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John Howard Payne Esq. Brainerd July 11 1807 N. York Dear Sir. It was my intention to have submitted the result of my enquiries on Cherokee antiquities to Messrs. Ross and Lowrey for their examination, that they might have gone out with the attestation of [unknown]. But the Political labours of Mr. Ross, and the [unknown] state of the nation, have prevented. Whether you will, sir, even be disposed to make any use of these sheets I have sent you, or whether they are worthy of notice, is not for me to say. Yet is has occurred to me, that information of this kind, would not appear well, as coming from a white man, not personally acquainted with the antiquities of the nation. As your humble servant, behind the curtain, I rejoice to serve you, in eliciting all the information possible respecting the Indians, and by forwarding this to you, with the names of such Cherokees as give me the information, and are willing to take the place of informants.

 Andrew Sanders, whom the Cherokees call, snake, is half Indian, his mother being a full Cherokee. His moral character is good. He has long been a member of the Presbyterian church. As he has been my interpreter for two or three years past, he has himself become quite an antiquarian. Thomas Smith, is, I believe, one quarter white. His great grandfather, a full Indian, of great age, was a very noted antiquarian, and his knowledge has been preserved in the family. blurred - Smith's Indian name is shield eater (shields were some Smith blurred of the thick skin from a Buffalo's forehead.)

snake?, or Noo cha wi, is a full Cherokee. He was once a right hand man of one of the old priests. On hearing the gospel, a few years ago, he became a convert to the christian religion, and has since been an uncommonly exemplary christian. Johnson Pridget, is, I think, about one eighth white, though he is unknown shows any white blood. The above men I have consulted on the subject, and they are willing to be considered your authors, and that reference should be made to their names, as stated in the foregoing communications of Mssrs. Ross & Blunt. There is also another Indian by the name of Noo cha wi, supposed to be near a hundred years old, a very intelligent, and most upright man in all his deportment; yet one who has generally secluded himself from all intercourse with the whites. As soon as I can see him again, by his consent, I shall be pleased in favouring you with his name, and information respecting his particular communications. By leave of Divine Providence, I will forward to you, sir, one communication more, and cease, leaving it for you to make any further enquiries, or command any other assistance