The reciprocal guarantee of their lands by the Creeks, Cherokees, Choctaws, and Chickasaws was, said Carondelet, the only way by which the Americans could be retained within their own boundaries.

[Footnote: Carondelet to Alcudia, Aug.

17, 1793.] The Spaniards devoted much attention to supporting those traders among the Indians who were faithful to the cause of Spain and could be relied upon to intrigue against the Americans.

[Footnote: _Do_., Manuel Gayoso De Lemos to Carondelet, Nogales, July 25, 1793.] Carondelet's Tortuous Intrigues.
The divided condition of the Creeks, some of whom wished to carry out in good faith the treaty of New York, while the others threatened to attack whoever made any move towards putting the treaty into effect, puzzled Carondelet nearly as much as it did the United States authorities; and he endeavored to force the Creeks to abstain from warfare with the Chickasaws by refusing to supply them with munitions of war for any such purpose, or for any other except to oppose the frontiersmen.

He put great faith in the endeavor to treat the Americans not as one nation, but as an assemblage of different communities.