They say, that their language is perfectly distinct from that of every other spoken by the aborigines.[143] Yet the Delawares, according to Mr. Heckewelder, considered them as their descendants.
The following notice of them occurs in La Vega's history of the incursion of Ferdinand de Soto, as early as the year 1541. Seven days' journey from Cutifachiqui, which is stated to be 430 Spanish leagues, or 860 miles from the bay of Apalache, and in a direction of from south-west to north-east, De Soto arrived in a province called Chalaque (evidently the same people now called Cherokees, as they call themselves Chalakee). The country they then occupied was said to be sterile, and affording but little maize, that they fed upon spontaneous roots and herbs, which they sought in the wilds, and upon the animals of the forest, hunted with bows and arrows. In their manners they were gentle, and went habitually naked. Their chief sent as a present to De Soto a couple of deer skins, and their country abounded with wild hens (probably the Prairie hen, Tetrao cupido). In one town they made him a present of 700 of these birds, and he experienced the like liberality in several other of their towns.[144]
They were acquainted with this country prior to their removal, but never laid any claim to it. It was merely the resort of their renegadoes and wandering hunters. The number who have now emigrated hither are about 1500. The unsettled limit of their claim in this country, has been the means of producing some dissatisfaction, and exciting their jealousy {125} against the agents of
