Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-11-13

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From the Knickerbockcr
About the year 1853 when Florida was coded
by the Spaniards to the English, the Indians, it il
said, generally retired from the towns and the
ncighbourhood Of the whites, and burying them
selves in the deep forests, intricate swamps and
hammocks and vast savannahs of the interior,
devoted themselves to the pastoral life, and the
rearing Of horses and cattle. These are the poo
pie that received the name Of Scminolcs or Wan
dercrs, which they still retain.
Bertram gives a pleasing picture Of them at the
time he visited them in thier wilderness where
their distance from the abodcs of the white man
gave them a transient and quiet security. "This
handful of people, 'says hc," possess a vast
territory all Fast and the greater part Of Vert
Florida, which being naturally cut and divided
into thousand Of islets, knobs, and etninencos,
by the innumerable rivers, lakes, swamps, vast
savannalls, and ponds, form SO many secure 70
treats and temporary dwelling places that cfTec.
tually guard them from any sudden invasiors or
attacks from their enemies; and being such a
swampy %halmmocky country, furnishes such a
plenty and variety of supplies for the nourishmcnt
of varieties of animals, that | can venture to Az
sert, that no part of the globe so abounds with
wild game, or creatures fit for the food of man.
"Thus they enjoy a superabundance of the
neccssarles and convenienccs of life, with tho
security of persons and property, the two great
concerns of mankind. The hides Of deer, bears,
tigers and wolves, together with honey, wax,
and other productions of the country, purchase
their clothing, cqnipagc and domestic utenslla
from the whites
The same writer gives an engaging picture Of
his treatment by these savages.
"Soon after entering the forest. we were met
in the path by a small company of Indians, arnil-
ing and Reckoning to us long before We joined
them. This was a family of Talahasochtc, who
had been on a hunt and were returning homo
loaded with barbecue meat, hides and honey.
Their company consisted Of the man, his vito
and children, we'll mounted on fine horses, with
a number of pack horses. The man offered w
a fawn skin of honey, which | accepted, and at
parting presented him with some fish-hooks.
sewing needles, etc.
"On our return to camp in the evening, wo
were salutcd by a party Of young Indian war
riors, who had pitched their tents on a groom
emincnce near the lake, at a small distance from
r our camp, under a little grove Of oaks and palms.
This company consisted of scvcn young Semi
noles, under the conduct Of a young prince or
I chief of Talahasochtc, a town southwark in tho
isthmus. They were all dressed and painted
r with singular elegance, and richly ornamentc
with silver plates. chains. etc. after the Semi
, mole mode, with waving plumcs Of feathers on
their crests. On coming up 10 them, they arose
and shook hands; we alighted and sat a whilo
: with them by their cheerful fire.
9 "Thc young prince informed our Chief that he
e was in pursuit of a young fellow who had fed
t from the town, carrying offwith him one OF his
I iavoritc young wives. He said, merr!ly, no
would have the ears of both of them before he
returned. He was rather above the middle
stature. and the most perfect human figure l
. ever saw of al amialle, engaging countenance.
[ air and department free and familiar in CONVEX
c sation, yet retaining a becoming graceiulness
o and dignity. We arose, took leave of them,
G and crossed a little vale covered with a charm
= ing green turf, already Illuminated BY tho soft
light fthe full moon.
"Soon after joining our companions at camp.
, our ncighbors. the prince ard his associate. paid
u us a visit. We treated them with the best faro
we had, having till this time preserved our spirit.
k uous liquors. They left us with perfect cordi-
a alitity and checrfuIness, wishing Us a good re-
C pose, and retired to their own camp. Having a
q band of music with them, consisting OF drum,
f flutes, and battle-ground, they entertained us dur
:, ing the night with their music, vocal and instru-
II mental.
u There is a languishing %softness and melan-
n choly air in the Indian convivial songs, irrcsi.-
d tb!y moving attention., and eNquIsitely pleasing
S especially in Their solitary recesses, when all
nature is silent"
Travellers who have been among them in moro
f., recent times, before they had embarked in their
: present desperate struggle, represent them in
y much the same light as leading a pleasant, in
S dolcnt life in a climate that required but little
It shelter or clothing, and where the spontaneous
c fruits of the earth furnish subsistence without
II toll. A~clcan.y race dclightng in bathing, pas
# sing much OF their time under the shade OF their
q trees, with heaps Of oraNges and other fine fruits
for their relrcshment, talking. laughing, dancing
{ and sleeping. Every cllict Lad a ian hanging
= by his side, made ofthe feathers of the wild tur-
c key, in tho beautiful pink colorcd cane, or tho
c flamingo. With this he would sit and fan HIM
# self with great statelincss, while the young
@ people danced before him. The women loinel
~ in the dance with the men except the war-dan-
ccs. They were strings of tortoise shells and
pebbles around their legs. which ratified in ca
" dence with the music. They were treated with
more attention among the Scminoles than a.
h mong most Indian tribes.