In the Current of the Revolution 299 



number, a chief called the Carpenter, to return with 

 the two white envoys, and examine the goods they 

 proposed to give in exchange. To this Henderson 

 made no objection; on the contrary, it pleased him, 

 for he was anxious to get an indisputable Indian 

 title to the proposed new colony. The Indian dele- 

 gate made a favorable report in January, 1775; 

 and then the Overhill Cherokees were bidden to as- 

 semble at the Sycamore Shoals of the Watauga. 

 The order was issued by the head-chief, Oconostota, 

 a very old man, renowned for the prowess he had 

 shown in former years when warring against the 

 English. On the i7th of March, Oconostota and 

 two other chiefs, the Raven and the Carpenter, 

 signed the Treaty of the Sycamore Shoals, in the 

 presence and with the assent of some twelve hun- 

 dred of their tribe, half of them warriors; for all 

 who could had come to the treaty grounds. Hen- 

 derson thus obtained a grant of all the lands lying 

 along and between the Kentucky and the Cumber- 

 land rivers. He promptly named the new colony 

 Transylvania. The purchase money was 10,000 

 pounds of lawful English money ; but, of course, the 

 payment was made mainly in merchandise and not 

 specie. It took a number of days before the treaty 

 was finally concluded; no rum was allowed to be 

 sold, and there was little drunkenness, but herds 

 of beeves were driven in, that the Indians might 

 make a feast. 



The main opposition to the treaty was made by a 

 chief named Dragging Canoe, who continued for 



