NORTH AMERICA. 
53 
through ancient Indian fields, which are called the 
Oakmulge fields : they are the rich lowlands of the 
river. On the heights of thefe low grounds are yet 
vifible monuments, or traces, of an ancient town, 
fuch as artificial mounts or terraces, fquares and 
banks, encircling considerable areas. Their old 
fields and planting land extend up and down the ri- 
ver, fifteen or twenty miles from this fite. 
If we are to give credit to the account the Creeks 
give of themfelves, this place is remarkable for being 
the firft town or fettlement, when they fat down (as 
they term it) or eftablimed themfelves, after their 
emigration from the weft, beyond the MifTiflippi, 
their original native country. On this long jour- 
ney they fuffered great and innumerable difficulties, 
encountering and vanquifhing numerous and valiant 
tribes of Indians, who oppofed and retarded their 
march. Having crofTed the river, (till pufhing eaft- 
ward, they were obliged to make a fland, and for- 
tify themfelves in this place, as their only remain- 
ing hope, being to the lafl degree perfecuted and 
weakened by their furrounding foes. Having 
formed for themfelves this retreat, and driven oft 
the inhabitants by degrees, they recovered their 
fpirits, and again faced their enemies, when they 
came off victorious in a memorable and deciflve bat- 
tle. They afterwards gradually fubdued their fur- 
roundkig enemies, ftrcngthening themfelves by tak- 
ing into confederacy the vanquished tribes. 
And they fay, alfo, that about this period the 
Englifh were eitablifhing the colony of Carolina - y 
and the Creeks, underftanding that they were a 
powerful, warlike people, fent deputies to Charlef- 
ton, their capital, offering them their friendfhip and 
alliance, which was accepted, and, in cqnfequence 
thereof. 
