Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-03-26
AMONG THE SEMINOLES.
PECULIAR MANNERS AND CUSTOMS
OF THE REMNANT OF THE TRIBE.

PECULIAR MANNERS AND CUSTOMS
OF THE REMNANT OF THE TRIBE.
A Visit 70 an Indian Camp-Fire-The Pc
culiarities of Indian Oratory-Narrative
OF . Days Experience-Charms Of q
Chiefs Voice.
Ten years ago the writer spent Q year in
the peninsula Of southern Florida In the
inaccessible wilds Of the great everglade re-
gion there were then existing two distinct
tribes of the great Seminole nation Of south
ern Indians.
The largest tribe was Seminole proper, and
lived in what is known all over the state as
''The Big Cypress" a dark swamp stretching
across the peninsula near the northern end of
the everglades. There were then several
hundred Of the warriors of that tribe The
smaller tribe, consisting Of some forty or fifty
warriors, staid on a reservation near the head
Of Pease creek and the Little Outhlacoochee
river. The chief of that tribe was Chipco.
One night had an opportunity Of making
Chipcos acquaintance at the little trading
acted as government agent We were out at
when suddenly two strapping warriors come
striding up to the door, and each threw down
his pack of skins, which he had brought along
to barter for goods. Both grunted out their
salutations in broken English, and seated
themselves on a log near the store, which
was located near the public road, in the edge
of little clearing surrounded by the bound
less forest stretching away for miles and
miles on every hand.
IN SILENCE BY THE CAMP FIRE
While watching the two savages as they sat
in silence around their camp fire, was lit
tie startled by deep-voiced @Howdee. at my
elbow, and turning beheld tall, muscular
man, of commanding appearance, with a
rather stern countenance and indescribable air
Of man accustomed to command. It was
Chipco. The other two rose at the approach
of their chief and saluted him respectfully
saying as few words as possible, and making
themselves understood by gestures.
Chipco threw down a long buckskin bag
and began to empty it. What was my sur
prise to see that the bag contained gophers
There were ten or a dozen of the rough look
ing old tortoises in the sack, and it must have
weighed between 100 and $50 pounds.
The old chief spoke few words to Collins
and myself, and then invited us to sake a seat
by the camp fire. We did so, and then, at a
sign from the chief, the younger of the two
warriors, who as Collins told me, was young
Tigertail, a son of the noted chief of that
name, arose and began to relate the days ex-
perience in the Seminole language. Collins
interpreted portions Of it in whispers, and
found that it was quite commonplace, but
can never forget the impression it made UPON
me, delivered in the manner peculiar to the
race.
The warrior stood up. Strengthening himsel
to his full height, and with arms folded an,
head erect, he began to detail the occurrences
of the day. The moonlight fell on his hand
some features, bringing out every detail of
the striking profile, which would have made
a study for painter.
In a low, subdued voice ne began First he
told of the early start he made, and, by ges-
lures, indicated that the sun was just rising
As he proceeded his voice rose with the sun,
and from time to time he raised his brawny
arm and pointed to the quarter Of the heavens
where the sun was at the time the incident
occurred which he was then detailing. was
lost in amazed wonder and admiration, but
this was only prelude. His auditors shovel
their attentiveness by occasional grunts, but
not a word was uttered until he had com
pleted his tale At the close he sat down, and
the others mildly applauded him by favorable
comments on his speech.
Then the other warrior, who was called
Tustenugge, and who was the rightful chief
Of one of the petty clans of the Big Cypress
tribe began in the same manner and reDeatAd
MS adventures winch were simiiar 70 tne MIS-
o.cause 'ney na' 'l,,'eieu 'ose'ner' Co,.in.
sioerwatu uoii me '.i'' ,his young man nAd
pteh oeii auhe'i y. MS cnieit.aihsiilP ny P
!iucai ri'ai' ana naa h.t ohe 'rioe ana at
'achea hiiiiseit 10 ohlpcos pahd
me eApIsoEs uf iSpiaN onAfohi.
men ne mao ,oi''iuiei' ,i'e cnie, niih'.h
iTose- can ee MN no" at' ne s'oo. .here In
the hooilsh', MS many FORM can IN a semi
Si'ase.hess' al" Ms near PoSu as p'ouoiy
- any hiiiSh' VI o,i' anu '',c .f-i., n'sns %
us eye as ne s,%'u AT 'i'' Instant iahe ior an
iiistai'' 'he sh'erS hioh',lsn' aiuniS 10 'h'
"eiiahess Q, Tue Sc,'e. ne Was 'it,i a,cu'
:" years IN "s.' anu siie nm iAou'i'' niS"
oieu hos'i.i ann ii' .i'iio'i,' siiue u 'i'
i'N',i nispn'r .o'i'0' III '''"'e WIZ '"ii0 IA
con'ac. WIN nm.
by tne low, sol. voice u, when ne pegah ,
uii'ei sos. '''''' ne s'E'i ''' az ''', I" "i"N
vi ua"h' my h'i,'S away near INC SHUTS u
'ne e,ea' ohee'h' ms ih,,n''ioi We
cie,ii MS e,i,iiioii.ioi 'iie 'i',ii
iieiouy Vi his Noroe ,eniiiinei 'iie vi 'ila u,'-
.a'i' soui'i VI iii'eis 'oiie'i oisan ,io"r
ne aSce,ue'. =, 'ne s'.'ic' anu 'ouiu zen p,,
eiSeiy "heh ,iie sun 'oS, y. 'ie hieN eSsioie
tone u s,"s :" "niou us ians uase "'s
pi'ni sne, anu ,hs'.i sle" ~, 'o'.e'
anu ". l'. enus anu 40 I'm, ,.,. na
49, '"e ty - VIZ me-.
.ou''' A' nav WIG f''' ~
'''iI.''.e ','.n' -,
, r =. .,.. - 49,, q rms u ~
anu ~" 'h on. ~
and how he grew fatigued, and the game bag
grew so heavy that he bent beneath its
weight. How the great drops OF preparation
gathered on his brow. and at last with ma
jcstic sweep he pointed directly upward, and
at the same time burst into that glad tone
again, which Indicated that he succeeded In
finding water. His voice was now pitched IN