"This is our way of talking, which is the same thing to us as your letters in the book are to you, and to you, beloved men, we deliver these feathers in confirmation of all we have said."

In October, the Indians embarked at Portsmouth with Mr. Johnson, the governor of Carolina, for their own country, and in the same ship in which they went over.

Škijagustah, or, as he was sometimes called, Kittagusta, "was brother of Oucconnostola, or the great warrior, and also chief of Chote. He lived to be very old, and died in May, 1768.

10000

CHAPTER IV.

Settlement of Carolina and Georgia-TOMOCHICHI receives the English-Goes to Eng land with General Oglethorpe-Makes a speech to the King-His death-War with the Spaniards-OUTACITIE-MALACHTY-ATTAKULLA KULLA-Indians murdered -ATTAKULLAKULLA prevents retaliation upon whites in his power-Cherokee War begins-Governor Littleton's expedition—Împrisons their Ambassadors―They are massacred-Colonel Montgomery sent against them-Battle near Keowee-Cherokees take Fort London-SILOUCE-Saves the life of Colonel Byrd-Colonel Grant subdues the Cherokees, and they make peace with the whites-CHLUCCO.

THE presumption is pretty strongly supported, that Sir Walter Ralegh visited the southern shores of North America. When General Oglethorpe landed in Georgia, in 1732,* O. S., and communicated to the Indians the contents of a journal of Sir Walter's, they seemed to have a tradition of him, which they had fondly cherished; although, if the person they met were Ralegh, a hundred years had elapsed since he was there. They pointed out to Mr. Oglethorpe a place near Yamacraw bluff, since Charleston, on which was a large mound, in which was buried, they said, a chief who had talked with Sir Walter Ralegh upon that spot. The chief had requested his people to bury him there, that the place might be kept in veneration.

TOMOCHICHI was the principal chief, or Mico, as chiefs were called, of a small band of Creeks and Yamasees, who, having in some way offended their countrymen, fled their country, and "wandered about in the woods some time, until about 1732, when they begged leave of this government to sit down on the high land of Yamacraw, on the south side of Savannah river, at or near the place where the new town of Savannah, in Georgia, is now situated.Ӡ They consisted of but 17 or 18 families, and their first chief appears to have been called BOCACHEE. Several chief men, of various tribes, came to welcome the English, immediately after their arrival. "They were as follows: From the tribe of Coweeta, Yahan-lakee, their king, or mico; Essaboo, their warrior, the son of Old-brim, lately dead, whom the Spaniards called emperor of the Creeks, with eight men and two women attendants. From the tribe of Cussetas, Cusseta, their mico; Tatchiquatchi, their head warrior, with four attendants. From the tribe of Owseecheys, Ogeese, the mico, or war king; Neathlouthko and Ougachi, two chief men, with three attendants. From the tribe of Cheechaws, Outhleteboa, their mico, Thlautho-thlukee, Figeer, Sootamilla, war captains, with three attendants. From the tribe of Echetas, Chutabeeche and Robin, two war captains, (the latter was bred among the English,) with four attendants. From the tribe of Polachucolas, Gillattee, their head warrior, and five attendants. From the tribe of Oconas, Queekachumpa, called by the English Long-king, Koowoo, a warrior. From the tribe of Eufaule, Tomaumi, head warrior, and three attendants.

Many gentlemen in England contributed, in various ways, this year, for the advancement of the colony; some in cattle, some in labor, some in provisions, and others as soldiers. The contribution of one gentleman, for its singularity, shall be mentioned. "Mr. Hume gave a silver boat and spoon for the first child born in Georgia, which being born of Mrs. Close, were given accordingly."-Commissioners' Report on Georgia Affairs, p. 119. Report of the Commissioners, ut supra, 11, 116, 117.

30

TOMOCHICHI AND OTHERS VISIT ENGLAND.

*

[BOOK IV. "The Indians being all seated, Oueekachumpa, a very tall old man, stood, and made a speech, which was interpreted by Mr. Wiggan and Mr. Musgrove," in which he said all the lands to the southward of Savannah River belonged to the Creeks. He said, the Indians were poor, but the same Power that gave the English breath, gave them breath also. That that Power had given the English the most wisdom. That, as they had come to instruct them, they should have all the lands which they did not use themselves. That this was not only his mind, but the minds of the eight towns of Creeks, who had, after consulting together, sent some of their chief men with skins, which was their wealth. At this period of Queekachumpa's speech, some of the chiefs of the eight towns brought each a bundle of buck's skins, and laid them down before Mr. Oglethorpe. Then the chief said, "These are the best things we possess, but we give them with a good heart. I thank you for your kindness to Tomochichi, and his people. He is my kinsman, and, though he was banished from his nation, he is a good man and a great warrior. It was on account of his wisdom and justice, that the banished men chose him their king. I hear that the Cherokees have killed some Englishmen. If you [addressing Mr. Oglethorpe] will command us, we will go against them with all our force, kill their people, and destroy their living."

When Oueckachumpa had done speaking, Tomochichi drew near with his men, and, after making a low bow, said,-"I was a banished man, and I came here poor and helpless to look for good land near the tombs of my ancestors, and when you came to this place I feared you would drive us away; for we were weak and wanted corn. But you confirmed our land to us, and gave us food." The other chiefs spoke in the same manner as Queekachumpa had, and then agreed upon and executed an amicable treaty.

By the assistance of his interpreter, Mary Musgrove, General Oglethorpe had been able to draw together, at one time, 50 chiefs from the upper and lower Creek towns, and, by his conciliatory conduct, had secured their friendship. He next resolved to take a deputation of them to England, hoping what they might witness and experience there, would result in lasting benefits to both their nations and the English. Accordingly, measures having been taken for the furtherance of this project, the general and the Indian chiefs embarked for England, in the Aldborough man-of-war, and arrived at St. Hellens, in the Isle of Wight, 16 June, 1734. The names of the Indians were ToмoCHICHI, SENAWKI, his consort, and TOONAKOWI, the prince, his nephew; also HILLISPILLI, a war captain, and APAKOWTSKI, STIMALECHI, SINTOUCHI, HINGUITHI, and UмPHYCHI, five other chiefs, with their interpreter.

Immediately after their arrival, orders were given for preparing proper habits for them, in order to their being introduced at court. This having been done, Sir Clement Cotterel, knight, master of the ceremonies, was sent, August 1, with three of the king's coaches, drawn by six horses each, to the Georgia office, where the chiefs, all except one, were taken in and carried to Kensington, where their introduction to his majesty, King George II., took place. The one left at the Georgia office was sick with the small-pox, of which he died the next day. ToмOCHICHI, after presenting the king with several eagle's feathers, which were considered, by his nation, the most respectful present they could send, delivered the following speech to his majesty :

"This day I see the majesty of your face, the greatness of your house, and the number of your people. I am come for the good of the whole nation of the Creeks, to renew the peace they had long ago made with the English. 1 am come over in my old days; and, though I cannot live to see any advantage to myself, I am come for the good of the children of all the nations of the Upper and Lower Creeks, that they may be instructed in the knowledge of the English. These are the feathers of the eagle, which is the swiftest of birds, and who flieth all round our nations. These feathers are a sign of peace in our land, and we have brought them over to leave them with you, great king, as a sign of everlasting peace. O! great king, whatsoever words

His wife was the interpreter, according to M'Call, i. 35, who was a half breed named Mary. Oglethorpe first purchased her friendship with presents, and afterwards allowed her a hundred pounds a year for her services.-Commissioners' Report on Georgia Affairs.

you shall say unto me, I will tell them faithfully to all the kings of the Creek nations." The king's answer, though short, was, in the highest degree, conciliatory, and what was termed gracious.*

When the chiefs were introduced at court, his majesty received them upon his throne, in the presence chamber, attended by the officers of state, and a numerous court. They were introduced by the Duke of Grafton, chamberlain of his majesty's household; and, after the ceremonies, they returned to their apartments, at the Georgia office.

Their first care, after returning from court, was to inter their deceased companion, which was accordingly done with great ceremony, in the burialground of St. John the Evangelist, Westminster, according to the custom of the "Cherokee Creeks," which was in the following manner:-"The deceased bing sewed up in two blankets, with one deal board under and another over him, and tied down with a cord, was placed upon a bier, and carried to the place of interment. There were only present at the time of his being put into the grave, King Tomo, and some of the chiefs, the upper church warden of the parish, and the grave digger. When the corpse was laid in the earth, the clothes of the deceased were thrown into the grave; after this a quantity of glass beads were cast in, and then some pieces of silver; the custom of those Indians being to bury all the deceased's effects with him."

Although we have the names of all the chiefs given us that went over with Mr. Oglethorpe, we have not the means of knowing which it was that died. Indians often died on their visits to Europe. One of the five Iroquois chiefs died in England, in 1710, and of his name too we are ignorant.

Mr. Oglethorpe's chiefs, after having been showed the chief curiosities in and about London, were taken to Spithead, where the English fleet lay, that they might go on board and view the tremendous ship Britannia, and some others of great magnitude. On the 30 October, 1734, a little past noon, they embarked at Gravesend, on board the Prince of Wales, for Georgia.

Of Tomochichi, who was the most prominent character among them, we have yet a little to add. He lived until he had attained his 97th year, and died 15 October, 1739, five years, wanting 15 days, after he sailed from England. He resided, at the time of his death, about four miles from Savannah. He was highly beloved by the English, having always been their particular friend, fought for them in war, and aided them by his counsel in peace. He was aware of the approach of death, and expressed but little desire to live longer, as he should be unable to aid his allies any more against the Spaniards. For General Oglethorpe he expressed the greatest tenderness, and entreated the Indians to bear in remembrance the kindnesses with which the king of England had treated him, and hoped they would always remain his subjects. Having expressed a wish that his body might be buried among the English in Savannah, accordingly, his corpse was there interred in Percival Square, with military parade, and General Oglethorpe ordered a pyramid to be erected over it, with an appropriate inscription. ‡

Thus are traced the first steps in the history of Georgia, and thus did every thing promise a continuance of that friendship so well begun by General Oglethorpe. Nothing was left undone, while the Creek chiefs were in England, to impress upon their minds exalted ideas of the power and greatness of the English nation. The nobility were not only curious to see them, but entertained them at their tables in the most magnificent style. Multitudes flocked around them, conferring gifts and marks of respect upon them. The king allowed them £20 sterling a week, during their stay, and it was computed that, at their return to America, they brought presents to the amount of £400 sterling. After remaining in England four months, they embarked at Gravesend for Georgia. They were conveyed to the place of embarkation in his majesty's carriages. §

In the invasion of Georgia by the Spaniards, in 1743, many Indians were drawn into the controversy, on both sides. Toeanoeowi, || or Tooanohowi, a nephew of Tomochichi, was shot through the right arm, in an encounter with

* Harris, Voyages.

M'Call, Hist. Georgia, i. 196, 197.

↑ Kalm's Travels in America, i. 210.
Ó Ib. i. 45.
Harris.

32

OUTACITE.-INTERVIEW WITH GOV. NICHOLSON.

[Book IV

the Spaniards, by a Spanish captain. Tooanohowi drew his pistol with his left hand, and shot the captain through the head.

Thus, with the Spaniards upon one hand, and the English upon the other and the French in the midst of them, the Creeks and Cherokees became subject to every possible evil to which the caprice of those several nations gave rise. In 1723, a chief, whose name we find in writers of that day, Wootassitaw, Woosatasate, Wootassitau, Wrosetasatow,* &c. is styled "Governor of the Lower and Middle Settlements of the Charikees." He is presumed to be the same with Otacite, or Olassite, one of the prisoners above enumerated, and from what we are about to relate of him, his eminence will be apparent. In 1721, Francis Nicholson went over as governor of S. Carolina, who was said to have been very successful in managing affairs with the Indians. Soon after his arrival, the Cherokees despatched messengers to Charleston to adjust some difficulties which had for some time existed; and, not long after, another more full and complete deputation arrived. Governor Nicholson opened the council by a long speech to "Wootassite, King, and to the heads of the Lower and Middle Settlements of the Charokee Nations."

In the course of his speech, he observes, that, when they delivered their acknowledgments and paid their submission to the government, "the other day," they had made mention of 37 towns that had sent down their chiefs for that purpose, and wished to be satisfied that these towns were represented, that his words might be carried to all their inhabitants. After laying much stress on their submission and respect to the king of England, he speaks thus sensibly upon their trading with the whites, which at the same time discovers to us the origin of former troubles.

After ordering that if either party injured the other, restitution should be made by the aggressor, he says, "Frequent complaints have been made that your people have often broke open the stores belonging to our traders, and carry'd away their goods; and also pillaged several of their packs, when employ'd and entrusted to carry them up; and restitution has never been made, which are great faults: We therefore recommend to you, to take all possible precautions to prevent such ill practices for the future," &c. "And to prevent any injury or misunderstanding, we have pass'd a law, which appoints commissioners that are to go twice a year to the Congaree, or Savana garrison, to hear and redress all grievances."

"Woosatasate being a man in great esteem amongst you, having given frequent testimonies of his affection and firm adherence to this government, and being appointed king over you by the former governor of this province; so I, who am sent immediately from his majesty, having the same regard to so deserving a man, and in compliance with your own request, that I would constitute proper commanders over you, do now declare the said Woosatasate, your leader and commander in chief over all the lower settlements of the Cherrokees, and give him a commission for that office, under the broad seal of this his Majesty's province," &c. "I expect that you, Woosatasate, do, within a month after your return, call together all the chief men in your district, and that you make them thoroughly acquainted with what I now say to you, and require of you, and shall give directions, that all the Englishmen amongst you shall be at that meeting. That your ancient government may be restored, I recommend to you to keep your young men in that due decorum they us'd to be," &c. This treaty was held 3 February, 1721, O. S., or this is the date to Governor Nicholson's speech; but it appears by our account that it was the middle of March before the Indian deputies left Charleston.

Although there were events, in every year, of importance, yet, in this place, we shall take up the period rendered more memorable by the distinguished chiefs

*Hewatt, I. 298.

James Moore, who, according to Hewatt (1. 276), was put into office in opposition to the regular course, by a kind of revolutionary spirit. See Oldmixon, who is far more particular, 1. 348.-Moore was elected in 1701. The author of "The British Dominions," (142,) says the Indians were cruelly treated during his administration. There were several other govern ors before Nicholson, beside Moore.