The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-07-15

public throus., uuaUIe paper. There
now resides near this place, (the Creek A
gsncy) an Indian countrymsn by the name
OF David Rowland, he is upwards Of 20
years OF age, was born on the frontiers fof
Wales,) and has resided in this country
ranging from the Spanish fold) Forte on
the Mississippi to the Oconee River in
Georgia, in his occupation Of Indian Ira
der, &c. for nearly 40 years, he related
that more than 80 years since, while lving e
III Pensacola there arrived at that place an
acquaintance Of his IA creole named La
Grade, also a trader) who had lately left
the Spanish Fort at Natchez, or the Chick.
saw Bluffs or the Mississippi, he forgets
which. La Grade stated that a few days
before his departure, there arrived from
the Upper Missouri six Indians whose CON-
plexions he describes as being much hgh.
ter, and language entirely different from
any of the ne;ghboring tribes. They were
ushercd into the presence of the comnan.
dant of the fort, Spaniard by the name Of
Folscif, when they displayed what appear.
ed 60 be an old iron weapon, but it was too
much corroded by rust to discover what
species of weapon il was. The Governor,
after fruitlessly endeavoring TO converse
with them through the means Of all the in
terpretcrs he could procure, as last re.
sort, caused it to be proclaimed to the gar.
rison that he would literally reward any
person who could interpret their language;
at length.a Weisb ,posnaa, the wife Of one
! Of the soldiers of the garrison, who proba.
bly, had overheard the Indians conversing
| among themselves, said TO Governor Folsch
that she Thought that she could make her
! self understood by them; but, in case Of
succeeding. demanded, as reward, the
discharge Of her husband frsm the Span
ish service. This demsnd being acceded
to, spe Immediately addressed the indians
ia Welsh. On hearing the sound Of her
voice, the old man states they fthe lndians)
burst into tears. The purport Of their con.
| versation Through the Welsh woman with
the Governor, was, that they were part Of
a tribe residing far up the great river; that
accounts had reached them, through other
tribes, thatiheye were scAiie people residing
on the Mississippi; and that having a ira
dition among them, that they were once
winter, and that the tribe had come from
great distance, these SIR resolved TO en-.
deavsr to find out the white people, think
ing they might find some one who could
speak their language. On being asked
how long they were on their Journey, they
replied, nearly FIVE nonths.-It is stated
by the old man, that the Indians st,d
few days at the Port-bHt being anxious to
return, the Governor loaded them with
presents, and suffered.them to depart, no,
however without first obtaining a promise
from them TO return the next year. As
no,hiug has since been heard from them il
was supposed that they either pcrished on
their Journey, s~ were cut off by the In
disns. Now, sir. this may be the coinage
Of the old mans brain, although one would
suppose hc would scarcely invent so cir.
cumstantial story on the instant, in on.
swer to the slmp'e question Of "whether
he had ever heard of Welsh colony in
this country be that as it may, it is at your
service for whst it is worth. With much
respect, sir, yours, &c.