1

Knoxville May 31^th 1798

Sir,

In obedience to your Instructions to me of the 12^th Instant, I immedi=
ately proceeded to the Cherokee Nation by way of South West Point to execute
the same as far as was in my power and returned to this place yester=
day by way of Tellico Blockhouse - The Towns I visited were Hiwassa,
[Chestooee? (Chestatee)], Shoemach, Estanaula and Amuchcha where there was a
general Ball Play at which were present the principal Chiefs of the Nation
namely John Watts, Bloody Fellow, Dick Justice, Glass, Tauloutiska,
Cabin, Chulcoahor Creek Linguister, Kittagiskes, the Jobbers'son,
the Badger, the Standing Turkey, James Vann and other Chiefs,
and a great majority of the most influential Warriors, making in
the whole about 750- The Chiefs of the most note who were not
there, were the Little Turkey and Double-Head - My ostensible
business was the transaction of my own private business as was
understood by your Excellency before my departure, tho I kept con=
stantly in view the object of your Instructions, and did what
ever was in my power in an informal or indirect way to forward
the objects of the approaching Treaty, to wit, to induce the Indians
to attend the call or invitation of the Commissioners of the United
States to a Treaty and to sell a part of their Lands for a valuable
Consideration which I presumed would be offered to them - After I left
South West Point the first Indian House I arrived at was Arthur
Coody's one of the Interpreters with whom I stayed one day, and
found him well disposed, and prefered the Points as the Place for the
Treaty - The next day I saw Tuskegatahee, The woman Holder
and the Hare Liped Tarrapin Chiefs of the second order, and about
thirty Warriors, I had much free conversation with them, and they
appeared well disposed to the objects of the Treaty - At the Shoe=
mach I saw and conversed with Clem Vann a white Trader, two
Fallings half breeds who spoke english and young men of pretty
good Information, they said a number of Chiefs, not as a pubic
council, had consulted together at Estanaula on their return from
Tellico when the Nation received the annuity, where it was agreed
[illegible]] Treaty should be held at Estanaula - James Vann a half
breed lives near this Town, who from his wealth and extensiveness of
his Trades, together with his activity and ability has become a leading
character, and is daily growing into Consequence and Importance
his Nation - I was at his House three days, during which time se=
(ver)al Chiefs and Warriors visited him, Rum was given out freely and
which he himself drink freely - I embraced the occasion to collect
[his?] sentiments, he was much opposed to the Treaty being held at
Tellico