G34 INDIAN LAND CESSIONS IN THE UNITED STATES (eth.ax.x. 18 



inatiou of George III, dated October 7, 1763, forbidding jjiivate per- 

 sons from purelia.siug lands of the Indians and requiring all purcliases 

 of such lands to be made for the Crown, applied to South Carolina. 



On May 20, 1777, a treaty was concluded by South Carolina and 

 Georgia with the Cherokee, by which tlie Indians ceded a considerable 

 section of country on Savannah and Saluda rivers. 



As the subsequent treaties were made with the United States, they 

 will be found in Mr lioyce's schedule. 



It would appear from the foregoing facts that the policy pursued by 

 the South Carolina colony in regard to the Indian title was in the main 

 just, aud was based — impliedly, at least — on an aclinowledgment of 

 this title. But it is necessary to call attention to the fact that a large 

 area in this state, as in North Carolina, appears to have been taken 

 possession of without any formal treaties with or purchases from the 

 Indians. This was due probably to the lact that, with the exception of 

 the Catawba, the tribes who occupied this central portion were of 

 minor importance and unsettled, and the Catawba, by the constant 

 wars in which they M'ere engaged, had been greatly reduced in num- 

 bers, so much so, in fact, that the governors of South Carolina and 

 Georgia came to their relief by means of treaties of peace with their 

 enemies. 



GEORGIA 



On the 9th of June, 1732, George II granted by charter to certain 

 "trustees" the right to establish the colony of Georgia, including all 

 the lauds and territories from the most northerly stream of Sa\aniiah 

 river along the seacoast to the southward unto the most southerly 

 stream of Altaniaha river, and westward from the heads of said rivers 

 in direct lines to the South sea, and all islands within 20 leagues of 

 the coast. 



During the first year of the colony's existence. Governor James 

 Oglethorpe, who was placed in charge by the trustees, directed his 

 attention to providing for the emigrants suitable homes at Savannah, 

 Joseph's Town, Abercorn, aud()ld Ebenezer; the erection of a fort 

 on Great Ogeechee river, and the concluding of treaties of amity and 

 cession with the natives. "Having," according to one authority, 

 "confirmed the colonists in their occupation of the right bank of the 

 Savannah, and engaged the friendship of the venerable Indian chief 

 Tomo-chichi, and the neighboring Lower Creeks and Uchees, he set 

 out," etc. 



On the 20th of May, 1733, at Savannah, Oglethorpe made a treaty 

 with the headmen of the Lower Creeks, the summary of which, as 

 given by Hugh McCall,' is as follows: 



When Oglethorpe came over from England he -n'as not vested with lull powers, 

 couseqnently the ratitication of the treaty was to be made in England. Soon after 

 his arrival he sent rnnuers to the different towns, and invited a convention of the 



1 History of (jeorgia, vol. I, p. 37. 



