the far north continued, in spite of all the
efforts of the colonial governments, until a formal treaty of peace was
brought about by the efforts of Sir William Johnson (12) in the same
year.
The hereditary war with the Creeks for possession id' upper Georgia
continued, with brief intervals of peace, or even alliance, until the
United States finally interfered as mediator between the rival claimants.
In L718 we find notice of a large Cherokee war party moving against
the Creek tow n of i loweta, on the lower ( lhattahoocbee, but dispersing
on learning of the presence there of some French and Spanish officers,
a- well a- some English traders, all bent on arranging an alliance with
the Creeks. The Creeks themselves had declared their willingness to
be :it peace with the English, while still determined to keephistorical traditions
MOONEY] FRENCH AND INDIAN" W'aI! 1754-6] 39
tains to the southwest, discovering and naming the celebrated Cumber-
land gap and passing on to the headwaters of Cumberland river.
Two years later he made a second exploration and penetrated to Ken-
tucky river, but on account of the Indian troubles no permanent
settlement was then attempted." This invasion of their territory
awakened a natural resentment of the native owners, and we rind
proof also in the Virginia records that the irresponsible borderers
seldom let pass an opportunity to kill and plunder any stray Indian
found in their neighborhood.
In 1755 the Cherokee were officially reported to number 2,590 war-
riors, as against probably twice that number previous to the great
smallpox epidemic sixteen years before. Their neighbors and ancient
enemies, the Catawba, had dwindled to 240 men. 2
Although war was not