.MTA2MA.NzE3MzA
25 initial?
company, being seized with the pains of child birth, stopped with her mother an hour or two, and then, with her child, supported by her aged mother, she went on to overtake her friends. This may be ascribed to the constitutional qualities of Cherokee women, yet she was evidently urged on by most powerful motives or she would have rested, at least, a few days, instead of a few hours. On leaving the camps my reflections on the occurrences of the day seemed overwhelming. Groaning was my only report. It was indeed a luxury to groan and weep. The poor Cherokees in the camps are surrounded by a formidable guard, so that no one can go in or out, but by special permission, and it is very evident that the women & girls often suffer extremely for want of retirement. During the week, I again visited the camps, and spoke to the general agent for removing the Indians, respecting br. Epenetus, and urged that he might not be sent away without an opportunity to take his son now with us, and I thought he gave me to understand that he should not. He called Epenetus, and said, If you are called on to start, come to me, and say that your son is absent." or to that effect.
The Cherokees had been kept on a small spot, surrounded by a strong guard, under such circumstances that it would seem impossible for male or female to secrete themselves from the gaze of the multitude, for any purpose whatever, unless by hanging up a cloth in their tents. But there they had no vessel for private use. Now the smudge limits were somewhat enlarged. Yet it is evident that from their first arrest they were obliged to live very much like brute animals; and during
79