Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-05-25
THE SEMlNOLES.
eome of the Fcasts Celebrated by the Ma
tive Redskins Of Florida,


tive Redskins Of Florida.
Like other tribes, the Scminoles con-
sider the labors of the field far beneath
their dignity. The squaw is the farmer,
while the brave warrior scours
the hummocks and fat-woods in
search Of game, or dozes away the
long summer hours beneath the oak
and palm. A friend of mins named
Moore once witnessed the famous
green corn dance of the Seminoles. 1t
was early in May. One day soon after
the orange blossoms had faded in the
hummocks, and the tassels were just
browning over the fields of corn. there
were great preparations made for some
sort of feast which Moore could not ac-
count for and the Indians were not
communicative on the subject. Many
cabbage palm trees were slaughtered
and their snow-white buds prepared
for the pot. A spot of ground was Sc
lected in the shadiest part of the hum
mock, where three giant-bodicd live
oaks leaned their great arms together,
and a large space of ground un-
der the trees was divested of
its growth of palmettos and bushes
and swept clean. A fire Of
rich pine knots and oak limbs was
built in the center, and, after awhile,
there was big bed of live Goals. The
women came in from the fields laden
with green corn, which they husked
and placed in the embers to roast,
while the old men held secret council
together and skinned the deer and wild
hogs brought in by the young warriors.
When the guests had assembled the
chief, glittering in war paint and silver
ornaments, rose to his feet and in a
few words directed the opening of the
performance. A circle was formed
and march begun, during which a
strange, dirge-like song was chanted,
and faster and faster moved the process
sion. On and on they swept around
the fire, not pausing moment for
breath, until finally the yelling, dane
ing, jumping redskins sank down to
rest and to feast on the yenison. corn
and palm cabbage which were tempt
ingly displayed on platters of palmetto.
The fragrant brown ears Of roasted
corn were brought forward and dis
tributed among the throng, as an en-
blem of future peace and prosperity.
AT a Seminole wedding the new couple
enter ring composed of two or three
dozen dancers. The procession moves
rapidly around them. The bridegroom
carries in his hand piece of venison,
and the bride has an ear of corn, which
she hands to her husband saying: II
will provide bread if you will furnish
the meat" Whereupon the warrior
presents the venison to his squaw, and
repeats his part Of the formula. My
friend Moore also witnessed a wal
dance In which over fifty braves par
ticipated. While they were forming
in ring, preparatory to commencing
the dance, the chief hid himself in the
densest portion of the hummock, and
no one dared approach him. In the
meantime the solemn, measured minuet
began; in deep, chest tones, the war
riors sang the song of battle, their
voices rising from low wall in a minor
key, to roar like that of an alligator.
Suddenly, without the least warn
ing, the chief came bounding into
the ring, The circle widened, leav-
ing him plenty of room for his
wild leaps and gyrations, and
the yclls of the excited savages rose to
the highest pitch. The chief took a
stick of sour-orangc wood, on one end
of which was a carving of a man s
head; thrusting this in the ground in
the center of the circle, he drew his
long, bright hunting knife, brought it
down ON the carved head, and went
through all the motions of scalping.
Then rose the death song:
"Ecah-esal-ah-lee,
Ecah-bosah .ah-eel
Wah-luck-iuckluck,
Wah-luck-luck luckl
Wah.lucklo.bah,a ah-leel
0lucklo.wah. .ah-lee!
After the ceremony of scalping was
ended, the painting braves subsidized,
and proceeded to stow away an incred-
ible amount of venison. Cedar Keys
(Fia. Cor. Detroit Free Press.