The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1839-05-11

The other of %, alternately, making in all 304.
To supply the eleven days and six hours which
were deficient, they introduced, every second year,
an additional month of % days, and every fourth
year, one of % days. By this method they came
as near to the true measure as any nation had at
tained till the introduction Of the Gregoran calen-
dar.
The space from sunrise to sunset was divided
into II equal parts hence the hours OF their days
varied in length according to the season OF the
year. When the sun rose at and set at Z, an
hour contained 20 minutes but when it rose at
and set at 5, the hour contained only 50 minutes,
and SO on, in proportion to the duration of the
time that the sun was above the horizon. The
same rule was applied to the night, which was
likewise divided into twelve equal portions. The
night was originally divided into watches; first,
three, but after the captivity, four. The first
watch lasted from Till s.; the second from 8 to
II; the third from IL to B. and the morning watch
closed at 8.
SEMINOLE ANEcDoTE.-The intrepid bravery
and tender affections of one of these Indians are
strikingy verified in the following anecdote
Having taken refuge for some time in the city Of
San Augustine, and got the name of Peter he
moved his residence to St. Anastasia's Island
which makes the halbor of the city, employed as
owned that Island and who gave it celebrity by
the culture of the sweet orange. Peter being abb
sent party of his enemies crossed the river, sur
prised his habitation, and murdered his wife and
| two children. On his return he did not hesitate
moment on the course to pursue; he iastenedup
his house containing the dead, repaired to Mr..
Fish's dwelling, near by. to borrow gun that Mr.
Fish had made with large bore, expressly foI
shooting ducks in large focks. In this Peter put
an uncomon load OF buck shot, and getting into his
canoe proceeded up the river all alone, about six
miles, to creek on the MAN, as though instinct
had pointed out to him the way they went He
had assembled the creek, when distant smoke,
curling above the forest, appnsed HIM OF an Indian
camp.
| He landed and taking his course through the
woods Of hostile country discovered four Indians
sitting on a log, side by side, and fifth near by
employed in cooking; he circled round, SO as to
bring the four in range, crept up close, fired,
threw down his gun and rushed up with his TOM
ahawk The report, the fall of four Indians, and
Peters presence, armed with such weapon, were
So sudden and impressive, that the one who was
cooking neither attempted defence or fight, but be-
came an easy prey to vengeance By this time
he found that one of the fallen was but wounded,
and was endeavoring to reach bis arms but Peter
had the advantage in being already armed. On
searching he found the scalps Of his wife and chill
dren stretched and hung out to dry, which he
brought off, with several articles of property which
they had stolen, of their arms, and the scaps
of the five Indians he had killed, the greatest of
all trophies in his conception: returned home and
buried his wife and children the same evening" and
literally pined to death over their grave. This an
ecdote had from Mr.. Fish, who pointed out to
me poor Peters grave.-St augustine Herald.