Early history of Georgia, embracing the embassy of Sir Alexander Cuming to the country of the Cherokees, in the year 1730. A paper read in substance before the New-England Historic, Genealogical Society, February, 1872

FAHI.Y HISTORY OF GEORGIA,

KMBUA<n>;':i the

KM r> ASSY OF SIR ALEXANDER CUMIKG

COUMRY OF THE CHEROKEES,

In the Year 1730.

With a Map of the Chekokee Country, from a Draft

MADE KY THE TnDIAXS.

A ,.:per read in substance before the New-Engl'md Historic, Genealogical Sod'y,
February, 1872, by Samcei, G. Drake, M.A.

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EARLY HISTORY OF GEORGIA,

EMBRACING THE

EMBASSY OF SIR ALEXANDER CUMING

COUNTRY OF THE CHEROKEES,

In the Year 1730.

With a Map of the Cherokee Country, from a Draft
made by the indians.

A paper read in substance before the New-'England Historic, Ge^iealogical Society,
Februaiy, 1872, by Samuel G.'' Drake, A.M.

Reprinted, with additions, from the Neiu-England Historical and Genealogical Register for July, 1872.

BOSTON:

PRIKTED BY DAVID CLAPP & SOW,
187 2.

EARLY HISTORY OF GEORGIA.

Before proceeding to give an account of the labors of Sir Alexander
Cuming, it is proposed to notice briefly the country since known as Georgia.
Of the tribes of Indians scattered over it, the Cherokees were, at the time
it was taken possession of by the English, the principal. In the year 1733,
when Gen. Oglethorp brought his colony there, he was received by the
Lower Creeks, then consisting of eight tribes or clans, delegates from all of
which were in attendance on the landing of the first colonists. These wel-
comed the English, and gave them all the land in their country except what
they themselves used. This was the usual custom of the Indians every-
where, north as well as south, and establishes the fact, that before Europeans
taught the aborigines the value of land, they placed no such importance upon
it as we do ; for they used it only while it afforded them game and a few
other natural means of living. When these failed they abandoned it, and it
was free for others to possess. Hence it will be perceived that the limits
assigned to a tribe or nation of Indians were very uncertain. Territory
was often, if not generally, acquired by one tribe dispossessing another.
Rivers, mountains, &c., became boundaries, because they were natural
defences as well.

4 EARLY HISTORY OF GEORGIA.

We are informed by one of the most elaborate writers on the Cherokees
and their country, Mr. James Adair, who had lived among the Cherokees
forty years, namely, from 1735 to 1775, that "their country was in latitude
34 deg. north, 340 miles north-west of ' Charlestown ; ' 140 miles W. S. W.
from the Katahba nation, and almost 200 to the north of the Muskohge or
Creek country. They were settled on nearly an east and west course, about
140 miles in length from the lower towns where fort Prince George stands,
to the late unfortunate Fort Loudon [on the southerly bank of the
Tennessee, opposite Tellico]. They were a very numerous and potent
nation forty years ago ; had sixty-four towns and villages. And according to
the most intelligent old traders of that time, they amounted to 6000 fighting
men." This author having taken it into his head that these Indians were
one of the "lost ten tribes of Israel," finds, or fancies he finds a Hebrew I'oot
in almost every word of their language ; while we doubt not that with quite
as much plausibility it might be made to appear that the Sandwich Islanders,
New-Zealanders, or any of the nations of Polynesia are descended from
the Cherokees.

The Cherokees were divided into upper, middle, and lower towns. The
upper and middle towns were almost constantly at war with the northern
Indians, while the lower towns were at war with other tribes on their
borders, as the Muskogees, Catawbas, &c. Thus they were continually
wasted away, insomuch that at the close of the French war in 1760, ihej
numbered but about 2300, which is Major Rogers's estimate. As late as
1795, they occupied 43 towns, and the number of warriors is put down at
2500. When Mr. Imlay collected his valuable materials on the south-west,
he placed the country of the Cherokees "between the Great Bend of
Tenasee, and the ridge of hills called the Allegany mountains, the' western
limits of Georgia, and the eastern branches of the Mobile," and estimated
them the same as Major Rogers had done.

The Cherokee country was one of the finest in the world. When Dr.
Morse visited it in 1822, by order of the United States government, he re-
marked,— " Although large tracks have been purchased by our government
of this tribe, at different times, their territory is now supposed to comprise
10,000,000 acres, sufficient to fill a S2:)ace 150 miles by 100 wide ; which is
larger than the three states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecti-

EARLY HISTORY OF GEORGIA. 0

cut united." And sucli was the country upon which the eye of cupidity
rested, nor could it ever be diverted, by Cliristian or other considerations,
until its owners were driven from it at the point of the bayonet a few years
later ; when they had not only been taught by us the value of their land,
how to use it by becoming cultivators of its soil, and thus depend on it for
support !

In this connection one can hardly forbear making a few remarks respect-
ing the materials for a history of Georgia ; as we find almost nothing re-
specting that territory prior to the arrival of General Oglethorp with his
company of emigrants, collected mainly from the debtors' prisons of the
metropolis of the British empire. We have indeed histories of Georgia,
and historical collections concerning that State. Into these one naturally
looks for the earliest notice of the territory ; but he looks only to be dis-
appointed.

Whatever of history there was of Georgia before the setting out of Ogle-
thorp would very properly be narrated in a history of South Carolina. But
from Montgomery to Simms we have nothing new throwing light on the
ante-Oglethorp times. The former author published in 1717, and the latter
in 1859. As an apology for Montgomery it may be mentioned that his
work does not pretend to be a regular history : yet its title may lead the
reader to expect more than its author intended ; reminding us of the old
author who, in the preface to his work, cautioned the reader not to expect
too much, lest it should prove to be like a mean structure with lofty and
elegant portals.

To commence the history of Georgia with the colony under Oglethorp,
would be extremely like beginning the history of New-England, jumping
over all the early voyages and other transactions which led to its settle-
ment. The general himself refers to previous transactions of a deeply
interesting character. In his address immediately after his arrival (in 1733)
he says, — "There was a time, when every day brought fresh advices of
murders, ravages, and burnings." The historian of Georgia is expected, at
least, to refer to these matters.

The principal object of this paper is to detail an early embassy to the
covmtry of the Cherokee Indians ; the chief authority for which is a MS.
written by Sir Alexander Cuming, Bart., in the year 1755, the ambassador

6 EAELY HISTORY OF GEORGIA.

himself. This MS. came into the writer's hands by purchase from a Lon-
don bookseller. Accompanying it was a paper, stating that it once belonged
to the great Shaksperian scholar, Isaac Read, Esq., from whom it passed
into the keeping of George Chalmers, Esq., best known in this country by
his great work, — " Tlie Political Annals of the United Colonies" S^c, a stout
quarto, London, 1780.

Sir Alexander Cuming, Bart., was a son of a gentleman of the same
name and title, and was probably born at the paternal seat of the Cumings,
of Culter, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, about the year 1692. His father
was created a baronet, Feb. 28, 1695, and was succeeded in the baronetcy
by this son. He was designee! for the profession of law, and spent some
time in its practice in his native Scotland. How he came connected with
the affixirs of Georgia, does not fully appear ; possibly through the agency
of Sir Robert Montgomery his countryman. Certain it is, however, that
up to the year 1732, the tract of country since Georgia was a wilderness
waste, with the Spaniaixls on its southerly and the French on its westerly
borders. These were using every effort to monoj)olize the Indian trade, and
had been very successful. Notwithstanding the treaty of peace signed at
Seville, Oct. 28, 1729, between the English, French and Spaniards, it
scarcely amounted to a truce. However it was thought a favorable time to
establish a trade among the Cherokees, and to secure them to the English
interest. To effect this very important object. Sir Alexander Cuming was
sent over as an ambassador in 1730; and from certain passages in his MS. it
would seem that the affair was kept secret until his return, as no account is
found of his preparation or departure upon the service, although arrange-
ments had probably been made for it as early as 1728. It would seem also
from the same source, that the stupendous financial projects of John Law
had caused a great panic in England, inasmuch as those projects were for
the advancement of the French nation in its strides towards universal em-
pire ; so much feared and dreaded for a considerable period by a large class
in Eno-land. As an offset to this gigantic scheme of Law, the great South
Sea Company was set on foot. In this Sir Alexander became interested,
but to what extent he does not state ; but his connection with it, judging
from what he does say, did not improve his fortune. He tells us, that in
the year 1719, he was " un voluntarily called from his business of the law

EARLY HISTOEY OF GEORGIA. 7

of Scotland in order to examine the nature of those principles which were
formed by John Law to aggrandize the power of France, and to set her up
above that of all other nations upon the face of the globe. The principles
then recommended by him had so intoxicating an effect as to create an epi,
demical distemper which seemed to turn the heads of all Europe, and occa-
sioned the budding forth of several lesser schemes which proved the ruin
of many thousands here in England." Among the " lesser schemes " was
that already mentioned, usually known as the South Sea Bubble. Although
Sir Alexander does not acknowledge himself one of the victims of that
great swindle, it is pretty evident that he was ; and although he writes like
an honest man, it is pretty clear that he was somewhat visionary ; asserting
at one time that by proper management, the Cherokee country would pay
the national debt of England in twenty years. But before he broached this
scheme he seems to have had another, which may be best understood by
presenting it in his own words ; premising that for six years he appears to
have been floundering in the John Law scheme and the South Sea Bubble,
which bring his history to midsummer 1725. " And then," he says, " it
became requisite to pursue the notions I had acquired, and to extend my
views to remedy the inconveniencies which Law's schemes had promoted,
and procured. The settlement of a college in Bermudas seemed to me the
most rational way to stem the torrent of that stream which was then issuing
forth from France to overflow all our settlements on the continent of Ame-
rica." Sir Alexander's argument for this college was, that by it " the native
Indians being instructed and taught a veneration for the customs, man-
ners and laws of our country, they would be the properest instruments
to secure their countrymen to our interest against the French, our most
powerful enemies." The question may very likely have occurred to some
of the well informed of that day, where Sir Alexander would obtain his
Indian students, for there were no Indians in Bermuda, and we are told by the
early voyagers to the Island, that there never were any on the island, or none
when discovered. Hence it doubtless seemed preposterous to go into the wil-
derness of America to procure scholars to be educated some hundreds of miles
off in the ocean. Yet, however preposterous this scheme was, it seems to
have been a favorite one with others as well as with Sir Alexander ; for it
appears that an expedition actually sailed for that object, under the leader-

8 EARLY HISTORY OF GEORGIA.

ship of Dean Berkely, in September, 1728 ; but it soon returned, not able to
overcome the obstacles it encountered. The Dean was more successful the
following year, when he came to Rhode Island. Although it does not aj^pear
that Sir Alexander's college "notion" met with much if any favor, yet his
friends were inclined to do something for him ; and accordingly he was re-
commended to the Ministry as a suitable gentleman for governor of Bermudas.
This recommendation was by the Rt. Hon. the Earl of Islay, his Grace the
Duke of Argyll and Greenwich, " backed in a very emphatical manner by
the Rt. Hon. Sir Paul Metheuin, the most distinguished Knight of the Round
Table upon the revival of the order of the Knights of the Bath." [Sir Paul
was treasurer of the king's household.]

Notwithstanding this high recommendation Sir Alexander did not secure
the place, and how he was employed for the next two years does not appear,
but upon the accession of George II. (1727) to the throne he ajDpealed
directly to him, reminding him that his [Sir Alexander's] father had on a
certain time saved the life of his majesty. The king, in acknowledgment of
the circumstance, ordered the secretary at war to notify him when any va-
cancy happened that was suitable for this applicant. This was about two
years before the embassy to the Cherokees was undertaken, and hence the
conclusion is arrived at, that Sir Alexander's appointment was in consequence
of the circumstance just alluded to.

We do not find in our examination of documents any notice of the depar-
ture of Sir Alexander and his party ; but of his arrival in the Cherokee coun-
try and subsequent transactions, there is a minute account, which it is now
proposed to sketch. That no record is found of the sailing of the embassy
may be accounted for upon the hypothesis that it was secretly undertaken
for apparent reasons then existing. News had reached England, that about
the middle of March, 1729, an army of Carolinians, consisting of 100 white
men and 100 Indians, had killed thirty-two Yomassee Indians and a fryar,
burnt their town, and driven others into the castle at St. Augustine ; that
an alliance was formed between the Creeks and Cherokees against the Eng-
lish, and that in this aspect of affairs the English traders did not dare to
resume their business among them. This was the state of things when Sir
Alexander Cuming arrived in " Charles Town." Nothing daunted, how-
ever, he left that place for the interior, on the 13th of March, 1730, and in

EARLY HISTORY OF GEORGIA. 9

ten days arrived at Keeakwee, 300 miles from Charleston. By the way he
learned that the Cherokees were governed by seven Mother Towns : — These
were Tannassie, Kettooah, Ustenary, Telliquo, Estootowie, Keyowee, and
Noyohee. These towns had each their king, but at this time the kings of
but three of the towns were alive, namely, those of Tannasee in the upper
settlements ; of Kettooah in the middle ; and of Ustenary in the lower.
Besides a king, or head man, each town had a head warrior.

On the 3d of April, Sir Alexander was at Telliquo with his company^
which consisted of Eleazar Wiggan, Ludovick Grant, Samuel Brown, Wil-
liam Cooper, Agnus Macpherson, Martin Kane, David Dowie, George
Hunter, George Chicken, Lacklain Mackbain, Francis Baver, and Joseph
Cooper, all British subjects. Here, at this time and place, Moytoy (of
Telliquo) was chosen emperor over the whole Cherokee nation, and unlim-
ited power was conferred upon him.

When Sir Alexander had arrived at a point about 100 miles from Charles-
ton, he was informed by a Capt. Russel, that for two years the French had
been endeavoring to seduce the Lower Cherokees to their interests ; that
one Whitehead, a native of Paris, was the French agent. But here our
documents take us a step back, in the detail of Sir Alexander's journey in
the Indian country. It was about five o'clock in the afternoon that he
set out from Mr. James Kinloch's plantation at New Gilmorton, being 23
miles from Charles Town. He was attended by Mr. George Chicken, be-
sides Alexander Muckele, Aaron Cheesbrook, and Powel, pack-horse men ;
but the pack-horse men having got drunk, and overturned the baggage, these
were left behind, and Sir Alexander proceeded with only Mr. Chicken and
Mr. George Hunter, and lay that night at Mr. Alexander Kinlock's house
at Wampee, 14 miles from his brother James's. On the 14th the party
reached Mr. Neilson's, about 20 miles from their last named place. During
this day's march Sir Alexander employed much of it in searching for springs,
ponds and minerals. The 15th they made 35 miles, and stopped at the
house of Mr. Coxe. Here Sir Alexander met Mr. William Cooper, a bold
man well skilled in the Cherokee language, who engaged to meet him on the
next day, and attend him to the Cherokee mountains. March 16, they
reached Capt. Russel's before mentioned, but 10 miles from their stopping
place ; having spent much time in search of curiosities. Among those dis-
2

10 EARLY HISTORY OF GEORGIA.

covered was a cave. They went into it. Mr. Hunter, Mr. Chicken and Mr.
Coxe made marks to show that they had been there ; and Sir Alexander cut
upon a stone on the left hand of it " King George II., of Great Britain,
wrote by S. A. C." He also discovered some iron stone, which was one
great end of his going in person to the mountains, not being able to depend
upon the truth of any report he had heard in Carolina. Here his drunken
pack-horse men came up. Two of those he discharged, and hired James
Anderson in j^lace of them. The 17th, more iron ore was discovered. On
examining it Mr. Hunter found it yielded one third iron. Here Joseph
Fairclough told Sir Alexander, privately, of a discovery he had made of
copper, about 450 miles from the Catarba nation, and oiFered to conduct him
to it, but Sir Alexander said his intent in going to the Cherokee mountains was
more than answered by the discoveries already made, besides the getting
roots for the bites of snakes : so he proceeded to Beaver Creek, and en-
camped under a tree some 18 miles from Capt. Russel's.

March 18. After procuring several roots for the cure of the bites of
snakes the party went on to the Congarees, where they again encamped un-
der a tree, distance about 20 miles. Here happened something remarka-
ble : Capt. How, a chief of the Catarba nation, by his manner towards Sir
Alexander, whom Sir A. had made his friend, ordered his men to salute
him with feathers, said they would dance round him all night, and
would make him a present of all their skins ; but understanding that the
dancing would disturb, instead of gratifying Sir Alexander, he ordered his
men to desist, and withdrew and shot a turkey for his supper.

March 19. William Cooper returned according to promise, but Sir Alex-
ander was plagued because Mr. Chicken had taken away his guide to catch
a runaway horse, by which a great part of the morning was lost : so he left
Mr. Chicken and Mr. Hunter and the pack-horse men behind at the 18 mile
Branch, and proceeded with William Cooper only to Hollow Creek branch,
being 30 or 35 miles from Congarees. The following day they went to
Ninety-six Mile Swamp, where William Cooper's horse was found lame.
It rained heavily all night, while they had only trees for shelter ; the wolves
making the most hideous howls all about them. Thus ended the 20th of
March, on which they had journeyed 38 or 40 miles. On the 21st they
reached Long Cane [now in Abbeville county, S. C], 30 or 35 miles. This

EARLY HISTORY OF GEORGIA. 11

day "William Cooper killed a buffalo, a viper, a fox squirrel, and wounded
three wolves. These attacked their great dog, and were not beaten off till
they had nearly killed him, tearing out part of his entrails. On the way Sir
Alexander found some small stones which shined like gold, and passed Mar-
rowbone Creek, where a Cherokee the last year killed the Cheekipaw by
Mr. Weekly's side. [Who Mr. Weekly was, does not appear.]

March 22. They reached Boggy Gully, 36 or 40 miles from Long Cane,
and encamped in the woods ; having as usual examined the country for
minerals and other curiosities by the way. From this point they went to
Keeowee, which they reckoned 20 miles [in the jjresent county of Pendle-
ton]. Here Sir Alexander learned more particulars respecting the hostile
disposition of the Cherokees ; especially the Lower Towns ; that the Lower
Creeks were in the French interest, and were exerting themselves to seduce
the Cherokees to join them ; that but a month before those emissaries had
gone to receive presents from the French, and upon their return it was
expected that the Cherokees would join them against the English. A great
number of the Indians were assembled in their Council-House here at this
time. Among these Sir Alexander was resolved to make a bold push. So
at night he entered their Council-House, where were above three hundred
of them. Surprised at the audacity of the stranger, who demanded their
acknovv'ledgment of the king of England's authority over them and their
country, they at once submitted, and said they would obey him in every-
thing : Sir Alexander called them to make this submission on their knees,
protesting that if they violated this promise they would become no jieojile :
a submission they never made before either to God or man. Sir Alexander,
upon this great event, ordered expresses to be sent through the whole Che-
rokee nation, directing that three head men should meet him at Nequassee on
the 3d of April, where he proposed to be on his return from the mountains ;
That these head men should bring full power from the three settlements that
what had been promised should be performed. The Indian traders at Ne-
quassee who were eye-witnesses, and Joseph' Cooper the interpreter, having
declared that what they heard and saw done that night, was so incredible,
that they would not have believed it possible had they not seen it them-
selves ; that nobody in Carolina would believe their report to be true, for
that he (the interpreter) declared that if he had known what Sir Alexander

12 EARLY HISTORY OF GEORGIA.

was going to do, he would not have dared to enter the council-house that
night, nor would the traders have ventured to witness the proceedings ;
believing that none of them could have got out alive ; but the Indians
being taken by surprise, and amazed at the manner of Sir Alexander, at
once submitted to whatever he demanded. He stood up in the midst of
them and made his speech through the interpreter ; and though armed with
three cases of pistols, a gun and a sword under his great coat, it is not re-
ported that he flourished any of these to awe the savages.

As there was a possibility that he might not live to return to England,
to report his successes. Sir Alexander drew up a declaration of the whole pro-
ceedings, to be sent to his majesty in case any accident might happen to him.
This declaration was witnessed by himself, Joseph Cooper, interpreter ;
Ludovick Grant, Joseph Barker, Gregory Haines, David Jenkinson, Thomas
Goodale, "William Cooper, guide ; William Hutton, and John Biles. Dated
May 23, 1729-30, at Keeowee.

On March 24, Sir Alexander went on 12 miles to Occounny. [Oconee
is a town on the river of the same name, the north main branch of the
Alatamaha.] Here he slept at Mr. Dawie's, an Indian trader ; and observed
that a solemnity was acting in the council-house, about creating a new king.
On the 25th he proceeded through Keeowee, Chattoogah, Tucharreehee, the
Clay-pits, and lay at old Estatoway. Here he made a friend of the head
warrior. His discoveries this day quite suri^rised him [but he does not record
what they were]. From Estoway [szc] he proceeded on the 26th of March,
to Nooulf kah, where he made a friend of Hercvxles [an Indian jdowow or
medicine man] ; got the secret of his several roots for distempers ; met on
the way the conjuror Toogabow, and made a friend of him ; then went by
Echvey to Neguassee, where he met Telloquoluftokay, and made a friend
of him ; thence to Joree, where he passed the night. [Jore is 'one of the
Cherokee mountains.] Here he met Caesar's brother, who discovered the
Indian's plot to massacre the English [in 1715? See Mills's S. C, 487-8];
with him he had some talk. At this place Sir Alexander discovered a
transparent stone.

March 27, the party left Joree, passed through Tamauchly, and thence to
Tassetchee, being 40 miles. This day's journey was over the steep moun-
tains of Joree : here Sir Alexander made the two head warriors and the

EARLY HISTORY OF GEORGIA. 13

conjuror his friends, and spoke about their accompanying him to England.
The night following happened the most terrible thunder, lightning and rain ;
insomuch that the like never happened before in the memory of any of
them : here their great conjuror told Sir Alexander that he knew he was
come among them to rule, and that their whole nation must do whatever he
bid them. [It is elsewhere intimated that this fearful tempest was very
opportune, and was turned to good account by Sir Alexander, with the aid
of the conjuror.] On the 28th of March he was within 3 miles of Beaver-
dams, where he spent the night ; Ludovick Grant, and liis guide, William
Cooper, being with him. This day he discovered some iron stone at two
different places.

March 29, they proceeded over the mountains, drank some of the water
on the top of the liigh Ooneekaway mountain, near which was a large tree
called the poisoned pear. From the top of this mountain to Telliquo is a
descent of about 12 miles. They reached Telliquo in the afternoon; saw
the petrifying cave ; a great many enemy's scalps brought in and put upon
poles at the warrior's doors ; made a friend of the great Moytoy, and Jacob
the conjuror. Moytoy told Sir Alexander, that it was talked among the
several towns last year, that they intended to make him emperor over the
whole ; but now it must be whatever Sir Alexander pleased.

March 30, leaving William Cooper at Great Telliquo, to take care of his
lame horse, Sir Alexander took with him only Ludovick Grant to go to
Great Tannassy, a town pleasantly situated on a branch of the Mississipjii,
1 6 miles from Great Telliquo. [It is not easy to see by any of the maps to
which we have access, how there could be any water course where Sir Alex-
ander now was with Mississippi.] The path was said to be lined with ene-
mies, yet they met with no accident. Here Sir Alexander met with Mr.
Wiggan, the complete linguist ; saw fifteen enemies' scalps brought in by
the Tannassy warriors ; made a friend of the king of Tannassy, and made
him do homage to George II. on his knee. The same night returned to
Great Telliquo ; was particularly distinguished by Moytoy in the Council-
house ; the Indians singing and dancing about him, and stroked his liead
and body over with eagles' tails. After this Moytoy and Jacob the conjuror
decided to present Sir Alexander with the crown of Tannassy.

From Telliquo he proceeded on March 31, with Moytoy, Jacob the con-

14 EARLY HISTORY OF GEORGIA.

juror, the bearer of eagles' tails, and a throng of other Indians, and lay in
the woods at night between 20 and 30 miles distant. Ajiril 1, they reached
Tassetchee, above 30 miles fi-om their last encampment. Here the Indians
of the place agreed to what had been done in relation to the crown of Tan-
nassy, declaring that it was an emblem of universal sovereignty over the
Cherokee nation. The next day, April 2, they proceeded to Joree, with
increased numbers, particularly by the warriors and conjuror of Tasset-
chee. The journey lay over several steep mountains, near 40 miles.
When about a mile from Joree, Sir Alexander was met by Mr. George
Chicken, Mr. Hunter, and several English traders on horseback, who
conducted him to the town. Here the head warrior of Joree had procured
him a specimen of iron ore which he had obtained from a steep craggy moun-
tain, six miles from there. This the warrior had promised when Sir Alex-
ander passed through the place previously, but nobody expected he would
perform it ; but the warrior said he would, though his death should follow
thereupon. [There was no doubt a superstition prevailing among the
Indians that no one could ascend that mountain and return alive.]

April 3, This morning they went to Nequassee, being 5 miles from
Joree, with an increased retinue. Here the Indians gathered from all parts,
agreeably to notice to do so, ex^aressed from Keeowee. This was a day of
the greatest solemnity ever seen in the country : There was singing, danc-
ing, feasting, speeches, the creation of Moytoy emperor ; a declaration of
their resigning their crown, eagles' tails, scalps, as emblems of their owning
King George's sovereignty, at the desire of Sir Alexander Cuming, in whom
absolute power was jjlaced, without which he could not be answerable to
his majesty for their conduct. This submission he caused them to make on
their knees. Then Sir Alexander caused a paper to be drawn up detailing
the event, which was witnessed by himself, Eleazar Whiggam, Ludovick
Grant, Samuel Brown, William Cooper, Agnus INIackferson, David Dowie,
Francis Beaver, Lachban Macbain, George Hunter, George Chicken, and
Joseph Cooper, interpreter, besides the Indians [whose names are not givenj.

The next day, April 5, Sir Alexander went to Nooulf kah, attended only
by William Cooper and George Hunter, leaving George Chicken to follow.
Here he received roots of all kinds, which had ever been held as the greatest
secrets by the Indians. He then went to Chattoogay and lay at the house

EARLY HISTORY OF GEORGIA. 15

of Josei^h Cooper's mother : on the 6th, they went to Ookunny [since
Oconee], where Sir Alexander found a house ready built to receive him.
The king or head man here was called the mankiller, being the same made
king at Ookunny (the same with the king of Keeowkee), and the prince of
Tomassy. They came to Sir Alexander and presented him with two eagles
tails, and on their knees paid homage to King George 11. The same night
they got to Keeowee, having looked for mines and minerals on the way.
This is the last town of the lower settlements of the Cherokee nation. Six
chiefs whom Sir Alexander had chosen accompanied him ; selected with
Moytoy's consent as evidences of what had taken place ; Mr. Hunter, Mr.
Chicken, and the pack-horse men, made up the rest of the company. This
town (Keowee) is about 200 miles from Great Tannassy, and about 300
from Charles Town ; but by reason of the mountains Tannassy is recorded
as far distant as Charles Town. This night they all lay at Twenty-three
Mile-Creek.

April 8, Sir Alexander left the Lidians and baggages to proceed to Charles
Town at leisure, and lay at Mulberry Creek, with Mr, George Chicken, and
William Cooper, the guide, being about 40 miles fi-om their last encampment.
The following night they lay at Salloodee river, 48 miles from Mulberry
Creek. April 10, they lay at Congarees, 38 or 40 miles from Mulberry
Creek. The 11th, they lay at Capt. Russel's, commonly said to be 35 miles,
but is rather 40 from Congarees. The 12th, they reached Ai-isque's, dis-
tant from Capt. Russel's 60 miles.

April 13, went to breakfast with Mr. Cliicken at his mother's house ;
thence to Mr, Kinloch's, a gentleman of the council ; dined with Mr. Mid-
dleton, president, acting as governor ; di-ank tea at Mrs. Johnson's, called in
at Mr. Gadsden's, and lay that night at Charles Town.

The cliiefs which Sir Alexander had chosen to accompany him to England
he left on the road in the care of Mr. Hunter, who reached Mr. Kinloch's
with them the 19th, 23 miles from Charles Town. It was hereabouts they
met with the warrior Ounakannowie, a friend of tlieirs who liad just come
from the Kettarba nation. He desired to accompany them, and Sir Alexander
consented, but several others who were with Ounakannowie he declined to
admit into the company. The names of the six chiefs were, Oukah Ulah
(that is the king that is to be), the head warrior of Tassetchee, a man of

16 EARLY HISTORY OP GEORGIA.

great power and interest, who has a right to be a king ; Skallelockee, or
Kettagustah (or prince), Tath to wie, the third warrior, and Collannah, a
fourth warrior ; and from Tannassie, the remotest town of the country, he
took Clogoittah and Oukanach, warriors, because the people in Carolina
believed it was not possible to travel the length of Tannassie and back again
in less than three months, whereas the time that Sir Alexander had limited
himself to do it in, was from March 13 to April 20 ; the distance being 500
miles.

The six chiefs above named, with Sir Alexander, went on board the Fox
man of war, on the 4th of May. Moytoy would have accompanied them, but
owing to the sickness of his wife was prevented. The Fox, Capt. Arnold,
sailed in company with the Garland, Capt. Anson [afterwards Lord Anson ?],
on the day appointed, and arrived at Dover, June 5, after the remarkable
short passage of one month and one day. The same night Sir Alexander
arrived by post at London. The Lidians were bi'ought up in the ship.

In the mean time Sir Alexander communicated with the secretary of
state, and the latter with the king, who ordered that Sir Alexander and
the Indians should be present at an installation which had been ajjpointed
to take place on the 18th of June, ensuing, which was accordingly arranged;
and on the 2 2d, Sir Alexander was introduced to his majesty, and upon his
knee, in presence of the Court, declared the full power he had received ; the
Indian chiefs all kneeling at the same time : Sir Alexander laying the
crown of the Cherokee nation at his majesty's feet, with the five eagles'
tails as an emblem of his majesty's sovereignty, and four scalps of Indian
enemies ; all which his majesty was graciously pleased to accept of.

As the speech of the Indian orator on the occasion, and the treaty made
at the time are in print, they do not require to be produced in this article.
Before their introduction to the king, they had been conducted on the usual
rounds of the city, — to the tower, where they saw the crown -jewels, the
coronation-robes, and other curiosities. To these the chief alluded in his
speech to the king. How they passed their time for nearly another month,
particulars are scanty. The treaty was concluded on the 7th of September,
in Whitehall, and they returned to Dover in the beginning of October, and
immediately sailed for their own country in the same ship which had brought
them over.

EAELY HISTOEY OF GEORGIA. 17

There were not wanting at the time those scribblers for the public prints
who were prepared to make the most of any odd aifairs to gratify their
natural proj^ensity for ridicule. One denominated the chief of the Indians :
" High and mighty Sagamore of the Cherokees, whose dress was an officer's
blue coat with white metal buttons, and this with a laced hat and other
martial accoutrements, made him look as soldierly as the late King of
Sweden, having as^ many scarifications on his swarthy face as there are bars
in a gridiron ; wrought first with a sharp instrument, then inlaid with gun-
powder, to add terribility to his awful visage."

"They had severally the honour to kiss the hands of his Majesty, the
Prince of Wales, and the Duke. The Indian King had on a scarlet jacket,
but all the rest were naked, except an apron about their middles, and a
horse's tail hung down behind. Their faces, shoulders, &c. were painted
and spotted with red, blue & green. They had bows in their hands &
painted feathers in their heads."

In another paragraph is found a severe cut at the sycophantic manner in
which people cringe about and fawn upon royalty : — " Our citizens were not
a little pleased to see so great a potentate as his Indian majesty is said to
be, appear more like a heathen philosopher than a pagan Prince, as if he
affected to show the world a true copy of a primitive king, surrounded by
no fawning courtiers, to secrete aims from the public ; no cringing sycophants
to tickle his ears with flattery whilst they picked his pockets ; no guards for
the security of his person ; looking as fearless and unconcerned as if he had
nothing to protect him but the Love and Loyalty of his subjects. Nor was
his presence, tho' distinguished by no costly badges or embellishments,
inconsistent with his royal dignity. He had much sagacity in his looks and
majesty in his de^^ortment tho' his shirt and skin hap^iened to be much of a
color."

We hear nothing of Sir Alexander in connection with the Indian delega-
tion after the introduction to the king. When they learned that he was not
to return with them to Carolina they expressed much disappointment ;
indicating that he may have made them a promise to do so. And whether
he ever returned to America is not known, although from some circumstances
and intimations it seems probable that he did ; for in a schedule of his effects
drawn up in 1755, he mentions property in South Carolina, as houses, an
3

18 EARLY HISTORY OF GEORGIA.

"uninhabited island" which he bought of one Mr. Hill, a merchant there,
and which island he named Hilkiah, for which he paid £100 sterling :
observing that he named it Hilkiah, from the appearance of two eagles at
the time of purchase. [Whether this island was afterward called
"Cumming's Point," and had a fortification on it in 1780, near Charleston?
is not known.]

In this connection we will narrate all we have been able to learn
concerning Sir Alexander Cuming, not before given. And as already-
remarked, we hear nothing of him after the embarkation of the Cherokees,
until by his MS. before us, he reports himself a prisoner in the Poultry
Compter, and says he was removed to the Compter from the Fleet. How
long he was a prisoner in the latter he makes no mention, nor is there
anything by which we can determine how or when he gained his liberty, if at
all; but we know that in 1755 he had been confined nearly two years, during
which time he was prevented taking the benefit of the act of insolvency, from
the want of his papers ; yet from a schedule di-awn up from his memory, he
seems to have had interests in numerous properties in various places, and
afiirms that his means are sufficient to pay all his honest debts, were he
allowed his liberty. And at this point we must close our notice of him with
the remark, that there probably is not a monument of any name or nature,
in South Carolina or Georgia, that there ever lived such a man as Sir
Alexander Cuming, Bart., unless the Point before mentioned be an exception.
And it may be further remarked, that in the Gazetteer of Georgia we find
the coiinties in that state are named for the distinguished men connected
with its history, generally ; yet in one or two instances counties ajDpear to
be named for persons who, it may be, never had heard of the State of Georgia.
To this Gazetteer (printed in 1829) are appended brief biographies of
Georgians considered the most eminent by the compiler. How it happened
that a post-village has, within a few years, been called " Cumming," is un-
known to the writer. It is in Forsyth co., 109 miles N. W. from Milledgeville.
There is also a railroad station named Cumming, in the same state, 57 miles
from Augusta. It is not thought that these places were thus named with
any reference to Sir Alexander Cuming. In the map accompanying the
Gazetteer, such is the scarcity of Indian names upon it, that a stranger might
be led to suppose that the country was never occupied by the Lidians.

EARLY HISTORY OF GEORGIA. 19

Were Indian names looked upon as a blemish ? or were they discarded that
they should not remind the present lords of the soil how they came by it ?

Like all aborigines, the Cherokees were cruel in war, and had been in
frequent collisions with the Carolinians, but how often would it be found
that the Lidians were the first transgressors ? We know from the history
of our own times, that in a majority of cases in which blood has been
shed, the white neighbors of the Indians were the aggressors. And yet
they (the Indians) have always been ready to fight our battles. No less
than five hundred Cherokee warriors fought on the side of independence in
the war of the revolution. In the late southern rebellion, the expatriated
Cherokees beyond the Mississippi were entirely surrounded by their
rebellious neighbors, and it was next to impossible for them to remain
neutral, yet a good number of them continued loyal to the end.

I have already alluded to the manner in which the Cherokees were
driven from their country, and it is not proposed to expatiate on that
painful subject at this time. Yet there will always be associated with their
name a reflection, and a feeling in every humane breast, that their expatriation
was a crime as nefarious as ever any one people committed against another.
It was a crime precisely like one which any state might commit against
another, because that state had strength to overpower the other. The
Cherokees were advancing in civilization ; they had become farmers,
mechanics, and proficients in many useful arts as well as their neighbors ;
but these acquisitions, it would seem, only made those neighbors more
avaricious, and more determined on their ruin. They were even becoming,
I may say they had become, literary : they prepared and printed school
books, published newspapers in their own language, and with an alphabet of
the invention of one of their own people ; which alphabet was, and still is,
an invention challenging the admiration of the learned world.

The wrong to which allusion has been made, was a crime which will
never be forgotten or forgiven, and its perpetrators have gone, many of them,
and the rest will go, down to their graves in infixmy ; and the believer in
retributive justice may point to the "March to the Sea" as a warning or
foreshadowing of one of more terrible desolation, when that colossus, armed
with iron hands and leaden feet, shall fully vmdicate the law of justice, and
the equal rights of man.

20 EAELY HISTORY OF GEORGIA.

CONCLUSION.

The expatriation of the Cherokees, as it progressed under the arm of irre-
sistible power, within the memory of the writer, caused no little sensation far
and wide through the whole country ; and it may be added that that sensation
was accompanied with a just indignation, which the modern reader will
faintly realize. This note is merely to group together a few jirominent facts.

The Indians were acknowledged as an indej^endent people and treaties
were made with them as such. They made their own laws and executed
them in their own way. In 1824 a law existed among the Creeks, and was
adopted by the Cherokees, that if any one in authority presumed to sell
any land, without the consent of the whole nation, his life was forfeited.
The chief of the Creeks, Gen. MTntosh, disregarding the law, sold land
contrary to that law, and was executed for it. The general government
had contracted with that of Georgia to buy out the Indians and send them
beyond the Mississippi, " as soon as it could be done reasonably and
peaceably." Now the "peaceable"? purchase was begun, but it could only be
"peaceably" possessed by Georgia by the aid of government troops. The
chain of events for the next ten years need not here be sketched. Bayonets
compelled treaties, yet at an enormous expense, — ostensibly on account of,
and for the benefit of the Indians ! Were the government agents or the
Indians enriched by the emigration? On the 14th of March, 1835, a treaty
was concluded between the Indians and the government agents ; according
to which the sum of $225,000 was to be for the expenses of a removal
beyond the Mississippi ; $400,000 for subsistence; $1,000,000 for improve-
ments and ferries ; $250,000 to cover claims and spoliations ; $10,000 for
domestic animals ; $60,000 to pay the Indian national debt ; $30,000 for
public buildings ; $5,000 for printing apparatus ; $3G,000 for blankets ;
$37,000 for rifles; $7,000 for kettles; $1,800,000 ;>er carpita; $400,000 for
a general fund ; $100,000 for a school fund ; $50,000 as an orphans' fund ;
$500,000 for additional territory ; $48,151 previous school investment ;
$214,000 as commutation of perpetual annuity : making in all, $5,332,151.

The Map accompanying this work was drawn about 1750. The original
copy was done by the Indians, and the names upon it written by the English
as they then understood them. These names of places, though differing
somewhat from those given in Sir A. Cuming's account, are sufficiently
similar to indicate the places meant by him.