12 CROCODILE ISLAND. 



which they had doomed him to perish was folded round his neck, 

 he disdained to purchase an extension of his life by treachery to 

 his friends. * An OTlaherty,* he said, * can die — but he never 

 peaches.' He left a son who was worthy of his father's fame. 

 Like him he was inspired with an indomitable hatred of tyranny 

 and restraint ; with a noble and elevating desire to bring back 

 those golden days, when all things were in common — when man, 

 standing in the dignity of his original nature, took to himself 

 whatever pleased his fancy, and owed no allegiance to the debas- 

 ing influence of the law. From this noble stock my mother was 

 descended ; and when her beauty and the heroism of her charac- 

 ter had raised her to be the consort of the Forest King, she seemed 

 to feel that she was just in the situation for which she was destined 

 by her nature. The pride of ancestry, and the remembrance of 

 the glorious achievements which had rendered the names of her 

 forefathers illustrious, beamed from her eye, and imprinted a ma- 

 jesty upon her brow which we seek for in vain in females of in- 

 glorious birth. 



" Atta-kuU-kulla, which, in the puerile language of the whites, 

 means the Little Carpenter, was my father's name. On his head, 

 when going forth to battle, he wore a paper cap of the most war- 

 like form, surrounded with miniature saws, and surmounted with 

 a golden gimlet. When I was born, the infinite nations, and 

 kindreds, and tongues which confessed his sway, made every 

 demonstration of satisfaction. The Muscogulges, the Simmoles, 

 the Cherokees, the Chactaws, and all the other powerful tribes 

 which bordered on the stately Alatamaha, sent deputies to the 

 royal residence to congratulate their monarch on so auspicious an 

 occasion. But, alas! this universal rejoicing was soon turned 

 into mourning. Amongst those who came as ambassadors from 

 the neighbouring powers was Sisquo Dumfki, the rat-catcher, 

 from a kingdom on the banks of the majestic Mississippi. This 

 man was the most celebrated drinker of his nation. The strongest 

 casine* seemed to have no more effect upon his senses than the 

 purest water. At all feasts and solemn entertainments he was the 

 champion of the Chicasaws. His fame was not unknown to the 

 leaders of our tribe. My royal father burned with a passionate 

 thirst for glory — and also for casine. In the happiness of my 

 birth he challenged Sisquo Dumfki to a trial of their strength of 



* Casine, a sort of usquebaugh in great repute among the Indians— and a 

 very good tipple in its vfay.—Experto crede. 



