In July, 1712, John Wright was ordered by the board to set out for the Indian country upon a day prescribed, and his route and duties were laid down in his instructions. First, he should go to Pocotaligo Town, to settle all differences between the traders and the Upper Yamasee, thence to Altamaha, in the lower towns, then upstream to hold another court at Palachacola. To the Alabamas he was instructed to travel by way of Savannah Town, and on his way to send an express to the trader, Captain Thomas Welch, to get the Chickasaw chiefs down to the Alabamas. But if they failed him, he must push on to the Chickasaw country. His special mission was to prevent the threatened defection of the Alabama to the French, by redressing their grievances, by arguments and presents, and, if necessary, by taking hostages and inciting the loyal tribes to oppose the renegades. This accomplished, he had still to settle ordinary affairs among the Talapoosa and the rest of the Upper and Lower Creeks. From Coweta he was directed to follow the path to the Cherokee, to act once more as a magistrate before returning to Savannah Town. 57 [Note 57: JIC, July 9, 1712] His itinerary thus involved a journey by trading path of more than fifteen hundred miles. Obviously an extraordinary task was placed upon the agent's shoulders, calling for physical courage and endurance, discretion, and skill in the arts of forest diplomacy.