“We know about when the sun is passing us, but don’t know what time it is. There are two heavenly clocks that we use. For centuries, astronomers have recorded in elaborate tables the movement of the moon across the heavens each month, and by measuring how far the moon is from certain stars, we can know the time anywhere on earth. Another way is to look at two of Jupiter’s four moons, which rotate around the planet like an exact timepiece in the sky. With accurate observations and less than an hour of computation, we can know the exact time and then from the sun determine how far we are east or west of Greenwich.”

The exact position was determined after several days of observations with astrolabes and the sextant, and a stone monument was erected at the site to be used as a starting point for their measurements and mapping. The Augusta agreement called for the new colonial boundaries to extend from the headwaters of the Ogeechee River northward to the upper fork of the Broad River, then directly eastward to the Savannah. The British had some earlier maps of the area, a large compass mounted in gimbals, and other surveying instruments to determine the location of boundary points. The chief surveyor was a British colonel, who was obviously impatient with the leisurely progress and had originally objected to any stop at the salt lick. Once the marker was erected, he was determined to press ahead rapidly to the Broad River so that he and his assistants could use another set of astronomical measurements to determine the corner of the lands granted to white settlers.

When the large caravan was finally ready to move, the colonel ostentatiously set up his large compass and indicated the course to be followed to the Broad River fork. After a brief conversation with the Cherokee chief, accompanied by Newota, Emistisiguo immediately stated, “We all know the North Star, but this is the wrong direction to the next point of reference, and a violation of the agreement made in Augusta. We will not proceed with you if you follow this wicked and lying needle. It cannot be used to trick us and to permit you to take our territory.”

The colonel said, “This compass is an instrument used throughout the world for many generations, on land and on the sea. With known corrections, it always indicates the correct direction. It cannot be wrong, and we will follow it to the next point.”

The chief moved close to the compass, drew his scalping knife from its sheath, and held it close to the instrument, which then swung far from its northern point. He turned and walked away, making a brief remark to Newota.

Newota then reported to the colonel, “The chieftains and all their men are going back to their villages, and you must not proceed further into their territory.”