or otherwise intruding” upon the land set apart for the Indians, though any American citizen, lawfully authorized, is to pass and repass within the said district and navigate the waters thereof “without any hindrance, toll or exactions from said tribes.”  For facilitating removal and as compensation for any losses or inconvenience sustained, the United States is to furnish rations of corn, meat, and salt for twelve months, with a special appropriation of $4,500 for those who have made improvements, and $2,000 more for the facilitating of transportation.  The agent, sub-agent, and interpreter are to reside within the Indian boundary “to watch over the interests of said tribes”; and the United States further undertake “as an evidence of their humane policy towards said tribes” to allow $1,000 a year for twenty years for the establishment of a school and $1,000 a year for the same period for the support of a gun- and blacksmith.  Of supreme importance is Article 7:  “The chiefs and warriors aforesaid, for themselves and tribes, stipulate to be active and vigilant in the preventing the retreating to, or passing through, the district of country assigned them, of any absconding slaves, or fugitives from justice; and further agree to use all necessary exertions to apprehend and deliver the same to the agent, who shall receive orders to compensate them agreeably to the trouble and expense incurred.”  We have dwelt at length upon the provisions of this treaty because it contained all the seeds of future trouble between the white man and the Indian.  Six prominent chiefs—­Nea Mathla, John Blunt, Tuski Hajo, Mulatto King, Emathlochee, and Econchattimico—­refused absolutely to sign, and their marks were not won until each was given a special reservation of from two to four square miles outside the Seminole boundaries.  Old Nea Mathla in fact never did accept the treaty in good faith, and when the time came for the execution of the agreement he summoned his warriors to resistance.  Governor Duval broke in upon his war council, deposed the war leaders, and elevated those who favored peaceful removal.  The Seminoles now retired to their new lands, but Nea Mathla was driven into practical exile.  He retired to the Creeks, by whom he was raised to the dignity of a chief.  It was soon realized by the Seminoles that they had been restricted to some pine woods by no means as fertile as their old lands, nor were matters made better by one or two seasons of drought.  To allay their discontent twenty square miles more, to the north, was given them, but to offset this new cession their rations were immediately reduced.

3. From the Treaty of Fort Moultrie to the Treaty of Payne’s Landing