MooNKv) CUMINO'S TREATY 1T:!(> 35 



tlir Al;ili;imas." (iti Coosa ri\('r, a IVw iiiilcs aliovc the jjicsciit Mont- 

 <i-oiiiiT\ . Alal>aiiia. From this cciitial \aiitaf»'e point they hud rapidly 

 t'xtoiidcd their iiitlueiice aiiioiiii- all tiie neiii-hhoring- tribes until in 

 17:^1 it was estimated that H.4i)(> wai'rioi-s who had formerly traded 

 witii Cai'oliiia liad l)een ••entirely dehauched to the French interest," 

 while :.\0(M» more were wavei'ini;-. and only tiie Cherokee could still be 

 considered f)-iendly to the Eni;-lish.' From this time until the tinal 

 withdrawal of the Frencli in lli't'A the explanation of our Indian wars 

 is to he found in the strugjile between the two nations for teri-itorial 

 and commercial supremacy, the Indian beiiio- simply the cat's-paw of 

 one or the other. For reasons of their own. the Chickasaw, whose 

 tei'ritory lay within the recoynized limits of Louisiana, soon became the 

 uncompromising enemies of the French, and as their position enabled 

 them in a measure to control the approach from the Mississippi, the 

 Carolina government saw to it that they were kept well supjilied with 

 guns and anununition. British traders were in all their towns, and 

 on one occasion a French force, advancing against a Chickasaw 

 palisaded village, found it giirrisoniMl by Englishmen flying the British 

 flag." The Cherokee, although nonunally allies of the Knglish. were 

 stroiigh' disposed to favor the French, and it recjuired every efl'ort of 

 the Carolina gox'ernment to hold them to their allegiance. 



In 1730, to further tix the Cherokee in the English interest. Sir 

 Alexander Cuming was dispatched on a secret mission to that tril)e, 

 which was ag-ain smarting under grievances and almost ready to join 

 with the Creeks in an alliance with the French. Proceeding to the 

 ancient town of Nequassee (Nikwasi', at the present Franklin. North 

 Carolina), he so impressed the chiefs l>y his bold beai'ing that they 

 conceded without (question all his demands, submitting thiMuselves 

 and their people for the second time to the English doiuinion and 

 designating Moytoy.'' of Ttdlico. to act as their "■emperor" and to 

 represent the Nation in all transactions with tlie whit(>s. Se\-en chiefs 

 were selected to visit England, where, in the palace at Whitehail, 

 they solemnly renewed the treaty, acknowledging the so\-ereignty of 

 England and binding themselves to have no trade or alliance with any 

 other nation, not to allow any other white people to settle among 

 them, and to deliver up any fugitive slaves who might seek refuge 

 with them. To contirm their words they delivered a "crown", five 

 eagle-tails, and four scalps, which they had brought with them. In 

 return they rec(dved the usual glittering pi-omises of love and per- 

 petual friendship, together with a substantial quantity of guns, ainnm- 

 nition. and red paint. The treaty being concluded in September, 



' Board of Trade report, !7'J1. North Carolina Colonial RofOrds. ii, p. 422. 1*86. 

 2 Pickett, H. A., Historj- of Alabama, pp. 234, 280, 288; reprint. Sheffield, 1896. 

 » For notice, see the glossary. 



