The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-02-14
FOR OUR YOUNG FOLKS.
GROUP or TEN THOUSAND rs1AyDs
Something About the Famous Florida Kev..
The Settlements Situated on Shell
Mounds-Natiyes' Dress.

Very few Of the Young people that notice
what might be called the Florida Archipelago
have any idea perhaps OF what these islands
or keys consist. Perhaps it is az we'll to
explain here that the word key" is a corrup-
ton properly speaking. it is a caye. an old
French word signifyng a small island. To
the people OF the State itself they are but lit
tie known. except 10 sportsmen, who cruise
among them for the fishing and irdahooting.
Imagine thousands Of small islands of
every shape and size. but always Of the same
rich green hue. The growth on all is the
same. the evergreen mangroye with its seeds
like slender tubers enlOngating until, touch
ing the muddy soil, they take root. Most OF
these keys resemble beds OF tiny oysters
with the mangroYes springing from them,
but very few escape being submerged by
each tide. as they are elevated scarcely above
the water.
With the multtudnous dark streams flow
ing out OF the Everglades winding among
them they form per ect labyrinth IN which
one might wander endessly and hOpelessy.
Dntil Few years ago. as night approached.
they were whtened by multitudes Of sea
birds which roasted among the branches
now on the outer keys but few birds are
found. 80 ruthless has been the warfare
waged on them by bird hunters for their
plumes, etc. The inner keys still are rock
eres, but b very limited extent These
mangrove islands are haDitable only for sea
birds and mosquitoes, which latter find IN
them-Eysium.
The few settlements that have been made
are on shell mounds near the mainland, or
on narrow strips elevated about foot above
high tide which border q few of the creeks
near the main perhaps are really part Of
r Ia. 3
which exceed half an acre IN width. are quite
fertile and produce fine vegetables and sugar
cane. On these and the adjacent snell-mOunds
are grown many of the tomatoes and eg
plants that are found in Northern markets
during the winter months, for frost IS seldom
seen and is never severe
One of the largest of the shell mounds IS
the Island of Chocaluskie, which gives It's
name t. the entire settlement. and also to the
small shallow bay that surrounds 1t. Ike
the other mounds It is a mass Of oyster shells,
among which It IS difficult to CONCEIVE now
vegetables and tropical fruits manage 70 ex-
ist: but the dark hbTOus soil that IS inter
mingled with the shells appears to be very
rich.
This mound is very high in places with
narrow gullIes between the ridges. What an
amount Of patient labor these vast piles of
shells represent ChOcauskie was the site of
An Indian VILLAGE before the remnant of the
Seminoes fled to the Everglades. at the time
that the greater part OF the tribe was re-
moved out West.
The Seminoles. who reside in that part Of
the Everglades near the Cult coast visit the
settlement every winter bringing for sale
venisOn and wild turkeys which they XIII
on the main land In costume they differ
from all other Indians the writer ever saw.
A long calico shirt IS the principal garment;
sometimes legglngs and mOccaslns are added,
but they are generally used on state occa-
siOns.
Any other covering for the lower limbs
they seem 10 hold IN contempt tests,
though, have a great charm one stalwart
young dandy, Charlie Jumper had on
three one piled above the other and that IN
August
But the singular feature of their costume is
the urban allude 20 the males entirely. IL
is composed OF small. gayly.colored shawls
and gaudy-cOlored handkerchieis. twisted
around into % circular shape until the
headgear is about the size of a cheese box.
The small opening IN the centre is LETT unc0y-
cred and the coarse. black hair shows through.
Imagine such an arrangement on ones head
ii summer
Another Characteristic OF these Indians Is
their enormous appotites. At whatever hour
they drop in YOU are expected 10 feed them.
and so they pass on from one neghOOr to
another eating an that is offered them.
When one looks at them and sees what fine
specimens of humanity they are and then
reflects upon their gastrOnOmic feats, the
que ton cannot but arise How about the
hvgienic rules with regard to regularity IN
eating. both as % time and quantity ~