Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-05-10
From sWia,oa,s JOURNAL of Science and ,1,t,.
SEMINOLE INDIANS.

The Seminole Indians of Florida are ,Ieriycd r,, ,,
Lower Greeks and obtained their present location by con-
1uost--tiHy but
wars to small remnant probably not excecdnp two or
'hree onsahd who soriably grouped small VILLAGES
pncPty IN the secondary rolling districts uniting tho
hunter PASTORAL and Agricultural states Of society yhr
men h"nt erect dwellings, and attend ti cattle Tbev
nave many dogs OF European species but rarely use Them
~ pursuit OF game On hunting excursions, they often lie
in ambush with their rifles the border of , ,bick. nj
arrest the deer with uncrring they issue forth at
"u'A L" Craze on verdant prairies. Fire hunting with
torches is sometimes reSoyted nght-tc ,ne remains
stationery and IT is easily killed: this mole is prohibited
among the whites dangerous. Fortunate h,,ss z,,n
toelf less successful neighbours. Seinoles fo
possessed large herds of fine cattle but lost many d,uo
tire Fate civil war They have hogs and poultry The
male Indians regard agricultural Iabour as lii.rh,
every settlement has its enclosed cultivated field often
ne ground is prepared, planted and tended hy
1naIe with hoes, raising good crops potaoe
i"NS' oeahs' roots, aud tobacco, fertile hills, AND
ee IN swamps. They milk, make butter procuro ,rood
and water aud do all the rudgey. The wives and daug
GERS o chiefs are not exempted from Iabour some of the
cipa! Indians, following example of their
nours PoPetos of blacks, mostly born in the Indian
region and occupy separate villages They are well treat
e' being rarely required do labou EXCEPT i'm ps
aing OF lage ha acquired Ie cree, iueo.n,
hearing aud mtnnors of the aborisme and are faithful
There Is mixed in form intelligence srnerie to
he Indian and negro.
Inc male indians in warm weather, almost divested
ot clothing, but females modeStiv dressed ordinarily ~
s"or' gown and prcoat, initiating the fashion the whites
am whom the materials procured in cxchnupc for skne
i"Fs inocasns, leather, oil &C. Females have
ornaments oil sI'FPT III their and neckS and
arms; married women plates OF silver ON tcir breasts;
sometimes suspended by small silver chans,hev
with n"iesty and prupiety long Sits are sometimes OH
served IN the ears o! both The men are fond Of
dent spirits and tobacco, only articles they * far i'm
fortunately; hnt refused dissatisfaction expressed
when presented with bottle Of whiSkey it is fairly d.,i
sutcd among tie adult present bat obs.rvai ,
was offered to the children who did NOT ,.
- expect or desire any, though often requesting nd
segIr ip' smnaki"s, OF which the smallest are fond
ne Indians we mad communication with wee honest nd
f'if ~ he" dealings evnef"g icvi,h tisposriou we
"e'e received with Kindness aud hospitav our wants sur,
i"cCutcnicncc for our accommodations They are in gcu.
fli tall aud well formed The Sc niunir ,sr
IN tcif manners from northern uibcs being very ciou
ilVeiy and inqusve. Oar clothes arms kniyes unbrcI
us nc wee carefully examined; aud marked OF the
ground with much component par,s of n,t
Or other garment they fancicd
Our mode of cooking aud eating was ~ tho -, t;-o.
source or m"ch amusement aud laughter elicn ma Nv h-
o'"uS remarks lhey are usually cheerful and the inter-
course Of relatives and neighbours evinced good fseg,
NJ the Indian village of Samalasco not Ear from the river
santa Fec, witnessed the amusement of ,vresng and
odhcg Dances are held at night level hard beaten
central spot; males and females move in Indian file ond
he singing Wild song there little diversity in ,bcir
steps Out e tunes are varied; each dance terminated nv
general wIloop.
The clef conducted bower, where we were seated
Wv" some OF tie head mem the villagers engaged in
o""c"S located themselves in opposite arbor Tire
young men unusually dressed and ornameuted had s1
"Ieu 20 tneir snowy long mocasins, aud with cheeks
pldckcned 10 represent wfskers, and facos ,,;r,oI
Hadc luAicrous Appearance Small tarr,pc Ii, s
WIN peoples aihxed to the ANGLES of the female dance
their only instruments of r,,sic. t -, ''ei''
excited 10y the dancing and various amusve trieke .T
dogs responded to the Indian Yell and numerous o1
'flcted by the light hoocd from the tai, bctorics aud 49,
adjacent willie the Of agators added to the div;,
of sounds. " VIC "i'cISiy
he Indians hold an annual feast when their rror- ~
gathered at which, If ddutccrs, who had fed IN ,J M
pHnisn mcnt Of losing their appear they are ,rd
ne Indians are well acquainted with many medical [
lhciF dwellings usually constructed Of logs; tho 800
d park or split pine very tight; sides of the hes,
neatly lined with "laphoards, but without floors or dvisi
vn1 much Hfes'cd 10y 6cas They have little furn;,r
P''ies ware OF good shape and we'll baked, is made nv
eW'Ies The chief of Sauialasco; aided by small he'll
'"' anvil hammer, and file, with much in
-'""iy Lon" COM udUms uents Of silver We cor,
,t' "cl'0nr with this intelligent old man. through the
'''' ~ our interpreter, shrewd native negro WIN
OAt hucn Seminole and English-1he chief me ntioned
an sceo lA'0 crcdulity. It is believed by the natives
mar monster W,in la &C scrpcnts body shining like
Yef WHOSE orc u IS destructive all that approach nc
nPics large S'hk or cave in East Florida pording [
- MIA -o.i'S 'fc current among Cherokees The Sna,i
'dt'""s male iruitoss scurch for this treasure G
t"arS ego. ''0 q" lev
heae ln''a IS 10 not appear have a form, y ,i.
,'' believe ID supreme Being. The CHIEF i,c,-5 -
nat according TO Indian traditions, tie world 60
~ ne Great >'rit; that he formed three men a., 49,
''''ni black man-thc Indian was The most ref,
fjry were called into his presence, and directed 10
new finP'oymcuis' he Indian chose bow and arrow, G
Fn's man book and the negro spade The cliofbaG