piques by the French, and fpades by us. ways been on the French cards, thereby 1 to perfons of quality, efquires, efcuira, a ful and friendly, and they move with DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTER, CUSTOMS, AND PER SONS, OF THE AMERICAN ABORIGINES. THE males of the Cherokees, Mufcogulges, Siminoles, Chicafaws, Chactaws, and confederate tribes of the Creeks, are tall, erect, and moderately robuft; their limbs well-fhaped, to as generally to form a perfect human figure; their features regular, and countenance open, dignified and placid; yet the forehead and brow fo formed, as to Arike you inftantly with heroifm and bravery; the eye though rather fmall, yet active and full of fire; the iris always black, and the nofe commonly inclining to the aqualine. Their countenan and actions exhibit an air of magnanimity, fuperiority, and independence. Their complexion, of a reddish brown or copper colour; their hair long, lank, coarfe, and black as a raven, and reflecting the like luftre at different expofures to the light. The women of the Cherokees, are tall, flender, erect, and of a delicate frame; their features formed with per fect fymmetry, their countenance cheer The Mufcogulge women, though re markably fhort of ftature, are well form ed; their vifage round, features regular and beautiful; the brow high and arched, the eye large, black, and languishing, ex preflive of modefty, diffidence, and bath fulness; thefe charms are their defenfive and offenfive weapons, and they know very well how to play them off, and der cover of thefe alluring graces, are concealed the most fubtile artifice; the are however loving and affectionate: they are, I believe, the fmalleft race of wo men yet known, feldom above five ke high, and I believe the greater number never arrive to that ftature; their hands and feet not larger than thofe of Ear peans of nine or ten years of the men are of gigantic ftature, a fall fize larger than thofe of European many of them above fix feet, and few under that, or five feet eight or ten inches Their complexion much darker than say of the tribes to the north of them I have age: Len. This defcription will, I believe, them of their friends and brothers the comprehend the Mufcogulges, their con- Cherokees. The Creeks nettled and infederates, the Chactaws, and I believe cenfed at this, a chief and warrior startthe Chicafaws, (though I have never ed up, and with an agitated and terrific feen their women) excepting however countenance, frowning menaces and diffome bands of Siminoles, Uches, and dain, fixed his eyes on the Cherokee Savannucas, who are rather taller and chiefs, and asked them what right they 1.nderer, and their complexion brighter- had to give away their lands; calling The Cherokees are yet taller and more them old women, and faying they had robuit than the Mufcogulges, and by far long ago obliged them to wear the pettithe largest race of meu I have feen; their coat; a molt humiliating and degrading complexions brighter, and fomewhat of ftroke, in the prefence of the chiefs of the the olive caft, efpecially the adults; and whole Mufcogulge confederacy, of the fome of their young women are nearly Chicafaws, principal men and citizens a fair and blooming as European wo- of Georgia, Carolina, and Virginia, men. The Cherokees in their difpofitions and manners are grave and steady; dignified and circumfpect in their deportment; rather flow and referved in conFerfation; yet frank, cheerful, and humane; tenacious of the liberties and natural rights of man; fecret, deliberate, and determined in their councils; honeft, juft, and liberal, and ready always to facrifice every pleafure and gratification, even their blood, and life itfelf, to defod their territory, and maintain their ghts. They do homage to the Mufogulges with reluctance, and are impaient under that galling yoke. I was itnefs to a molt humiliating lafh, which hey paffively received from their red nafters, at the great congrefs and treaty f Augufta, when thefe people acceded with the Creeks, to the ceffion of the ew purchase, where were about three undred of the Creeks, a great part of whom were warriors, and about one undred Cherokees. Maryland, and Pennfylvania, and in the face of their own chiefs and citizens, and amidit the laughs and jeers of the affembly; efpecially the young men of Virginia, their old enemies and dreaded neighbours: but humiliating as it really was, they were obliged to bear the ftigma paflively, and even without a reply. And moreover, thefe arrogant bravoes and ufurpers carried their pride and importance to fuch lengths, as even to threaten to diffolve the congrefs and return home, unless the Georgians confented to annul the fecret treaty with the Cherokees, and receive that territory immediately from them, as acknowledging their exclufive right of alienation; which was complied with, though violently extorted from the Cherokees, contrary to right and fanction of treaties: fince the Savannah river, and its waters, were acknowledged to be the natural and just bounds of territory betwixt the Cherokees and Mufcogulges. The first day of convention opened The national character of the Mufcowith fettling the preliminaries, one ar- gulges, when confidered in a political cle of which was a demand on the part view, exhibits a portraiture of a great and the Georgians, to a territory lying on illuftrious hero. A proud, haughty, and be Tugilo, and claimed by them both, arrogant race of men; they are brave hich it feems the Cherokees had, pre- and valiant in war, ambitious of conqueft, ious to the opening of the congrefs, pri- reftlefs and perpetually exercifing their tely conveyed to the Georgians, un- arms, yet magnanimous and merciful to own to the Creeks, The Georgians a vanquished enemy, when he submits entioning this as a matter fettled, the and feeks their friendship and protection: ceks demanded in council, on what always uniting the vanquished tribes in undation they built that claim, faying confederacy with them; when they im ey had never ceded thefe lands. The mediately enjoy, unexceptionably, every eorgians answered, that they bought right of free citizens, and are from that moment moment united in one common band of the beatific moments of their fumbers brotherhood. They were never known they were furrounded, arrested, and car to exterminate a tribe, except the Yama- ried off by a pedatory band of Creek la fees, who would never fubmit on any dians; proud of the capture of fo rich terms, but fought it out to the laft, only prize, they hurry away into cruel but about forty or fifty of them efcaping at age the hapless youths, conducting br the last decifive battle; who threw them- by devious paths, through dreary fwang felves under the protection of the Spani- and boundless favannas, to the nation. ards at S: Auguftine. At that time the Indians were at According to their own account, which ous war with the Spaniards, fcarcely a I believe to be true, after their arrival bounds fet to the cruelties on either in this country, they joined in alliance in fhort, the miferable youths were co and perpetual amity with the British co- demned to be burned. lonifts of South Carolina and Georgia, But there were English traders which they never openly violated; but, these towas, who, learning the charaka on the contrary, purfued every ftep to of the captives, and expecting great ftrengthen the alliance; and their aged wards from the Spanish governor if the chiefs, to this day, fpeak of it with tears could deliver them, petition.ed the l of joy, and exult in that memorable dians on their behalf, expreffing the tranfaction, as one of the moft glorious wishes to obtain their rescue, offering events in the annals of their nation. great ranfom; acquainting them, at t As an inftance of their ideas of po- fame time, that they were young men litical impartial juftice, and homage to high rank, and one of them the gord the Supreme Being, as the high arbiter nor's fon. of human tranfactions, who alone claims Upon this, the headmen, or chiefs the right of taking away the life of man, the whole nation, were convened, am I beg leave to offer to the reader's con- after folemn and mature deliberation fideration, the following event, as I had they returned the traders their final a it from the mouth of a Spaniard, a re- fwer and determination, which was fpectable inhabitant of Eaft Florida. follows: The fon of the Spanish governor of Brothers and friends. We ha St Auguftine, together with two young been confidering upon this bufinefs co gentlemen, his friends and affeciates, con- cerning the captives-and that und ceived a defign of amufing themfelves in the eye and fear of the Great Spiri a party of fport, at hunting and fishing. You know that these people are our c Having provided themselves with a con enemies; they fave no lives of us venient bark, ammunition, fifhing tackle, men who fall in their power. You f &c. they fet fail, directing their courfe that the youth is the fon of the Span fouth, along the coaft, towards the point governor: we believe it; we are fo of Florida, putting into bays and rivers, he has fallen into our hands; but be as conveniency, and the profpect of game our enemy: the two young men invited them. The pleafing rural and friends) are equally our enemies; diverfified fcenes of the Florida coaft, are forry to fee them here; but imperceptibly allured them far to the know no difference in their flesh fouth, far beyond the Spanish fortified blood: they are equally our enemies post. Unfortunate youths! regardlefs we fave one we mult fave all three ; of the advice and injunctions of their pa- we cannot do it: the red men regu rents and friends, ftill purfuing the de- their blood to appease the spirits of lufive objects, they entered a harbour at flain relatives; they have entrusted evening, with a view of chafing the roe- with the guardianship of our laws buck, and hunting up the fturdy bear, rights; we cannot betray them. folacing themselves with delicious fruits, However we have a facred prefer and repofing under aromatic fhades; tion relative to this affair, which all when, alas! cruel unexpected event! in us to extend mercy to a certain degre = third is faved by lot; the Great Spirit llows us to put it to that decifion; he is no refpecter of perfons.' The lots were caft. The governor's fon was taken and burned. verfation, he confidently approaches the door of the first house he chooses, saying I am come;' the good man or woman replies, You are; 'tis well.' Imme diately victuals and drink are ready; he If we confider them with respect to eats and drinks a little, then fmokes totheir private character, or in a moral view, bacco, and converfes either of private hey muft, I think, claim our approba- matters, public talks, or the news of the ion, if we divest ourselves of prejudice town. He rifes and fays, I go!' the nd think freely.As moral men, they other anfwers, You do!' He then ertainly ftand in no need of European proceeds again, and fteps in at the next vilization. They are juft, honeft, liberal, and ofpitable to ftrangers; confiderate, lovg and affectionate to their wives and retions; fond of their children; indufious, frugal, temperate, preferving and haritable, and forbearing. I have been ecks and months amongst them in their was, and never obferved the leaft fign contention or wrangling: never faw inftance of an Indian beating his wife, even reproving her in anger. In this fe they fland as examples of reproof to le moft civilized nations, as not being fective in juftice, gratitude, and a good derftanding for indeed their wives erit their esteem, and the most gentle eatment; they being industrious, frugal, reful, loving and affectionate. The Mufcogulges are more volatile, rightly, and talkative than their northern eighbours, the Cherokees: and though a more distant from the white fettlements an any nation eaft of the Mifhflippi, or Thio, appear evidently to have made reater advances towards the refinments f true civilization, which cannot, in be leaft degree, be attributed to the good xamples of the white people. habitation he likes, or repairs to the public fquare, where are people always converfing by day, or dancing all night, or to fome more private affembly, as he likes; he needs no one to introduce him, any more than the black-bird or thrush, when he repairs to the fruitful groves, to regale on their luxuries, and entertain the fond female with evening fongs. It is aftonifhing, though a fact, as well as a fharp reproof to the white people, if they will allow themfelves liberty to reflect and form a juft eftimate, and I must own elevates thefe people to the first rank among mankind, that they have been able to refift the continual efforts of the complicated hoft of vices that have for ages over-run the nations of the old world, and fo contaminated their morals; yet more fo, fince fuch vaft armies of these evil fpirits have invaded this continent, and closely invefted them on all fides. Aftonishing indeed! when we behold the ill, immoral conduct of too many white people, who refide amongst them; notwithstanding which, it feems natural, eligible, and even eafy, for these fimple, illiterate people, to put in practice_thofe beautiful lectures delivered to us by the ancient philofophers, and recorded for our inftruction. Their internal police and family ecoemy at once engage the notice of Eupean travellers, and incontrovertibly I faw a young Indian in the nation, lice thefe people in an illuftrious point who, when prefent and beholding the of view their liberality, intimacy and fcenes of mad intemperance and folly Friendly intercourfe one with another, acted by the white men in the town, clapwithout any restraint of ceremonious for- ped his hand on his breast, and with a mality, as if they were even infenfible of the ufe or neceffity of affociating the fhons or affections of avarice, or ambition or coveteousness. A man goes forth on his business or Evocations; he calls in at another town; if he wants victuals, rest or focial con fmile, looked aloft as if ftruck with astonifhment, and wrapt in love and adoration to the Deity; as who fhould fay, O thou Great and Good Spirit! we are indeed fenfible of thy benignity and favour to us red men, in denying us the understanding of white men. We did дов not know before they came amongst us that mankind could become fo bafe, and fall fo below the dignity of their nature. Defend us from their manners, laws and power!' The Mufcogulges, with their confederates, the Chactaws, Chicafaws, and perhaps the Cherokees, eminently deferve the encomium of all nations, for their wisdom and virtue in refifting and even repelling the greateft, and even the common enemy of mankind, at leaft of moft of the European nations, I mean fpirituous liquors. The first and most cogent article in all their treaties with white people, is, that there fhall not be any kind of fpirituous liquors fold or brought into their towns; and traders are allowed but two kegs (five gallons each) which is fuppofed to be fufficient for a company, to ferve them on the road, and if any of this remains on their approaching the towns, they muft fpill it on the ground, or fecrete it on the road; for it must not come into the town. Bartram's Travels. NATURAL HISTORY OF THE PEARL. A PEARL is a hard, white, fhining body, ufually round: which is found in a teftaceous fish, refembling an oyfter. Pearis, though efteemed of the number of gems by our jewellers, and highly valued, not only at this time, but in all ages, proceed only from a diftemper in the creature that produces them, analogous to the bezoars, and other ftony concretions in feveral animals of other kinds. The fish in which thefe are ufually produced is the Eaft Indian pearl oyfter, as it is commonly called. Befides this fhell, there are many others, which are found to produce pearls; as the com. mon oyfter-fhell, the mufcle, and feveral other; the pearls of which are fome times valuable; but thofe of the true Indian berberi, or pearl oyfter, are in general fuperior to all. The fall or feed pearls, alfo called ounce pearls, from their being fold by the ounce, and not by tale, are the most numerous and common: but, as in diamonds, among the multitudes of fmall ones, there are fmaller numbers of larger found; fo in pearls, there are smaller and larger kinds; but, as they increase in fize, they are proportionally lefs frequent, and this is one reafon of their great price. they are hot lefs valued, as they ferve for ear-rings and other ornaments. Their colour ought to be a pure white, and that not a dead and lifeless, but a clear and brilliant one; they must be perfectly clear from any foulnefs, fpot, or ftain; and their furfaces must be naturally fmooth and glofly; for they bring their natural polish with them, which art is not able to improve. All pearls are formed of the matter of the shell, and confilt of a number of coats, fpread with perfect regularity one over another, in the manner of the feveral coats of an onion, or like the feveral ftrata of the ftones found in the bladders or ftomach of animals, only much thinner. In the Eaft Indies there are two fea fons for pearl fishing: The first is in March and April, and the laft in Auguft and September; and the more rain there falls in the year, the more plentiful are thefe fisheries. At the beginning of the feafon there are fometimes two bondred and fifty barks on the banks; the larger barks having two divers, and the fmailer, one. As foon as the barks ar rive at the place where the fith lie, and have caft anchor, each diver binds a ftone fix inches thick, and a foot long, The value is in proportion to their under his body; which ferves him as weight. Philip II. of Spain had a pearl ballaft, prevents his being driven away perfect in its hape and colour, and of by the motion of the water, and enables the fize of a pigeon's egg. The fineft, him to walk more fteadily under the and what is called the true fhape of the pearl, is a perfect round; but if pearls of a confiderable fize are of the fhape of a pear, as is not unfrequently the cafe, waves. They alfo tie another very heavy ftone to one foot, by which mears they are very fpeedily fent to the bottom of the fea; and, as the oysters are ufual |