit, both in domcftic and focial life. That
unerring guide dircrtcd tliem aright, as the event of things publicly de-
clared.
the North American Indians.
433
chreJ. But time is now grown perverfe and c!iikli(h, and has brought
with it a flood of corrupting ills. Inftead of obferving the old beloved
rule of temperance, which their honcfl forefathers ftridlly purfued, they
too often befot themfclvcs with bafe luxury, and thereby enervate all
their manly powers, fo as to reduce themfelves to the ftate of old women,
and efteem martial virtue to confift in the unmanly bulk of their bodies,
and the finenefs and colour of their glittering coats and jackets : whereas
fuch forms and habits only enable the red people to fort the large buffalos,
the fine-feathered parroquets, and wood-peckers — their religious, civil,
and martial titles are conferred on the lean, as well as the fat-bodied, with-
out minding whether their clothes are coarfe or fine, or what colour they
are of. They fay, their titles of war Invariably befpcak the man, as they
always make them the true attendants of merit, never conferring tlie lead
degree of honour c the worthlefs. — That corpulency, or a very genteel
outward appearance, would be fo far from recommending any as war-
leaders, that thofe qualities would render them kifpcfted, till they gave
fufficient proof of their capacity of ferving their country — that when any
diftinguifbed themfelves by martial virtue, their fine clothes reflefted new
beauties on tiie eyes of the people, who regard a genteel appearance, only
on account of the fhining virtues of the gallant men who wear them.
i
They often ridicule us, in our gay hours, that they have obferved our
nominal warriors to v.-ikie themfelves exceedingly on thofe unpleafanc
(hapes and undue covering — that like contemptible fhining lizards, they
fwelled their breafts almoft as big as their bellies, fpoke very fliarp
to the poor people who were labouring in diftrefs, frowned with ugly
faces at them (whereas they ought to have fmilcd, in order to make
their hearts cheerful,) and kept them off at a great dirtance, with
their hats in hand, as if they were black people. But fuch conduft,
always a fure token of cowardice, teftified with convincing clearnefs,
they were unable to a:"t the part of even an honefl: black man. The
Indians imagine the corruption is become too general to be cured, with-
out a thorough change of our laws of war, becaufe when the head is
fick, the feec cannot be well : and as our capital towns and regular troops
are much infefled with that dcprelTing and fhameful malady, thev rec-
kon our country places fuffcr much more by our fat fine men. They
/ail not to flourilh away as much in their own favour, as againft us,
K k k faying,
•^34
Ccneral Ohfcvcntloin en
M-'-
I
fay^np;, that though tlicy are unfl-iilfiil in making the nnrks of our iirjily
1; ing books, which fpoil people's honcfty, yet they ar^.* duly tauglic in the
Ijoiielt volumes of nature, which always whifper in their cars, a ftrong
Icllbn of love to all of their own family, and an utter contempt of danger
in defence of their beloved country, at their own private cofl •, tliat they
conter titles of honour only on thofe who deferve them, — that the I'peak-
iiig trophies of war declare the true merit of their contented warriojs,
without having the leaft recourfc to any borrowed helj). 'I'hey lay, that the
virtue even of their young women does not allow them to bear the lealt
regard to any of the young men, on account of their glittering clothes,
and that none of their warriors would expect it, nor their laws allow
it, if ever their country fliould unhappily produce lb contempMble an
animal. Imitation is natural, and the red people follow virtue in the old
track of their honeft fore-fathers, while we are bewildered oy evil cuf-
tom.
As their own affairs lie 'n a very narrow circle, it is difficult to im-
prefs them with a favourable opinion of the wifdom and juftice of our
voluminous laws — They fay, if our laws were honeft, or wifely framed, they
would be plain and few, that the poor people might undcrftand and re-
member them, as well as the rich — That right and wrong, an honeft
man and a rogue, with as many other names as our large crabbed books
could contain, are only two contraries ; that fimplc nature enables every
perfon to be a proper jud<;;e of promoting good, and preventing evil, either
by determinations, rewards, or punifliments ; and that people cannot in
juftice be accufed of violating any laws, when it is out of their power to
have a proper knowledge of them. They reckon, that if our legiftators
were not moved by fome oblique views, inftead of acl.ng the part of mud-
fifti, they would imitate the ikilful bee, and cxcradl the ufcful part of their
unwieldy, confuled, old books, and infert it in an honeft fmall one, that
die poor peopJe might be able to buy, and read it, to enable them to teach
their rifing families to avoid fnares, and keep them from falling into the
power of our cunning fpeakers — who are not aftiamed to fcold and lie
publickly when they are well paid for it, but if intereft no longer
tempted them to inforce hurtful lies for truth, would probably throw
away all their dangerous quibbling books. — That the poor people might have
eafy redrcfs and juftice, this fliould become a public concern, and the Go-
7 vernor-
the North American Indians.
A ^ *'
nor-Minpgo, all the head warriors, and old bt-lovcd men, flioiild cither en-
tirely deHroy thofe books, or in an artful manner fend them to tlieir cnen^y
the French, in onler to dcftroy rhcir conilitution : but they were of opi
nion, common fenfe would not allow even thofe to receive them, iincUr
any pretence whatfocver — therefore they ought to be burnt in the old yeai's
acourfcd fire. By that means, the honed poor could live in peace and
quiet •, for now they were unable by poverty, or backward by their ho-
nedy, to buy juftice, in paying thofe people of cunning heads and flroir,
mouths to fpeak the truth : and the hearts of rich knaves muft then bccoiiic
honcft, as they would not needlefsly give thofe large bribes, for painting
their black afUons with a white colour.
They urge, that while litigious, expenfive, and tedious fuits arc eiihrr
encouraged by our artful fpcakers, or allosvcd by our legiflators, the ho-
ned poor man will always be a great lofcr ; which is a crying evil. Bl--
caufe he is humble, modeft, and poor, his feeble voice cannot be heard.
The combined body of the noify rich mud drown his complaints. H's
only fatisfaftion is, that his heart is honed, though that mud prove very
fmall comfort to a wife crying over help'efs children, in a fmall wafte houfc.
They fay, that as no people are born rogues, truth appears plain enouglj •,
for its native drefs is always fimple, and it never relides in troubled wa-
ters, but under the ftriking beams of the fun. It is not therefore jufr,
either to compel, or tempt people to buy judice ; i: diould be \tkz to o.\\^
8s the poor are not able to purchafe it.
I
They affirm, thn.t as all laws fhould be enaifled by the joint voice of thi?
honed part of the fociety for mutual good, if our great chieftain and his
afTidants refufe altering thofe that are hurtful to the people, we ought to
fet them afide on account of their ill principles, and for driving to fupporr
their own bad adlions, by bad laws — that as wife frec^men, we dioulj
with all fpeed chufe honed men in thtir room, to acl the part of fa-
thers of their country, and continue them jud as long as they behaved
fuch : for leading men are chofen only to do good co the people ; and
whenever they make a breach of their trud, injuring the public good, their
places of courfe become vacant, and judly devolve to the people, who con-
ferred them. Our law, they fay, condemns little rogues, but why Ihouid
it fpare great ones ? That we hang the former with ibor.o; ropes of hemj>
K k k 2 b'u
i
%
43^
General Ohfervattons on
¥
but we IhovjUi (irft do fo to, or fhorten tlie heads of, tlie latter, with a poi-
foned tomoliawk, as a juft emblem of their milchicvous poiloning condudt.
I told them, that the eflential part of our laws was fixed and unalterable,
and alto tlie fucccnion of each of our great chieftains, whde they obfcrve
them faithfullv, and order them to be honcftly executed, but no longer.
That formerly when tlie people's hearts became forcly aggrieved, and bit-
terly vexed, as pride for unlimited power, had made lome of the rulers
heads giddy, tlie enraged community had Ihortened fome of them, and drove
away others from corrupting the beloved land, without any poffibility of
returning in fafety. May none of our prcl'ent or future ftatefmen, by wilful
mifconduft, and bad principles, be ever forced to appear at the dreadful
bar of an abufed and enraged community ! for as they mete, fo it will
furely be meted to them again. The Indian fyltem feems to coincide with
the grand fundamental law — " A natura lex, a virtute rex " which the
great conqueror of the call feelingly declaicu in his lad moments fo be
juft, by willing his crown to him who moll excelled in virtue.
The ill opinion they entertain of ovr courts of judicature, may have rifen
in fome degree from the wrong information of our interpreters, who
have occafionally accompanied them to the courts : but they generally
retain a long time the firft impreflions they imbibe from any one they
elteem One law caufe wliich the Chikkafah attended, proved tedious, and
was carried contrary to their opinion of juftice and equity : on their re-
turn to their own country, they faid, that two or three of their old
women would have brought in a quicker, and hontfler verditfl. They
compared our counfellors to the mercenary Choktah, who often kill
people, and even one another, for the lake of a French reward, as they
carneftly drove to draw differing truth to their own fide of the debate, and
painted it contrary to its native form, with ■ deformed lying face.
They tell us, that when their head-men are deliberating on public affairs,
they difpadionately examine things, and always fpeak the naked truth •, for
its honed face hates a mafk, having nothing to hide from a fearching eye,
and its drefs plain and fimple •, that people can as eafily didinguifh it from
falfhood, as light from darknefs, or clear and wholefome water from that
which is turbid and hurtful, without giving up their reafon to hired fpcakers,
who
the North American Indians.
437
uho ufe their fquirit eyes and forked tongues like the chieftains of the
fnakcs, (meaning rattle-fnakcs) which deftroy harmicf? creatures for the
fake of food. They fay, that the quotation of dark quibbles out of their
old books, lliould be dccuKvl as white paiiu over a black nun's fac'i or
as black over one that is naturally white. They wonder tliat, as an honeft
caufe is always plain, judgment is not given freely in us lavour, and with-
out the leart delay •, and infift, that every bad caufe fliould meet with a fuit-
able and fcvcre award, in order to check vice, antl promote virtue in Ibcial
life.
One of the red Magi afked me, whether in our fcolding houles, we did
not always proportion the charges of the fuit in debate, to the value of the
debt, or damages. Suggeftin^ that it was wrong to make a perplexed fcience
of granting equity with any charges attending it, to honed poor people;
that we (hould pity them on account of the diftrelles they labour under,
and not in efFe(fk cnflave or iinc chem becaufe they are poor.
I told him and the refl: of his brethren by way of excufe, that the
different nature, and multiplicity of contratfts in our great trading em-
pire, with the immenfe difference that often happened between the eloquence
and abilities of the contending parties, required a feries of decifions of
right and wrong to be recorded in books, as an invariable precedent to
direfl future public determinations, in difputes of the like nature ; that
mod of our people were more unequal to each other in fine language
than the bred lawyers ; and that none were lb fit to fearch, or could polTibly
understand thofe regiftcrs as well as they, becaufe they fpent the chief
part of their time on fuch fubjefls. He granted that they might be ufe-
ful members of the community, but doubted their iiOnefty was too much
cxpofed to the alluring temptations of our rich people's yellow ftone \ and
that though our fore-fathers were no doubt as wife and virtuous as we,
yet they were but men, and fometimes had paffions to gratify, efpeci-
ally in favour of a worthy and unfortunate friend, or relation, who was
beloved. He laid, the length of ftealing time muft have naturally
occafioned fuch an event •■, and that our wife men ought to be fo far
from quoting a wrong copy, as a fixed precedent, that they fliould erafe
it out of their old court books, and pro.^jt by the foibles of the old, the
wife and the good.
At
f
I
i
\\
;S
Gt'ncrat Cbfer-jations on
u
At his rfqiicrt, 1 fpokc alio of our fkilful phyficians anJ qu .'. do'^ Jf —
I told him that the former commonly cured the fick, or ilil^.ifeu, unlcfst
the malaily was of an uncommon nature, or very dangerous by not applying
in time, before it took root beyond the reach of any cuic -, but that the
empirics fcklom failed of poifoning their weak patients by flow degrees •,
and tliat we had old women likcwife who frequently did much good with
bare fimples. He faid, if our phyficians ufcd fimples in due time, to
aUift nature, inflead of burning corrofive mixtures, they would have no
occafion to difmembcr poor people, cutting ofF their limbs in fo horrid ;i
manner, as feveral were reported to do; and that, if our law was fo weak as
not to condemn thofe to death, who took away the lives of low innocent
people, yet the ftrong feelings of nature ought to incite the furviving cla-
rions of the murdered perfons, to revenge their blood on the murderers,
by beating them with long knobbed poles, while they were fenfible of pain,
and as foon as they recovered a little, to cut off their ears and nofe with a
dull knife, as in the cafe of adultery, in order to quench innocent blood,
and teach unwary people to avoid and deteft the execrated criminals. Here,
the red audience highly appl.juded the wifdom andjuftice of his medical
obfervations, bccaull* they exactly corrcfponded with their own ftandard ia
fimil.\r cafes.
iti
|1
W
Well, faid he, you have given us plainly to underftand the high eftceni
the Englilh bear to their people of cunning heads and ftrong mouths,
and to the curcrs of ailments — If the former continue honcft when thev
have gained deep knowledge in their old books j and the latter arc fuc-
cefsful in the killing, or healing quality of their llrong medicines : Wc
fiiould rejoice, if you would likewife inform us, according to your written
traditions, of the firft rife of Oobache^ " bringers of rain," and of Ipto-
hoollo Echeto^ " high-priefts, popes, or arch-billiops j" whether the fu-
preme fatherly chieftain gave them from the beginning to the white people,
or if not, how he came to give them afterward •, and whether tdeir lives
give virtuous leffons to youth, to induce them to a ftrift obfervance of the
divine law, as modefty and humility Ihould always appear in the fpeech
and behaviour of public teachers, on account of their charming influence
Inform us of their ufefulnefs in religious and civil life, and the general opi-
nion of the difinterefted and wife part of ihe community concerning them •,
SA
ini
the North Ameiican Iiuliius.
4.;<>
A'< all nations of red people luvc lately hcanl a great deal of their un-
pcaceablfjif not cruel difpofition towards t'lc nritifli Americans, whicli their
covetoufncfs of heart, it is laid, prompted them to, bccaufc they could
not prevail upon tliem by tlicir invented fpcechcs, to give them the tciuh
part of the yearly produce of their honcll labour — Let us know their
true conduifl over the broad water, whether they are covetous in detnand-
ing any part c)f the new harveft \ ai;d if tlie young people do not violate the
marriage-law wiicn the crops fail by the want of rclVellung rains ?
As the tafk was difagrceable, I told him, had he been fa particular in
his enquiries concerning the two former claires, I could have much better
informed him, as I had the pleafurc of being long acquainted wiili many
of them, who were learned, wife and benevolent, in a very great degree -,
and was convinced from my own knowledge, that feveral of tiiem, not only
fpoke earneftly for honefl poor people, and others cured them of their linger-
ing ailmcniJ, without pay ; but fupplied them with needful utcnfds for plant-
ing provifions for their fmall familie<!, till they could conveniently repay the
value, in their own produce : but that as I neither had nor defuvd the leuib
acquaintance with any of our high-placed beloved men, I was very untit,
to handle fuch a long Itring of queries. He faid, my denying to gratify
their curiofity on fo material a point, fcrved only to raifc it the higher j
cfpecially as I had given them a very favourable opinion of the gentlemen
of the other two dalles ; and he hoped, the religious men were at lead
as virtuous as thofe, their facred office requiring them to give an honed
copy to all others, as the young people imbibed from their teachers exam-
ple, either good or bad principles, whicli mud benefit or injure themfelves,
and tlie community. He fo earneftly importuned me to comply with his
requeft, that, ar. an Indian divine, I thus addrelTed tlie attentive red con-
gregation.
n
In pad ages, mod part of all nations of people funk into igno-
rance not only of the old beloved fpetch, (or divine law) but of the very
being of the great, fupreme, holy Spirit •, npon which account, the glim
mering image impred on their hearts, direded them to wordiip the fun,
moon, and ftars, becaufe of their beneficial and powerful influence,—
and the fire, light, and air, the three divine names and emblems. By
degrees.
N
I
410
C,:ncral Ohfevvalhns on
;rsM;mii:
liil
\w ■' '?''^*^"' '"
ilia.'
ilil'^'
1
m
Icgrec?, tlicv chofe an idol god of fuch reputed qualities, as beft fuited
1' .;ii th'.-ir own lempL'rs, nnd the fitiiation of tlitir various countries, in or-
der to receive' tn-.Tporal good things, and avert tlic oppofite evils. In the
length of forgetting time, they became fo exceedingly ftupid, as to wor-
I'liip ve,':,i'tiibles, frightful and (hamcful images, filthy beafts, and danger-
ous fnakes. Self-love fetmcd to have induced them to adore the two laft
through fear, and the bird alfo that preyed on them, became the objeft of
their adoration. In this miferable ftate of darknefs the world was in-
volved, when the fupreme fatherly chieftain, through tender pity to hu-
man weaknefs, appeared to your reputed ancellors, in the form of a
blazing fire, renewed his old divine laws with one of their beloved men,
and confirmed tiie whole, with dreadful .hundcrs, lightnings, and other
ftriking prodigies, to imprefs them with a deep awe and reverence
of his majefty. In time, they built a moft magnificent beloved
houfe, wonderful in its form, and for the great variety of beloved uten-
fils, and emblems it contained. The ark was one of the three moft divine
fymbols in it. IJhtohooUo Eloha became their chieftain, both at home, and
at war. A wonderful emanation of the holy fire refided in the great divine
heufe, while they liftened to the voice of Loache, " the prophets/' whicli
the holy chieftain fent to them in fucceffion, to teach them his will as the fixe
rule of all his aftions. While their hcirts continued honcft, he enabled
them to conquer their enemies, and to gain viiStories over formidable ar-
mies, which like the fwarms of buzzing infects in your low lands, could
not be numbered, and at length fettled them in as happy a ftate as they
could reafonably wifli for.
A little before that time, he called himfelf A-Bo-Ne-To, Miiiggo
JJl'tohocllo, *' the divine chief i" but then, to your enlightened (and re-
puted) anceftors, J'o-He IFabt which fignifies, " he lived always, and will
never die." It is he, whom you invoke in your facred fongs when you are
drinking your cuffeena, and you derived that awful invocation, and your
ark of war, from them. lie is the author of life and death, and con-
fequently, the " maftcr of our breath," as the red people juftly term him.
He gave them Lcache and Oobache-, *' Prophets and afkers of rain," and
prefcribed to them laws that were fuitable for their own government.
They chiefly confifted of facred embl.'ms of an early divine promife to
mankind, which he faithfully performed •, and when tiie end was anlwered,
5 thole
the North American Indians.
441
thofe fymbols ceaied. The people were enjoined a very drift purity, both
in civil and religious life, efpecially all the pricfts or beloved men v and
in a particular manner, the great beloved man, or high prieft. He was to
be equally perfedl in body, and pure in heart — and was not allowed to
touch the dead, as their bodies were in a corrupting ftate. The old be-
loved fpcech aflures us, he was appointed as a reprel'entaiive of the people
to IJhtohoollo Aba^ and as a lively emblem of an extraordinary divine per-
fun, who was to be fent to inftruft the whole earth, and purify them from
all their pollutions; which the fupreme fatherly chieftain will enable ui
fully to inform you of, in due time. He came according to divine appoint-
ment, taugl t the people, as never man did before, cured them of their va-
rious ailments, even the lame and the blind, by the power of his word,
and a bare touch. He had fo great a command over nature, that through
pity to the tender tears of the people, he awaked fome who had flept a con-
fiderable time in the grave, in a warm country. They, who ftrove to Icflen
the merit of the furprifing miracles he wrought, were not fo weak as to
deny the well known truth of them, as they had been performed at differ-
ent places, and on difterent occafions, before a great many people, under
the light of the fun, and were lading. At lad, he, as an uncommon kindly-
friend, gave up his innocent life to fave his enemies from the burning wrath
of the holy fire : and, while the anger of Loathe IJhteboollo lay very Iharp
on him, as the atoning viflim, and his enemies were tormenting him with
the mod exquifite tortures, he earnedly fpoke the beloved fpeech, and en-
treated in their favour, that he would not let his heart be crofs with, nor
revenge his blood upon them, as they imagined they were afting according
to the divine law. As foon as that great beloved melTenger died, all na-
ture felt a prodigious (hock. The graves opened, and the dead arofe to
fee the caufe of that alarming prodigy. The earth (hook, the rocks burd
ai'under, the fun, contrary to the dated courfe of nature, was immediately
darkened, the great beloved houfc rent afunder, and its guardian angels flew
olF to oilier countries : his death alfo exceedingly dedroyed the power of
Nana Ookproo^ the evil fpirits. On the third dav, the mader of breath
awaked that great chie'^tain, prophet, and high ?d, according to his
former true fpeech ; and when he arofe, he was Ire 5y multitudes of peo-
ple, and fulfilled the old di^^ine law, and confirmed every thing he for-
merly taught his humble, and kind hearted fcholar;S.
Lll
Till
,1 ■
i
442
General Obfervations on
I
■^1
;i<v'' i
Till then, tliere were only twelve of them ; but afterwards more were ap-
pointed in that religious ftatioii. They urged, that their facred office, and
the faitlifuldilohargc of all the duties attending it, engaged thfir cloic atten-
tion, and dcfcrvcd an honeft maintainance j but to clieck a covetous ipirit
among all beloved men of every rank, they freely fpoke the beloved Ipecch
through every known country of the world, and maintained thcmielves by
their own induftry. As they travelled, eat, drank, and converfed daily
with the great divine meflenger, he perfedtly taught them the divine law,
which your fuppofed anceflors had received under very ftrong emblems.
After his death, they fpoke it with great boldnefs, and a molt amazing
power. They truly marked down on paper, moll of the fpeeches and
actions of their beloved mailer and themfelves, without concealing their
own foibles, for our inftrudflion : and a great many true copies of them are
tranfmitted over every quarter of the world, in different languages, which
agree together, and with thofe early beloved books -, though it is more thau
feventeen hundred years, fince th'"y were firft drawn out by thofe beloved
fcholars. As their hearts were warmed in a very high degree, by the holy
fpirit of fire, the moral part of their lives were free from blemilh, after
the death of their matter. In imitation of him, they fufFered all kinds of
hardfhips, difficulties, and dangers of life, that human beings could un-
dergo, merely through a principle of divine love working in them, for the
general good of mankind ; they cured the fick and dil'eafed, and taught
every one the true beloved fpeech, to purify them. As they were not
proud, they were not drawn with beautiful prancing horfes, in coftjy mo-
ving houfes, but walked after the manner of their divine mafter, and in-
ftrudted the attentive people, by their humble example, and honeft leflbns,
in the moft alfured hope of receiving from IjhtohooUo Abuy a reward equal
to their virtues, after they died, knowing they were to live anew in a
happy (late, free from the power of death. In this manner, they, by the
earneft beloved fpeech of the great divine mefTenger, were cheerfully con-
tent, and firmly truded in the goodnefs of the fatherly chieftain. Indeed,
foon after they entered into their facred office, they were jealous of their
mafter's giving preference to one, before the other of them ; but he gave
a ftrong lelTon of humility and kindncfs for them, and all fucceeding be-
loved men to purfue, by wafhing and wiping their i^tt. with his own hands :
and he afflired them IJhtohoollo would always efteem them moft, who aded
beft.
the North American Indi-.ns.
443
All thofe beloved men, who do not join in religious communion with
Oobacbe Tjljtokoollo, tell us, that ancient records aflirin, all of the priei^ly
order (after the death of the divine mcflenger; were equal in their religious
office, tiiat deference excepted, which is always due to a virtuous feniority —
and that as wifdom and virtue equally accompany either youth, middle,
or old age, they continued in that brotherly ftate of religious fimpliclty, ac-
cording to the true copy of the humble, all-loving, and beloved meflengcr,
for the fpace of three hundred years after tliat jieriod — and that, as the
fpcpch of the great divine meffenger was marked in a co[)ious language,
wliich abounded with various words to exprefs the fame tiling, the
names of old men, overfeers and biflnops, fignir'y one and the fame rank
of beloved men of the b^rloved houfe, according to the former humble con-
duft of their divine mafter •, but that the words are now tortured through
mercenary views, contrary to the plain fimplicity of tiie i)rimitive teachers.
As holy things, and white emblems, are eafily polluted and tarniflied by
people of impure hearts, and unclean hands, the divine law began then to
lofe its quickening influence over the beloved men of tiiofe large countries,
where the fun riles out of the broad water. Their difputes ran high, and
the longer they lafted, the fliarper they grew. They, at laft, referred them
to the decifion of the beloved men, toward the place where the daily fun is
drowned in the great fait water, which is callc-.l Rome. As in affairs of
ftate, lb in religion, a remarkable precedent begets a cuftom, and this be-
comes a law with focieties. In confequence thereof, an order of fuperior
beloved men laid hold of this, and ftretched the divine fpeech, fo as to
anlvver their own mercenary views.
i
In procefs of time, there fpn'ng up a pretended groat bringcr of rain,
who, like the hurtful fpirits of corrupt darknefs, by rejeding the divine
fpeech, and defpiflng the exai.i j"e of the holy meflenger and his fcholars, fet
up arrogantly for himfclf, aga -''! the fupremechieltan. of the rain and thun-
der, claimed the tenth '/ailcet-f >.'i of the new harveft according to the obfo-
iete law of your fuppofed anc?UTS, and even forgave adulterers, thieves,
liars, inccftuous pcribns, ar.i.^ thofe who accompanied with women in their
lunar retreats, without "'v fort i^i punHntion, if they only paid him fuch a
quantity of yellow Hone, as he proportioned to the various degrees of each
crime they committed. To enricli himfelf by their weaknefs, his whole
tribe of black-dreffed milTionaries, by drift order, frightened the ignorant
L 1 1 2 and
444
General Ohfervations on
in
and credulous, with the wild notion of wandering sfter death in the ar-
curled place of darknefs, without any poffibility of avoiding that dreadful
fmte, unlefs they revealed all their crimes to them, and paid them a fixed price.
Bccaufe pride and envy had fpoiled fome of the fpirits above, and made
them accurfed beings •, therefore, the meflenger of IJhtohooUo., as I told you,
ftrongly checked the like difpofuion in its firft appearance among his fcholars.
But the pride of the Romifh chieftain, and defire of abfolute religious and
civil power, became fo unbounded, as to claim an unlimited authority over
all the great chieftains on earth ; and he boafted of being fo highly actuated
by the unerring divine wifdom, as to know and do every thing perfedly.
He, at the fame time, ordered all his fcholars to involve the people
in thick clouds of darknefs, and imprefs them with a firm belief, that
ignorance produces virtue. He invented a third ftate for the fake of his
temporal intcrcft, fixing it half way between people's favourite place of
living anew, and that of the horrible darknefs, which was to be a vomit-
ing or purging ftate of the dead, and called it purgatory i wiiere the
dead muft unavoidably call, and be detained, till furviving relations fa*
tisfied them for their enlargement. He became fo highly intoxicated by
pride and power, that he erefted images of fuch dead people as moft re-
fembled Iiimfelf, with various other objeds for the living to invoke, inftead
of the great eternal To He Waby whom you fupplicate in your religious
invocations : and he marked for his black fcholars, a great many very
evil fpeeches, and fpoke them with a ftrong mouth and ill heart, and en-
forced them by fwords and fiery fagpots, contrary to the old beloved fpeech
which was confirmed by the anointed melfenger.
K ' 1
At length, the holy fpirii of fire influenced two great beloved men in
particular, according to a former prediftion, to fpeak to the people with a
ftrong mouth, as witneflTes of the divine truth. I'heir ears were honeft in
hearing the old beloved fpeech, and it funk deep into their hearts. But
a great many fupcrftitious cuftoms ftill remained, for had they aimed at a
perfect eftablifhment of the divine law in their religious worfliip, probably
the high placed religious men through a covetous fpirit would have op-
pofed the reformation with all their might •, as very few of them endea-
voured to teach the young people, by honeft examples, to live a virtuous
life, or enabled them to get refrefhing fliowers from IJhtoboollo .iba to
make plentiful harvefts — and yet they claimed a great part of it, and even
ef
the North American Indians.
445
of the feed corn, without the leaft exemption of the poor, contrary to the
tender feelings even of our indigent warriors and great canoe men, who
ftrctch out a kindly hand to their poor brethren. That part of the old be-
loved fpcech, the tenth ba(ket-full, was calculated only for your fuppofed
predeceffors, who confided of twelve families-, one of which was devoted to
the divine fervice. Therefore, tliey were allowed fome part of th- religious
offerings, and of the yearly produce of the land, to make their own and
their famili'-s hearts rejoice, and at the fame time to keep them humble,
and make them hofpitable to the widow, the fatherlefs, and the ftranger.
They, like the humble fcholars of the great beloved melTcnger, were always
poor •, they honeftly minded their religious duty, and were not allowed to
purchafe any land, nor to cxpole thtir virtue to th** f^mptations of heaping
up yellow llone, or employing their minds on any thing, except the divine
law.
The lives and manners of the early teachers of the fpcech of the divine
m^lTcnger, as I before told you, were alfo ftri(flly juft and blamelefs.
They equally taught by precept and example-, and their lelTons, like
thofe of their great mailer, were plain, fimple, and holy. They were
humble in their behaviour, and moderate in their apparel, food, and
drink, and faithful in the difcharge of their religious office: inflead of
afluming the arrogant title of divine chieftains, they honeftly gave them-
felvcs the lowly name of Iniookfare Ilhtohoollo^ " Servants of God," in
imitation of the life, precept, and example of the holy meffenger,
which ftrongly actuated their honcft hearts. When they were weary
after the toils of the day,, by inftrudling the people, and working at
their trade, as your beloved men do, they joyfully refted themfelvcs in
their humble cottages, and rcfrelhed themfelvcs with their homely fare ;
and there they inftrudtcd the young people to invoke I'o-He-Wab., and
fpeak the divine fpeech. In this religious manner, they fpcnt their time
through various countries, by the diredion of divine wifdom, as a llrong
pointed leflbn to all fucceeding beloved men to purfue, and they fealcd
the truth with their blood — fuch were the primitive teachers of the divine
word. They lived and died in a ftate of equality -, and were there any
different degrees to be obferved in the holy office of religion, learning and
piety Ihould recommend poor beloved men to the high feats of profit —
but only toilfome places are now allotted them, with an allowance infuf-
ficient to fupport thcmlclves, fo that they canr.ot flretch out their kindly
hand to the poor.
5 The
l1
446
General Ohfervatlotis on
The mouths and hearts of the fuperior beloved men in our day, fliame-
fuUy contradicl one another, to the difcredit of the lively copy of the holy
meilengcr and his beloved i'cholars, and the great danger of infefting
thofe of inferior rank, by fo pernicious and corrupt an example-, for
it is natural for the feet to follow the diredion of the head. They were
formerly a very infolent, covetous, and troublelbme fct ■, and being advanced
by rich friends to the high founding office of Mingo IflHohoollo^ " Divine
chieftains," or in their own llile, " Right Reverend Fathers in God," princes
and fupportcrs of the church, great was their arrogance and power-
taking advantage of the corruption of the times, they grafted themfelves into
the civil conftitution, and to prcferve their high and profitable places they
became the fixed and ftrenuous fupporters of courts, in all their meafures.
But they will very foon be purified. The beloved fpeech of IfbotooUo of
old, has announced it, and that is always true. It has pointed to the pre-
fent and approaching time, which is near to the end of 'ntafured time.
To fhew you how well prepared thoTe prieflly princes are for that trying
period, I fhall give you the general opinion of the wife and honcit people,
en this and the other fide of the broad water-, by which you will lee how
iar they agree with, or differ from, .he original copy of the plain honed
fcholars of the anointed holy meflen^er.
They boafl themfelves to be the embafiklors of the holy chieftain of tlie
high church. They dwell in coftly great lioufes, after the fuperb man-
ner of our great civil chieftain -, and they give them the hvnt lofty name.
Palaces, to diftinguifli them from the dwelling-houfes of other mortals.
Their drefs is equally rich and lingular, to flrike the eye, and imprcfs the
hearts of the vulgar with a profound rcvereiue of the divine prieflly
wearers. They have the revenue of princes to fupport their grandeur -,
and they are moll exacfl in having it collcAed by litigious mercenaries,
even to the tenth of the hive of bees, and of the unlawful and filthy
young fwine -, and yet they a6t the part of Phohe Ipto, " Great d'ones,
or drones of God," as foon as fhey obtain their rich high feat, not fpeak-
ing the divine fpeech r> the p'ople hardly three times a year. Their food
confifls of a great vari^.■; of the choicell, and moft delicious forts of fifh,
l^.'jfli, and fowl-, their Jr'nk is of the ric'.-ft white, yellow, and red grape
water, with other coll:/ liquors which your language cannot exprefs.
5 They
1: ;H
the N'orth American Indians.
447
They rcfort to the moll gay affcmblies in the world, for the fake of pleafure,
leaving the miiltitiidc to tlie divine care, or the fpt'akings of poor religious
men who are ' ired at low wages to do their iliiry, as they the;iifi.lves have
enoiif^h to mind and lecure properl) temporal concerns. In this man-
ner, do thefe lamps fiiim-, and I'pend thiir days and nights, like the great
chieftains of the earth ; and when they die, their bodies are laid apart from
tlie reft of mankinil, in polilhed and coftly tombs, adorneil with nice
ftrokes of art, to pei [n-tuate their names — tlie long train of virtues they fo
highly pofTefTcd — their great learning and eloquence — the fimplicity of
their lives and manners — their faithful difcharge of the various duties of
their religious hifih oflice — their contempt of the grandeur and vanities of
this tranficnt world — their tendernefs of heart to the cries of the poor;
and their fingular modefty and humility, a fliining copy of imitation for
common priefts, and other fpiritual chieftains, to purfue. Tiiele fine mo-
numents are very plealant to the eye, but honeft men fay that merrenary
writers and artifts do not afl right to belie the dead.
My red beloved friends, fuch is the reputed life and death of thofe higb-
feated divine chieftains of the high church; your fliarp natural reafon will
difcern tlie clofj agreement there is between the humility and fimplicity
of their principles and lives, with thofe of the early ovcrfeers of the lowly
divine houfe. It is faid that fome great beloved men have an earneft de-
fire of lending a few of their own high office, to this fide of the broad
water, in order to appoint young beloved men-, but we ftrongly fufpefl a
dangerous fnake in the grafs •, ai\d efteeming them dead to the true interefts
of religion and liberty, v.e think they ought to keep them at home, and
even recall their prefent troublelbme milTionaries from our fettlements,
and allow us to enjoy our former peace and quiet — Wc wi(h them to go to
fome poor dark countries, and inftruft the people in the honeft lefTons of
peace, love, and charitv ; which they would, if they only aimed at the good
of mankind, and the honour of the fupreme chieftain, according to the
plain copy of the great beloved mcllenger and his kind-hearted faithful
fcholars. We wifli the civil powers would not tempt the religious men's
virtue by fuch alluring delicious baits, as they propcfe to them, and that
all ranks would become frugal and virtuous.
Thus
_*ik,if ■• Lltf.
44-8 General Obfervations on the North American Indians,
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Thus ended my Lecture. The reverend old red pontiff imme-
diately adced, whether they had the accurfed bc-ings on the other fide
of the water? I told iiim, I hoped not — but the religious men often
fpoke a ftrong fpeech of evil \r thofe they reckoned very bad, and turned
them out of the beloved houfe, to the evil fpirits of darknefs. Upon
which he requcftcd me to mention any one of the crimes that might
occafion fuch treatment. I told him, " I had heard of a gentleman,
whole heart did not allow him to love his lady fufficiently, and (he
having by (harp watching difcovered him to give love to another, com-
plained of it to a great beloved man •, accordingly, either for the negletft, or
wrong application of his love duty, he was ordered to pay her a confider-
able fum of money— he valuing it more than her, liis heart did not allovy
him to give fo much : whereupon a fharp fpeech of evil was fpoken againft
him, and by that means he was faid to become accurfed." My Indian
friend faid, as marriage (hould beget joy and happinefs, inlVead of pain and
mifery, if a couple married blindfold, and could not love each other after-
wards, it was a crime to continue together, and a virtue to part, and make
a happier choice \ and as the white people did not buy their wives after
the manner of the Indians, but received value along with them, in pro-
portion to their own po(re(rions, whatfoever the woman brought with her,
(lie ought to be allowed to take back when they feparated, that her heart
might weigh even, and nothing be fpoiled. — That, in his opinion, fuch
determinations belonged to the law, and not to the great beloved men ; and,
if he underftood me aright, the beloved man threw away the gentleman to
the accurfed beings of darknefs, not for having afted any thing againft the
divine law, but for daring to oppofc the words of his mouth, in imi-
tation of the (irft prefumptuous great beloved man, who fpoiled the fpeech
of the divine me(renger. Many natural, pertinent, and humorous obfer-
vations, were made by him on what he had heard.
APPENDIX.
\m
APPENDIX.
ADVICE TO STATESMEN;
i
SHEWING
The advantages of mutual affeiflion between Great Britain, and the
North American colonies — A defcription of the Floridas, and the
Miflifippi lands, with their produdions — The benefits of coloni-
zing Georgiana, and civilizing the Indians— and the way to make
all the colonies more valuable to the mother country.
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A D V 1 C T r o
STATESMEN.
TMOUG II Great Britain hath been many years invcfted with the MilTi-
fipipolUllions, and which flic purchafcd at a very high price ; little
hatl\ been done to improve them. Every friend to his country and man-
kind, miirt vvidi adminiflralion to pay a due regard to the ineftimablc va-
lue of the American colonies—which is bcft done in engaging the colo-
nifts, by wile and prudent condud, to exert themfclves to promote
her intcreft in the lame manner they faitlifuUy did, till arbitrary power
afTaikd their maritime ports, to their grief, and her own immenle lofs. In
proportion as a motiier loves, or hates her children, ind drives to make
them either happy or m'ilcrable, they in the fame degree will exert their
endeavours to make a fuitable return.
Whatever Ichcme is uniuft, it is unwifc in fl:atefmcn to form, or at-
tempt to put in execution. Inftinft moves the brutal creation to defend
their young ones and property at the peril of their lives. The virtue of
Britons will not allow them to do lefs for tiemfelves and their children.
As liritilh legiQators muft be convinced that honefty is the bcft policy, it is to
be hoped they will ftudioudy apply thenvielves to promote the general good
of their fellow-fubj.as, and engage the northern colonifts cheerfully to
bend their force in fupplying Great Britain with fuch ftaple commodities
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APPENDIX.
as bountiful nature has given to them, but which through a ftrange kind of
policy, fhe now chiefly purchafes from foreigners, particularly timber and
iron. The North-American trees are better in quality, than thofe which are
brought from the Baltic, and in a far greater variety: and (hips of a proper
conflrudtion, might foon carry American timber to England as cheap as Ihe
has it from thence The colonifts could build either merchant-men, ormea-
of war, of any fize, much cheaper than can poffibly be done in any Eu-
ropean country, which would always infure them a ready market. French,
gold for their fhips, would be of no diflervice to Great Britain, though,
perhaps it might be as difligreeable to her, as the Spanifh gold and filver
was from the hands of the Britifli Americans : however, to confign their
Ihips to fome Britifh merchants, would fufficiently filence thofe who might
find tlieir prefent account in oppofing the public good.
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Natural caufes produce natural effefts. They who fow well, reap well ; and
as nature has planted a great plenty of iron ore througli the American high
lands, we hope the time will foon come, to allow her to take in fo weighty
a harveft. The confequence is great, and the application ought to be pro-
portioned to the high value of fo inviting, and complicated an acquifition.
Their hills not only abound with inexhauftible mines of iron ore, but
lie convenient to navigable rivers ; fuch a commodious fituation would
foon enable them to fell it cheaper than Britain can ever exped: irom;
the Ruflian-s, who carry it from a diftance to Peterfi^urgh, as far as from
Georgiana on the Miflifippi, to the city of New York. We have been
aflured by gentlemen of veracity, that on repeated experiments, they found
the American iron to be equal in goodnefs to that of Ruflla, or Sweden.
Common fenfe direds Britain to live independent of fuch fuppiies, with-
in her own prodigious empire, and not lay hL-rfclf at tlie mercy of any
foreign power, left neceffity (liould compel her a fecond time, to pay as
dear for her left-handed wifdom as flie did in the year i 703, for Swcdiih
tar in Swedilli bottoms, — which was nearly four hundred per cent, more
than (he in a (liort time paid to the American planters for the like, with
her own manufadlures, to the advantage of her merchants, the employment
of her (hips, and the increafe of her feamen.
If
APPENDIX.
453
If Britain feels a decay of her former American trade, on account or
attempting to introduce among her friendly colonies, illegal and dangerous
innovation", it is high time to retracX She hath it yet in her power by a
prudent and maternal conduft to enlarge her trade, to a tar greater extent
than it ever attained, by making it the intereft of the northern planters to
faw timber, and work in iron, for the Britilh y.rds and merchants. She
fl.ould invite Che young, and u.ictded families, to remove to the fertile lancb
of the Miffifippi, and raile th.ie valuable ftaple comi^odit.es (heneeds molt.
The Americans fay, that, though their hearts burn with a ieraph.c fire,
for conftitutional bk-mngs-ever facred and inviolable • yet their tender
feelings for the unhappy fuuatlon of their free-minded brethren m Great
Britain and Ireland, are by fynnpathy, equal to their own for the fickened
condition of their mourning provinces -that the fraternal rye will ^al-
ways incline their hearts to proa.ote their welfare, if inftead o enuva-
vouring to opprefs them, they make them fuch a return as brethren
micrht juRly expecl on the like interefting occafion. If Brinni le-
Pinltors defign to promote the true interefts of their country, tney w.K
pay already regard to the real channel of her great we..kh ^d po,vcr
1 adopt fuch meafures, as wiklom and honefty readily direft to, and
endeavour to difpel thofe uneafinefT.s from the hearts of all the American
colonilts, produced by the unjuil and invidi-ous repreientations of men, whole
garb and Ration ought to have kept them, even from the lulpicion of
ever fomenting fo dangerous a controverfy.
Great Britain, on account of her extenfive American pofleflions, might
foon and eafily repair her decayed trade, and increale it beyond conception,
on a fure and permanent foundation, by upright n.ealures. 1 he oppolue
means to whatfoever cauled its decay, would gradually recover it-but when
once the channel of trade is ftopped by violent methods, it is exceeuingly
difficult to make it fiow again in its former cheerful courle. force can
never eff.ft it, for that Ou^ utterly contemns. No miarcls is more fagacious
and coy She muft firft be courted, and afterward treated kindly : if folly
u!>s any violence., or makes any material breach of good faith to her, H.e loon
fiiis, and never returns, unkls H^e is flrongly invited back, and can r.alon-
ably hope fbr better ulage. A powerful marici.ne u.re may gam new co-
lonies by the i\vord, but can never letilc and con::..c fuch cxten ive ones-
as the Americun,by for.e of .an:-.s,-e:aept over people of uait.uvdy Ipu-.ts
tini.1
454
APPENDIX.
and in the enfcrebling regions of the fouth. Even there, when the fprings
of the ftate-machine are any confidcvable time over-ftretched, the fliarp
feelings of the people naturally roiife, and force them to conquer their
timorous difpoiition, and exerc their powers to break the torturing wheels,
and free themfclvrs of their pains. The voice of nature is againlt tyrannv .
It execrates the a -cttors, and configns them to punilhment.
As the lands in Virgini:i, and Maryland, are greatly exhaufted by raifing
ilut impoverifliing weed, tobacco, — Great Britain may expedil to feel a
gradual decay of that valuable branch of trade, in proportion to the
incrcafe of the people in thofe provinces, unlefs new C/lonies arc
l>:ttlcd on the Mifiifippi. Ecfules this trafl, tlicre is not a fulficient
i|-ace of fertile land in North America, to inviie planters to raife thac
Ibple commodity. Though tlie Oliio fettlcmcnts are now numerous,
and increafing faft, the fettlcrs will only confult their own eafe, as
nature is there very prolific of every convenience of life ; except go-
vernment wifely encourages them to raife fuch produfts as would fuit
tl-e mother-country, and reward them for their labour. Were proper
nieafurcs adopted, the d(.firc of gain would induce them to plant
witii the utmoft afTiduity : and fmiling induftry would foon beget a
f[)ii;t of emulation among the planters, prompting each to excel his
ncigiibour in the annual quantity and good quality of thofe (laple com-
nioditics they were invited to fix upon. The vafl: trafiis of fertile woods,
which arc now fliamti'ully allowed to be only the haunts of wild beads,
and wolfifli lavages fetking for prey, might far eafier be turned into
valuable fine plantations by bounties, than the marllies and barren lands in
Britain were, into their prefent flourilhing condition, by the repeated en-
couragements of tiie Royal Society, and of parliament. Any thing that
promotes greatly the public good, ought always to be done at the expence
of the public •, otherwife it will never be done, elpecially by labouring in-
dividuals. Charity begins at home, and every oric's domeflic affairs de-
mand his clofe attention. To preferve the Ohio lands, coll Great Kritain,
and our colonies in particular, a rivef ot blood, in confequence of the
blindnefs and obltinacy of a haughty general. A legal conflitutional
form of government, ought immediately to be eflablilhed tiiere, both for
the general welfare, and preventing evds that may reafonably be expi'cled
to grow up among a remote, and numerous body of people, — hardy and
7 warlike.
APPENDIX.
455
warlike,— without any public religion or civil law,— in a healthful climate,
and very extenfive and fertile country.
Young glittering courtiers may thinlc their merit exceedingly depre-
ciated, to have the offc^r of the Ohio government conferred on either
of them— as it is now chiefly inhabited by long-legged, tawny hunters,
who are clothed in winter with the fliaggy ndns of wild beafts, and
are utterly unlearned in the polilhed art of fmiling, when their hearts
are difpleafed at the rafli conduft of high-headed rulers : but unlcfs they
learned the difficult lefibn, " know thyfelf," and were endued with
a frank open fpirit, experience would foon convince them that they were
unequal to the talk of governing, or inducing the people to promote the
general oood of the community. The court fophiftry ot extending the
prerogative of the crown, will never do in America-Nothing will pleafe
the inhabitants, but the old conftitutional laws of Britain. Colonel
Philip SKene, who gained wreaths of laurel under General Johnfon, and
now lives at Lake Champlain, is highly cfteemed in the extenfive circle of his
acquaintance, and revered by all his lavage nt;ighbours, becauic in hun
is difplayed the intrepid warrior, and tlie open friend :o all.— Thele, to-
aether with his knowledge of agriculture, render him as proper a perlon as
any for the office-and it is to be wifhed that the government would ap-
point him to prefide over the valuable diltria of Ohio, and he think proper
to accept it. Such a meafure could not fail of adding greatly to the
true interefts of Great-Britain and her colonies: thus, the prefent .inha-
bitants- would be incited to promote the public good, and multitudes
of the northern people would remove to fettle thofe fruitful lands,
and cheerfully apply themfelves in railing fuch commodities, as would
prove beneficial to the community. Though the Ohio is far dif-
tant from any navigable port, yet we have full proof that every article
of luxury will bear great expence for its culture, carriage by land, and
freight by water : and, as the fertility of the foil by the ftream and
fmall branches of the Miffifippi, is well known through North America,
and the colon ifts cannot remove there with their live ftock, through the
country of the mifchievous Mufkohge j doubtlefs numbers of iiuiultrious
families would come by the Ohio, and foon enrich themfelves by in-
creaQng the riches of the public.
Any
456
APPENDIX.
it
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BJ:,
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III
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Any European flatc, except Great Britain, would at once Improve tlieir
acquifitions, taken and purchafcd by an iinmcnfc quantity of blood and trea-
furc, and turn them to the public benefit. At the end of tlie late war, the
miniftry, and their adherents, held up Eaft and Weil Florida before
the eyes of the public, ai greatly fupcrior to thole Weft-India iflands, which
Spain and France were to receive back in exchange. The iflands hov/ever
are rich, and annually add to the wealtli and ftrength of thofe refpeflive
powers : while Eaft Florida, is the only place of that extenfive and valu-
able traft ceded to us, that we have any way improved -, and this is little
more than a negati ^e good to our other colonies, in preventing their ne-
groes from flieltering in that dreary country, under the protedlion of Fort St.
Auguftine. The province is a large peniniula, confifting chiefiy of fandy
barrens ; level four ground, abounding with tulVucks j here and there is
fome light mixt land •, but a number of low Iwamps, with very un-
wholefomc water in generid. In proportion as it is cleared, and a free
circulation of air is produced, to dil'pel the noxious vapours that float
over the I'urface of this low country, it may become more healthful j though
any where out of the influence of the fea air, the inhabitants will be liable
to fevers and agues. The favourable accounts our military officers gave of
the pure wholclbme air of St. Auguftine, are very juft, when they com-
pare it with that of the fand burning Penfacola, and the low ftagnated Mo-
bille : St. Auguftine ftands on a pleafant hill, at the conflux of two fait
water rivers, overlooking the land from three angles of ihf caftle,
and down the found, to the ocean. Their relation of the natural ad-
vantages of this country, could extend no farther than their marches
reached. I formerly went volunteer, about fix hundred miles through
the country, with a great body of Indians againft this place; and we ranged
the woods to a great extent. The trafts we did not reach, we got full in-
formation of, by feveral of the Mufkohge then with us, who had a tho-
rough knowledge, on account of the long continued excurfions they
made through the country in queft of the Florida Indians -, and even
after they drove them into the iflands of Florida, to live on fifh, among
clouds of mullietoes. The method thefe Indians took to keep ofF thofe tor-
menting infefts, as their fafety would not allow them to make a (ire, left
the fmoke fliould guid^; their watchful enemies to furprife them, was, by
anointing their bodies with rank fifh oil, mixed with the juice or afhes of
iadigo. This perfume, and its effluvia, kept off from them every kind of
infedt.
lU
APPENDIX,
457
i
nnfea. The Indians likcwife informed me, that when i!-.e>' went to w.ir
atrainll the Floridians, they cairied their cyprels bark canoe; from the head
of St. John's black river, only about half a mile, v.-hen they launched them
again i.ito a deep river, which kd down to a multitude: of ilLinds to the
N. W. of Cape Florida.
As this colony is inconteftably much better fituated for trade than WclV
Florida, or the Mimfippi lands, it is furprifmg that Britain does not improve
the opportunity which offer?, by adding to thefe unhealthy low grounds a fuf-
ficient quantity of wafte high land to enable the fettlers, and their families, to
raifo thofe ftaples (he wants. The Mufkohge who claim ir, might be offered,
and they would accept, what it feems to be worth in its wild (late. Jul! ice to
ourfelves and neighbours, condemns the Hiortening the planter's day?, by-
confining their induftrious families to unhealthy low lands, when nature invites
them to°ome out, to enjoy her bountiful gifts of health and wealth, where
only favage beafts prey on one another, an^ the bloodier two-footed favages,
ramble about to prey on them, or whatfoevei f-^Us in their way. Under thefe,
and other preffing circumftances of a fimilar nature, does this part of Ame-
rica now labour. A weft north- weft courfe from the upper parts of Georgia
to the Miffifippi, would contain more fertile lands than are in all our colonies
on the continent, eaftward. As moft of thefe colonies abound with frugal
and induftrious people, who are increafing very faft, and every year crowd-
ing more clofely together on exhaufted land, our rulers ought not to allow
fo mifchievous and dangerous a body as the Muikohge to ingrofs this vaft
foreft, moftly for wild beafts. This haughty natior is direflly in the way
of our valuable fouthern colonies, and will check them from rifing to half
the height of perfcftion, which the favourablenefs of the foil and climate
allow, unlefs we give them fevere correftion, or drive them over the MifTi-
fippi, the firft time they renew their afts of hoftility againft us, without
fufficient retaliation. At prefent, Weft Florida is nothing but an ex-
pence to the public— The name amufes indeed, at a diftance •, but were it
duly extended and fettled, it would become very valuable to Great Bri-
tain -, and Penfacola harbour would be then ferviceable alfo in a time of waf
with Spain, being in thegulph of Florida, and near to Cuba. Mobille is a
black trifle. Its garrifon, and that at Penfacola, cannot be properly fupplied
by their French neighbours though at a moft exorbitant price : and, on ac-
N n n count
45^
APPENDIX.
mi
1 \ii i
1 II :i
iH-
W.:
count of our own palllve condud, the Mufkohge will not allow t!ie ii;-
habitants of Georgia to drive cattle to thofe places for the ufe of the fo!»
diets. Neither can the northern merchant-men iupply them with fait aivJ
frclh provifions, but at a very unequal hazard ; for tlie gulph ftream would
oblige them to fail along the Cuba fliorc, where they would be likely to
be leir-cd by the Spanifh guarda ccftas, as have many fine American vefTcb
on the falfe pretence of fmuggling, and which, by a ftrange kind of
policy, they have been allowed to keep as legal prizes. In brief, unlefs
Great Britain enlarges both Eaft and Weft Florida to a proper extent,
and adopts other encouraging meafures, for raifing thofe ftaple commo-
dities which flu" purchafes from foreigners, the fagacious public muft be-
convinced, that the opportunity of adding to her annual expences, by pay-
ing troops, and maintaining garrifons, to guard a narrow flip of barre:>
fand-hills, and a tra6l of low grave-yards, is not an equivalent for thofe va-s
luable improved iflands our enemies received in exchange for them.
"We will now proceed to the Miflifippi, and that great extent of territory,
■which Great Britain alfo owns by exchange ; and fhew the quality of thofe
lands, and how far they may really benefit her, by aftive and prudent ma-<
nagement. As in Florida, fo to a great diftance from the fliore of the
gulph, the lands generally confift of burning fand, and are uninhabitable, or
of wet ground, and very unhealthy. But, a little beyond this dreary defarr,
are many level fpots very fertile, and which would fuit people who are ufed
to a low fituation, and. prove very valuable, both to planters, and the inha-
bitants of a trading town. As the river runs from north to foutb, the air
is exceedingly pure in the high lands of this extenfive trad. The foil i&.
generally very rich; and, to the diftance of fix hundred miles up, from the
low lands of the fea coaft, it is as happy a climate as any under heaven,
quite free from the extremities of heat and cold. Any product of the-
fame clime from 31 to 45 degrees N. L. might be raifed here in the greateft.
perfeftion, to the great profit of the planter and the public. Many thou--
lands of us would heartily rejoice to fee adminiftration behave as wife men —
leave their mean, or mad policy, and promote a fpLrit of emigration among;
the families of the crowded northern colonies. Thus the induftrious poor-
in Britain, would find more employ inmanufadures ; and the public would
receive from their brethren, what they now purchafe, chiefly from rivaU
powers with gold and filver, with the balance of trade greatly againft them.
A. " This.
APPENDIX.
459
Tins fine country, Geor^iana, invites Gie.it Britain to Tinile upon it,
and in return to receive its grateful tribute of tobncco, iicmp, filk, flax,
cotton, indigo, wine nnd tea, in plenty, bcfides many other valuable pro-
duds. Hops grow wild on tlie MifTifippi — and the tobacco raill-d at the
Nahchee old fettlement, was eiteemed of fupcrior quality to any belonging
France. The lands on the exienfive ramifications of the iVIinifippi lands are
capable of producing the like. All kind of vegetables planted, or fo-.ved
in tiieir fields, gardens, and orchards, either for profic or pleafurc, would
grow to greater perfeftion, and with lefs art aiid labour, in this traci, than
any in Europe, fo fruitful is the foil, and favourable the climate. As
the favages live in a direft line between our northern colonies, and
this, to the diltance of four hundred miles above New Orleans; our nor-
thern people will be obliged to make a winding courfe by tlie Ohio, before
they can reach it with their families and neceflary moveables; vvhicli fhews
that it requires public fpirit, and the fupport of government to fettle a
flourifliing colony here. The two Floridas, and this, which to the great
lofs of the nation, lie fhamefully neglefled, are the only places in the Bri-
tifii empire, from whence fhe can receive a fufficient fupply of thofe (laplcs
fhe wants. The profperity, and even the welfare of Great Britain, depends
on fundry accounts, in a high degree, on improving thefe valuable and
dear bought acquifitions; and we hope her eyes will be opened fonn, and
her hands ftretched out to do it — flie will provide for the ncceiritics
of her own poor at home, by the very means that would employ a multi-
tude of ufelefs people in agriculture here, and bring the favages into a pro-
bable way of being civilized, and becoming chriftians, by contraifling their
circle of three thoufand miles, and turning them from a lonely hunt ol"
wild beads, to the various good purpofes of fociety. Should Tjieat Britain
duly exert herfclf as the value of this place requires, by the allillancc of our
old Chikkafah allies, the other Indian nations would be forced to purfuc;
their true intereft, by living peaceably with '. ■ : and be foon ?nticed to be-
come very ferviceable both to our planters, and iie enlargement of trade.
As the Mifffippi Indians are not likely to be foon corrupted by the haughty
ftifF Spaniards, and are moftly of a tradable difpofition, conllquently they
might be civilized, and their wants fo greatly extended as to demand every
kind of Britifli manufaftures, in imitation of their friendly, indullrious, nnii
opulent neighbours ; and, as the fmall profits of hunting v/ould not be ful-
Bcient to purchafe a variety of fuch new neccflariesj they mig'it be eafi.y
N n n 2 induced
+6o
APPENDIX.
I
IJ
induced to cultivate thofe commodities tliat would beft anfwer their de^
nunJs. Raifing of filk, would extremely well agree witli them, on ac-
count of its eaiy procefs ; mulberry trees grow fpontaneoufiy to a confidcr-
Tkblc height here, and in the low lands through all our fouthcrn colonies ;
which, were they topped, and tranfplanted near to the houfes, would i'ervc
tu feed the fdk worms with their leaves. The eafy culture of this valuable
commodity, fiU:, would not hinder the planter from attending the inviting
products of the field. Thus the Indians would be gently led out of their
. imculiivated ftate of nature, and a fair opportunity would be given to dif-
treet, llnUble and pious teachers to inllrud them in the plain, and ealy
principles of chrillianity.
The prodigious number of fertile hills lying near fome of the large
ftreams, and among the numberlefs fmallcr branches of the MilTifippi,
from 33 to r^"] degrees N. L. (and likewife in the two Floridas) are as
well adapted by nature, for producing different forts of wine, as any place
whatever. The high lands naturally abound with a. variety of wine grapes :
if therefore thefe extenfive lands were fetded, and planters met with due
encouragement. Great Britain in a few years might purchafc here, with
her own manufa^lures, a fufficient fupply of as good wines as fhe buys
from her dangerous rival France, at a great difadvantage of trade, or even
from Portugal. The level lands here, as in other countries, are badly
watered; which therefore would abfolutely require the colony to be ex-
tended Sx hundred miles up the Miflifippi, to anfwer ths main defign of
fettling it. .The lands in our northern colonies are too much exhaufted
to raife a fufficient quantity of hemp for their own confumption : and in-
digo does not grow to the north of Cape Fear river, in North Carolina, on
account of the coldncfs of the climate. And as it grows only in rich lands,
it is liable to be devoured the fecond year by fwarms of grafshoppers,
and its roots are of fo penetrating a nature, as not only to impoverifh the
ground, but requires more new fertile land than tiie planters can allow ;
fo that in a fliort time, that produiTt will ceafe of courfe in South Caro-
lina, and Georgia. This favourable country will fupply that growing de-
feat. In the Carolinas, and along the fea-coafl: to the Miflifippi, tea
grows fpontaneoufiy •, and doubtlefs, if the Eaft-India tea was tranfplanted
into thofe colonies, it would grow, as well as in the eaftern regions of the
Ijxme latitude. The chief point confifts in curing it well : but foreigners,
or experience, would foon overcome that difficulty by due eneouragement. .
9ome years ago, a gentleman of South Carolina told me he raifed fome
.1 of
APPENDIX.
4^1
of the Faft-India tea, and it grew extremely well. Mc faiJ, he had it
cured in a copper kettle, wcU covered, and fixed in a common pot with
water, wliich boiled three hours, was then taken out, and allowed to cool
before they opened if, and that when the vclfcl was not filled with the
leaves, they curled in the fame manner as the Eall-lndia weed imported
at a great lofs of men and money, and better talkJ.
I am well acquainted with near two thouHmd miles along the American
continent, and have frequently bcpn in the remote woods; but the quantity
of fertile lands, in all that vail fpace, cxduHve of wliat ought to be added
to Ealland Weft-Florida, fccms to bear only a fmall proportion to thole be-
tween the MilTifippi and Mobille-river, with its N. W. branches, which
run about thirty miles north of the Chikkafah country, and intermix with
plcafant branches of the great Cheerake river. In fettling the two Florida";,
and the MilTifippi-lands, adminiftration lliould not lliffcr them to be mono-
polized — nor the people to be clafled and treated as flaves — Let them have
a conftitutional form of government, the inhabitants will be cheerful, and
every thing will be profperous. The country promifes to yield as plentiful'
harvefts of the moflr valuable prodiiftions, as can be wifhed.
There is a number of extenfive and fertile Savannas, or naturally clear
land, between the Miflifippi and the weftern branches of Mobille river.
They begin about two hundred and fifty miles above the low lands of the
coaft, and are interfperfed with the woods to a great diftance, probably three
hundred miles. The inland parts are unknown to any but the Indians and
the EngliOi traders — the warlike Chikkafah were fo dreadful to the
French, that even their fleet of large trading boats avoided the eaftern
fide of the Miflifippi, or near this fhore under a high point of land, for the
fpace of two hundred lear,ues : fo that, beyond what they barely faw from
their boats, their accounts of the interior parts of this extenfive country,
are mere conjedlures. The foil of the clear land, generally confifts of lools
rich mould to a confiderable depth, and either a kind of chalk, or marl,
underneath. We frequently find the grafs with its feeded tops as high as
our heads, when on horfe-back, and very likely it would bear mowing,
three or four times in one fealbn. As the Indians gather their v/ild hemp, in
fome of thefe open fertile lands, both it and our hemp would grow to admi-
ration, with moderate tillage : and fo would tobacco, indigo, cotton, and flax,
in perfcftion. If Great-Britain exerts hcrfelf in earneft, with an helping han(^
4(>f
APPENDIX.
tr> tl.i , iicw colony •, grantinfr only for eight years, an equal bounty with tfi.it
Tie gave to tlic bleak ami barren lettlemcnt of Nova Scoti.i, Ihe would receive
at tlie expiration of that period, in return for her favour?, an abundant va-
riety of valuabL' raw materials, for employing a va(t multitude of her poor
at home, as well as luxurious producftions, for her own conl'umption, an.l
that of forei[2;ners v greatly increafc tlic public revenue •, dcllroy the Jale of
I''rench wines, and tobacco, tlie chief finews of tlicir (late ; render iierfclf
independent of forei[.',n countries — and make millions of people eafy and
Iiappy, on both fides of the broad water, by mutual induftry, and recipro-
cal offices of friendlbip.
If Great Britain thus wifely improves the natural advantages of North-
America, Ihe will foon reap fufficient fruit for her expcnces of cultivating it :
but flie mufl: certainly be a lofer, in proportion to any unconftitutional
attempt excited by falfe views, againfl: tlie natural rigius and chartered pri-
vileges of the colonifls. We now and then fee the lamentable power
that illiberal prejudices and felf-intereft obtain over gentlemen of learning,
a^nd judgment, by transforming them from honeft, wife men, into dan-
gerous political incendiaries. Whether the colonifts are large in their
Britifli imports, or are forced to more domeftic frugality on account of the
late fevere rtftraints upon theirtrade, thefe fophifts declare them to be rivals
in trade, and devote them to deftrudion. The colonifts however generally
proportion their expences to the annual income of their pofleinons. If they
gain but a little by trade, and labour, they fpend as little in luxuries. Ac
the very worft, they can keep the wolf of want from their doors. They
arc fo happily fituatcd, as to have far lefs real demands for gol-d and filvcr
than any other civilized, increafing body of people. When they received
thofe metals abroad by their Spanifh trade, they foon remitted them to Great
Britain ; and they are now quite eafy, if ftie chufes to ftrike her owii pocket
very hard, in order to hurt them. Our political phyficians prefcribe a
ftrange fort of means and regimen to heal the wounds of the body politic ;
aflliredly they will tear them open, and make them bleed frefli again, and
more than ever. It is a pity, that before they thought of hunger and phle-
botomy for the fuppcfed unfound Americans, they had nor duly confidered
the folid rea'bnings and unanfwerable arguments of the very worthy, upright
patriot, John Dickenfon, Efqj and other American gentlemen, and the
fpeeches and publications of fome patriots at home. Smollett's obfervations
are alfo very pertinent — " The natives of New-England acquired great glory
from
¥
APPENDIX. 4(^3
from the fuccefs of this cntcrprize againft Louilboiirg. Britain, which ha4
in fome inftanccs behaved like a ftepmother to her own colonics, was no\/
convinced of their importance •, and trcattJ thofc as brethren whom fhe haJ
too long confuicred as aliens and rivah. Circiimrtinceil as the nnti'jn is, the
tegiflatiire cannot too tenderly cherifh the interefts of the Bi itifh plantai'.ons ir>
America. They are inhabited by a brave, hardy, indiillrious people, ani-
mated with an aiftivc fpirit of commerce, infpired witli a nobk' zeal for li-
berty and independence. The trade of Great-Britain, clogged with hcav/
taxes and impofit'ons, has for fomc time languillied in many vaUiable"
branches. 1'he French have iinderfold our clotns, and I'poiled our
markets in the Levant. Spain is no longer fupplicd as ufual with the com-
modities of England : the exports to Germany muft be confiderably dimi-
niflied by the mifundcrftanding between Great Britain and the houfeof Au-
ftria v — confequently her greatefl refource muft be in her communicatioiV
v'ith her own colonies, which confumc her manufadlures, and make im-
menfc returns in fugar, rum, tobacco, fifli, timber, naval Ilores, iron, furs,
drugs, rice, and indigo. The fouthcrn plantations likewife produce filk ; and
with due encouragement might furnifh every thing that could be expet'^td
from the moft fertile foil and the happieft climate. 1'he coniincnt of
North America, if properly cultivated, will prove an incxliauftible fund of
wealth and ftrength to Great Britain-, and perhaps it may become the lail
afylum of Britifh liberty, when the nation is enflaved by domeflic
defpotifm or foreign dominion j when her fubftance is wafted, her fpint
broke, and the laws and conflitution of England are no more : then tholo
colonies fent off by our fathers may receive and entertain tlieir foni as
haplefs exiles and ruined refugees'."'
Fvil-minded writers depreciate thofc Americans moft', who liand moil
in their way. Could their enemies fubjugate them, they might tl-.en put.
their hands in their pockets with impunity, u(e fcorpion-whips on tl'.eif
backs at pleafure, and eftiablifti the moft delicious part" of tlic lewifti law,
tithes, through the whole continent.
The prefent Qiiixote fcheme evidently feems to fetter the Britifh American?, -
at all events, and force them to pay for their fetters'; to compel them to ma n-
tain a great body of imperious red coats to rule over them, after the maii-
ner of the miferable fons of Hib'ernia, without allowing them any militi;;,
tven on their barriers : otherwife our rulers think that, about twenty
vt'ai'i
46.1.
APPENDIX.
■
*!:,1
years hence, the quick increafe of the Brkifli Americans, will render the
execution of their fchcme impradlicable. Rather than let them be free ai\d
Iiajipy, they are for reducing them, in effeft, to poverty and a ftatc of fla-
vcry. However, if they conjure right, and even allowing them tliat fuccefs
they pine for, it cannot well be fuppofed that fuch vafl. multitudes of Britiili
fubjefls would be fo inured to flavery, in the fliort fpace of twenty years,
but that they wo'.ild cut off their chains, and fet themfelves free. Some
ftatefmen have fliewn themfelves to be no lefs ftrangers to the generous prin-
ciples of the conftitution, and feelings of humanity, than they are to the ex-
traordinary martial abilities of the American provincials, efpecially in the
woods, which arc continued almoft through all our colonies, and would prove
a grave-yard to a great army of regular troops. Tame Frenchmen might fub-
mit to the yoke intended — But Britons, of revolution-principles, efpecially
the Americans, contemn it and all its fupporters, far beyond the power of lan-
guage to exprefs. Were they impoverifhed, and fubjugated, their own bra-
very would fooxi fet them free from tyranny. When fufferings become fliarp,
brave men always make defperatc efforts, in proportion to their pain. And
the annals of the world uniformly declare, that no enemies are fo defpe-
rate and bitter, as defpifed, abufed, and pcrfecuted friends.
They who are in the lead acquainted with the principles of our colo-
nifts, can truly teftify their univerfal attachment to the prefent line of
Brunfwick ; and that their hearts are faithful to the real honour and beft
intereft of their king and country, whole interefts cannot be divided.
And we hope, that they who have the chief diredlion of public affairs,
will foon cheriflj that difpofition, fo peculiar to free-minded Br<tons}
and that condign punirtiment will be inflifted on thofe who endeavour to
.check it, nnd to foment a civil war. Thus, a profitable intercourfe, a lad-
ing peace, and perpetual friendfliip, will continue between the honeft parent
and her grateful colonies, who will not fail to be j uft to her, to themfelves,
jind to their pofterity.
I N I S.
m