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[Page 45]

have been much reduced during the first six or seven years of the colony - at that early period the country was not sufficiently cleared to enable the whites to harass them with impunity. In process of time, as the settlers spread themselves over larger tracts, the hunting grounds of the blacks became more circumscribed. The natives thus
came in frequent contact with the white men, and with each other, and a deadly feud commenced *
yet in 1830 the black population was supposed to be much greater than it really was, for the attacks made, as it appeared, almost simultaneously, on distant points, could not be supposed to be the work of a few straggling tribes. It was not until Peter Scott, a leader of one of the Oatlands roving bands suddenly came upon a tribe under the western mountains, that it was ascertained that the same tribe had committed daring outrages in all parts of the settled districts, and in such rapid succession, that it appeared next to impossible. A small creek which separated Scott's party from the blacks, somewhat obstructed the quick steps of the former - so that the tribe fled, & suddenly disappeared like magic, but had no time to secure their spears, waddies, and plunder. Great quantities of blankets, clothing, kettles, pots, fowling pieces, pistols, tea, sugar,

* [margin note: illegible]

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