testimony of his mission whatever might happen. The Cherokee
had broken the road which had been given to their fathers at the begin-
ningof the world. They hud taken the white man's clothes and trinkets.
they had beds and tables and mills; some even had hooks and cats. All
this was had, and because of it their gods were angry and the game
was leaving their country. If they would live and be happy as before
they must put off the white man's dress, throw away his mills and
looms, kill their cats, put on paint and buckskin, and be Indians again;
otherwise swift destruction would come upon them.
His speech appealed strongly to the people, who cried out in great
excitement that his talk was good. Of all those present only Major
Ridge, a principal child', had thecourage to stand up and oppose it,
warning his hearers that such talk would inevitably lead to war with
the United States, which would end in their own destruction. The
maddened followers of the prophet sprang upon Ridge and would have
killed him hut for the interposition of friends. As it was. he was thrown
down and narrowly escaped with his life, while one of his defender-
was stabbed by his side.
The prophet had threatened after a certain time to invoke a terrible
storm, which should destroy all hut the true believers, who were
exhorted to gather for safety on one of the high peaks of the Great
Smoky mountains. In full faith they abandoned their bees, their
orchards, their slaves, and everything that had come to them from the
white man. and took up their toilsome march for