THE AMERICANS AXD THE ABORIGINES. 381 



acquaintance, Squire Copeland, who, with the restless- 

 ness characteristic of his countrymen, had emigrated 

 some three years before from Georgia to the infant 

 town of Opelousas, and now held the double office of 

 justice of the peace and major of militia. Hodges 

 was examined on suspicion of being an emissary from 

 the British, sent to stir up the Indian tribes against 

 the Americans. He scrupulously observed his pro- 

 mise, made to Tokeah and Canondah, not to reveal 

 their place of abode ; and, hampered by this pledge, 

 was unable to give a clear account of himself. Sus- 

 picion was confirmed by his disguise, and by certain 

 exclamations which he imprudently allowed to escape 

 him on hearing Major Copeland and his wife make 

 mention of Tokeah, and of Rosa, their foster-child, 

 of whom they now for seven years had heard nothing. 

 The result of his examination of which the good- 

 natured and xmsuspicious squire, having his hands 

 full of business, and being less skilled in the use of 

 the pen than the rifle, requested the prisoner himself 

 to draw up the report was, that Major Copeland, 

 the constable, and Hodges, set off for a town upon 

 the Mississippi, then the headquarters of the Louisi- 

 anian militia. 



VII. 



It may be necessary to remind our readers, that 

 when the British troops, under Sir Edward Paken- 



