An Historical Account of the Rise and Progress of the Colonies of South Carolina and Georgia, vol 2 | Page 9

past it, called it Savanna. A small fort was erected on the banks of it as
a place of refuge, and some guns were mounted on it for the defence of
the colony. The people were set to work in felling trees and building
huts for themselves, and Oglethorpe animated and encouraged them, by
exposing himself to all the hardships which the poor objects of his
compassion endured. He formed them into a company of militia,
appointed officers from among themselves, and furnished them with
arms and ammunition. To shew the Indians how expert they were at the
use of arms, he frequently exercised them; and as they had been trained
beforehand by the serjeants of the guards in London, they performed
their various parts in a manner little inferior to regular troops.
[Sidenote] He treats with Indians for a share of their lands.
Having thus put his colony in as good a situation as possible, the next
object of his attention was to treat with the Indians for a share of their
possessions. The principal tribes that at this time occupied the territory
were the Upper and Lower Creeks; the former were numerous and
strong, the latter, by diseases and war, had been reduced to a smaller
number: both tribes together were computed to amount to about
twenty-five thousand, men, women and children. Those Indians,
according to a treaty formerly made with Governor Nicolson, laid claim
to the lands lying south-west of Savanna river, and, to procure their
friendship for this infant colony, was an object of the highest
consequence. But as the tribe of Indians settled at Yamacraw was
inconsiderable, Oglethorpe judged it necessary to have the other tribes
also to join with them in the treaty. To accomplish this union he found
an Indian woman named Mary, who had married a trader from Carolina,
and who could speak both the English and Creek languages; and
perceiving that she had great influence among Indians, and might be
made useful as an interpreter in forming treaties of alliance with them;
he therefore first purchased her friendship with presents, and afterwards
settled an hundred pounds yearly on her, as a reward for her services.

By her assistance he summoned a general meeting of the chiefs, to hold
a congress with him at Savanna, in order to procure their consent to the
peaceable settlement of his colony. At this congress fifty chieftains
were present, when Oglethorpe represented to them the great power,
wisdom and wealth of the English nation, and the many advantages that
would accrue to Indians in general from a connection and friendship
with them; and as they had plenty of lands, he hoped they would freely
resign a share of them to his people, who were come for their benefit
and instruction to settle among them. After having distributed some
presents, which must always attend every proposal of friendship and
peace, an agreement was made, and then Tomochichi, in name of the
Creek warriors, addressed him in the following manner: "Here is a little
present, and, giving him a buffaloe's skin, adorned on the inside with
the head and feathers of an eagle, desired him to accept it, because the
eagle was an emblem of speed, and the buffalo of strength. He told him,
that the English were as swift as the bird and as strong as the beast,
since, like the former, they flew over vast seas to the uttermost parts of
the earth; and, like the latter, they were so strong that nothing could
withstand them. He said, the feathers of the eagle were soft, and
signified love; the buffalo's skin was warm, and signified protection;
and therefore he hoped the English would love and protect their little
families." Oglethorpe accordingly accepted the present, and after
having concluded this treaty limited by the nature of their government,
was nevertheless great, as they always directed the public councils in
all affairs relative to peace and war. It is true their young men, fond of
fame and glory from warlike exploits, and rejoicing in opportunities of
distinguishing themselves, will now and then, in contempt to the power
of their old leaders, break out in scalping parties. To moderate and
restrain the fiery passions of the young men, the sages find generally
the greatest difficulties, especially as these passions are often roused by
gross frauds and impositions. Unprincipled and avaricious traders
sometimes resided among them, who, that they might the more easily
cheat them, first filled the savages drunk, and then took all manner of
advantages of them in the course of traffic. When the Indian recovered
from his fit of drunkenness, and finding himself robbed of his treasures,
for procuring which he had perhaps hunted a whole year, he is filled
with fury, and breathes vengeance and resentment. No