1 62 The Winning of the West 



hatred for them." 33 He reported to the Spanish 

 Court that Spain had no means of molesting the 

 Americans save through the Indians, as it would not 

 be possible with an army to make a serious impres- 

 sion on the "ferocious and well-armed" frontier 

 people, favored as they would be by their knowledge 

 of the country ; whereas the Indians, if properly sup- 

 ported, offered an excellent defence, supplying from 

 the Southwestern tribes fifteen thousand warriors, 

 whose keep in time of peace cost Spain not more 

 than fifty thousand dollars a year, and even in time 

 of war not more than a hundred and fifty thou- 

 sand. 34 



The Spaniards in this manner actively fomented 

 hostilities among the Creeks and Cherokees. Their 

 support explained much in the attitude of these peo- 

 ples, but doubtless the war would have gone on any- 

 how until the savages were thoroughly cowed by 

 force of arms. The chief causes for the incessantly 

 renewed hostilities were the desire of the young 

 braves for blood and glory, a vague but well-founded 

 belief among the Indians that the white advance 

 meant their ruin unless stayed by an appeal to arms, 

 and, more important still, the absolute lack of any 

 central authority among the tribesmen which could 

 compel them all to war together effectively on the 

 one hand, or all to make peace on the other. 



Blount was Superintendent of Indian Affairs for 

 the Southern Indians as well as Governor of the 



33 Carondelet to De Lemos, Aug. 15, 1793. 



34 Carondelet to Alcudia, Sept. 27, 1793. 



