Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1840-11-03
t From the Kniekerbocker.
THE SEMINOLES.
By WASHINGTON IRVING.

BIZ WARRINGTON IRVING
From the time Of the chimercial crui
Ings Of Old Ponce de Leon in scare
ot the Fountain Of Youth 1.-THE avariciou
expedition Of Pamphilo de Narvarez j
quest Of gold; and the chivalrous entel
prise Of fernando de Soto, 10 discove
and conquer second Mexico, the native
oil Florida have been continually subiec
TED to the invasion and eHcroachmenls O
white men. They have resisted them per
seVeringly but fruillessly, and are nov
battling amidst swamps and morasses, TO
the last foothOld Of their native soil. will
al the ferosity Of despair: Can we won
der at the bitterness of hostility that ha.
been handed down from father 10 sOn, fol-
upwards Of three centuries, and exasper.
ated by the wrongs and miseries of each
succeeding generatiOnf The very name
ofthe savages with which we are fighting
betokens their fallen and hopeless condi.
tion. Formed Of the wrecks of once
powerful tribes, and driven from their an.
cient seats of prosperity and dominion,
they are known by the name of the Sem.
nOles, or 'Wanderers.'
Bartram who travelled through Florida
in the latter part of the last century,
speaks Of passing through ancient
Indian fields, now silent and deserted,
OVergrown with forests, orange groves,
ald rank vegetations, the site of the an
Cient Alachua, the capital of famous
and powerful tribe, who in days of old
could assemble thousands at bali-pIay and
other athletic exercises, over these then
happy fields and green plains.-'AlmOst
every step we take, says he, 'over these
fertile heights; discovers the remains
and traces Of ancient human habitations
and cultivation. "@'
About the year 1893, when Florida
was ceded by the Spaniards to the Eng
lish, We are told that the Indians generally
retired from the towns and the neighbof-
hood of the whites, and burying them.
selves in the deep forests, intricate
swamps and hammOcks, and vast savan-
nahs Of the interior; devoted themselves
to pastoral life, and the rearing Of hor-
ses and clttle. These are the people
that received the name of the Seminoles,
or Wanderers; which they still retain.
Bartram gives a pleasing picture Of
them at the time he visited them in their
where their distance from
the abodes of the white man gave them
a transient quiet and security. "This
handful OfPaOple," says he, possesses a
vast territory, all East and greater part
fWest Florida, which being naturally
cut and divided into thousands of isIets,
knOlls, and eminences, by the innumera-
bic rivers, lakes swamps, vast savannaEs,
and ponds, form SO many secure retreats
md temporary dwelling places that effec.
ually guard them from any sudden inva-
lion or attacks from their enemies; aud
sing such swampy, hammOcky coun-
~, furnishes such plenty and variety
{ supplies for the nourishment Of vare
les Of animals, that can venture to as
ert, that no part Of the globe so abounds
nth wild game, or creatures fit for the |
,od Of man. ,ai.a.
"Thus they enjoy q superabundance
fthe neccssaries and cCnvsniences ol
fe, with security ofpersOn and property,
le two great concerns Of mankind. The
ides of deer, bears, tigers, and wolves,
'gether with honey, wax, and other pro-
uctiOns Of the country, purchase their
lothing, equipage; and domestic uten-
Is from the whites. They seem to be
se from want or desire. No cruel enc.
y to dread; nothing to give them disqui-
Lude, but the gradual eRcrOGchment of
ie Chite people. Thus conlented and
ndisturbed, they appear as blithe and
ee as the birds Of the air, and like them
volatile and active, tuneful and vocife-
'us. The Visage, action and department
the SemiGoles form The most striking
cture Of happiness in this life Joy, con.
niment, love and friendship, without
llie or affectatiOn, seem inherentin them,
predominant in their vital principle,
j leaves them with but the last breath
iIte. ~" Theyars fond of games
q gambling, and amUse themselves like
lndFen, in relating sxtravagant stories,
cause surprise and mirth.''* II
The same writer gives an engaging
cture of his treatment By these saRages I
Soon after entering she forest, we
pre- metin the path BY small company
indians, smiling end beCkOniRg to us
fore we jOihed them. This was the
miIy Of TalahaSOchte, who bad rbeenout