The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-04-01
THE STORY.

THE STORY.
Once upon time it came to pass
that a certain tribe, strong and fierce
cot possession of valuable part ot
the land, OF rather water, belonging tc
the royal and sturdy subjects of King
Beniie. This tribe, some Of them at
least, came from great distance. AT
first, they were mild and sweet tenn
pered and their words and acts show
ed them to be very harmless. When
they first came, Benjie was not King:
but the country was ruled by certain
tyrants, known as Ringmen. 1t was
in the beginning of their reign that
this strange tribe, who called them
selves Coosaws, after their manner OF
speaking, began to show their power.
They went to the Kings banquet halls
and council chambers, and finally by
fair words and much talk got permis-
sion to pitch their tents on the banks
of fair and lovely stream which they
called the Coosaw, after their own
name. There they lived in peace and
paid tribute to the Ringmen and grew
stronger every year. They built
themselves great houses and vessels
and formidable engines. They said
to various smaller tribes in the vlcln-
ity: "You keep away from the wa
tiers of the Coosaw. We have grant
from the mighty King of the Conga-
zee which gives us the exclusive right
to this stream and all its belongings
and appurtenances.
After long time of covetous look
ing on and longing for the rich treas
ures in the bottom Of the Coosaw, the
smaller tribes united their forces and
hired learned men, skilled in the law,
to help them supplant the Coosaws.
They essayed to accomplish by strate-
gy and chicanery that which they
coald not do by force. Their persua-
siise arts and bamboozling had no in
huence on the dynasty OF the Ring
men, who declared that they had made
a fair trade with the Coosaws, and If
a bad one they must stick the closer
to it. AL their efforts were futile un-
til the dynasty of the Ringmen was
deposea by a new man, known as
King Benjie. The people rose up as
one man and said: ''We are very
tired of paying tribute to the pulled
up Ringsters and Bloated Boosters,
and we will have none but Benjie to
rule over us" When he was crowned
on high place in the presence of all
the people, these smaller tribes said:
"Aha. now we've got EN-. Times up
with The coosaws. They will have to
go and We will take their fair and de-
sirable territory"
They then began in the most artful
way, with the assistance of learned
men, to- cigeumyent the Coosaws.
They soon gained over King Benjie TO
their side. OF course his followers
and servants thought just as Benjie
did. Then the allied tribes hied them
selves to the Kings council chamber
and there things were fixed, and some
people were, no doubt, fixed, and a
decree, signed by the King and sealed
with his great seal, was sent out to all
the provinces of the realm, saying,
that on a certain day OF a certain
month, King Benjie and his chief
counsellor and loya! servant Sancho
Yiay, with other trusty and valiant
hegemen, would proceed to the waters
of tie Cocsaw, and there parcel out
tie coveted territory amongst the
smaller tribes who had waited so long
aud so patiently for the goodly treas
ures beneath the placid waters.
When the time came for the King
aud his loyal followers to carry out
the proclamation, there was much
talk as to the manner OF proceeding
in this difficult and dangerous busi-
ness. Itwas strange country, and
they did not. know the approaches.
After talking nearly all night, King
Beniie said to Sancho Way: s'You
take certain valiant men and go speed
ilysand secretly to the great waters
near the lands Of the Coosaws. There
you will be joined by the leaders of
the allied tribes. The learned men
in the law will also be there. While
they are near you may be certain
there is no danger to your bodies.
With 8 faithful servant or two will
go another way and surprise the
Coosaws in the rear. Go, and tarry
not" With this the council broke up,
and the gallant Way hied him forth
on his perilors journey.
On their arrival at the land of the
Coosaws they found the chiefs and
wise counsellors of the allied tribes
with their spears sharpened and their
war paint on. A council was held.
The situation was discussed. Watch
men were sent out to look for the