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Chapter XXIII
The colonies of France and England encroach more and more on the red men.
the Tuscaroras changed their dwelling-place before
the treaty of
Utrecht was completed.
Their chiefs had become indignant at the encroachments of the proprietaries of
Carolina, who had assigned their lands to unhappy German fugitives from the banks of the Neckar
and the
Rhine.
De Graffenried, who had undertaken the establishment of the exiles, accompanied by
Lawson, the
surveyor-general for the northern province, in September of 1711, ascended the
Neuse River in a
boat, to discover how far it was navigable, and through what kind of country it flowed.
Seized by a party of sixty well-armed
Indians, both were compelled to travel all night long, till they reached a village of the Tuscaroras, and were delivered up to its chief.
Before a numerous council of the principal men from various towns of the tribe, complaint was made of the conduct of the
English in
Carolina, and especially of the severity of
Lawson.
He who, with his compass and chain, had marked their territory into lots for settlers, was reproved as ‘the man who sold their land.’
After a discussion of two days, the death of the prisoners was decreed.
The large fire was kindled; the ring was drawn round the victims, and strown with flowers.
On the morning appointed for the execution, a council
