encyclopedic biographical work in French, _Nouvelle Biographie
Générall_, I, 214, in an article on Adair, it is said that he published
an interesting work, entitled _History of the American Indians_,
“Boston, 1770, in—4^o; reimprime a Londres en 1775.” The editor,
intrigued by this statement, has made assiduous search and corresponded
widely to secure corroboration of the statement as to such Boston
edition. The particulars as to the format of the edition, differing
materially from that of the London publication, and Adair’s announced
intention (1769-70) to publish shortly seemed to lend support; but from
every source the reply of leading bibliographers has been: No such
edition is known, and, it is believed, there was none. This statement as
to an edition in 1770 and the prospectus of the book of 1750 have been,
to the writer, bibliographical ghosts, gliding in and out, exciting
curiosity, and leading to search and yet further search—only to end in
the bog of thwart. The like uncertainty attaches to more than one phase
of the career of Adair, the man.
It is clear that the manuscript of the book published at London in 1775
was revised after 1769-70. Events are narrated in the _History_ which
occurred in the period 1770-74.
Elias Boudinot, one time president of the Continental Congress and
author of _A Star in the West_, in that work states:
“The writer of these sheets has made great use of Mr. Adair’s history of
the Indians, which renders it necessary that something should be further
said of him. Sometime about the year 1774, or 1775, Mr. Adair came to
Elizabeth-Town, where the writer then lived, with his manuscript, and
applied to Mr. [Wm.] Livingston, afterwards governor of the state of
New-Jersey, a correct scholar, well known for his literary abilities and
knowledge of the belle-lettres, requesting him (Livingston) to correct
his manuscript for him. He brought ample recommendations, and gave a
good account of himself.
“Our political troubles then increasing, Mr. Adair, who was on his way
to Great-Britain, was advised not to risk being detained from his
voyage, till the work could be critically examined, but to get off as
soon as possible. He accordingly took passage in the first vessel that
was bound to England.
“As soon as the war was over, the writer sent to London and obtained a
copy of the work. After reading it with care, he strictly examined a
gentleman, then a member with him in Congress, of excellent character,
who had acted as our Indian agent to the southward, during the war,
(without letting him know the design) and from him found all the leading
facts mentioned herein, fully confirmed, by his own personal knowledge.”
The book upon its appearance in London in the early part of 1775
(doubtless after revision there by one competent to the task) was
reviewed quite generally in the leading British periodicals—favorably in
every instance but one. The _Scots Magazine_ of June, 1775, carried a
brief and unflattering review. The _London Magazine_ of May, 1775, said
that the book had long been needed, and that Adair was well qualified to
be the historian of the American Indians. “His remarks on the different
subjects he has discussed are sensible; and we think the work calculated
to convey information, entertainment and solid instruction to the public
in general.” This _Magazine_ had in previous issues published two long
extracts from the book, doubtless with the consent of the author.
Adair’s work has been cited widely as basic authority by the best
ethnologists and historians of America. A few of very numerous favorable
comments must suffice.
In Winsor’s _Narrative and Critical History of America_, V, 68: “A work
of great value, showing the relations of the English traders to the
Indians, and is of much importance to the student of Indian customs.”
Field’s _Indian Bibliography_, 3, gives a fair judgment, which, too,
expresses the near-consensus of those capable of passing judgment:
“Although it cannot be claimed for this author that he ranks first in
priority of time, his name is first on our alphabetical register of a
great number of writers whose imagination has been struck by the
astonishing coincidences of many particulars of the customs and
religious rites of some of the American Nations with those of the Jews.
The relations of an intelligent observer (as this Indian trader seems to
have been), for so long a period as forty years, of the peculiarities of
the Southern Indians among whom he resided for that period, is not
without great value; although we should have reason to hold it in still
greater esteem had the author cherished no favorite dogma to establish,
or detested any which he wished destroyed.”
McCrady, the South Carolina historian, speaks most favorably of Adair
and his book. The comments of Logan in his _History of Upper South
Carolina_, as one who lived in the region where Adair resided for a
time, and of which he wrote, are peculiarly interesting, and of weight
in any fair assize of the book:
“From Adair’s book the world has derived most that is known of the
manners and customs of the Southern Indians.... Its style is exceedingly
figurative and characteristic—partakes much of the idiom of the Indian
dialects to which the author was so long accustomed; and this imparts to
it a quaintness, which with the novelty of the subject, the remarkable
life of the writer, the cogency of his reasoning, his ingenious
philosophy, earnest truthfulness and stalwart vigor renders it one of
the most interesting as well as valuable works relating to American
history.”
In behalf of Adair, in his theory of the Jewish origin of the American
aborigines, it should be pointed out that a long line of writers both
before and after him held the same view. Soon after the discovery of
America, the theory was advanced that the Indians derived from the Lost
Tribes of Israel. Garcia, in his _Origen de las Medianos_ (1607),
declared that these tribes passed Behring Strait and made their way
southward, and claimed to have found many Hebrew terms in the American
languages. Las Casas was of the same opinion, and the first English
writer on the subject, Thomas Thorowgood in his _Jews in America_ (1650
and 1660) followed Las Casas and the Puritan Apostle to the Indians,
John Eliot in his _Conjectures_.
Antonio Montesinos (1644) found like evidence in Peru, and the learned
Jew Manasseh ben Israel visited among the Indians of the New World and
reached the same conclusion. Cotton Mather, Roger Williams and William
Penn shared the same view.
Charles Beatty in his _Journal of Two Months Tour_ (1678) and S. Seawell
(1697) advanced proofs in support of the argument.
A list of those who wrote after Adair’s period in attempts at
corroboration of the theory of such origin would include, among others:
The celebrated Jonathan Edwards; Elias Boudinot, in _A Star of the West_
(1816) which book has long extracts from Adair; E. Howitt in his
_Selection from Letters_ (1820); Ethan Smith (1825); Israel Worsley in
his _View of the American Indians_ (1828); Calvin Colton in _A Tour of
the Lakes_ (1838); Josiah Priest, _American Antiquities_ (1834); Mrs.
Simons in _The Ten Tribes_ (1836); Modecai M. Noah in Marryatt’s _Diary
in America_ (1837), and G. Jones in the _History of Ancient America_
(1843)—not to mention later writers. It will be noted that Jewish
writers and observers are in accord.[i27] “The theory has not entirely
disappeared from ethnological literature.”
Lord Viscount Kingsborough produced by far the most elaborate argument
that the ancients and Indians of America were of Jewish origin. He
published (London, 1830-48) nine sumptuous volumes, imperial folio, in
which many ancient Spanish, French and Mexican manuscripts were for the
first time printed. This exhaustive work cost Lord Kingsborough, it is
said, above 32,000 pounds, wrecked his fortune and lost him his life. He
died a prisoner for debt. In this production Kingsborough reprinted the
first part of Adair’s book—the “Arguments.” Kingsborough bestowed much
research and care in the annotation of these “Arguments,” and the editor
of the present reprint has availed freely of his notes. Kingsborough
thus prefaces his notes: “The following illustrations of Adair’s
_History of the American Indians_ are chiefly extracted from the
inedited works of French and Spanish authors, and afford the most
satisfactory proof of Adair’s veracity in the minutest particular.”
Of the entire _History_ of Adair there has never been a reprint in
English. Kingsborough’s work is beyond the reach of the average reader
or student; it has become excessively rare, bringing about $500 in the
book market.
The book of Adair was translated into German by Schack Hermann Ewald and
published in Germany: _Geschichte der amerikanischen Indianer, besondere
dem am Mississippi, am Ostund Westflorida, Georgien, Sud-und
Nord-Karolina und Virginien angrenzenden nationen, nebst einem anhange,
von James Adair, Esquire. Aus dem englischen übers._ Breslau, J. E.
Myers, 1782.
The book of Adair was paid the unwanted compliment of being plagiarized
by Jonathan Carver in his _Travels through the Interior Parts_. Carver
appropriated portions of the work during Adair’s lifetime, and an
edition of his book was brought out by Charles Dilly, “in the Poultry,”
London, who had printed Adair’s _History_.
After the passage of more than a century and a half from the date of its
original publication, the book comes to a sort of rebirth in this
reprint, and in a style, so far as format is concerned, of which our
maker and writer of history would not be ashamed.
-----
Footnote i1:
Agnew, _Hereditary Sheriffs of Galloway_, 50 _et seq._
Footnote i2:
_Ibid._
Footnote i3:
Chalmers, _Caledonia_, V, 395.
Footnote i4:
In Dr. James B. Adair’s _Adair History and Genealogy_ it is stated
that Adair first settled in Pennsylvania, but Ghent in his article on
Adair in _Dictionary of American Biography_, I, 33, refuses to follow
him, and it seems, for good reasons. Only one reference in Adair’s
book is to Pennsylvania, and that merely to the Pennsylvania Germans.
Footnote i5:
_History of American Indians_, 307.
Footnote i6:
Hunter’s Map has a notation which shows that Haig had also made a map
or sketch of the region.
Footnote i7:
_Hist. Am. Inds._, 344. See note 194 _infra_.
Footnote i8:
A monopoly of one year’s duration had been offered McGillivray in 1749
on condition that he should win over the Choctaws.
Footnote i9:
Adair was not alone in the indulgence of biting criticism of Glen.
Gov. Dinwiddie, of Virginia, wrote of him (1755): “He is altogether
the strangest possitive assuming Man I ever corresponded with, and
there I leave him.” _Dinwiddie Papers_, I, 508.
Footnote i10:
_Hist. Am. Inds._, 323.
Footnote i11:
This pamphlet is referred to in the book. It is not improbable that it
was composed by Adair for Roche.
Footnote i12:
If this work ever issued from the press, those best versed in the
bibliography of South Carolina have never seen or heard of a copy, as
they state to the writer.
Footnote i13:
From Beaver Creek, in 2 _Indian Book_ (S. C. Archives), p. 56. For
other minor or incidental mention of Adair: _Ibid._, 23; Council
Journal, Jan. 26, 1747; Commons House Journal, Feb. 16, 1747, June 1,
1749; May 16 and 23, 1750.
Footnote i14:
See text _infra_.
Footnote i15:
_Gentlemen’s Magazine_ (1760) XXX, 45, correspondence from South
Carolina of date Nov. 24, 1759.
Footnote i16:
_S. C. Gazette_, Nov. 24, 1759.
Footnote i17:
_Gentlemen’s Magazine_, XXX, 442, 541, 593.
Footnote i18:
_S. C. Gazette_, July 19, 1760.
Footnote i19:
Book D, pp. 358, 379, S. C. Archives, and _S. C. Gazette_ of Aug. 2,
1760. The Chickasaws, under Brown and Adair, were by no means pleased
by the inactivity of Montgomery at Fort Prince George and less so by
his decision to beat a further retreat to Charles Town. For mention of
their own activities, see _S. C. Gazette_ of Aug. 2, 1760, based upon
communication from that fort of July 14th. “We hear that the
Chickasaws who arrived at Fort Prince George the 5th instant have left
that fort with disgust after scouting three or four days about it, and
that they got a few scalps which they carried with them.” _Ibid._, of
July 26th.
Footnote i20:
“The Virginia troops likewise kept far off in flourishing parade,
without coming to our assistance.” See notes 139-41 to text, _infra_.
Footnote i21:
_S. C. Gazette_, Aug. 9, 1760.
Footnote i22:
Canadian Archives, Pub. Rec. Off. Papers, C.O., V, 67.
Footnote i23:
_Infra_, pp. 289, 365.
Footnote i24:
About the time of Adair’s reputed death-date the Cherokees in large
numbers were influenced by British agents to move southward from their
Little Tennessee River towards and into Upper Georgia.
Footnote i25:
For sketch of Gen. Martin see Williams, _Lost State of Franklin_, 212,
323, and _Early Travels in the Tennessee Country_, 251, 465; also
Weeks, _General Joseph Martin_, _passim_. He was among the Overhill
Cherokees nearly ten years (1777-1787). Judge Samuel Martin Young, of
Dixon Springs, Tennessee, a descendant of Col. Wm. Martin, son of
General Martin, and who has in possession papers of both, writes the
editor: “I do not doubt that Gen. Martin and James Adair were
personally acquainted, for I think they were in the same section of
country for some time, several years, perhaps; but that they were ever
in any joint work or enterprise, I could not say.” (Jan. 25, 1930.)
Footnote i26:
Williams, _Early Travels in the Tennessee Country_, 490.
Footnote i27:
For the views of a Jew who was acquainted with the Southern tribes,
particularly with the Creeks, see n. 22, _infra_.
[Illustration:
A MAP
of the
AMERICAN INDIAN NATIONS
_adjoining to the_
MISSISIPPI,
WEST & EAST FLORIDA,
GEORGIA,
S. & N. CAROLINA,
VIRGINIA, &C.
]
THE
HISTORY
OF THE
AMERICAN INDIANS,
PARTICULARLY
THOSE NATIONS ADJOINING TO THE MISSISSIPPI, EAST AND WEST FLORIDA,
GEORGIA, SOUTH AND NORTH CAROLINA, AND VIRGINIA.
CONTAINING
AN ACCOUNT OF THEIR ORIGIN, LANGUAGE, MANNERS, RELIGIOUS AND
CIVIL CUSTOMS, LAWS, FORM OF GOVERNMENT, PUNISHMENTS,
CONDUCT IN WAR AND DOMESTIC LIFE, THEIR HABITS,
DIET, AGRICULTURE, MANUFACTURES, DISEASES
AND METHOD OF CURE, AND
OTHER PARTICULARS, SUFFICIENT
TO RENDER IT
A COMPLETE INDIAN SYSTEM,
WITH
OBSERVATIONS ON FORMER HISTORIANS, THE CONDUCT OF OUR COLONY
GOVERNORS, SUPERINTENDENTS, MISSIONARIES, &C.
ALSO
AN APPENDIX
CONTAINING
A DESCRIPTION OF THE FLORIDAS AND THE MISSISSIPPI LANDS, WITH
THEIR PRODUCTIONS; THE BENEFITS OF COLONIZING GEORGIANA
AND CIVILIZING THE INDIANS; AND THE WAY TO MAKE
ALL THE COLONIES MORE VALUABLE TO THE
MOTHER COUNTRY.
WITH A NEW MAP OF THE COUNTRY REFERRED TO IN THE HISTORY.
BY JAMES ADAIR, ESQUIRE.
A TRADER WITH THE INDIANS, AND RESIDENT IN THEIR COUNTRY FOR FORTY
YEARS.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR EDWARD AND CHARLES DILLY, IN THE POULTRY.
MDCCLXXV.
To
Hon. Colonel George Craghan, George Galphin and Lachlan McGilwray,
_Esquires_.[I]
Gentlemen,
To you, with the greatest propriety the following sheets are addressed.
Your distinguished abilities—your thorough acquaintance with the North
American Indian languages, rites, and customs—your long application and
services in the dangerous sphere of an Indian life, and your successful
management of the savage natives, all well known over all the continent
of America.
You often complained how the public had been imposed upon either by
fictitious and fabulous, or very superficial and conjectural accounts of
the Indian natives—and as often wished me to devote my leisure hours to
drawing up an Indian system. You can witness, that what I now send into
the world, was composed more from a regard to your request, than any
forward desire of my own. The prospect of your patronage inspired me to
write, and it is no small pleasure and honor to me, that such competent
judges of the several particulars now presented to public view,
expressed themselves with so much approbation of the contents.
You well know the uprightness of my intentions as to the information
here given, and that truth hath been my grand standard. I may have erred
in the application of the rites and ceremonies of the Indians to their
origin and descent—and may have drawn some conclusions exceeding the
given evidence—but candor will excuse the language of integrity: and
when the genuine principles, customs, etc., of the Indians are known, it
will be easier afterwards for persons of solid learning, and free from
secular cares, to trace their origin, clear up the remaining
difficulties, and produce a more perfect history.
Footnote I:
The late Sir Wm. Johnson, Baronet, was another of the author’s
friends, and stood at the head of the MS Dedication. (A) For sketches
of Galphin and McGilwray, see n. 155 p. 288 _post_. Galphin’s copy of
Adair’s book with his name and the year “1775” on the fly leaf was
lodged in the Charleston Library. (W)
Should my performance be in the least degree instrumental to produce an
accurate investigation and knowledge of the American Indians—their
civilization—and the happy settlement of the fertile lands around them,
I shall rejoice; and the public will be greatly obliged to you, as your
request incited to it; and to you I am also indebted for many
interesting particulars, and valuable observations.
I embrace this opportunity, of paying a public testimony of my
gratitude, for your many favours to me. Permit me also to celebrate your
public spirit—your zealous and faithful service of your country—your
social and domestic virtues, etc., which have endeared you to your
acquaintances, and to all who have heard your names, and make you more
illustrious, than can any high sounding titles. All who know you, will
readily acquit me of servility and flattery, in this address.
Dedications founded on these motives, are the disgrace of literature,
and an insult to common sense. There are too many instances of this
prostitution in Great Britain for it to be suffered in America. Numbers
of high seated patrons are praised for their divine wisdom and godlike
virtues, and yet the whole empire is discontented, and America in strong
convulsions.
May you long enjoy your usual calm and prosperity! that so the widow,
the fatherless, and the stranger may always joyfully return (as in past
years) from your hospitable houses—while this Dedication stands as a
small proof of that sincere attachment with which I am,
GENTLEMEN
Your most obedient,
Humble Servant,
James Adair.
PREFACE
The following history, and observations, are the productions of one who
hath been chiefly engaged in an Indian life ever since the year 1735:
and most of the pages were written among our old friendly Chikkasah,
with whom I first traded in the year 1744. The subjects are interesting,
as well as amusing; but never was a literary work begun and carried on
with greater disadvantages. The author was separated by his situation,
from the conversation of the learned, and from any libraries—Frequently
interrupted also by business, and obliged to conceal his papers, through
the natural jealousy of the natives; the traders letters of
correspondence always excited their suspicions, and often gave
offence.—Another difficulty I had to encounter, was the secrecy and
closeness of the Indians as to their own affairs, and their prying
disposition into those of others—so that there is no possibility of
retirement among them.
A view of the disadvantages of my situation, made me reluctant to comply
with the earnest and repeated solicitation of many worthy friends, to
give the public an account of the Indian nations with whom I had long
resided, was so intimately connected, and of whom scarcely anything had
yet been published but romance and a mass of fiction. My friends at last
prevailed, and on perusing the sheets, they were pleased to approve the
contents, as conveying true information, and general entertainment.
Having no ambition to appear in the world as an author, and knowing that
my history differed essentially from all former publications of the
kind, I first resolved to suppress my name; but my friends advised me to
own the work, and thus it is tendered to the public in the present form.
The performance, hath doubtless imperfection, _humanum est errate_. Some
readers may think, there is too much of what relates to myself, and to
the adventures of small parties among the Indians and traders. But
minute circumstances are often of great consequence, especially in
discovering the descent and genius of a people—describing their manners
and customs—and giving proper information to rulers at a distance. I
thought it better to be esteemed prolix, than to omit any thing that
might be useful on these points. Some repetitions, which occur, were
necessary—The history of the several Indian nations being so much
intermixed with each other, and their customs so nearly alike.
One great advantage my readers will here have; I sat down to draw the
Indians on the spot—had them many years standing before me,—and lived
with them as a friend and brother. My intentions were pure when I wrote,
truth hath been my standard, and I have no sinister or mercenary views
in publishing. With inexpressible concern I read the several imperfect
and fabulous accounts of the Indians, already given to the world—Fiction
and conjecture have no place in the following pages. The public may
depend on the fidelity of the author, and that his descriptions are
genuine, though perhaps not so polished and romantic as other Indian
histories and accounts, they may have seen.
My grand objects, were to give the Literati proper and good materials
tracing the origin of the American Indians—and to incite the higher
powers zealously to promote the best interests of the British colonies,
and the mother country. For whose greatness and happiness, I have the
most ardent desire.
The whole work is respectfully submitted to the candor and judgment of
the impartial Public.
CONTENTS
PAGE
A HISTORY OF THE NORTH AMERICANS, THEIR CUSTOMS, ETC. 1
OBSERVATIONS ON THEIR COLOUR, SHAPE, TEMPER AND DRESS
OBSERVATIONS ON THE ORIGIN AND DESCENT OF THE INDIANS 11
OBSERVATIONS, AND ARGUMENTS, IN PROOF OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS’ 16
BEING DESCENDED FROM THE JEWS
Argument I. Their Division into Tribes 16
” II. Their Worship of Jehovah 20
” III. Their Notions of Theocracy 34
” IV. The Belief in the Ministration of Angels 38
” V. Their Language and Dialects 40
” VI. Their Manner of Counting Time 77
” VII. Their Prophets and High Priests 83
” VIII. Their Festivals, Fasts, and Religious Rites 99
” IX. Their Daily Sacrifice 121
” X. Their Ablutions and Anointings 126
” XI. Their Laws of Uncleanness 129
” XII. Their Abstinence from Unclean Things 136
” XIII. Their Marriage, Divorce, and Punishment for 145
Adultery
” XIV. Their Several Punishments 153
” XV. Their Cities of Refuge 165
” XVI. Their Purification, and Ceremonies 167
Preparatory for War
” XVII. Their Ornaments 178
” XVIII. Their Manner of Curing the Sick 180
” XIX. Their Burial of the Dead 186
” XX. Their Mourning for the Dead 195
” XXI. Their Raising Seed to a Deceased Brother 198
” XXII. Their Choice of Names Adapted to their 199
Circumstances and the Times
” XXIII. Their Own Traditions, the Accounts of English 202
Writers, and the Testimony Which the Spanish
and Other Authors Have Given, Concerning the
Primitive inhabitants of Peru and Mexico
AN ACCOUNT OF THE KATAHBA, CHEERAKE, MUSKOGHE OR CREEKS,
CHOKTAH, AND CHIKKASAH NATIONS: WITH OCCASIONAL REMARKS ON
THEIR LAWS, AND THE CONDUCT OF OUR GOVERNORS,
SUPERINTENDENTS, MISSIONARIES, ETC.
Account of the Katahba Nations, etc. 231
Account of the Cheerakee Nation, etc. 237
Account of the Muskoge Nation, etc. 274
Account of the Choktah Nation, etc. 302
Account of the Chikkasah Nation, etc. 377
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS.