The native American., 1838-02-10

tlOn oil the captive Chlei Will be read With lnte-
rest M ss.4 f.4 l3sa alg9 fsss ss
FouRT MouLrRrE, Sllioaa' Island, &
near Charleston, jan. "a, 1885, {
DEAR SIR: For the first time since / arrived
here, i have moment Of leisure to give you a
few lines, descriptive of things and events at this
place. Charleston City is about six miles distant,
and in full view from the place where am now
writing. Lovely spring would seem to be reign
ing over it, instead of hoary winter, and her gar
dens are decked with green foliage and roses.
In Fort Moultrie are the Seminole prisoners
Of war, $50 in number--chiefs, warriors, women
and children, in motley and miserable group.
Osceola, Micanopy, Cloud, Coahaio, and King
Philip, are the chiefs; and of them as Of several
others, have already secured the portraits, which
i shall bring to New ork in few days.
Mick-e-no-pah, who is the first ciUl chief Of
the nation, and was at the commencement of the
war the owner of an hundred negroes, is stately
and dignifed man, proud of his superahundant
flesh, and equally so Of his title of sGeneral, as
he is Familiarity called. This fat dignitary, and
also Cloud, and several others, seem toleraby
quiescent, and not disposed to greve away their
fat in their present confinement; but there is one
restless spirit amongst them Of different caste -
one who sits and broods over his nations calami-
ties with broken heart, and pines and sickcns
in an agony which none but himself can know or
feel mean ,.Osceola, Powell,) or as he and
all the other chiefs distinctly pronounce it,
As-se-ola. a'
From the time have spent with this Chief,
and the familiar interviews have had with him
in conversation, have been enabled to form
pretty correct notion Of the feelings and character
as well as history, Of this extraordinary man.
Greek by birth, he left his own tribe whilst
boy, and sought an asylum amongst the Semi
noles where he has been reared, and where he has
fourished since. His father was a white man,
by the name Of Powell, who abandoned him and
sent him vagrant upon the world to cater for
himself. He soon became favorite among the
Seminoles; and from his force Of character and
genius alone, he has risen to the highest honors
of the nation. y} S.t r tts' a-F "
At all the ball plays, and other manly sports,
Powell was reputed first in the nation: and his
name was changed to As-se-o-la from the fact that
he could drink greater quantityo of the 'black
drink" (caled as-se-o-la) which was prepared from
some bitter and nauseatng herbs, and drank pre-
paratory to the fast and feast of the green corn
dance.
n. From such facts, it appears he is entirely a
Hselfmade man. and one Of an extraordinary
character, which is conclusively proved by the
fact that he is acknowledged and followed by all
the chiefs of the nation, their head war chief.
Though he is but demi-savage in blood, yet he
speaks not a acord of English; and in his actions
and feelings is as perfectly an Indian as any man
/ ever saw In stature he is about the middle
size, and in his features there is no striking pecu
liarity to stamp them out of mediocre, but plea
sing symmetry of proportion, upon which the
lights and shadows of passion and feeling are
seen to play with perfect effect. There is at
times spread over them the most benignant and
expressive smiles, even Of efeminacy; and, at
others, they are darkened with the sternness of a.
Brutus, or the agony Of dying gladiator. In
fact, he is the perfect beau ideal of an Indian
prince-graceful in his movements, and mild, al
most to childishness, in his intercourse with the
world. His hand is small and delicate to the
touch as that of female, and the oveliest of them
are continually focking around him in groups to
feel its gentle grasp, and catch the languishing
look from its downcast eye--to bestow upon him
some beautiful tinsel or plume, and levy upon his
raven locks for small and precious keepsake of
As-se-o-a. ~ M 4ts
thought at first, like thousands of others who
take but glance at him, that he was effeminae
and womanish, but on little acquaintance and
familiarity with him, | became fully convinced,
that the true character Of this man is not to be
learned by the transient vsiter, who sees him but
amoment, and in that moment prisoner, wither
Ing uHueI d DfokcH SplTlt, cHucdVOIliip tO IL
smirk and a smile to meet the gazing world who
are focking to see him. These smiles are soft
and beautiful, and are many; but those who, like
myself have heard him pour forth his griefs in
the simpering tears Of actual childishness, and
then instantly rally, and rouse himself into the
indignant sternness Of the warrior and the hero,
will easily see that those smiles are based upon
an agony that regularly preys upon his substance
His face is certainly one of the most expressive
kind ever have seen-capable of the most vivid
and striking exhibition of the human passions, that
can possibly be imagined, bearing upon its front
the predominant characteristic impress of stern
ness and reserve, and excessive perseverance IN
the pursuits oflfe.
rs His manner of dress and ornament is such as
greatly to interfere with the full development ~
his true character. His hair is cut close TO the
head, except supcrabundance which is lett on
the forehead, flowing down to the eyes, and large
tufts protruding from his temples in front OF his
ears, and dropping down near to the clavcle, re-
sembling, or rather in all probability originating
Qor Indian fashions never change) the present