| OCR Text |
Show 124 lion of all their skill and industry to the cultivation of t1Jc soil, and in the prcscn•ation of tho most friendly relations among the Indians. These, unhappily, were not objects sufficiently ap~ prcciatcd by Laudonnicro. Jlis first error was tlmt which arose from tho univcrsal]J:J.SSion of his time. lie had seen tho precious metals of tho country-wedges of sih·cr and scraps of goldwhich declared the aLundancc of its treasures, and aroused all his par-sions for its acquisition. llis whole energies were accordingly directed to the most delusive researches. ITo had scarcely built his fortress before he sent off 11is exploring expeditions. "I would not lose a minute of an hour," is his language," witi10ut imploying the same in some t•t.rluou~ exercise," and therefore he despatches his Lieutenant, Ottigny, in seeking for 'J'hiruogoa; that king, hostile to the Paracoussi Satouriova1 whom he has pledged himself to the latter to mu'kc war upon. Satouriova gi,·cs the lieutenant a couple of warriors as guides, who were delighted nt the mission,-" seeming to goo as unto a wedding, so desirous they were to fight with their enemies." But Ottigny, whose real purpose is to obtain the gold of the people of Tbimogoa, does not indulge his warlike guides in their desires. · They encounter some of the people whom they seek, and make inquiries after the treasure. This is promised them hereafter. With the report of a. king named Mayrra, who lives farther up the river, and abounds in gold and silver, Ottigny returns to La. Caroline. Other adventurers follow, other kioga and chiefs arc brought to the knowledge of our Frenel1men. Plates of gold and sil\'er are procured; large bars of tho latter metal ; and the lures arc quite l'infficicnt to keep the colonists employed in the one pursuit to the complete neglect of every other. Instead of planting, they rely for their provision& wholly JUSTORIC.AL SUMMARY. 125 upon the Indians; and, for eighteceu months, the lieutenants of Lo.udonniere penetrated the forests in every possible direction. They appear not only to have explored the interior of Florida, Georgia nod South Carolina, but to have prosecuted their insane search even to the A pnlachian mountains. It is not improbable that our antiquarians frequently stumble upon the proofs of their progress, which they fondly ascribe to a much earlier period. We preserve, as subjects of proper comparison with aboriginal words still in usc, nnd by which localities may yet be identified, the names of many of the chiefs with whom our Frenchmen maintained communion. From the Indians of King Mollova, Captain Vasseur obtains five or six pounds of silver. Mollova is the subject of a greater prince, named Olat.a Ovae Utina. The tributaries of this great chief are numerous ;Cadecha, Chilili, Eclavou, Enacappe, Cnlany, Anacharaqua., Omittaqua, Acquera, 1\foquoso, and many others. Satouriova is the chief sovereign along the 'vaters of the May. He too hath numerous tributaries. lie is the great rival monarch of Olata Utina. Potanou is one of his chiefs, " a mo.nnc cruel in wMro, but pitiful in the execution of his furie. " He usually took his prisoners to mercy, branding them upon the nrm, and setting them free. Onatheaqua and Uostaqua are great chiefs, abounding in riches, that d,ve\1 ncar the mountains. According to the tales of tho Indians of May River, the warriors of Olat..a. Utina u armed their breasts, nrmcs, thighes, legs and foreheads with large plates of gold and silver." Molona is a chief of the river of May, ncar the Frenchmen, and hostile also to the Thimogoans. Malic:i is nnother of these chiefs of Sal.<luriova, eager, like all the rest, to shed th~ blood of tho hostile people whom the Frenchmen ha\'e unwisely promised to destroy. In order to win |
