Bringier on the Region of the Mississippi, &/-c. 43 



a blanket, and equally divided; and then addressing the 

 Chekessas, now, says he, when this tree falls it will give 

 the signal of the engagement : therefore be ready. He 

 then ordered a small tree to be cut by one of his warriors. 

 The issue of the action was, the total destruction of the 

 Chekessas, and only five killed on his side. They spared 

 one of the Chekessas, whom Kaykay Watonica sent home 

 free, to give the news to the Chekessas, who soon after made 

 peace,* giving up altogether, their pretensions on the west 

 of the Mississippi. 



The Cherokees. 



I now return to the Cherokees, and their green corn 

 dance. I said that a murderer must return within a certain 

 period, otherwise the life of his neai'est friend must pay for 

 that of the murderer; for that reason it is very common to 

 see a brother kill his full brother who has become an assas- 

 sin, not with a spirit of justice, but for self-preservation. 

 This is savage philosophy : they say one must die in any 

 event ; and if the murderer is a coward, it is soon over with 

 him, but a famed warrior can kill as many as he pleases 

 with impunity. 



Indian Cruelty. 



One Catecantiskey (the dirt-seller or merchant of earth) 

 was boasting one day, in my presence, that he had killed 

 nine or ten Cherokees, and had redeemed himself with 



^ The last engagement which took place between the Quawpaws and the 

 Chekessas, otters another sinjjiilarity. The Chekessas, seeing that they 

 could gain nothing against the Quawpaws, sent a calumet, (this is a parli 

 laentary with tobacco and pipe,) to make peace with the enemy ; during 

 this lime a party of discontented Indians, about thirty in number, started 

 to make a last coup de main, but unfortunately they fell in with Kaykay 

 Walonica, with one hundred men and more. As they took to their heels., 

 Kaykay Watonica hailed them to stop, and not to show themselves such 

 cowards ; the Chekessas replied, he was too strong for them : you are right 

 said Kaykav Watonica ; but come and I will give you a fair chance : here 

 pick out two of my worst men, and oppose them with two of your best, iu 

 single combat ; if your's are victorious, you may hunt on this side of the 

 Mississippi ; but if mine are victorious, you must come no more and disturb 

 my game. The challenge was accepted. The contest was warm, but Kay- 

 kay Watonica was still more fortunate than the Romans, for he lost none of 

 the modern Horatii, and was presented with both of the now Curiatii's 

 dcalps. 



