Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-09-07
ONLY ONE wild TRIBE"
THE sEMINoLES OF FLORIDA ENJOY
A PROUD DISTINCTION.
They Have Never Been Grounded
Up" in a Reservation-Brave Oc-
cupants of the Everglades.


x Monroe in the New York Adj
vertiser, l mean those who
G have never been subjected to
the tanning processes of reservation,
and of the quarter of a million aborig-
ines still to be found in the United
States the Seminoles, of Florida, alone
can lay claim to that distinction. AL
though to those unacquainted with the
situation it may appear strange that
the only Indians still roaming ut will
over large part of their original ter
rito5c, and leading to-day, in unre-
strained liberty, the life of their
fathers, should be found in that por-
tion of the Union first settled by white
men, the apparent anamoly is easy of
explanation. Florida is the largest,
and at the same time the most sparsely
settled State east of the Mississippi.
The 10, 900 square miles of its territory,
of which some four hundred Seminoles
are almost the only occupants, COM
prise the vast swamps of the Ever
glades and the Big Cypress. These
are unsurveyed, almost unexplored,
and are well nigh inaccessible save in
canoes by those familiar with their in
tricacies. Most of these watery lands
come under the head of "swamp and
overhowed," and as such belong to the
State of Florida. Until recently they
have been considered so valueiess that
no white man has coveted them. This
is, of course, the prime reason why the
Seminoles have been allowed to retain
unmolested possession of them for 30
long. Then, too, these Indians are
the immediate descendants of Osceola
and those other desperate fighters who,
in defense of their homes waged
against the United States the longest,
bloodiest and most costly of its many
Indian wars.
The Florida Seminole has proved
himself worthy of respect and consid-
Grafton by his bravery as fighter, his
absolute independence, his freedom
from many of the vices common to In
dians, his industry and his Willingness
to adopt civilization if allowed to do
80 gradually and through imitation.
Physically he is one of the finest exist
ing specimens of the North American
red man-tall, straight and clean
lmbed. Following the dictates of on
immutable custom, rather than those
of comfort, the Seminole wears on his
head an immense turban formed of gay
'kerchiefs covering light frame of
rattan. With the exception of Il
braided scalp lock, which is hidden be-
meath this turban, all hair is closely
cut from his head and none appears on
his face. The remainder of his dress
consists of gay red and yellow, beau
tifully-sewed calico shirt and breech
cloth. Save on occasions, when they
are covered with buckskin leggings
and moccasins, his legs and feet
are bare. He is always armed with the
most improved pattern of n rifle, but
despises a shotgun and regards revol-
yer as toy He fashions commodious
and most excellent canoes from single
huge cypress logs, and sails or poles
them with dexterity, but neither pad
dies nor rows. He does not steal nor
lie, but, like all his race, he drinks
whisky whenever he can obtain it.
His principal occupation is hunting,
but in intervals of this he builds his
huts of poles and palmetto thatch,
ovorhauls his weapons, nets, traps or
canoe, cares for his live stock, prin-
cipally cattle and hogs, clears land for
field, assists at starch (coontie) MAX
ing, and does not wholly disdain to-
work in the fields, or to amuse his
children; for these he exhibits n de-
cided fondness, and he is always as in
dulgent to them as he is kind to his
women. He sleeps beneath canopy
of cheese cloth, which protects him
from gnat and other insects, is well
fed. is rarely i'll, and appears thor
/ oughly contented with his lot, though
oppressed with IN ever-present anxiety
concerning the encroachments of his
white neighbors.
The Seminole dead are buried, to-
gether with weapons, cooking utensils
and such other things as they may need
in the Seminole hunting grounds to
which they have journeyed; and above
| their graves are built solid tombs of
logs.
The women of this interesting tribe
are of medium height, plump, cheer
full in disposition, and often good look
ing. Their jet black hair is banged
across the forehead, and twisted in
to Psyche-knot behind Their good
natured faces always suggest a sup
| pressed mirth, and when they are at
home the forest encampments ring
with their laughter, They dress in n
long sleeved, calico jacket, and q full
skirt SO long that it conceals their
bare feet. About their necks thew
wear heavy collars of blue, green and
white glass beads and across their
bodies are strung many silver coins,
thus indicating the wealth of their
husbands. These women are yery in
dustrious, rarely spend nm idle
pSment and are consequently happy.
They are gool cooks and skilled in the
use of the needle. Some of them
have even attained to the luxury of
sewing machines, of which they are
immensely proud, and the mysteries
of which they quickly comprehend.
They keep them in order bv the use