300 The 'Winning of the West 



years to be the most inveterate foe of the white race 

 to be found among the Cherokees. On the second 

 day of the talk he spoke strongly against granting 

 the Americans what they asked, pointing out, in 

 words of glowing eloquence, how the Cherokees, 

 who had once owned the land down to the sea, had 

 been steadily driven back by the whites until they 

 had reached the mountains, and warning his com- 

 rades that they must now put a stop at all hazards 

 to further encroachments, under penalty of seeing 

 the loss of their last hunting-grounds, by which 

 alone their children could live. When he had fin- 

 ished his speech he abruptly left the ring of speakers, 

 and the council broke up in confusion. The Indian 

 onlookers were much impressed by what he said; 

 and for some hours the whites were in dismay lest 

 all further negotiations should prove fruitless. It 

 was proposed to get the deed privately; but to this 

 the treaty-makers would not consent, answering that 

 they cared nothing for the treaty unless it was con- 

 cluded in open council, with the full assent of all 

 the Indians. By much exertion Dragging Canoe 

 was finally persuaded to come back ; the council was 

 resumed next day, and finally the grant was made 

 without further opposition. The Indians chose their 

 own interpreter; and the treaty was read aloud and 

 translated, sentence by sentence, before it was signed, 

 on the fourth day of the formal talking. 



The chiefs undoubtedly knew that they could 

 transfer only a very imperfect title to the land they 

 thus deeded away. Both Oconostota and Dragging 



