CHEROKEE ("uplanders? their own name; also, rendered Tsaraki, Tsalaki and Tsanaghi), the largest and most important In dian tribe originally east of the Alleghanies, perhaps the highest in culture and intellectual reteptivity north of Mexico. They are of Iro quoian stock, though remotely, and are believed to be identical with the Tallagewi of Delaware tradition, a large tribe once occupying the Ohio and Alleghany valleys, till driven south by the Delawares and Iroquois. Their own tradition, that they came from the west and exterminated a certain "moon-eyed people," does not con tradict this. The first white men who en countered them were those of De Soto's ex pedition in 1540. Our first definite information finds them located along the south —Allegheny and Appalachian ranges and the Piedmont region adjoining, from Virginia to Georgia and Alabama, a range about 120 miles square — and divided into two main branches speaking different dialects: the Otari Tsaraki or Atali Tsalaki (Upper Cherokees), whose main settle ments were around the head-waters of the Tennessee and Cumberland; and the Erati Tsaraki or Elati Tsalaki (Lower Cherokee), centred in northern Georgia and southern North Carolina, around the head-waters of the Savannah and Chattahoochee. These location names, however, had become fixed tribal names, and persisted after the Upper Cherokee had been forced south into the region of the others. They were further divided into seven clans, forbidden to intermarry. Lying close to the stream of immigration in the southern colonies, they fill the most conspicuous place in the In dian wars, trade and treaties of that section in the 17th and 18th centuries; and their chief southernmost town, Etowah, gave a name to the famous frontier fortress Ninety-Six (96 miles from it). At the beginning of the 17th century they are said to have had 64 towns and 6,000 warriors, the latter declining to 3,000 by 1769 and 1,500 by 1793; but the figures are very dubious. At any rate, they had many villages of well-built log houses, and the Upper Cher okee were agriculturists, raising large crops of corn, beans and pumplcins; the Lower were chiefly huntsmen. They sided with the English in the early colonial struggles, and in 1730 formally recognized the supremacy of the English king (though it may be doubted if they attached that interpretation to their marks). In 1755 they ceded a large tract of land to South Carolina under Governor Glenn, and Fort Loudoun was built in their territory, it is said by their own request. But after the reduction of Fort Duquesne in 1758, the slaughter of some Cherokees for horse-stealing set the whole tribe aflame, and they requited the massacre ten-fold. The folly of the then governor of South Carolina (Littleton) pre vented an arrangement from being made, and a fearful Indian war desolated the borders till 1761, when the harrying of their lands for a month and the burning of 14 villages caused them to sue for peace. Their principal chiefs at
this time were Attakullakulla or Little Carpen ter, and Oconostota. In 1773 they made a large cession to Georgia.
In the Revolution, like most other Indians, they joined the English, their natural interests being against the Americans; and also like the others, their alliance won no victories for Eng land, but helped her to lose the country from the immeasurable odium it excited. General Pickens at last subjugated them; and by a treaty at Hopewell, 28 Nov. 1785, they acknowl edged the sovereignty of the United States. This was confirmed by that of Holston, in 1791, with a cession of territory; and other treaties and cessions followed in 1804, 1816, etc., ending 27 Feb. 1819. The United States on its part solemnly guaranteed to the Cherokees the possession of all lands not ceded by them, recognized their autonomy, and on 30 March 1802, authorized the President to expel tres passers, especially surveyors, by force. In 1790 a portion of the tribe emigrated to Louisiana; and others, mainly Lower huntsmen, later re moved from time to time beyond the Missis sippi, till in 1817 there were some.3,000 north of the Arkansas in the present Indian Terri tory. But the remainder showed an adapta bility not equaled by any other Indians, and began a vigorous civilized career, which how ever only postponed their evil day for a few years. Two influences conduced to this be sides their character,— the missionaries and the half-breeds: for almost alone among Indians, the mixture of white blood has prospered with the Cherokees. This blood, however, was singularly fine—that of the best Scotch fami lies, in some cases noble: the Rosses, Adairs, McLeods, McDonalds, etc. After the rising of 1745 a number of these, irreconcilable or emigrated to the Carolinas; in the Revolution, not unnaturally, they became Loyal ists; when it ended and a fresh outlawry men aced them, some of them and their sons pushed on into the Cherokee country, settled there and intermarried with the native women. The Mo ravian missionaries had been working among the Cherokees from 1740, and had baptized a considerable number before the Revolution. In 1799 some of the tribe earnestly requested teachers and clergy. A great council was held at Tellico on the Tennessee, at which the Upper chiefs agreed to the plan, but the Lower dis sented. In 1804, however, schools and missions were opened, a large part of the tribe was soon christianized, and the sons of the chiefs attended the schools. The American Board worked successfully among them later.