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are certainly the best entitled to, but as these rewards are intended
and offered chiefly to the Indians the case is very different for
besides that this is truly and literally interfering (which I have
reason to believe the several Governors have been cautioned not to
do) with the management of the King's two Superintendents thro'
whose hands all Presents and Rewards whatever to the Indians in
his Alliance ought to pass, it is encouraging to the utmost private
Scalping whereby the most innocent and helpless Persons even
Women and Children are properly murdered without the least Benefit
accruing by it, Actions becoming only the greatest Savages and
unworthy of any Christian People to reward. I am well assured
Lord Loudoun detests that Practice and that the French General
Moncalm in Canada does the same. S.r William Johnson gives no
reward at all, in particular for Scalps by name. The Warriours fitted
out by him to War deliver to him at their return all that they bring
back, and he afterwards presents them to the Relations of such as
lose their lives in Battle. But to speak upon this Subject on the foot-
ing of Interest, large Publick Rewards for Scalps given by Provincial
Laws to Indians are attended with very pernicious Consequences
to his Majestys Service, for they are so many temptations to some
Indians to kill others that are our Friends, that is when they think
they have a good opportunity to kill such single Indians that are
found alone, two fresh instances of this have presented themselves
to me. A Single Chicasaw one of our best Friends was coming up
this way with the Cherokees, was killed by them when a Sleep, and a
Single Creek in their Company had liked to have shared the same
fate, As no cause of Quarrel is pretended the motive could only be
their Scalps. Those Cherokees carried the Chicasaws scalp with
them out to War towards Fort Du Quesne and brought it back
again, and it is now hanging exposed in Publick before my eyes
made into two Scalps among the Scalps of their Enemies tho' they
know not that I know it. The Wife of the Chicasaw who made her
escape was sent by water from Williamsburgh to Charles Town to
be kept there till my arrival in Order to prevent the ill Consequences
of the Revenge she was bent upon exciting not only among the
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L. H. J.
Liber No. 49
Dec. 6
p. 131
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Chicasaws, but among their Friends the Catawbaes and I detain
the Creek in this Country by Art to prevent the like ill Consequences
of the Revenge he might excite in the Creek Nation, From so slight
a Foundation a War might be kindled between four Nations of
Indians at present in Friendship with us which it is our greatest
Interest to preserve in friendship also with each other. A Meherrin
Indian a very clever fellow who lives at the Tuskeraro Town in
North Carolina is now here, I have discovered that the Cherokees
have fixed their Eyes on him and determined to kill him for his
Scalp so that I am obliged to take measures to have him guarded
safe home, Should he be killed there would be another National
Quarrel with the Tuskeroras.
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p. 132
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