2

Tellico, and in favor of Estanaula, his opposition to Tellico appear=
ed to proceed from an opposition to the public Store at that Place
which he considered a great injury to his Nation, he would prefer
the Point or any other place to Tellico, he is opposed to a large sale
of land, but appeared disposed to sell a lesser quantity to accom=
modate Citizens of the United States resident in Tennessee - I repeat
that he is a man of Consequence and of rising Importance - From
James Vann's I proceeded with him to the Ball Play at Amuchcha
forty miles from his House, on our way we fell in with a large
Party of the Ball Players of the upper Towns, and stayed with them
one Night, and next day I left them, and passing the Ball-Play-Ground
I joined the Players of the Lower Towns and returned with them to the
Play - The Ball-Play took place on Friday he 25^th Instant - As
I have before observed the principal Chiefs whose names I have
before given and others, and a great majority of the most influential
warriors were at it - This afforded a very good opportunity for the
objects of my Mission as before stated, and I improved it to the best
of my abilities - The Chiefs however notwithstanding my efforts to
draw forth their sentiments appeared very tacit and reserved,
which I attributed to a report in Circulation among the Warriors
that they (the Chiefs) where to be bribed to sell lands, Watts to my
suggestions as to the little value of the lands adjacent to the white
Settlements said that if the young Warriors wanted to hunt Ra[cut off]
they might be opposed to the sale of these lands, he appeared very
friendly and all his Conduct and Conversation - Late in the day [cut off]
the Ball-Play M^r Dinsmore appeared, collected the Chiefs and in=
formed them, he had the day before received a dispatch from [the]
Commissioners at Knoxville, directing him to inquire of them at
what Time it would be convenient for them and the warriors to
meet the Commissioners in Treaty - The Chiefs answered on the
14^th June and added as the Commissioners had refered [sic] the
time to them, that they considered they had a right to fix the place
and named Estanaula as the place - To this M^r Dinsmore
replied that his business as Agent was distinct from the [cut off]
of the Commissioners, he had no right to agree to the place [and]
offered reasons against Estanaula, the Chiefs appeared determin=
ed and said they suppsed land was the object, Dinsmoore sa
it was - The Chiefs again said the object was with the Commi=
sioners, it was to buy their lands and when they (the Chiefs)
Business in view they never thought any distance too far to effe
they supposed the Commissioners would come there - M^r Dins
concluded by remarking that he was to see the Commissioners