The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1840-11-06

'uSh " owe ihPy' HdiHiiiOChy country, lur
nishes such plenty and variety of sup
plies for the nourishment of varieties O
animals, that | can venture to assert, tina
no part of the globe so abounds with vii,
game, or creatures fit for the food o
man.
"Thus they enjoy a superabundance o
the necessaries and convcniences of life
with security of person and property, tn,
two great concerns of mankind. Th,
hides OF deer, bears, tigers, snd wolves
together with honey, wax, and other pro
ductions of the country, purchase thei
clothing, equipage, and domestic utensil.
from the whites. They seem to be free
from want or desire. No cruel enemy tc
dread; nothing to give them disquietude
but the gradual encroachments of Me
achite people. Thus contented and undis.
turbed, they appear as blithe and free as
the birds of the air, and like them as vo-
lathe and active, tunrful and vociferous.
The viSage, action, and department of the
Seminoles form the most striking picture
of happiness in this life; Joy, content
mcnt, love, and friendship, without guile
or afiectatlon, seem inherent in them, or
predominant in their vital principle, for it
leaves them with but the last principle of
life. They are fond of games
and gambling, and amuse themselves like
children, in relating extravagant stories,
to cause surprise and mirth.'
The same writer gives an engaging
picture of his treatment by these sa-
wages:
"Soon after entering the forests, we
were met in the path by small company
OF Indians, smiling and reckoning to us
long before we joined them. This was a
family Of 'Talahasochte, who lad been
out on hunt, and were returning home,
loaded with barbacued meat, hides, and
honey. Their company consisted of the
man, his wife and children, well mounted
on fine horses, with a number of pack
horses. The man offered us fawn-skin
of honey, which l accepted, and at part
ing presented him with fsh-hooks, sew
ing-needles, &c.
''On our return to camp in the evening,
we were salutcd by party of young In
dian warriors, who had pitched their tents
OH green emincnce near the lake, at a
small distance from our camp under lit
tie grove of oaks and palms This COM
pany consisted OF seven young Scminoles,
under the conduct of a young prince or
chief of Talahasochte, town southwark
N the isthnus. They were all dressed
md painted with singular elegance, and
lchly ornamented with silver plates,
,hains, &C., after the Seminale mode.
with waving plumcs of feathers. On our
coming up to them, they arose and shook
hands we alightcd and sat a while with
hem by their cheerful fire.
The young prince informed our chief
hat he was IN pursuit of a yong fellow
Who had fled from the town, carrying off
With him one of his favorie young wives.
lie SAID, merrily, he would have the ears
# both of them before he returned. He
vas rather above the middle stature, and
he most perfect human figure ever saw;
f an ami BILE, engaging countcnance, air,
nd department; free and familiar in con-
ersailon, yet retaining a becoming grace
illness and dignity. We arose, took
cave of them, and crossed little vale,
overed with a charming green turf, al
cady illuminated by the soft light of the
all moon.
"Soon after joining our companions at
amp, our neighbors, the prince and his
ssociates, paid lis visit. We treated
lem with the best fare we had, having
Ii this time preserved our spiritu-
us liquors. They left us with perfect
ordiality and cheer(ulness, wishing rs
God repose, and retired to their own
amp. Having band of music with
ZEN, consisting of drums, flutes, and 5
litle-gourd, they entertained US during |
he night with their music, vocal and in.
n
There is languishing soft air in the In ,
ian convlvlal songs, especially of the I
morous class, irresistibly moving atten- i
on, and exqusitely pleasing, especially {
their solitary recesses, when all nature ,
silent"
Travellers who have been among them |
more recent times, before they had en-
arked in their present desperate struggle, a
'present them in much the same light |
leading pleasant, INDECENT life, in ,
Innate that required little shelter or cloth =
lg, and where the spontaneous fruits of
le earth furnished subsistence without ;