HISTORICAL SKETCH TOMO-CHI-CHI, MIOO OF THE YAMACRAWS. CHARLES C. JONES, JR. * * " FRAGMENTS OF A FIRE IMMORTAL, WITH RUBBISH MIXED, AND GUTTERING IN THE DUST." ALBANY, N. Y. : JOEL MUNSELL. 1868. B 995 229 ,-1 DEC 22 '45 TO MY WIFE, EVA. BERRIED EVE. PREFACE. HE rapid development of states as well as of individuals depends, in a great de gree, upon what men call accident. Du ring monumental epochs and at certain marked crises when the shadows of doubt and uncertainty rest upon the present and darken the prospects of the future, unlocked for and favoring influences fre quently intervene, checking the opera tion of retarding causes, inspiring hope, confirming existence and fostering growth. Often do these pro pitious and seemingly fortuitous agencies prove far more potent in shaping destiny, inciting action and encouraging advance ment than the natural impulses which inhere in the recognized laws governing progress. But for the statue of Alexander the Great at Gades, Julius Csesar might have passed his life in further Spain an obscure quaestor, unknown to fame; and, deprived of the friendship and valuable aid of Tomo-chi-chi, the infant colony upon the banks of the Savannah, despite the energy of its settlers and the experience and valor of their governor, would have been at first either entirely annihilated or most materially retarded in its development. vi PREFACE. The present age is not incurious with regard to the memories, both personal and organic, of the American Indians. There is a growing interest manifested in all that can throw light upon their antiquities, in everything which furnishes definite inform ation of the manners, customs, intellectual traits, moral quali ties and personal characteristics of the various tribes and their chief men. Thus, day by day, new facts are ascertained, old recollections revived, and more satisfactory knowledge acquired touching those who, on the one hand, have been represented as " dark, relentless, cruel and murderous in the last degree, with scarce a quality to stamp their existence of a higher order than that of the brutes; " and, on the other, have been invested in their characters and actions with all that is dignified, eloquent and admirable in the semi-civilized state. In the following sketch we have endeavored to group to gether all that is known of the first, the noblest and the most influential.friend the colony.of Georgia had among the Redmen. The details which have been preserved, illustrative of the life and character of this aged Mico, are few and unsatis factory ; and yet there is much in the^enerosity of..his_natjire.,,. in the fidelity of his professions and acts, in the wisdom of his views, in the e^^em^j^ljjgj^^ldsaiifluejicya, advice and example, in the dignity of his behavior and in the guardianship which he exercised over that feeble and isolated colony, which enlists our interest, commands our sincere respect and secures our grateful acknowledgments. The foundjng_Qf.J;Jhie__cj}lQny of ,,Grei)rgia was a project conc.eiyjBd._in.a apirit^ofgenuine philanthropy; and it does indeed appear that a special Providence, regarding the enterprise with PREFACE. vii favoring eye, raised up from out the depths of the primeval forests which environed the new plantation, a strong arm and a generous soul to aid most singularly in the consummation of the doubtful endeavor. By unseen, and to human eyes unex pected influences, Tomo-chi-chi^at-Jthfi^Yeiy^outset., frejsly and without reward consented not only ,to extend to-the colony his personal friendship and that of his immediate tribe, the_Yama- craws, but also ..to secure the good-will of neighboring and powerful nations whose jealousy and opposition might otherwise have been easily excited, and whose animosities and positive hostilities would, beyond all question, have proved most disas trous to the hopes and material interests of the settlers. This action on his part seems the more remarkable when we remem ber the natural sympathies which allied him to his people and their antipathies, and the peculiar trials which had been put upon the natives by rapacious traders from Carolina on the one hand, and designing emissaries from the Spaniards in Florida on the other. From the very first he appears to have appreciated the fact V of the superior power of the white race, and the eventual triumph j\ of the civilization which it enjoyed; and to have been fully j| persuaded that in an alliance with and not in opposition to the f followers of that civilization rested the safest hopes of his x- countrymen for protection and existence. Impressed with such / convictions and imbued with a desire for personal improvement \ and tribal development, he cheerfully entered into pledges of ' amity which were on all occasions faithfully redeemed. "/ In conformity with his expressed wish he sleeps in the heart of the city of Savannah, and although no monument marks the Vlll PREFACE. precise spot of his sepulture in the public square, his memory is cherished with emotions of peculiar pride and liveliest grati tude. Next to Oglethorpe, Tomp-chi-chi was the truest friend and most potent .protector of the colony of Georgia during its primal days of infancy and feebleness. NEW YORK CITY, November 9th, 1868. HISTORICAL SKETCH tto fawamro. CHAPTER I. Reasons for establishing the Colony of Georgia Settlement at Savan nah Mr. Oglethorpe Early History of Tomo-chi-chi His first interview with Mr. Oglethorpe Mary Musgrove Treaty of Amity and Commerce between the Colonists and the Lower Creeks, May 21st, 1733. ~ HROUGH the personal in fluence and untiring exer tions of Mr. Oglethorpe, supported by the coopera tion of wealthy and promi nent associates, letters pat ent were obtained from the crown, bearing date the 9th of June, 1732, constituting and appointing John, Lord Viscount Purcival, and nineteen gentlemen, together with their successors, " Trustees for establishing the colony of Georgia in America." 1 The purposed Pro vince was called in honor of the king, during whose reign it was to be founded, and as an acknowledgment of the kindly interest arid favor with which his majesty entertained and promoted the benevolent project. 1 See charter of the colony. 2 10 JVbn sibi sed aliis, was adopted as the motto for the com mon seal, and this inscription was truly indicative of the disinterested motives by which the trustees were actu ated. Mr. Southey did not indulge in the language of exaggeration when he said no colony was ever esta blished upon principles more honorable to its projectors. In urging the necessity for the immediate settlement of the plantation, Mr. Oglethorpe stated the follow ing, among other inducements, which should influence early emigration. lu Let us cast our eyes on the mul titude of unfortunate people in this kingdom, of repu table families, and of liberal education, some undone by guardians, some by law-suits, some by accidents in commerce, some by stocks and bubbles, some by suretyship; but all agree in this one circumstance that they must either be burdensome to their relations or betake themselves to little shifts for sustenance, which, it is ten to one, do not answer their purposes, and to which a well educated person descends with the utmost constraint. These are the persons that may relieve themselves, and strengthen Georgia by resort ing thither, and Great Britain by their departure. With a view to the relief of people in the condition I have described, his majesty has, the present year, in corporated a considerable number of persons of quality and distinction, and invested a large tract of South Carolina in them, by the name of Georgia, in trust to be distributed among the necessitous. Those trustees not only give land to the unhappy who go thither, but are also empowered to receive the voluntary contribu tions of charitable persons to enable them to furnish the poor adventurers with all necessaries for the expense 1 New and Accurate Account of the Provinces of South Carolina and Georgia. OF TOMO-CHI-CHI. H of the voyage, occupying the land, and supporting them until they find themselves settled. So that now the unfortunate will not be obliged to bind themselves to a long service to pay for their passage, for they may be carried gratis into a land of liberty and plenty, where they will immediately find themselves in possession of a competent estate, in a happier climate than they knew before; and they are unfortunate indeed if they cannot forget their sorrows." The specific territory set apart for colonization was thus described in the charter; " all those lands, country and territories situate, lying and being in that part of South Carolina, in America, which lies from the most northern part of a stream or river there, commonly called the Savannah, all along the sea-coast to the south ward, to the southern stream of a certain other great water or river called the Alatamaha, and westwardly from the heads of the said rivers respectively in direct lines to the south seas; and all that share, circuit and precinct of land within the said boundaries, with the islands on the sea lying opposite to the eastern coast of the said lands, within twenty leagues of the same, which are not inhabited already, or settled by any authority derived from the crown of Great Britain." l It was confidently anticipated that the,.successful founding of the colony of Georgia would most materi-. ally promote the security, and confirm the existence of the province of South Carolina; forming, as it would, a bulwark between that province and the Spanish settlements in Florida. The authorities in Carolina expressed their warmest sympathies, and extended assistance during trying periods when the most trifling contributions were of the utmost consequence. 1 See charter of the colony. 12 HISTORICAL SKETCH The mutual protection which these small states would afford, the one to the other, and the gentle union which would grow up between them, were fore shadowed in the following lines : " To Carolina be a Georgia join'd ! Then shall both colonies sure progress make : Endear'd to either for the other's sake : Georgia shall Caroline's protection move, And Carolina bloom by George's love." l On the 6th of November, 1732, thirty-five families, comprising in the aggregate one hundred and twenty persons, men, women, and children, embarked on board the " Anne " at Gravesend. Composed in large measure of carpenters, brick-layers and farmers accus tomed to vigorous manual occupations, instructed in the military training of the guards, and furnished with muskets, bayonets and swords with which to defend themselves against anticipated attacks from the In dians, these men, with their wives and children, had been selected by the trustees as the first settlers of the colony of Georgia. The little galley of about two hundred tons, in which they were to cross the Atlantic, was generously supplied with such agricultural imple ments and mechanical tools as were deemed requisite for subduing the native wilds of the untrodden region which was soon to become the permanent abode of these industrious adventurers. The liberality of the supervisors left nothing to be desired in the matter of provisions, which included " ten tuns of Alderman Par son's best beer." 2 Nine days afterwards, Mr. Oglethorpe, who had volunteered to conduct the emigration and in person 1 Gentleman's Magazine, No. xxvi, p. 94. 2 Sec Gentleman's Magazine for 1732, p. 1029. OF TOMO-CHI-CHI. 13 superintend the establishment of the colony, came on board accompanied by his co-trustees. Having care fully inspected everything, with hearty assurances of their kindest sympathies and best wishes, the trustees bade God-speed to this u beau-ideal of an English gentleman," and his sturdy colonists. The next day the Anne weighed her anchor, and, having intermediately touched at the island of Madeira, where she took in five tuns of wine, on the 13th of January, 1733, came to- anchor outside the bar of Charleston harbor. The voyage proved entirely suc cessful, and only two delicate children had died on the passage. So soon as the sails of the Anne were furled, the first act performed by the colonists was the rendition of heart felt thanks to the Supreme Ruler for the happy termina tion which He had vouchsafed to their voyage. Imme diately thereafter Mr. Oglethorpe went on shore and paid his respects to his excellency Robert Johnson, the governor of the province of South Carolina, by whom, and his council he was warmly welcomed and treated with every mark of distinguished consideration. The kicg's pilot was dispatched to conduct the Anne into Port Royal harbor, whence the colonists were to be conveyed in small vessels to their place of future settlement. In order to facilitate the early location of the emigrants, Mr. Oglethorpe proceeded without delay to Beaufort. Thence, accompanied by Mr. Bull who was detailed by the council as a special guide and assistant in the enterprise he ascended the Savannah river, forming the northern boundary of the lands allotted to the colony of Georgia, with a view to exploring the country and selecting a spot best suited for the primal encampment. In a letter to his co-trustees under date of February 10th, 1733, Mr. Oglethorpe thus describes the location 14 HISTORICAL SKETCH which on this occasion he fixed upon as the site for the principal town of the colony, and which, after the Indian name of the river flowing by, he called SAVAN NAH. " The river here forms a half mooD, along side of which the banks are about forty feet high, and on the top is a 'flat which they call a bluff'. The plain high ground extends into the country about five or six miles; and along the river side, about a mile. Ships that draw twelve feet of water can ride within ten yards of the bank. Upon the river side, in the centre of this plain, I have laid out the town, opposite to which is an island of very rich pasturage which I think should be kept for the cattle of the trustees. The river is pretty wide, the water fresh, and from the quay of the town you see its whole course to the sea, with the island of Tybee which is at its mouth. For about six miles up into the country the landscape is very agree able, the stream being wide, and bordered with high woods on both sides." More than a century and a quarter have passed away and the city of Savannah still remains, in its location and plan, an enduring, and each day more illustrious \ monument of the judgment, forecast and enterprise /'of the founder of the colony of Georgia. - During Mr. Oglethorpe's absence on this exploring expedition, the colonists had been temporarily landed a't Beaufort. There he joined them on the 24th of January. The following sabbath was duly observed as a day of special thanksgiving. On the 1st of Feb ruary, they all arrived at Savannah, and pitched their tents beneath the tall pines which crowned the bluff'. With commendable zeal they betook themselves one and all to landing their stores, the construction of shelters, making a crane, felling the woods, fortifying their settlement, and the performance of the various OF TOMO-CH1-CHI. 15 labors requisite for their immediate comfort and pro tection. The position of this feeble colony was, in the very nature of things, uncertain and hazardous in the ex treme. Located in the depths of a primeval forest whose dense and tangled brakes and solemn shadows environed them on every hand, the vast Atlantic roll ing its waters between it and the mother country, the Carolina settlements, at best few in numbers and con tending in a stern life-struggle for their own existence, Spaniards in Florida jealous of this disputed domain and ready at any moment to frustrate by stealthy ap proaches and force of arms, any efforts of the English to extend their plantations on the coast, and, above all, Indian tribes in the occupancy of the country, attached to their grand old woods and gently flowing streams, watchful of the graves of their fathers, imposed upon by Spanish lies, cheated by Carolina traders, and naturally inclined to resist all encroachments by the whites upon their hunting grounds, it did indeed ap pear that the preservation and development of this colony were well nigh impossib]e. But its planting and perpetuation had been committed to the guardian care of one who was, perhaps, beyond all others, best suited to the enterprise. Descended from a family ancient and of high repute, in his very youth acquiring the arts of war and declaring his title to brave and high-toned distinction under Prince Eugene, of Savoy, as a member of Haslemere, by a course thoroughly independent and consistent, and by speeches earnest and intelligent, securing the unqualified respect and esteem even of those opposed to him in political views, in his philanthropic career displaying that " vast benevolence of soul" which alleviated the horrors of the Marshalsea, and worked marvelous reforms in the 16 HISTORICAL SKETCH exactions and oppressions of the extortionate Barnbridge, the notorious warden of the fleet, sensibly alive to the voice of suffering, and ready to lend a helping hand wherever the weak and the oppressed required the aid of the powerful and the noble-minded for the redress of wrongs, and the alleviation of present ills, " in the prime of life, very handsome, tall and manly, dignified, but not austere, and blessed with ample means for the gratification of every reasonable desire," possessed of a liberal education, a fearless soul, a determined will, an expansive energy, and an experi ence of men and climes and matters which only years of careful observation, intelligent travel, and thought ful study could supply, there was that about his person and character and abilities which inspired every con fidence, and rendered Mr. Oglethorpe, beyond all dispute, the man of his age and people best qualified to inaugurate and conduct to a successful issue an enterprise so entirely in unison with his own philan thropic sentiments, and so important to the material interests both of England and America. Realizing the importance- nay the absolute necessity of establish ing at the earliest moment friendly relations be tween the colonists and the nearest Indian nations, Mr. Oglethorpe lost no time in seeking a personal in terview with ] Tomo-chi-chi, the mico or chief of the Yamacraws, whose headquarters were at Yamacraw on the Savannah river, but a short distance above the point where the settlers had pitched their tents. This chief, whose name is so honorably associated with the 1 The earliest notice of Tomo-chi-chi wliose name is variously spelt Tomochichi, Bocachee, Tomeychee, Tomachachi, Tomochachi, Thamachaycliee, Thomochichi, Tomachichi, and Temochichi, I have been able to find, is the mention made of him as one of the contracting parties in the " Articles of Friendship and Commerce between his Ex- OF TOMO-CHI-CHI. 17 early history of the colony of Georgia, and whose many acts of kindness and fidelity to the whites demand anH must ever receive the most grateful acknowledg ments, "aitnougn at tins time far advanced in years, was a man of commanding presence, grave demeanor, marked character, acknowledged influence, and in the full possession of all his faculties. For some cause, the precise nature of which has never been fully explained, he had, in company with a number of his countrymen, suffered banishment at the hands of his people the^ Lower Creeks. Whatever the real reason may have been for this action on the part of the Creeks, towards Tomo-chi-chi, it does not appear that it was the result of any special ill-will, or that the expatriation was a punishment for specific crime or misconduct. The probability is that he went into voluntary exile, or may have been expelled the limits of the tribe, on account of some political disagreements. The great chief of the O'Conas, Oueekachumpa, in his interview with Mr. Oglethorpe, claimed a relationship with Tomo-chi-chi, and stated that although he had been banished from his nation, he was a good man and had been a great warrior. cellency Eobert Johnson, Esq., Governor and Commander-in-chief in and over his majesty's Province of South Carolina, in behalf of his Majesty King George the Second, and his beloved men and councillors over the great water, as on behalf of his said Excellency and beloved men and war riors in his Government of South Carolina, and our beloved friends and head men of the Pallachucolas, Ouseeshees, and Chehaws, of the Lower Creek Towns, and also between the head men of the Abekers, Oakfuskeys, Oakchoys and Tallaseys in the Upper Creeks, as well on behalf of themselves as the people of their said Towns " formed, con cluded and signed July 8th, 1721. ' Tomo-chi-chi here appears, repre senting the town of Pallachucolas, and his name is entered by the en grossing clerk as Tomeechey.1 1 See report of the Committee appointed to examine into the proceedings of the people of Georgia with respect to the Province of South Carolina, etc., p. 57, et seq., Charleston, 1737. 3 18 HISTORICAL SKETCH Removing from Ms former abode, after some wander ings he finally, not long before the arrival of the colony"^ of Georgia, formed a permanent settlement on the / banks of the Savannah, just at or very near the present site of the city of Savannah, where he gathered about him the tribe of Yamacraws, consisting in major part of disaifected parties from the Lower Creeks, and in some measure of Yamasee Indians. 1 On account of his superior wisdom and valor he was chosen mico, or chief. There is some evidence that at one time anterior to his locating himself at Yamacraw, he had tarried 1 In the " report of the committee appointed to examine into the proceedings of the people of Georgia with respect to the province of South Carolina, and the disputes subsisting between the two colonies," [Charles Town, printed by Lewis Timothy, 1737] we read at page 11, " Your committee cannot leave this article without observing that when this representation was made, the people of this province * had the sole trade amongst the Creek Indians ; and the people of Georgia would with difficulty have obtained a correspondence with the Indians without the assistance and introduction of the Government of Carolina. There were no Indians near the Georgians, except Tomo-chi-chi, and a small tribe consisting of about thirty or forty men who accompanied him. They were composed partly of Lower Creeks', and partly of Yamasees, who had disobliged their countrymen, and for fear of fall ing sacrifices to their resentment had wandered in the woods till about the year 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." These statements of the committee are fortified by the following corroborating affidavits : " South Carolina: " Samuel Eveleigh of Charlestown, in the province aforesaid, maketh oath, that the tribe of Indians (which this deponent hath been credi bly informed are composed partly of Creeks and Yamasees), settled themselves at a bluff called Yamacrah, some years since, and that about the beginning of the year 1732, some of them came to Charlestown aforesaid, and desired his excellency Robert Johnson, Esq., then governor, that they might have leave to settle there and have a trader * South Carolina. OF TOMO-CHI-CIII. 19 with the Pallachucolas for a season. But little can be gathered of his history prior to his acquaintance with Mr. Oglethorpe. JSFinety-one years of his simple life had been, amid the shades of the forests, devotedto Jhe pursuits o_war and th#. p.haaft; and there is scarce a tradition which wrests from total oblivion the deeds and thoughts of this aged warrior during that long and voiceless period. At the moment, however, when he came into the presence of the founder of the colony, his power over his tribe was supreme, his natural abili ties were unquestioned, his reputation for courage and military knowledge in the rude arts of war which en- amongst them; which his excellency granted; and that Tomo-che-chee (who was lately in England) was one of them to the best of his re membrance. And further saith not. SAMUEL " Sworn before me January 3rd, 1736, THOMAS LAMBOLL, Justice of Peace for Berkley County." " South Carolina: " George Ducat, of Charlestown, maketh oath that some time in the year of our Lord 1732, the deponent was at the house of Mr. Samuel Eveleigh, in Charlestown, where he saw some Creek Indians who belonged to a small tribe of about seventeen or eighteen families, of which one Bocachee was then reputed to be the chief or leader, and that the said Indians then desired leave of Gfov. Johnson to sit down at Yamacraw Bluff on Savannah river, the place where the town of Sa vannah is now settled. And the deponent saith that the said governor gave them leave to plant there during the said governor's pleasure. And this deponent hath been informed by a trader that was acquainted among the Creek Indians, that Bocachee's tribe had done some mis chief in their own country, and dared not to return home. And the deponent saith that the Indian called Tomo-chi-chi, who was lately in England, was one of the same tribe, and lived amongst them when the people of Georgia first came to settle on the Savannah river. GEORGE DUCAT. " Sworn before me in council this llth day of January, 1736-7. THOMAS BROTJGHTON." 20 HISTORICAL SKETCH gaged the attention of his age and race, well established, and his character such as to have secured for him the respect, confidence and good will of the neighboring nations. The only portrait of him, of which we have any account, is one which was taken during his visit to London. It was painted by Verilst, and hung for many years in the Georgia rooms. This likeness, which represents him in a standing posture, with his left hand resting upon the shoulder of his nephew and adopted son Toona-howi, who holds an eagle in his arms, was subsequently engraved by Kleinsmidt, and forms the frontispiece to one of the volumes of Urlsperger's Journal of the Saltzburg Emigrants. Tomo-chi-chi was also noble in his connections.1 The king of the Etiahitas was his brother, and by Oueekachumpa, surnamed by the whites, the Long King, he was acknowledged as a cousin. There is that about the countenance of this aged mico, as it has come down to us, which savors of intellect, dignity, self-respect and manliness not unworthy the lineaments of a king. It may very readily be perceived how important it was to the material interests of the colony that the good will of this chief should be secured, and his con sent obtained for the peaceable and uninterrupted occupation of the soil by the whites. Mr. Oglethorpe, on the occasion of his first interview with Tomo-chi-chi, was fortunate in having as an in terpreter an Indian woman 2 who had married a Carolina trader, named Musgrove, and who, from this circum- 1 American Gazetteer, vol. ir, article, Georgia. London, 1762. Po litical State of Great Britain, vol. XLVI, p. 237, et seq. 2 Finding that Mary Musgrove possessed considerable influence with the Creeks, Mr. Oglethorpe retained her as an interpreter, allowing her for her services in this capacity an annual compensation of 100, OF TOMO-CHI-CH1. 21 stance, had acquired not only a tolerable knowledge of the English language, but also a favorable inclina tion towards her husband's countrymen. sterling. She afterwards became Mary Matthews, and subsequently married Thomas Bosomworth, the chaplain to Oglethorpe's regiment. In 1749, influenced by her designing, ambitious and unscrupulous husband, this woman proved a source of much annoyance ; and on one occasion well-nigh compassed the destruction of the colony at Savan nah. Upon his marriage with Mary, Thomas Bosomworth had ac cepted a grant of land from the crown, and had settled in the province of Georgia. Not content, however, with this possession, he determined that his wife should assert a claim to the islands of St. Catharine, Ossabaw and Sapelo which had been allotted to the Indians, by treaty stipulations, as part of their hunting lands. To stock them, this rever end gentleman had purchased cattle largely from the Carolina planters, to whom he stood indebted on this account to a considerable amount. His stock-raising not proving as remunerative as he had anticipated, this ambitious clergyman, with a view to attaining greatness and acquiring a fortune rapidly, encouraged his wife to announce herself as a sister of Malatche, descended in a maternal line from an Indian king who held from nature the entire territories of the Creeks. He persuaded her also to assert her right to them as superior, not only to that of the trustees but also of the king. Mary accordingly assumed the title of an independent empress, disavowing all allegiance or sub jection to the British crown, and summoned a general convocation of the Creeks, to whom, in a long speech prepared for the occasion, she explained the justice of her claim, the great injury which they, her beloved subjects, had sustained at the hands of the English by the loss of their territories, and the necessity which was laid upon them to regain their rights by force of arms. Inflamed by her harangue, the assembled Indians admitted her claims, and pledged themselves to defend to the last extremity her royal person and lands. Putting herself at the head of a large body of warriors, she set out for Savan nah to demand from the president and council a formal acknowledg ment of her assumed rights. A messenger was dispatched to convey in advance to the president of the colony a notification of her approach ing visit, and to acquaint him with the fact that she had assumed the sovereignty over the entire territory of the Upper and Lower Creeks. This notification was accompanied with a demand for the immediate evacuation by the whites of all lands lying south of the Savannah river, and was coupled with a threat, that in case of refusal every set tlement within the specified limits should be extirpated. Alarmed at these bold pretensions, and sensible of her influence over the Creeks, President Stephens ordered the militia to hold themselves in readiness 22 HISTORICAL SKETCH The meeting between the governor of the colony and the aged mieo, beneath the grand old live oaks and pines whose sheltering arms formed the only canopy to march to Savannah upon shortest notice, and at once proceeded to put the town in the best possible state of defense. Its whole force amounted to only one hundred and seventy men capable of bearing arms. A messenger, dispatched to meet Mary while she was still several miles from the town, to inquire whether she was serious in her intentions, and to endeavor to persuade her to dismiss her follow ers and abandon her pretensions, found her resolute and inflexible. Nothing remained but to receive the Indians boldly. The militia were ordered under arms, and, as the Indians entered the town, Captain Noble Jones, at the head of a troop of horse, stopped them and demanded whether their visit was of a friendly or hostile character ? Receiving no reply, he commanded them to ground their arms, declaring that his orders were not to suffer an armed Indian to set foot in the town, and that he was determined to enforce those orders at every hazard. The Indians reluctantly submitted. Thomas Bosomworth in his canonical robes, with his queen by his side, followed by the kings and chiefs according to their respective rank, marched into the town on the 20th of July, making a formidable appearance. The citizens were terrorstricken at the sight. Advancing to the parade they found the militia drawn up under arms to receive them; by whom they were saluted with fifteen cannon, and conducted to the president's house. Bosomworth being ordered to withdraw, the Indian chiefs in a friendly manner were required to declare their intention in paying this visit in so large a body without being convened by any person in authority. Having been previously instructed, they responded that Mary would speak for them, and that they would abide by what she said. They further stated that they heard she was to be sent captive over the great waters, and they were come to know on what account they were to lose their queen; that they intended no harm, and wished that their arms might be restored to them. They gave the assurance that after consulting with Bosomworth and his wife they would return and amicably settle all public affairs. Their guns were accordingly returned to them, and strict orders issued to allow them no ammunition until the council should see more clearly into their dark designs. The day following, the Indians, having had some pri vate conferences with Mary, with sullen countenances marched about the streets in a tumultuous manner, apparently determined on mis chief. All the men being obliged to mount guard, the women and children, afraid to remain in their houses by themselves, were greatly terrified, expecting every moment to be murdered and scalped. Dur ing this period of confusion a false rumor was circulated that the OF TOMO-CHLCHI. 23 over head, was frank;, cordial, and most satisfactory. His personal friendship and that of his immediate tribe were freely pledged, and permission was cheerfully Indians had cut off President Stephens's head with a tomahawk ; which so exasperated the inhabitants that it was with great difficulty the officers could restrain the troops from firing upon the Indians. Bosomworth was arrested and made to understand that in case of extremities he should be marked as the first victim. So soon as he was carried into close confinement, Mary became frantic, threatening vengeance against the magistrates and the entire colony, ordering all white per sons to depart immediately from her territories, cursing Oglethorpe, pronouncing his treaties fraudulent, and, furiously stamping her foot upon the earth, swearing by her Maker that the whole globe should know the ground she stood upon was her own. To prevent the whites from acquiring any ascendancy over the chiefs and warriors, she kept the leading men constantly under her eye, and would not suffer them to utter a sentence on public affairs except in her presence. Finding it utterly impossible to pacify the Indians while under the baleful influence of their pretended queen, President Stephens pri vately laid hold of her and put her in close confinement with her hus band. In order to facilitate a reconciliation, a feast was prepared for all the chiefs and leading warriors; at which they were informed that Bosomworth had involved himself in debts which he was unable to pay, that he wanted not only their lands, but also a large share of the presents which the king had sent over for the chiefs and warriors as a compensation for their useful services and firm attachment to him during the war against their common enemy, that Bosomworth wished to obtain these presents to satisfy his creditors in Carolina at their expense, that the lands adjoining Savannah had been reserved for them to encamp upon when they should come to visit their beloved friends in Savannah, and the three maritime islands for them to fish and hunt upon when they came to bathe in the salt waters, that nei ther Mary nor her husband had any right to those lands, but that they were the common property of the whole Creek nation and that the great king- George had ordered the president to defend their right to them, expecting that all his subjects, both white and red, would live together like brethren. Many of the chiefs, convinced that Bosomworth had deceived them, declared that they would be no longer controlled by his advice. Even Malatche, the leader of the Lower Creeks, appeared for the moment satisfied; and was greatly delighted to hear that presents were to be distributed. Taking advantage of this favorable change in their sentiments, President Stephens determined to make immediate distri bution of the royal bounty and to dismiss the Indians. While prepa- 24 HISTORICAL SKETCH granted for the undisturbed occupation of the spot selected by Oglethorpe for the town of Savannah. /Although the good-will of the nearest Indians had been rations were being made to carry this intention into effect, Malatche, whom the Indians compared to the wind, because of his fickle and variable temper, having sought and intermediately obtained a per sonal interview with Bosomworth and his wife, rose up in the midst of the chiefs and warriors assembled to receive their respective shares of the king's gifts, and, with frowning countenance and violent man ner, delivered an inflammatory speech abounding in dangerous insi nuations and threats, asserting the paramount claims of Mary, as queen of the Creeks, to all the lands in question, declaring that her words were the voice of the nation, that three thousand warriors were pre pared to maintain with their lives her rights, and finally concluding by drawing from his pocket a document which he delivered to Presi dent Stephens in confirmation of what he had said. This paper had evidently been prepared by Bosomworth, and was an ambitious and violent assertion of the pretensions and designs of Mary. When the paper was read in council, the members were struck with astonish ment. Perceiving the effect which had been produced, Malatche be came uneasy, and begged a return of the paper that he might hand it back to the party from whom he had received it. President Ste phens, perceiving more clearly than ever how sadly the Indians had been duped by the ambitious, mercenary and designing Bosomworth, addressed the chiefs and warriors in the following language: " Friends and brothers : When Mr. Oglethorpe and his people first arrived in Georgia they found Mary, then the wife of John Musgrove, living in a small hut at Yamacraw; he had a license from the go vernor of South Carolina to trade with the Indians. She then appeared to be in a poor, ragged condition, and was neglected and despised by the Creeks; but General Oglethorpe finding that she could speak both the English and the Creek languages, employed her as an interpreter, richly clothed her, and made her a woman of the consequence she now appears. The people of Georgia always respected her until she mar ried Bosomworth, but from that time she has proved a liar and a deceiver. In fact, she was no relation of Malatche, but the daughter of an Indian woman of no note, by a white man. General Oglethorpe did not treat with her for the lands of Georgia, for she had none, but with the old and wise leaders of the Creek nation, who voluntarily surrendered their territories to the king. The Indians at that time having much waste land which was useless to themselves, parted with a share of it to their friends, and were glad that white people had settled among them to supply their wants. He told them that the present discontents of the Creeks had been artfully infused into them OF TOMO-CH1-CHI. 25 thus gained, it was evident, in order to place beyond peradventure the present security of the colony, that the consent to its establishment should be obtained by Mary, at the instigation of her husband ; that he demanded a third part of the royal bounty in order to rob the naked Indians of their rights; that he had quarreled with the president and council of Georgia for refusing to answer his exorbitant demands, and therefore had filled the heads of the Indians with wild fancies and groundless jealousies in order to ferment mischief and induce them to break their alliance with their best friends who alone were able to supply their wants and defend them against their enemies." At this point the Indians ac knowledged that their eyes were opened, and that they were ready and anxious to smoke the pipe of peace. Pipes and rum were brought, and all, joining hand in hand, drank and smoked in friendship. The distribution of the royal presents, except the ammunition, with which it was deemed imprudent at this moment to entrust them, was made, and even Malatche seemed fully satisfied with the share he had received. While an amicable compromise of all existing difficulties had thus been effected, and all were rejoicing in the reestablishment of friendly intercourse, Mary, drunk with liquor, rushed like a fury into the midst, telling the president that these were her people and that he had no business with them. The president calmly advised her to retire to her lodgings, and to forbear poisoning the minds of the In dians ; as otherwise he would order her again into close confinement. Turning to Malatche in a great rage, she repeated to him with some ill-natured comments what the president had said. Malatche thereupon sprang from his seat, laid hold of his arms, called upon the rest to follow his example, and dared any man to touch his queen. In a mo ment the whole house was filled with tumult and uproar. Every Indian having his tomahawk in his hand, the president and council expected nothing but instant death. During this confusion Captain Jones, who commanded the guard, with wonderful courage interposed and ordered the Indians immediately to surrender their arms; which they reluc tantly did. Mary was conveyed to a private room where a guard was placed over her, and all further communication with the Indians denied her during their stay in Savannah. The Indians were finally persuaded to leave the town peaceably and return to their settlements. Mary and her husband were detained until about the first of August, when, having fully confessed their errors and craved pardon, they were allowed to depart. M Call's His tory of Georgia, i, 216, et seq. 4 26 HISTORICAL SKETCH from other adjacent and more powerful nations. Learning from Tomo-chi-chi the names and the abodes of the most influential chiefs, Mr. Oglethorpe enlisted the good offices of this mico in extending to them an earnest invitation to meet him in Savannah at an early day. The importance of this interview and the gene rous conduct of Tomo-chi-chi cannot easily be over estimated in considering their salutary influence upon the being and prospects of this lonely and feeble colony struggling for its primal existence. Had this chief, turning a deaf ear to the advances of Mr. Oglethorpe, refused his friendship, denied his request, and by his acknowledged influence instigated a determined and combined opposition on the part not only of the Yamacraws but also of the Uchees and Lower Creeks, the perpetuation of this settlement on the banks of the Savannah would have been either most seriously imperiled, or abruptly terminated amid smoke and blood. When, therefore, we recur to the memories of this period, and as often as the marked events in the early history of the colony of Georgia are enumerated, so often let the recollections of the first favors of this Indian chief be gratefully acknowledged. If General Oglethorpe's proudest claim to the honor and respect of succeeding generations be that he was the successful founder of the colony of Georgia, let it riot be forgotten by those who accord him every praise for his valor and judgment, endurance, skill and benevolence, that in the hour of supreme doubt and peril, the right hand of this son of the forest and his generous friend ship were among the surest guaranties of the safety and the very existence of that colony. To the day of his death the pledges of amity and the assurances of good will, given at this first interview, were preserved in violate. The__firm friend of the white man, the jruide OF TOMO-CHI-GHI. 27 the adviser, the protector of the colonists, the constant companion and faithful confederate of Oglethorpe, as such let us always remember the aged mico of the Yamacraws. , True to his promise Tomo-chi-chi exerted his influ ence in behalf of the contemplated convention, and dispatched messengers to the various principal towns and chief men of the Georgia tribes, apprising them of the objects of the convocation and leading their minds in advance to a favorable consideration of the proposi tions which had been intimated to him by Mr. Ogle thorpe. The interval, which must necessarily elapse prior to the assembling of the Indians, was improved by the founder of the colony in furthering the settle ment at Savannah and in paying a visit to the province of Carolina. The fullest narrative of the meeting between Mr. Oglethorpe and the Indians, in pursuance of this invitation, is contained in the 46th volume of the Political State of Great Britain, and we repeat the account as it is there given : On the 14th of May, Mr. Oglethorpe set out from Charles ton on his return to Savannah, which is the name of the town now begun to be built in Georgia. That night he lay at Col. Bull's house on Ashley river, where he dined the next day. The Rev. Mr. Guy, rector of the parish of St. John's, waited upon him there, and acquainted him that his parishioners had raised a very handsome contribution for the assistance of the colony of Georgia. Mr. Oglethorpe went from thence to Capt. Bull's, where he lay on the 15th. On the 16th, in the morn ing, he embarqued at Daho, and rested at Mr. Cochran's island. On the 17th he dined at Lieut. Watts' at Beaufort, and landed at Savannah on the 18th, at ten in the morning, where he found that Mr. Wiggan, the interpreter, with the chief men of all the Lower Creek nation, had come down to treat of an alliance with the new colony. The Lower Creeks are a nation of Indians who formerly con- 28 HISTORICAL SKETCH sisted of ten, but now are reduced to eight tribes or towns, who have each their different government, but are allied together and speak the same language. They claim from the Savannah river as far as S. Augustin, and up to the Flint river, which falls into the bay of Mexico. All the Indians inhabiting this tract speak their language. Tomo-chi-chi, mico, and the In dians of Yamacraw are of their nation and language. Mr. Oglethorpe received the Indians in one of the new houses that afternoon. They were as follows : From the tribe of Coweeta -- Yahou-Lakee, their king or mico. Essoboa, their warrior, the son of old Breen, lately dead, whom the Spaniards called emperor of the Creeks, with eight men and two women attendants. from the tribe of the Cussetas -- Cusseta, the mico, Tatchi- quatchi, the head warrior, and four attendants. From the tribe of the Owseecheys -- Ogeese, the mico, or war king, Neathlouthko and Ougachi, two chief men, with three attendants. From the tribe of Cheehaws -- Outhleteboa, the mico, Thlautho-thlukee, Figeer, Soota-Milla, war-captains, and 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 Pallachucolas -- Gillatee, the head warrior, and five attendants. , From the tribe of Oconas -- Oueekachuinpa, called by the English " Long King," Coowoo, a warrior. From the tribe of Eufaule -- Tomaumi, the head warrior, and three attendants. The Indians being all seated, Oueekachumpa, a very tall old man, stood up, and with a graceful action and a good voice, made a long speech, which was interpreted by Mr. Wiggan and John Musgrove, and was to the following purpose. He first claimed all the land to the southward of the river Savannah, as be longing to the Creek Indians. Next he said that although they were poor and ignorant, he who had given the English breath had given them breath also; that he who had made both, had given more wisdom to the white men; that they were firmly OF TOMO-CHI-CHI. 29 persuaded that the Great Power which dwelt in heaven and all around, [and then he spread out his hands and lengthened the sound of his words,] and which had given breath to all men, had sent the English thither for the instruction of them, their wives and children; that therefore they gave them up freely their right to all the land which they did not use themselves, and that this was not only his opinion, but the opinion of the eight towns of the Creeks, each of whom having consulted together, had sent some of their chief men with skins, which is their wealth. He then stopped, and the chief men of each town brought up a bundle of buck-skins, and laid eight bundles from the eight towns at Mr. Oglethorpe's feet. He then said those were the best things they had, and therefore they gave them with a good heart. He then thanked him for his kind ness to Tomo-chi-chi, mico, and his Indians, to whom he said he was related ; and said, that though Tomo-chi-chi was banished from his nation, he was a good man, and had been a great war rior, and it was for his wisdom and courage that the banished men chose him king. Lastly, he said, they had heard in the nation that the Cherokees had killed some Englishmen, and that if he should command them, they would enter with their whole force into the Cherokee country, destroy their harvest, kill their people and revenge the English. He then sat down. Mr. Oglethorpe promised to acquaint the trustees with their desire of being instructed, and informed them that although there had been a report of the Cherokees having killed some Englishmen, it was groundless. He thanked them in the most cordial man ner for their affection, and told them that he would acquaint the trustees with it. Tomo-chi-chi, mico, then came in, with the Indians of Yamacraw, to Mr. Oglethorpe, and, bowing very low, said : " I was ajbanished man: I came here poor and helpless to look tbf good land near the tombs of my ancestors, and the trustees p-nt. peopjte Jiere; I feared you WMld drive us away, for we were weak andTwanted corn; but you confirmed our. land to us, gave us food and instructed our children. We have already thanked you in the strongest words we could find, but words are no re turn for such favors; for good words may be spoke by the deceitful, as well as by the upright heart. The chief men of 30 HISTORICAL SKETCH all our nation are here to thank you for us; and before them I declare your goodness, and that here I design to die; for we all love your people so well that with them we will live and die. We do not know good from evil, but desire to be instructed and guided by you that we may do well with, and be numbered amongst the children of the trustees^ 1 He sat down, and Yahou-Lakee, mico of Coweeta, stood up and said, " We are come twenty-five days' journey to see you. I have been often advised to go down to Charles-Town, but would not go down because I thought I might die in the way; but when I heard that you were come, and that you were good men, I knew you were sent by Him who lives in Heaven, to teach us Indians wisdom; I therefore came down that I might hear good things, for I knew that if I died in the way I should die in doing good, and what was said would be carried back to the nation, and our children would reap the benefit of it. I rejoice that I have lived to see this day, and to see our friends that have long been gone from amongst us. Our nation was once strong, and had ten towns ; but we are now weak, and have but eight towns. You have comforted the banished, and have gathered them that were scattered like little birds before the eagle. We desire therefore to be reconciled to our brethren who are here amongst you, and we give leave to Tomo-chi-chi, Stimoiche, and Illispelle, to call the kindred that love them out of each of the Creek towns, that they may come together and make one town. We must 1 In " a curious account of the Indians, by an honorable person," Mr. Oglethorpe, referring to this speech, says : " Tomo-chi-chi, in his first set speech to me, among other things, said : ' Here is a little present;' and then gave me a buffalo's skin, painted on the inside with the head and feathers of an eagle. He desired me to accept it because ' the eagle signified speed, and the buffalo strength. That the English were as swift as the bird, and as strong as the beast; since like the first, they flew from the utmost parts of the earth, over the vast seas, and like the second, nothing could withstand them. That the feathers of the eagle were soft, and signified love; the buffalo skin was warm, and signified protection ; therefore he hoped that we would love and protect their little families.'" This interesting and characteristic episode in the his tory of the occasion, is unfortunately omitted in the account which we have adopted as giving the most minute and satisfactory details of this memorable interview. OF TOMO-CHI-CHI. 31 pray you to recall the Yamasees that they may be buried in peace amongst their ancestors, and that they may see their graves before they die; and their own nation shall be restored again to its ten towns." After which he spoke concerning the abatement of the prices of goods, and agreed upon articles of a treaty which were ordered to be engrossed. Tomo-eM-chi invited them to his town, where they passed the night in feasting and dancing. On the 21st, the treaty was signed. " A laced coat, a laced hat and a shirt were given to each of the Indian chiefs; to each of the warriors a gun, and a mantle of Duffils, and to all their attendants coarse cloth for clothing. A barrel of gunpowder, four cags of bullets, a piece of broad-cloth, a piece of Irish linen, a cask of tobacco pipes, eight belts and cutlashes, with gilt handles, tape and inkle of all colors, and eight cags of rum, to be carried home to their towns; one pound of powder, one pound of bullets, and as much provision for each man as they pleased to take for their journey home," were also distributed. 1 During this interview, the conduct of Mr. Oglethorpe towards the Indians was characterized by marked kind ness, courtesy and conciliation. He urged upon them an_appreciation of the fact, that in making this settle ment the English desired neither to dispossess nor to annov^the natives, but that the earnest wish of his go vernment and people was to live in peace and friendship with the surrounding tribes. He further explained the power of the .British nation and the general object ( in view in founding the colony, and asked from the ( assembled chiefs and those whom they represented, a 1 See The Political State of Great Britain, XLVI, 237; Gentleman's Magazine for July, 1733, in, 384, et seq.: American Gazetteer, n, article Georgia, London, 1762. 32 HISTORICAL SKETCH grant or cession of the lands lying between the Savan nah and Alatamaha rivers. In addition, he invoked the ratification of a treaty of commerce and of perpetual amity. The interview was in every respect satisfactory, and resulted in the consummation of a treaty, by which the Lower Creeks agreed to place themselves under the general government of Great Britain and to live in peace with the colonists. To the trustees were granted all lands lying between the Savannah and the Alata maha rivers, from the ocean to the head of tide water. This cession also embraced all the islands on the coast, from Tybee to St. Simon s's island inclusive, with the exception of the islands of Ossabau, Sapelo and St. Catharine, which were reserved by the Indians for the purposes of hunting, bathing and fishing. The tract of land lying above Yamacraw bluff, between Pipemaker's bluff' and Pally-Chuckola creek, was also re served as a place of encampment whenever it should please them to visit their beloved friends at Savannah. Stipulations were entered into, regulating the price of goods, the value of peltry and the privileges of traders. It was further agreed that all criminal offences should be tried and punished in accordance with the laws of England. 1 Although this treaty was engrossed, and formally executed by Oglethorpe on the one part, arid the chiefs and principal warriors who were then present on the other, in order that its terms might be duly considered and approved, it was at once forwarded to the trustees for their formal confirmation. In due course it was returned by the trustees with the following ratification : 1 See M'Call's History of Georgia, i, 37, 38. OF TOMO-CHI-CHI. 33 The trustees for establishing the colony of Greorgia in America to the chief men of the nation of the Lower Creeks, SEND GREETING : WHEREAS, The great king, George the Second, king of Great Britain did by his letters patent under the great seal of Great Britain, bearing date the 9th day of June, in the 5th year of his reign, constitute and appoint a body politic and corporate by the name of the trustees for establishing the colony of Georgia in America : And, WHEREAS, The said trustees have received from their beloved Mr. James Oglethorpe, of West Brook Place, in the county of Surry, Esquire, one of the common council of the said trustees, a copy of certain articles of friendship and commerce between the said trustees and the said chief men, which is in the words following (that is to say), Articles of friendship and com merce between the trustees for establishing the colony of Georgia in America, and the chief men of the nation of the Lower Creeks. First. The trustees, bearing in their hearts great love and friendship to you the said head-men of the Lower Creek nation, do engage to let their people carry up into your towns all kinds of goods fitting to trade in the said towns, at the rates and prices settled and agreed upon before you the said head-men, and annexed to this treaty of trade and friendship. Secondly. The trustees do by these articles promise to see restitution done to any of the people of your towns by the peo ple they shall send among you; proof being made to the beloved man they shall at any time send among you, that they who have either committed murder, robbery, or have beat or wounded any of your people, or any wise injured them in their crops, by their horses, or any other ways whatever; and upon such proof the said people shall be tried and punished accord ing to the English law. Thirdly. The trustees when they find the hearts of you the said head-men and your people are not good to the people they shall send among you, or that you or your people do not mind this paper, they will withdraw the English trade from the town so offending. And that you and your people may have 5 34 HISTORICAL SKETCH this chain of friendship in your minds and fixed to your hearts, they have made fast their seal to this treaty. Fourthly. We, the head-men of the Coweta and Cuseta towns, in behalf of all the Lower Creek nation, being firmly persuaded that He who lives in Heaven, and is the occasion of all good things, has moved the hearts of the trustees to send their beloved men among us, for the good of our wives and children, and to instruct us and them in what is straight, do therefore declare that we are glad that their people are come here; and though this land belongs to us (the Lower Creeks), yet we, that we may be instructed by them, do consent and agree that they shall make use of and possess all those lands which our nation hath not occasionto use; and we make over unto them, their successors and assigns, all such lands and ter ritories as we shall have no occasion to use; provided always, that they, upon settling every new town, shall set out for the use of ourselves and the people of our nation such lands as shall be agreed upon between their beloved men and the head men of our nation, and that those lands shall remain to us forever. Fifthly. We, the head-men, do promise for ourselves and the people of our towns that the traders for the English which shall settle among us, shall not be robbed or molested in their trade in our nation j and that if it shall so happen any of our people should be mad, and either kill, wound, beat or rob any of the English traders or their people, then we the said head men of the towns aforesaid do engage to have justice done to the English, and for that purpose to deliver up any of our peo ple who shall be guilty of the crimes aforesaid, to be tried by the English laws, or by the laws of our nation, as the beloved man of the trustees shall think fit. And we further promise not to suffer any of the people of our said towns to come into the limits of the English settlements without leave from the English beloved man, and that we will not molest any of the English trad ers passing to or from any nation in friendship with the English. Sixthly. We, the head-men, for ourselves and people do promise to apprehend and secure any negro or other slave which shall run away from any of the English settlements to our nation, and to carry them either to this town, or Savannah, or Palachuckola garrison, and there to deliver him up to the com- OF TOMO-CHI-CHI. 35 mander of such garrison, and to be paid by him four blankets or two guns, or the value thereof in other goods; provided such runaway negro, or other slave, shall be taken by us or any of our people on the farther side of Oconee river; and in case such negro or runaway slave shall be taken on the hither side of the said river, and delivered to the commanders aforesaid, then we understand the pay to be one gun, or the value thereof; and in case we or our people should kill any such slave for resistance or running away from us in apprehending him, then we are to be paid one blanket for his head, by any trader, for carrying such slave's head unto him. Lastly. We promise with stout hearts, and love to our brothers the English, to give no encouragement to any other white people, but themselves, to settle amongst us, and that we will not have any correspondence with the Spaniards or French; and to show that we both for the good of ourselves our wives and children do firmly promise to keep the talk in our hearts as long as the sun shall shine or the waters run in the rivers, we have each of us set the marks of our families. Schedule of the prices of goods agreed on, annexed. Two yards of stroud, ... - Five buck-skins. One yard of plains, - One ditto. White blanket, ----- One ditto. Blue ditto, - Five ditto. A gun, - - - - - - Ten ditto. A pistol, --._- Five ditto. A gun-lock, ----- Four ditto. Two measures of powder, - - One ditto. Sixty bullets, ----- Ditto ditto. One white shirt, - Two ditto. One knife, ----- One doe-skin. Eighteen flints, - - - - One buck-skin. Three yards of Cadiz. - One doe-skin. Ditto ditto of gartering, - - Ditto, ditto. One hoe, ------ Two buck-skins. One axe, ----- Ditto ditto. One large hatchet, - Three doe-skins. One small ditto, - One buck-skin. Brass kettles per Ib, - Ditto ditto. Doe-skins were estimated at half the value of the bucks. 36 HISTORICAL SKETCH And, WHEREAS, The said trustees desirous to maintain and preserye^an inviolable peace, friendship and com merce between the said head-men of the Lower nation ojf Creeks, and the people the said trustees have sent and shall send to anbabitjind settle in the province of Georgia aforesaid, to ep- dure to the world'sjsnd ; Now know ye that we the said trustees for establishing the/ colony of Georgia in America do by these presents ratify and7 confirm the said articles of friendship and commerce between \ the trustees for establishing the colony of Georgia in America, J and the chief-men of the Lower Creeks, a,rid all and every of the articles and agreements therein contained, and also the rates and prices of goods above mentioned, settled and agreed upon before the said head-men, and annexed to the said treaty of trade and friendship. In witness whereof the common council of the said trustees for establishing the colony of Georgia in America have to these presents made fast the common seal of the corporation of the said trustees, the eighteenth day of October, in the seventh year of the reign of our sovereign lord George the Second, by the grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland king, defender of the faith, etc., and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty-three. By order of the said common council, BENJAMIN MARTYN, Secretary. 1 The result of this treaty of the 18th of May, 1733, was the pacification of all the Lower Creek Indians, the lichees, the Yamacraws and all the tribes acknowledg ing their supremacy.J E~or did the influences of this convocation rest with them only. They were recog nized by the Upper Creeks, and, at a later date, speci fically ratified by the Cherokees. For years were these stipulations preserved inviolate ; and the colony of Georgia, thus protected, extended its settlements up 1 See M'Catt's History of Georgia, i, 357, et seq. OF TOMO-CHI-CHI. 37 the Savannah river and along the coast, encountering neither molestation nor opposition, but on the contrary receiving on every hand positive and valuable assur ances of the good-will and sympathies of the children of the forest. Probably the early history of no planta tion in America affords so few instances of hostility en countered on the part of the natives, or furnishes so many acts of kindness experienced at the hands of the Red men. To the prudence, conciliatory conduct, sound judgment and wisdom of Mr. Oglethorpe, seconded by the hospitality and generosity as well as the direct personal influence of Tomo-chi-chi, was the/ colony of Georgia indebted for this first and liberaj, treaty of amity and commerce with the aborigines. HISTORICAL SKETCH CHAPTER II. The Creek Confederacy Contemporaneous descriptions of the physi cal appearance, characteristics, customs and occupations of the In dians dwelling within the limits of Georgia. a letter written on the 12th of March, 1733, Mr. Oglethorpe mentions the Lower Creeks,' the Upper Creeks and the lichees as the three most powerful Indian nations in Georgia, dwelling1 between the mountains and the coast. The Lower Creeks consisted of nine towns or cantons, and their warriors were estimated by him at one thousand. The military power of the Upper Creeks he computes at eleven hundred men capable of bearing arms, while it was supposed that the Uchees were at that time incapable of bringing into the field more than two hundred bow-men. Be Brahm, at a later date, reckons the population of the Upper and Lower Creeks at fifteen thousand men, women and children; and rates their warriors and gun-men above three thousand. 1 In 1733, the year in which Georgia was settled, the territory of the Creek confederacy, including at that time the Seminoles, was bounded on the west by the Mobile river and by the ridge which separates the waters of the Tombigbee from those of the Alabama, on the north by the Cherokees, on the north-east by the Savannah, and on every other quarter by the At lantic ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico.2 1 History of the Province of Georgia, etc., by John Gerar _ William De Brahm. Wormsloe, MDCCCXLIX, 55. 2 Synopsis of the Indian tribes, by the Hon. Albert Gallatin; Archceologia Americana, u, 94. OF TOMO-CHLCHL 39 It seems probable that the small tribe of the Yamacraws, over which Tomo-chi-chi presided as mico, was composed in the main of Yarnasees, acknowledging the supremacy of the Creek confederacy. 1 At what particular period occurred the consolidation of the Creek confederacy, cannot now be definitely ascertained. Tradition points to the country west of the Mississippi as the original habitat of at least some of the tribes composing this confederacy. The Muskhogees, constituting the prevailing nation, and com prising more than seven-eighths of the entire popula tion, claimed that they issued originally out of a cave near the Alabama river. The Hitchittees on the con trary declared that their ancestors had fallen from the sky. 2 The lichees and the batches, who were both in corporated in the Creek confederacy, spoke two dis tinct languages altogether different from the Muskhogees. The batches, a residue of the well-known nation of that name, came from the banks of the Mississippi and joined the Creeks. The original seats of the lichees, so far as they can be ascertained, were east of the Coosa, and probably of the Chattahoochee. They considered themselves as the most ancient inhabitants of the country, and may have been the same nation which is called Apalaches by the historians of De Soto's expedition. At the beginning of the eighteenth century they were located, at least in part, on the western bank of the Savannah river. In 1736, they claimed the country above and below Augusta. In 1715, the Yamasees, who had been assisted by the Creeks, suffered a signal defeat 1 Archmologia Americana, n, 85; Collections of the Georgia Histori cal Society, in, part i, 15. 2 Archcaologia Americana, n, 95. 40 HISTORICAL SKETCH and were driven across the Savannah river. It is not improbable that in this struggle they numbered the lichees among their auxiliaries; and that weakened by this defeat, they found it prudent to withdraw to a greater distance from the English settlements in Caro lina, and seek a more secure retreat in the direction of the Flint river. The Uchee language is the most gut tural, uncouth and difficult to express with our alphabet and orthography of any of the Indian languages within our knowledge. After quoting with approval the synopsis of Mr. Gallatin, in his contribution to the his tory of the Creek confederacy, Mr. Hodgson says,1 " To my mind it is evident that the whole Atlantic coast, from the Mississippi to the country of the Six Nations in the north, has for centuries past been the theatre of constant revolutions among the aborigines of the soil. Wars, conquests, subjugations, extinc tions and productions of new races, migrations and new settlements, I do not doubt, have marked the life of western as well as of eastern nations. On this con tinent there are no Persepolitan, Etruscan, Egyptian or Kunic inscriptions to attest the rise and decay of nations, their wars, conquests and migrations; and where no records have been made of such movements among races and tribes, the modern science of com parative philology has detected by speech, the far dis tant emigration of tribes of men with as great certainty as the comparative anatomist detects congeners among fossil animals. Thus the Anglo-Saxon derives his origin through Teutonic and Zend to Sanscrit in Cen tral Asia, with positive certainty. " The historians of Carolina and Georgia have pre served some slight vestiges of the original inhabitants. 1 Collections of the Georgia Historical Society, in, part 1, 16, 17. OF TOMO-CHI-CHI. 41 The Shawnees appear to have been a peculiarly roving, romantic race. Lawson reports that the Catawbas in Carolina drove back the Shawnees from the Peedee and Santee rivers. At one time they were repelled by the Six Nations, and retired to the valley of the Ohio. At another they were found on the Savannah river, which was called Chisketalla fan hatche, and sometimes Sauvannogee, the name for Shawanoe.. This is the report of Mr. Hawkins. It was called Isundiga by the Caro lina tribes. My own opinion is that the river was so called from the tribe of Savannahs occupying its banks, who belonged to the great Uchee family. There are many indications however which favor the settlement of Shawnees on this river. "Hawkins says that the ' village of Sauvanogee, on the waters of Coosa and Tallapoosa, is inhabited by Shawanee. They retain the language and customs of their countrymen to the north-west, and aided them in their late war with the United States. Some lichees have settled with them.' " Entertaining the suspicion that these Shawanee were in reality Uchees, I found confirmation in Bartram. He says ' their (Uchees) own national language is radi cally different from the Muscogulgee tongue, and is called Savanna, or Savannuca, Savanogee. I was told by the traders that it was the same as the dialect of the Shawanese. The Uchees are in confederacy with the Creeks, but do not mix with them.' " The language of the Shawnese is most certainly not like Uchee; and this contradiction of the traders I cannot well explain. Yet I have the conviction that the tribe of Savannahs were Uchees. All travelers concur in assigning to the Uchees great influence in the confederacy; and Bartram asserts that they ' excite the jealousy of the whole Creek nation.' Palachoocla G 42 HISTORICAL SKETCH or Parachoocla, the capital of the confederacy, with two thousand inhabitants, on the waters of the Chattahoochee is a very ancient Uchee town. There is at this day an old Indian station in Carolina on the Sa vannah river called Parachoola, which is lichee. Saukechuh, (Saltketchers) where Gov. Craven defeated the Yamassees, is most likely to be a Uchee word. Indeed, until the contrary shall be proved by comparative vocabularies, I shall think that the Savannahs, Sevannahs, and lichees who conquered and expelled the Westos and Stonos, were one people with the Yamassees. " The Yamassees were in turn expelled from Caro lina by the English, and took refuge in Florida. The Yamacraws belonged to this tribe. The lichees seem to have been a conquering people, whose tide of suc cess having been checked, flowed back towards the west, and there met the advancing waves of the Muscogee emigration from the west rolling eastwardly. Policy and self-preservation combined to suggest a co alition. And thus from these principles, acting upon other nomadic or migrating tribes, may have sprung the powerful Creek or Muscogee confederacy." The glowing descriptions of the natives which have been handed down by the early Spanish adventurers were not fully justified by the appearance and occupa tions of the Indians as they were observed and related by the Georgia colonists. Mr. Oglethorpe, speaking generally, describes the Indians as " a manly, well shaped race." ^e says, they, as the ancient Grecians did, anoint with oil and expose themselves to the sun, which occasions their skins to be brown of color. The men paint themselves of various colors, red, blue, yel- 1 See Salmon's Modern History, m, 770, 4tli edition; Harris's Me morials of Oglethorpe, 819. OF TOMO-CHI-CHI. 43 low and black. The men wear generally a girdle with a piece of cloth drawn through their legs and turned over the girdle both before and behind, so as to hide their nakedness. The women wear a kind of petticoat to the knees. Both men and women in the winter wear mantles something less than two yards square, which they wrap round their bodies as the Romans did their toga, generally keeping their arms bare; they are sometimes of woolen bought of the English, some times of furs which they dress themselves. They wear a kind of pumps which they call moccasins, made of deer skin, which they dress for that purpose. They are a generous, good-natured people ; very humane to strangers; patient of want and pain; slow to anger and not easily provoked, but when they are thoroughly incensed they are implacable : very quick of apprehen sion, and gay of temper. Their public conferences show them to be men of genius, and they have a natu ral eloquence, they never having had the use of letters. They love eating, and the English have taught many of them to drink strong liquors; which, when they do, they are miserable sights. They have no manufac tures but what each family makes for its own use; they seem to despise working for hire, and spend their time chiefly in hunting and war; but plant corn enough for the support of their families and the strangers that come to visit them. Their food, instead of bread, is flour of Indian corn boiled and seasoned like hastypudding, and this called hominy. They also boil veni son and make broth; they also roast or rather broil their meat. The flesh they feed on is buffalo, deer, wild-turkeys and other game; so that hunting is neces sary to provide flesh, and planting for corn. The land belongs to the women, and the corn that grows upon it; but meat must be got by the men, because it is they 44 HISTORICAL SKETCH only that hunt; this makes marriage necessary, that the women may furnish corn, and the men meat. They have also fruit trees in their gardens, namely peaches, nectarines and locust, melons and water melons, potatoes, pumpkins, onions, etc., in plenty; and many kinds of wild fruits arid nuts, as persimons, grapes, chinquepins and hickory nuts, of which they make oil. The bees make their combs in the hollow trees, and the Indians find plenty of honey there, which they use instead of sugar. They make what supplies the place of salt, of wood ashes; use for seasoning long-pepper, which grows in their gardens; and bayleaves supply their want of spice. Their exercises are a kind of ball-playing, hunting and running; and they are very fond of dancing. Their music is a kind of drum, as also hollow cocoa-nut shells. They have a square in the middle of their towns in which the war riors sit, converse and smoke together; but in rainy weather they meet in the king's house. They are a very healthy people and have hardly any diseases ex cept those occasioned by the drinking of rum, and the small-pox. Those who do not drink rum, are exceed ingly long lived. Old Brim, emperor of the Creeks, who died but a few years ago, lived to one hundred and thirty years, and he was neither blind nor bed-rid till some months before his death. They have some pleurisies and fevers, but no chronical distempers. They know of several herbs that have great virtues in physic, particularly for the cure of venomous bites and wounds. In a letter dated the 9th of June, 1733, Mr. Oglethorpe furnishes additional information in reference to the Georgia Indians. He writes as follows : There seems to be a door opened to the colony towards the conversion of the Indians. I have had many conversations with OF TOMO-OH1-OH1. 45 their chief-men, the whole tenor of which shows that there is nothing wanting to their conversion but one who understands their language well, to explain to them the mysteries of religion; for, as to the moral part of Christianity they understand it, and do assent to it. They abhor adultery and do not approve of a plurality of wives. Theft is a thing not known among the Creek Indians, though frequent and even honorable among the lichees. Murder they look on as a most abominable crime; but do not esteem the killing of an enemy, or one that has injured them, murder. The passion of revenge which they call honor, and drunkenness which they learn from our traders, seem to be the two greatest obstacles to their being truly Christians; but upon both these points they hear reason; and with respect to drink ing rum I have weaned those near me a good-deal from it. As for revenge they say, as they have no executive power of justice amongst them, they are forced to kill the man who has injured them, in order to prevent others doing the like; but they do not think any injury, except adultery or murder, deserves re venge. They hold that if a man commits adultery, the injured husband is obliged to have revenge by cutting off the ears of the adulterer; which, if he is too strong or sturdy to submit to, then the injured husband kills him the first opportunity he has to do it with safety. In cases of nmr-der, the next in blood is obliged to kill the murderer, or else he is looked on as infamous in the nation where he lives ; and the weakness of the execu tive power is such, that there is no other way of punishment but by the revenger of blood, as the scripture calls it; for there is no coercive power in any of their nations; their kings can do no more than to persuade. All the power they have is no more than to call their old men and captains together, and to propound to them the measures they think proper; and after they have done speaking, all the others have liberty to give their opinions also ; and they reason together with great temper and modesty till they have brought each other into some unani mous resolution. Then they call in the young men and recom mend to them the putting in execution the resolution, with their strongest and most lively eloquence. And indeed, they seem to me both in action and expression to be thorough masters of true eloquence. In speaking to their young men, they generally 46 HISTORICAL SKETCH address the passions. In speaking to the old men they apply to reason only. The appearance and characteristics of the Indians of the coast-region of Georgia, are thus described by an eye-witness,1 whose observations were made in 1734. Thursday, March 14th. This afternoon we were carried to a camp which some Indian hunters had in this neighborhood, [i. e. Savannah] who were in such condition as made our hearts bleed; for in the absence of their chiefs [who had gone to meet Mr. Oglethorpe] they had much disordered themselves with drinking of rum, a liquor very pernicious to them, and which has occasioned the death of great numbers. They were painted with red, and made strange postures. The most part of them are marked with blue figures on their necks, faces and bodies. They have beads about their necks, and rings or colored feathers in their ears. * * * ** * * * The Indian language, from the best information we can get, containeth not above one thousand primitive words, and can best be written with Greek letters, because of the long and short vowels; and some of their sounds cannot be expressed by any other alphabet but the Greek. They say that all nations descend from two brothers: that one of them, the ancestor of the Indians, was red, and the other, the ancestor of the Europeans, was white. 'Tis probable these their thoughts are grounded upon the history of Esau and Jacob. They had known nothing of drunkenness if they had not learned it of the Christians. They give each other several names of honor, ac cording to the time and circumstances, as a title or reward; whereby they encourage young people to valor, industry and fidelity. They have some religion, believing in a Supreme Being which they call SOTOLYCATE, who is in all places, though they would not teach us the word by which they express the name of GOD in their language. They believe that from the Supreme Being comes everything, especially wisdom. They 1 Eev. Mr. Bolzius. OF TOMO-CHI-CHI. 47 use no ceremonies, nor outward religious exercises, except at a solemn festival held once a year. They worship no idols; how ever they sing some songs about the ancient heroes. They are unwilling to talk to profane people about religion. They are very ambitious; for which reason they make war, but not to gain land. They love to be praised; though they seem to turn it off, and transfer it to others. They show great respect to old people, to whom one must speak first before one can speak to the young people. If any one dishonors them, they are not to be reconciled. They account themselves to be rude and ignorant, but are desirous to be better instructed. Of Indians they have several nations, the best among which are the Creeks who talk one language. One of the other nations, who are called lichees, are much inclined to robbing and stealing, but these Creeks are honest, serviceable and disinterested. He that does a kindness to them, they will remember forever. And they likewise are willing to give what one desires of them, though they should want it themselves. If Mr. Oglethorpe was to desire one of them to go with him to England, or any other place, he would be willing; unless he had an old father who was helpless and wanted his assistance. They love one another so that they venture their lives for one another. They abhor adultery. They provide for the poor, the widows and orphans. In their language are no words which denote obscene things or oaths, unless they learn them from the Eu ropeans. Their kings do not reign with absolute power, but give counsel. The king proposes to the old men, and the old to the young men; after which it is put in execution. They do not contradict one another with vehemence, but endeavor to agree; and if that cannot be, the superiors are not angry. The king's office is to divide the time; to tell the season when to go a hunting, when to planting, and when to harvest. Like wise he is to attend the sick, give them physic, provide for widows, and these are called Kings of Peace. When a king is not fit for his office, they choose another. The wisest is their king, who doth not distinguish himself from others by clothes. Besides these they have War Captains. They give the king the tenth of all they have. If a present is made to the king he doth not keep it, but distributes it among all. and keeps no- 48 HISTORICAL SKETCH tiling for himself: and afterward they give him back the tenth part, or pretty near it. The widows do not cut their hair, nor tie it up, but let it hang loose. Every nation hath a peculiar way of cutting their hair, whereby they are distinguished. They honor Mr. Oglethorpe as their father, and ask his advice in all their circumstances. He understands somewhat of their language. ********* ** When they promise a thing they keep their word, and would rather die than go from it. If they find one in a lie they ac count him unworthy to look upon, or shake hands with. An old man, one of the wisest among them, believed and told them that the Supreme Being would soon send them some person that would show them the right way to wisdom, [by which they mean religion] though he might not live to see it. They seldom ask for anything from any body, but if one offer them anything, they do not refuse it. They love equality, and will be pleased with our Saltzburgers who both eat and labor in common. They very much observe people's behavior. They hate self-interested people. They reckon themselves all gentlemen, and will do nothing but what they think to be generous. They account laboring and working for hire to be a slavery; therefore they will not work for gain. They reckon it a shame to wear breeches. When they go a hunting they wear boots of woolen cloth. Some of them are willing to send their children to our schools ; of these children we shall by degrees learn some words. * * We have learned some words of their language, for instance, TUT^OC, fire, as, the sun, uxxw, house, jiXXivai^ot, the heel, a