The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1840-12-09

sionally rode, to visit the old cIliefain.-
In one of these visits, he found Neamathla
seated in his wigwam, in the centre Of the
village, surrounded by his warriors. The
governor had brought him some liquor as
a present, butt mounted quickly into his
brain and rendered him quite hostile and
belIigerent. The theme ever uppermost
in his mind, was the treaty with the
whites. " 1t was true" he said, "the
red men had made such treaty, but the
white men had not acted up to it. The
red men had received none Of the money
and cattle that had been promised them:
the treaty, therefore was at an end, and
they did not mean TO be bound byit."
Governor Duval calmly represented 10
him that the time appointed in the treaty
for the payment and delivery Of the mo.
ncy and the cattle had not yet arrived
This the old chieflian knew full well, but
he chose, for the moment. TO pretend ig-
norance. He kept on drinking and talk
ing, his voice growing louder and louder,
until it resounded all over the village
He held in his hand long knife, with
which he had been rasping tobacco: this
he kept flourishing backward and forward,
as he talked, by way Of giving effect to
his words. brandishing it at times within
an inch of the governors throat. He
concluded his trade by repeating, that
the country belonged to the red men, and
that sooner than give it up, his bones and
the bones of his people should bleach up.
on its soil.
Duval saw that the object Of all this
buster was 10 see whether he could be
intimidated. He kept his eye, therefore,
fixed steadily on the chief, and the mo-
mcnt he concluded with his menace, sei-
zed him by the bosom of his hunting shirt,
and clenching his other fist;
"I've heard what you have said," re-
piled he, "You have made treaty, yet
you say your bones shall bleach before
you comply with it. AS sure as there is a
sun in heaven, your bones shall bleach,
if you do not fulfil every article OF !hat
treaty? I'll let you know thatI l am first
here, and will sec that you DO your du-
,y." .'.,t
Upon this, the old chicflain threw HIM
self back, burst into fit of laughing,
and declared that all he had said was in q
joke. 4: The governor suspected. however,
that there was agrave meaning at the bot
tom IF this jocOlarity. ~ rsijs.
For two months every thing went on
smoothly: the Indians repaired daily to
the log cabin palace of the governor, at
Tallahassee, and appeared perfectly: con-
tented. All at once they ceased their
visits, and for three or four days not one
was to be seen. /, Gov. Duval began to ap-
prehend that some mischief was brewing.
On the evening of the fourth day, chief
named Yellow Hair, resolute, intelligent
fellow, who had always evinced on at
tachment for the Governor. entered his
cabin about twelve o'clock at hight, and
informed him that between four and five
hundred warriors, painted and decorated,
were assembled to hold a secre! war-talk
at Neamalhla's town, He had slipped off
20 give intelligence at the risk of his life,
and FASTENED back lest his absence should
be discovered. ,,.,a.
Governor Duval passed an anxious night
after this intelligence. He knew the ia
lent and daring character of Neamathla;
he recollected the threats he had thrown
out; he reflected that about eighty white
families wele scattered widely apart, orer
a great extent of country, might be swept
away at once, should the Indians as he
feared, determine to clear the county
That he did not exaggerate the dangers
Of the case, has been proved by The hor-
rid scenes Of Indian warfare that have
since dcsolated that devoted region. AZ
ter night Of sleepless cogitation, Duval
determined on q measure suited TO his
prompt and resolute character. Know
ing the admiration of the savages for per-
sonal courage, he determined. by sud.
den surprise, 10 endeavor to overawe and
check them. 1t was hazarding much, but
where so many lives were in jeopardy, ne
felt bound TO incur the hazard.
Accordingly, on the next morning, he
sal off OF horse back, attended merely BY
a white man, who had been reared among
the Seminoles, and understood their Ian
guage and manners, ard who acted as in
terpTeter. They struck into an Indian
trail, leading to Neamathla's village. Az
ter proceeding about half mile, Gov.
Duval informed the interpreter of-the OBJ
iect of his expedition. The latter, though
a bold man, paused and demonstrated
Tbo Indians amonp whom they were 90.