Sir
On the 20th Inftant M. Elliot came into the fort, and it seems that matters goes on very bad by the Oppinion the Indians have Consived of us so Suddenly, on Account of Jellousy for he want of the Ammunition, on Such a criticall Juncture of time, not only war, but they cant go out and kill a bit of meat for their family’s, that in Short they imagine we want oly a Large quantity of Privifsions and Ammunition in the fort, and then a body of men will come up and od what we pleafe with them, as we Deprive them from Ammunition and every thing else, after So many promifses to them, M. Elliot acquainted me that the next day there was to do a meeting at his houfe of Several headmen on this very Account, and that he thought they would not let him go to Charles Town, except Some few of them Should go with him, in order to know the Refon why they were not provided with thofe Necefsary’s that they want, I told him to bring them here, and I should be glad to Redrefs their greviances and if any of them would go to Charles Town with him that I would be glad, and Shall write to the Governour in their favour, and that ehy will be convinced in a Little time, that they are now settling a Trade on a proper footing for this Nation, and that I told them no Lyes, he Said he would propofe what I Said to them, and do what he could to bring them, M. Elliot wanted me to agree and pafs my word to him for a Certain Quaantity of Ammunition. That he would bring up with him for this Nation, and that the Country Should make good his Lofses for trusting it to the Indians, I told him that I coud not make no Such agreement for the Province, but that I would write to your Excellency about it, and to make afsure your Excellency that it Ammuinition & other Necefsary’s does not come up out of hard for them, it will Occasion a great deal of Disturbance, and am uncertain wether Some of them will wait till then, for when they are once Disappointed they grow Disafected and indeferent about anything, many of htem have Said allready that it is as well, that all the white peole Should go together, as they are kept from Ammunition, Should we Loose this Nation of Indians, we will loose the beft feather in our Cap’s, that Same evenign I was informed that a Runner was come to great Tellicoe, a fellow called the thigh a Cherokee, but allways amongft the Savannah’s were in their way to this Nation, that he had been Dispatched from tehm, they being at the middle ground, to ask Leave to be premitted to come into their naiton and tarry a few days, in there way to the Northward, that though the white people had killed Some of them, they would not moleft none of hem, that they are coming in a friendly manner, perhaps, it may be So as they are so much harrafsed every were, but they Shall not be trusted , for I will take all the meafur’s I can, to prevent their doing any Micheif, as Elliot goes down Shall write to Leiut. Howorth at Theowohee, On the hearing of it, I Sent that Same Evening to the Little Carpenter to be the next morning pretty early with me, He readyly came and told me that he had heard the Same, but as it was only a flying Report, it could not be well Depended upon, but that he would be with me again in two days,
Yesterday according to appointment the Six greatest men of the nation came into the fort with M. John Elliot, (Mattters were laid on the Carpett, and after many arguments, Some of them Say’d they never would beieve that traders nor goods would come, orthers Sayd that the Creeks does Laught at em for being not Supplyed with them as they are them Selves, it was agreed at Last, to put an end to a great Deal of talk by this conclution that they Should writ a letter them Selves to y Excellency which Same goes inclosed,
before they parted I Requested of them to let me know how it was about the Savannahs, that I heard where coming to great Tellicoe, Old Hop & the Small Pox Conjurer of Setticoe, afsured me that their was only the fellow called the Thigh that ws come in, and acquainted the Tellicoe people that Savannah Tom had brought french John that Some of the Tellicoe People were gone to meet him & bring him in, & that Savannah Tom was to do back again, that is all what they new about it Old Hop Says that french. John is his own Slave, and that the fellow was uneasy to be away so Long from hm, I think him to be a very unfit perfon to be here therefore proper meafures Shall be taken about him. They Defered about Sending the price of the Land till another time, I am Sir with the greateft of Respect.
Your Excellency most Humble
& obedient Servant
Ray Demere