a high hill with a roadway
to the top. 3 From a close study of the narrative it appears that this
"hill" was ther than the greal Nacoochee mound, in White
county, Georgia, a few miles northwest of the present Clarkesville.'
It was within the Cherokee territory, and the town was probably a
settlement of thai tribe. From here De Soto senl runners ahead to
notify the chief of ( !hiaha of his approach, in order that sufficienl corn
might he ready mi his arrival.
Leaving < ruaxule, they proceeded down the river, w hich we identify
with the Chattahoochee, and in two days arrived at Canasoga, or Cana-
sagua, a frontier town of the Cherokee. As they neared the town
the\ were met i>\ the Indians, bearing baskets of "mulberries," 5 more
probably the delicious service-berry of the southernmountains, which
ripens in early summer, while the mulberry matures later.
From here they continued down the river, which grew constantly
larger, through an uninhabited country which formed the disputed
territory between the Cherokee and the Creeks. About five days after
leaving Canasagua they were met by messengers, who escorted them
to ( 'hiaha. the first town of the province of Coca. De Soto had crossed
the state of Georgia, leaving the Cherokee country behind him. ami
was now an lone- the Lower ( 'reeks, in the neighborhood of the present
Columbus, Georgia. 6 With his subsequent wanderings after crossing
the Chattahoochee into Alabama and beyond we need not concern
ourselves (8).
While resting at Chiaha De Soto met with a chief who confirmed
what the Spaniards had heard before concerning mines in theproi ince
of Chisca, saying that there was there