The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-27

encourages III is ira file and would like to s. c all
his people rich. They grow toba,co FOR home
needed, and leaving the, plant in tho ground to
take on new ones. The labor OF farming IL little
crops; Tor In In 5 favored region below the frost
limo sugar cane ,rattoons. and rost vegetables.
one. soMn, SOW Themselves there iter.
agreeable Of The work is given 10 them. Outside
of that. they fare like their m,stors. Differences
a negro slave should cast a matrimcnIa! eye on
an Indian maiden; then all is changed. Tom
IIHi him By Eia ln 'I s" fS;Rer e h her II shS cyl q f bsai ses
silver, won 1t by killing the negro, slave who
wanted to marry his sister: Few Of these slaves
and it is doubtful whether any Of them would
accept their liberty even If they, understood It.
cnsy:going. primitive life suits them.
Old, forsakeD iielts, covered with n richness
Of growth that surprises the traveller, nrs part
Rlndes. While. the Seminoles do not object to
an occasional bout OF severe toll. they have an
So it Is their habit TO cultivate their fields only
SO long 40 the grass can be kept under without
they clear The new plantations with twice the
labor; 1t is the regular task. the unendinrd rndS-
pride. These abanaoned fields. now cleared, and
fertile almost beyond belief. arc duly appreciate ed
by he white natives. and arc the real cause Of
steady cncroachnrnls on their l.nds. Yet, II
the Everglades were strictly reserved to the
Indians, their nOmadiC habits would, In course
Of time, bring them back to their old planta-
tons. One OF the largest contains n wild or, nge
grove; sour. it is true, but worth a fortune IL
late F. J.. Hinson. who trnced The riginsI own
crship to DIR. Tommy, and sent him a. MESSAGE.
piled that he had no right to take pay for IT.;
that he had LETT II. and that the finder was the
owner. Nor would he. oh further appeals. ac-
Very fine crops are grown on tho shtl islands,
on With = sliSht portion OF fine. dark soil has
and mingled with the powdered shell. There
are immense mounds of shells, purely oyster
shells T marking the b.nqGsting places Of the
the site Of an ancient Indian village. 1t has
many peaks and crags, while running all over 1t
are .crtiie valleys which are as greet a source
OF prott o the Indians Is the surrounding mud
that yiel . them alligator hides. the marshes
woods that furnish their furs and dcerskins.
,h rhe s s1'''f + T hshds they wit do s! L %lTay tsp wslI S0sn e;
finish. Their h"mm red silver, work is a mar.
vel, and the squHws' needlework absolute per.
q r%nifh-more like satin lLan. @!oS:asr, Their
depended on dcerstrings for SO many uscs. Dis.
covering this; the Semino!es laid a trap with
s shf% tG '"' 6noS Gsn. H loms ot ibsir s0e, the SKIM I'm.
IN his rod, they awaited his approach in nm:
SIs bori But t the yds Indian ian fighter only sPnrred
nTnuger for the running shot they so dreaded.
The soldier who refined in his horse to nick up a
skin, pail for his folly and cupidity with his life.
notwithstanding the efforts of the agents and
missionaries he Scminoles are. still SEMI
ssyages. Owing, as much to their unconquer.
able distrnst o, the white race as their own ideas
OF independence. they nre suspicious OF all
sttempts 10 civilize them. A regularly built
house and a neat fence are very rare executions.
They seldom draw on tho Government sawmill,
and are particularly shv OF the school,. though
they do not object TO being privately taught by
a white man who has won their conhden e. Big
Tom Tiger can read and write; Billy Bowlecs
keeps the books of the tribe and cares Tor the
nation money. All are good accountants, and
il Is not SO easy to cheat them.
Their creed is OF the simplest; but. such rs 1t
knowledge one God. the creator OF the universe,
but DO not worship him. There is no need. since
he is their Great Father, who takes care of all
brave Indians after death, 1.-THE Big Sleep"
The only divine punishment is on earth and
massee for sin.