BWASTOX] EARLY HISTORY OF THE CREEK [NDIANS 315 
in the town thai night, and after the above catastrophe she effected his escape down 
the river Mississippi. So he carried the news of the disaster to his comrades to his 
countrymen. 
The Indians were very much elated with the successful event of their plan, which 
had even exceeded their most sanguine expectations, getting clear of their intruders 
so quickly and easily without the loss of any of their own blood. But their joy was of 
short dura i ion. Theyequipl themselves with the spoils of their vanquished neighbors, 
in arms, clothing, provisions, and hats, which last they particularly admired, and they 
did not suppose there were any more to revenge their horrid deed. In their enthusiasm 
t<> take possession of their empty garrison that they so easily attained they unanimously 
concluded and even prompted his majesty and all his suite, and all that could get 
quarters to remove therein as the buildings were more commodious than those of the 
town. Then, after they had arranged their new habitation and gotten all snug and 
secure, the king sent oul the usual hunting party headed by one of his nephews. But 
after their hunting excursion was over and they returned, behold their surprise at 
seeing a number of shipping moored in front of the fort and apparently the whole of 
their tribe in the aet of embarking on board of the shipping under the guard and con- 
trol of two rows of white men with hats on similar to those worn by the people that 
they destroyed. From the following circumstance I expect the whole of the tribe 
were not captured, as there is a people on the south waters of the Missouri who call 
themselves Natchez, who probably made their escape when those in the fortress were 
surrounded and captured . All that were shipped off by the French were insulated and 
settled in the island of SV? Domingo where their progeny now remain. Their arms 
offensive and defensive were bows and arrows pointed with either sharpened bone or 
pieces of flint. With these weapons they attacked their enemy or killed their game for 
sal isistence. When those that had been a hunting returned and saw their tribe on the 
ships and saw them disappear down the river, they could not imagine what would be 
their destination and fate, so in their incertitude and perplexity of mind they con- 
cluded to leave their forlorn case with the seat of their ancestors forever, and in the 
scenes of a new and untried home forget the wreck of their tribe who they expected 
were doomed to slavery and wretchedness. Having had intercourse and friendship 
with the Chickasaws they moved to them first where some took up their abode, and 
some with the dierokees, but the greater part headed by the royal family, made a 
compact of assimilation with the A u bih his or Creek tribe and settled in the Tallidega 
Valley. They remained thus sequestered for about twenty-five years, when, at the 
instance of their chief, they all made a final exit and settled in the Valley and by 
their compact became a member of the Ispocoga body, which they have remained 
down to this period. 
This remnant of the Xatche tribe to this distant day are unfriendly to the French 
people. Their antient manners and customs it is said were similar to those of the 
A " bih has, so they had to make no change in their habits of life by their removal. 
These statements were handed down to the most antient of the present day by their 
forefathers, who were spectators, though in their infancy, of what had happened to and 
in their tribe. They have a belief in a supreme being but no worship or adoration. 
Though they generally talk about good and bad actions in this life I never could 
understand that they had any idea of rewards or punishments in future, for they 
generally believe in another life here on a place they can not describe. They keep 
the Busk festival in a very devout an.! sacred manner. Near one of the towns in the 
Valley not very far from Soto's fortification there is a cavern said to be near a quarter 
of a mile long and much dissected. Such Indians as have been in it say that it is peo- 
pled by fairies. They have never seen any because they have the power of making 
themselves imperceptible, but they have seen their tracks and know that they live 
on the innumerable bats and swallows that stay in there. It was entered by some men 
many years since, that is a half century ago. They found the bones of a human being 
in the first room and right by him carved in a rock, "I. W. Wright, 1723" 
