CHEROI^ES. 21 



all the Xorthern and neighbouring tribes. The Seneca then said 

 to the Shawnees, You must now turn your course to the South : you 

 must make your path to the Cherokees, and even make it into their 

 houses. When the Shawnees started at night they took up their camp 

 and sat up all night, praying to the Great Spirit to enable them to 

 arrive in peace and safety among the Cherokees. The Shawnees 

 still kept their course, until they reached a place called Tah-le-c^uah, 

 where they arrived in safety, as they wished, and there met tlie 

 chiefs and warriors of the Cherokees. When they arrived near Tah- 

 le-quah, they went to a house and sent two men to the head chiefs. 

 The chief's daughter was the only person in the house. As soon 

 as she saw them, she went out and met them, and shook them by 

 the hand and asked them into the house to sit down. The men 

 were all in the field at work — the girl's father was with them. She 

 ran and told him that there were two men in the house, and that 

 they were enemies. The chief immediately ran to the house and 

 shook them by the hand, and stood at the door. The Cherokees all 

 assembled around the house, and said. Let us kill them, for they are 

 enemies. Some of the men said No, the chief's daughter has taken 

 them by the hand ; so also has our chief. The men then became bet- 

 ter satisfied. The chief asked the two men if they were alone. They 

 answered, no ; that there were some more with them. He told them 

 to go after them and bring them to his house. When these two men 

 returned with the rest of their people, the chief asked them what 

 their business was. They then opened this valuable bundle, and told 

 him that it contained a talk for peace. The chief told them, I can- 

 not do business alone ; all the chiefs are assembled at a place called 

 Cho-qua-ta, where I will attend to your business in general council. 

 When the messengers of peace arrived at Cho-qua-ta, they were kindly 

 received by the chiefs, who told them they would gladly receive their 

 talk of peace. The messengers of peace then said to the Cherokees, 

 We will make a path for you to travel in, and the rising generation 

 may do the same, — we also will keep it swept clean and white, 

 so that the rising gcneratioti may travel in peace. The Shawnee 

 further said. We will keep the doors of our houses open, so that when 

 the rising generation come among us they shall be welcome; he 

 further said, This talk is intended for all the different tribes of our 

 red brothers, and is to last to the end of time; he further said, 

 I have made a fire out of the dry elm — this fire is for all the different 

 tribes to see by. I have put one chunk toward the rising sun, one 



