It was from the Cherokees' chief town, Great Telliko, in the
Appalachians, that Adair explored the mountains. He describes the
pass through the chain which was used by the Indians and which,
from his outline of it, was probably the Cumberland Gap. He
relates many incidents of the struggle with the French--
manifestations even in this remote wilderness of the vast
conflict that was being waged for the New World by two imperial
nations of the Old.
Adair undertook, at the solicitation of Governor Glen of South
Carolina, the dangerous task of opening up trade with the
Choctaws; a tribe mustering upwards of five thousand warriors who
were wholly in the French interest. Their country lay in what is
now the State of Mississippi along the great river, some seven
hundred miles west and southwest of Charleston. After passing the
friendly Creek towns the trail led on for 150 miles through what
was practically the enemy's country. Adair, owing to what he
likes to term his "usual good fortune," reached the Choctaw
country safely and by his adroitness and substantial presents won
the friendship of the influential chief, Red Shoe, whom he found
in a receptive mood, owing to a French agent's breach of
hospitality involving Red Shoe's favorite wife. Adair thus
created a large proEnglish faction among the Choctaws, and his
success seriously impaired French prestige with all the
southwestern tribes.
Pages:
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76