It had been pretty well known, that some of those who had been in the habit of contracting to furnish with subsistence several of the southern tribes, in the year 1838 _et seq._, had been imposing most grossly upon the Indians as well as the Government, in the way of 'short rations' and other delinquencies, which resulted in the gain of a very large sum to the parties concerned. About the close of their operations, one of the _employés_, who was rather more cunning than the principals, took it into his head, on account of some ill-treatment he had suffered, to make an _exposé_ of their transactions. He happened to hold a letter of instructions (which were of course of a confidential character), wherein were set forth the processes by which these frauds were to be practised. And to turn the affair to his particular profit, he threatened the parties with a complete exposure, unless a satisfactory _gratification_ should interpose. A compromise being indispensable to the welfare of 'all whom it concerned,' a negotiation was soon set on foot: but the 'noisy customer' was not silenced, until he was paid $13,500 in cash; whereupon he delivered up the obnoxious 'papers,' and agreed to abscond. Some notice of the facts of this case are said to have been brought to the knowledge of the Government; and how it has escaped an investigation--and, more especially, how it escaped the attention of the Superintendent of that immediate district, have been matters of great surprise to those who had a knowledge of the particulars. --GREGG. [197] See _Constitution and Laws of Cherokee Nation_, published at Tallequah. The constitution was signed at the latter place, September 6, 1839.--ED. [198] These laws have now been changed, and correspond to those of the United States.--ED. [199] In 1837, the Chickasaw bought an interest in Choctaw lands; but in 1855 they purchased from the latter tribe the right of self-government, and established a Chickasaw Nation. Their constitution, drawn in 1867, is liberal, being closely modelled on that of the United States.--ED. [200] These Indians call themselves _Muscogee_ or _Muscóhgeh_. They acquired the name of _Creeks_, by the whites, from the great number of small streams that intersect the country which they formerly inhabited--being first called, "Indians of the country of _creeks_."--GREGG. [201] The Creeks established a republican government in 1867, modelled upon that of the neighboring tribes.--ED. [202] This custom seems to have descended from antiquity. Adair, prior to 1775, writes, that "The Muscohge widows are obliged to live a chaste single life for the space of four years; and the Chikkasah women, for the term of three, at the risk of the law of adultery being executed against the recusants." But I have not heard this custom spoken of among the Chickasaws at the present day.--GREGG.