"Brothers! We have heard the talk of our great father; it is very kind. He says he loves his red children. Brothers! When the white man first came to these shores, the Muscogees gave him land, and kindled him a fire to make him comfortable; and when the pale faces of the south made war upon him, their young men drew the tomahawk, and protected his head from the scalping knife. But when the white man had warmed himself before the Indian's fire, and filled himself with the Indian's hominy, he became very large; he stopped not for the mountain tops, and his feet covered the plains and the valleys. His hands grasped the eastern and the western sea. Then he became our great father. He loved his red children; but said, You must move a little farther, lest I should, by accident, tread on you.' With one foot he pushed the red man over the Oconee, and with the other he trampled down the graves of his fathers. But our great father still loved his red children, and he soon made them another talk. He said much; but it all meant nothing, but move a little farther; you are too near me.' I have heard a great many talks from our great father, and they all began and ended the same.

Brothers! when he made us a talk on a former occasion, he said, 'Get a little farther; go beyond the Oconee and the Oakmulgee; there is a pleasant country.' He also said, It shall be yours forever. Now he says, 'The land you live in is not yours; go beyond the Mississippi; there is game; there you may remain while the grass grows or the water runs.' Brothers! will not our great father come there also? He loves his red children, and his tongue is not Srked"

2.

the Uchees.

Their opin antiquity. 3 Their his

ion of their

tory and language.

4. Supposting them, Population.

tion concern.

and present situation.

CHEES. 'The Uchees, when first known, inhabited the ANALYSIS. territory embraced in the central portion of the present Locality of State of Georgia, above and below Augusta, and extend ing from the Savannah to the head waters of the Chatahooche. "They consider themselves the most ancient inhabitants of the country, and have lost the recollection of ever having changed their residence. They are little known in history, and are recognized as a distinct family, only on account of their exceedingly harsh and guttural language. "When first discovered, they were but a remnant of a probably once powerful nation; and they now form a small band of about twelve hundred souls, in the Creek confederacy. NATCHES. "The Natches occupied a small territory on 5 Locality of the east of the Mississippi, and resided in a few small villages near the site of the town which has preserved their name. They were long supposed to speak a dialect of 6. Their lan the Mobilian, but it has recently been ascertained that their language is radically different from that of any other known tribe. "They were nearly exterminated in a war 7. with the French in 1730, since which period they have French, subbeen known in history only as a feeble and inconsiderable nation, and are now merged in the Creek confederacy. Present num In 1840 they were supposed to number only about three a. See p. 524. hundred souls.

the Natches.

guage.

Their tar

with the

enth

tory, and

The Spaniards from Florida.

ANALYSIS.

SECTION V.

MOBILIAN TRIBES.

1. The confed- 'With the exception of the Uchees and the Natches, known as the and a few small tribes west of the Mobile River, the

eracies

Mobilian
Tribes.

2. The coun

try embraced

noles.

whole country from the Mississippi to the Atlantic, south of the Ohio River and the territory of the Cherokees, was in the possession of three confederacies of tribes, speaking dialects of a common language, which the French called MOBILIAN, but which is described by Gallatin as the Muscogee Chocta.

MUSCOGEES OR CREEKS. "The Creek confederacy exby the Creeks tended from the Atlantic, westward, to the dividing ridge which separates the waters of the Tombigbee from the Alabama, and embraced the whole territory of Florida. 3 The Semi- "The Seminoles of Florida were a detached tribe of the Muscogees or Creeks, speaking the same language, and considered a part of the confederacy until the United States treated with them as an independent nation. "The Creeks consider themselves the aborigines of the country, as they have no tradition of any ancient migration, or union with other tribes.

4. Supposed

antiquity of

the Creeks

5. Origin of the Yamas.

history.

"The Yamassees are supposed to have been a Creek Bees, and their tribe, mentioned by early writers under the name of Savannas, or Serannas. In 1715 they were at the head of a confederacy of the tribes extending from Cape Fear River to Florida, and commenced a war against the southern colonies, but were finally expelled from their territory, and took refuge among the Spaniards in Florida.

6. Wars of the Creeks with the Ameri

cans

For nearly fifty years after the settlement of Georgia, no actual war took place with the Creeks. They took part with the British against the Americans during the Revolution, and continued hostilities after the close of the war, until a treaty was concluded with them at Philadelphia, in 1795. A considerable portion of the nation also took part against the Americans in the commencement of the second war with Great Britain, but were scon reduced Seminole to submission. The Seminoles renewed the war in 1818, and in 1835 they again commenced hostilities, which 471 and 477. were not finally terminated until 1842.

hustilities

a See pp.

8 Treaties, and cessions of lands.

"The Creeks and Seminoles, after many treaties made and broken, have at length ceded to the United States the whole of their territory, and have accepted, in exchange, lands west of the Mississippi. "The Creek confederacy, confederacy. Which now includes the Creeks, Seminoles, Hitchitties, Alibamons, Coosadas, and Natches, at present numbers

9. The pres

ent Creek

about twenty-eight thousand souls, of whom twenty-three ANALYSIS. thousand are Creeks. Their numbers have increased 1. Increase of during the last fifty years,

numbers.

One of the most noted chiefs of the Creek nation was ALEXANDER M'GILLIVRAY, son of an Englishman by that name, who married a Creek woman, the governess of the nation. He was born about the year 1739, and at the early age of ten was sent to school in Charleston. Being very fond of books, especially histories, he acquired a good education. On the death of his mother he became chief sachem of the Creeks, both by the usages of his ancestors, and by the election of the people. During the Revolutionary War he was at the head of the Creeks, and in the British interest; but after the war he became attached to the Americans, and renewed treaties with them. He died at Pensacola, Feb. 17, 1793.

Another distinguished chief of the Creeks, conspicuous at a later period, was WEATHERFORD, who is described as the key and corner-stone of the Creek confederacy during the Creek war which was terminated in 1814. His mother belonged to the tribe of the Seminoles, but he was born and brought up in the Creek nation.

In person, Weatherford was tall, straight, and well proportioned; while his features, harmoniously arranged, indicated an active and disciplined mind. He was silent and reserved in public, unless when excited by some great occasion; he spoke but seldom in council, but when he delivered his opinions, he was listened to with delight and approbation. He was cunning and sagacious, brave and eloquent; but he was also extremely avaricious, treacherons, and revengeful, and devoted to every species of criminal carousal. He commanded at the massacre of Fort Mims which opened the Creek war, and was the last of his nation to submit to the Americans.

When the other chiefs had submitted, General Jackson, in order to test their fidelity, or dered them to deliver Weatherford, bound, into his hands, that he might be dealt with as he deserved. But Weatherford would not submit to such degradation, and proceeding in disguise to the head-quarters of the commanding officer, under some pretence he gained admission to his presence, when, to the great surprise of the General, he announced himself in the following words.

**I am Weatherford, the chief who commanded at the capture of Fort Mims. I desire peace for my people, and have come to ask it." When Jackson alluded to his barbarities, and expressed his surprise that he should thus venture to appear before him, the spirited chief replied. "I am in your power. Do with me as you please. I am a soldier. I have done the whites all the harm I could. I have fought them, and fought them bravely. If I had an army I would yet fight.—I would contend to the last: but I have none. My people are all gone. I can only weep over the misfortunes of my nation."

When told that he might still join the war party if he desired; but to depend upon no quarter if taken afterwards; and that unconditional submission was his and his people's oni safety, he rejoined in a tone as dignified as it was indignant. "You can safely address me in such terms now. There was a time when I could have answered you:-there was a time when I had a choice:-I have none now. I have not even a hope. I could once animate my warriors to battle-but I cannot animate the dead. Their bones are at Talladega. Tallushatches, Emuefan, and Tohopeka. I have not surrendered myself without thought. While there was a chance of success I never left my post, nor supplicated peace. But my people are gone, and I ask it for my nation, not for myself. You are a brave man, I rely upon your generosity. You will exact no terms of a conquered nation, but such as they should accede to." Jackson had determined upon the execution of the chief, when he should be brought in bound, as directed; but his unexpected surrender, and bold and manly conduct, saved his life.

A Creek chief, of very different character from Weatherford, was the celebrated but unfortunate General WILLIAM MCINTOSH. Like M'Gillivray he was a half breed, and belonged to the Coweta tribe. He was a prominent leader of such of his countrymen as joined the Americans in the war of 1812, 13, and 14. He likewise belonged to the small party who, in 1821, 23, and 25, were in favor of selling their lands to the Americans. In February, of the latter year, be concluded a treaty for the sale of lands, in opposition to the wishes of a large majority of hi

* See page 456.

nation. For this act the laws of his people denounced death upon him, and in May, his house was surrounded and burned, and McIntosh and one of his adherents, in attempting to escape, were shot. His son, Chilly McIntosh, was allowed to leave the house unharmed.

Among the Seminoles, a branch of the Crock nation, the most distinguished chief with whom the whites have been acquainted, was Powell, or, as he was commonly called, OSCEOLA. His mother is said to have been a Creek woman, and his father an Englishman. He was not a chief by birth, but raised himself to that station by his courage and peculiar abilities.

He was opposed to the removal of his people west of the Mississippi, and it was principally through his influence that the treaties for removal were violated, and the nation plunged in war. He was an excellent tactician, and an admirer of order and discipline. The principal events known in his history will be found narrated in another part of this work.* Other chiefs distinguished in the late Seminole war, were Micanopy, called the king of the nation, Sam Jones, Jumper, Coa-Hadjo (Alligator), Charles Emathla, and Abraham, a negro

ANALYSIS.

1. The terri

Chick asas.

tions with the

CHICKASAS. "The territory of the Chickasas, extending north to the Ohio, was bounded on the east by the country tory of the of the Shawnees, and the Cherokees; on the south by the 2 Character Choctas, and on the west by the Mississippi River. The of the nation. Chickasas were a warlike nation, and were often in a state 3. Their rela- of hostility with the surrounding tribes. Firm allies of Engish and the English, they were at all times the inveterate enemies of the French, by whom their country was twice unsuccessfully invaded, once in 1736, and again in 1740. 4. With the "They adhered to the British during the war of the Revolution, since which time they have remained at peace with 5. Their num the United States. "Their numbers have increased during the last fifty years, and they now amount to between five and six thousand souls.

the French.

U. States.

ders.

Du Pratz, in his History of Louisiana, gives an account of a very intelligent Chickasaw In dian, of the Yazoo tribe, by the name of Moncatchtape, who travelled many years for the purpose of extending his knowledge, but, principally, to ascertain from what country the Indian race originally came.

He first journeyed in a northeasterly direction until he came upon the ocean, probably near the Gulf of St. Lawrence. After returning to his tribe, he again set out, towards the northwest -passed up the Missouri to its sources-crossed the mountains, and journeyed onwards unti he reached the great Western Ocean. He then proceeded north, following the coast, until the days became very long and the nights very short, when he was advised by the old men of the country to relinquish all thoughts of continuing his journey. They told him that the land extended still a long way between the north and the sun setting, after which it ran directly west, and at length was cut by the great water from north to south. One of them added, that, when he was young, he knew a very old man who had seen that distant land before it was cut away by the great water, and that when the great water was low, many rocks still appeared in those parts. Finding it therefore, impracticable to proceed any farther, Moncatchtape returned to his own country by the route by which he came. He was five years absent on this second journey.

This famous traveller was well known to Du Pratz about the year 1760. By the French he was called the Interpreter, on account of his extended knowledge of the languages of the Indians. This man," says Du Pratz, “was remarkable for his solid understanding, and elevation of sentiment; and I may justly compare him to those first Greeks, who travelled chiefly Into the east, to examine the manners and customs of different nations, and to communicate to their fellow citizens, upon their return, the knowledge which they had acquired.”

The narrative of this Indian, which is given at considerable length, in his own words, appears to have satisfied Du Pratz that the aborigines came from the continent of Asia, by way of Behring's Straits.

1. The terri

Choctas.

character of

the Choclas.

CHOCTAS. 'The Choctas possessed the territory border- ANALYSIS. ing on that of the Creeks, and extending west to the Mississippi River. Since they were first known to Europeans tory of the they have ever been an agricultural and a peaceable 2 Peaceable people, ardently attached to their country; and their wars, always defensive, have been with the Creeks. Although they have had successively, for neighbors, the French, the Spanish, and the English, they have never been at war with any of them. Their numbers now amount to nearly 3 Thetr nineteen thousand souis, a great portion of whom have already removed beyond the Mississippi.

numbers, &-c.

We notice MUSHALATUBEE and PUSHAMATA, two Choctaw Chiefs, for the purpose of giving the speeches which they made to Lafayette, at the city of Washington, in the winter of 1824. Mushalatubee, on being introduced to Lafayette, spoke as follows:

"You are one of our fathers. You have fought by the side of the great Washington. We will receive here your hand as that of a friend and father. We have always walked in the pure feelings of peace, and it is this feeling which has caused us to visit you here. We present you pure hands-hands that have never been stained with the blood of Americans. We live in a

country far from this, where the sun darts his perpendicular rays upon us. We have had the French, the Spaniards, and the English for neighbors; but now we have only the Americans; in the midst of whom we live as friends and brothers."

Then Pushamata, the head chief of his nation, began a speech in his turn, and expressed himself in the following words:

Nearly fifty snows have passed away since you drew the sword as a companion of Washington. With him you combated the enemies of America. You generously mingled your blood with that of the enemy, and proved your devotedness to the cause which you defended. After you had finished that war you returned into your own country, and now you come to visit again that land where you are honored and loved in the remembrance of a numerous and powerful people. You see everywhere the children of those for whom you defended liberty crowd around you and press your hands with filial affection. We have heard related all these things in the depths of the distant forests, and our hearts have been filled with a desire to behold you. We are come, we have pressed your hand, and we are satisfied. This is the first time that we have seen you, and it will probably be the last. We have no more to add. The earth will soon part us forever."

It was observed that, in pronouncing these last words, the old chief seemed agitated by some sad presentiment. In a few days he was taken sick, and he died before he could set out to return to his own people. He was buried with military honors, and his monument occupies a place among those of the great men in the cemetery at Washington.

"Of the tribes which formerly inhabited the sea-shore between the Mobile and the Mississippi, and the western bank of the last mentioned river, as far north as the Arkansas, we know little more than the names. On the Red River and its branches, and south of it, within the territory of the United States, there have been found, until recently, a number of small tribes, natives of that region, who spoke no less than seven distinct languages; while, throughout the extensive territory occupied by the Esquimaux, Athapascas, Algonquins, and Iroquois, there is not found a single tribe, or remnant of a tribe, that speaks a dialect which does not belong to one or another of those families.

4. Tribes beMobile and

tween the

the Mississip pi, &.c.

5.

The nume tribes on the and south

rous distinct

Red River,

of it.