The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-07-16

Chiefs Voice.
Ten years ago the writer spent year in
the peninsula of southern Florida. In the
| inaccessible wilds Of the great everglade re-
| zion 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" 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
mailer 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
Chipco's acquaintance at the little trading
| post where lived a man named Collins, who
acted as government agent We were out at
the little store in the dusk of the evening.
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 log near the store, which
was located near the public road, in the edge
Ut 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 a deep-voiced "Howdee" at nv
elbow, and turning beheld a tall, muscular
man, of commanding appearance, with
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 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 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
Ngertail, 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 I
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 himself
to his full height, and with arms folded and
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
study for painter
In low, subdued voice he 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 sur.
and from time to time he raised his brawpy
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 showed
their attentiveness by occasional grunts. but
not word was uttered until he had com
pleted bis 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 repeated
his adventures, which were similar to the first
because they had Travelled together. Collins
afterward told me that this young man had
been defrauded of his chieftainship by DO
htical rival, and had left the tribe and at
tached himself to Chipco's band.
THE CADENCEs OF INDIAN oRAToRy.
When he had concluded. the chief himself
arose / can see him now as he stood there in
the moonlight, his manly form clad in semi
savage dress, and his head poised as proudly |
as any knight of old and the fierce flashing of |
his eye as he gazed at the distant lake for an |
instant, the silvery moonlight adding to the
weirdness of the scene He was then about |
30 years of age, and the firm mouth, high |
bred nostril and magnificent physique of the |
man inspired respect in those who came in
contact with him
By the low. soft voice in which he began |
understood that he started at the first hIush |