The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-12-06
The Florida Seminole.

Grafton by his bravery as fighter, his
absolute independence, his freedom
from the vices common to Indians, his
industry and his willingness to adopt
civilization if allowed to do so grad
ually and through imitation. Physi-
cally he is one Of the finest existing
specimens of the North American red
man--tall, straight and clean limbed.
His features are good and in most
cases his face expresses high degree
of intelligence save in the few in
stances where his skin is darkened by
an admixture of negro blood, it is Of a
clear copper color. Ahalf- breed from
white and Indian parentage cannot be
found in the tribe. Following the die
tates of an immutable custom, rather
than those of comfort, the Seminole
wears on his head an immense turban
formed of gay 'kerchiefs covering a
light frame Of rattan. With the
exception of braided scalp lock,
which is hidden beneath this turhan,
all hair is closely cut from his head
and none appears on his face. The
remainder of his dress consists of
red and yellow, beautifully sewed cal
leo shirt and breech cloth. Save on
occasions, when they are covered with
buckskin leggins and moccasins, his
legs and feet are bare. He is always
armed with the most improved pattern
of rife, but despises a shotgun, and
regards revolver as toy. He fash
ions commodious and most excellent
canoes from single huge. cypress logs,
and sails or poles them with dexterity,
but neither paddles nor rows. He does
not steal nor lie, like all his race. He
drinks whiskey whenever he can OBJ
tain it.
His principal occupation is hunting,
but in intervals of this he builds his
huts Of poles and palmetto thatch,
overhauls his weapons, nets, traps or
canoe, cares for his live stock, princi-
pally cattle and hogs, clears land for a
field, assists at stal ch (coontic) making
and does not wholly disdain to work
in the fields or to amuse his children !;
for these he exhibits decided fond
ness, and he is always as indulgent to
them as he is kind to his women. He
may have one or more wives, according
to his circumstances, but is not al
lowed more than be can comfortably
support. He sleeps beneath a canopy
Of cheese cloth, which protects him
from gnats and other insects, is well
fed, is rarely i'll and appears thorough
| ly contented with his lot, though op-
pressed with an ever present anxiety
concerning the encroachments Of his
white neighbors.
Tbs dead body of Seminole was
recently found in canoe which float
ed from the Everglades into Biscayne
Bay. He was shockingly mangled,
and bore every evidence Of having
been engaged in fatal conflict with a
panther. There is one deadly peril,
however, that they invariably escape,
owing to their superior knowledge Of
medicinal herbs. Although they tramp
bare-legged through sand and ham
mock, swamp and prairie, they do so
without fear of rattlesnakes or other
venomous reptile, for they always car
ry a small portion of Pah-sah root,
which seems to be certain antidote
for animal poisons, but the secret Of
which no temptation will induce them
to divulge. The Seminole dead are
buried, together with weapons, cook
ing utensils and such other things as
they may need in the Seminole hunt
ing. grounds to which they have jour
neyed, 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
looking. Their jet black hair is bang
ed across the forehead and twisted
into a Psyche-knot behind. Their
good-humored faces always suggest q
suppressed mirth, and when they ale
at home the forest encampments ring
with their laughter. They dress in a
long sleeve, high-necked, but extreme
ly short-waisted calico jacket, and a
full skirt so long that it conceals their
bare feet. For some unknown reason
the loose jacket is never allowed to
meet, and thus few inches Of naked
waist is always exposed. About their
necks they wear heavy colors Of blue,
green and white glass beads, and
across their breasts are strung many
silver coins, thus indicating the
wealth of their husbands. These wo-
men are very industrious, rarely spend
an idle moment, and are consequently
happy. They are good 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 or
der by the use of alligator oil, which
is unexcelled as a lubricant for fine
machinery.
The Florida Seminole lives well and
is never subject to those periods of
semi-staryation that are of such fire.
quent occurrence among his northern
brethren. For meats he has venison,
bear, coon, possum, pork, terrapin,
turtles, gophers and sometimes beef.
His larder ic we'll supplied with
chickens, wild turkeys, quail, ducks
and many other fowl. In their season
he procures quantities Of turtle eggs
from the sea beaches, and an mex
haustible supply Of fish is to be had
for the spearing. He raises sweet po-
tatoes, squashes, melons, beans, corn
and sugar-cane, and has scattered
groves Of guavas, oranges, lemons,
cocoanuts, paw-paws and various other
fruits. He exchanges plumes, alliga-
tor hides, deer skins and starch for
-four, coffee, sugar, tobacco and many
another luxury Of civilization, but
limits his intercourse with the whites
to the necessities Of trade, avoiding
them as much as possible on all other
occasions. His women are forbidden
to so much as to speak to white man,
and their chastity, so far as he is con-
cerned, is secured by death penalty
EigidE enforced.
un the whole the Florida Seminole
is as independent of the whites as a
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