The evening times., 1898-11-25

unable TO learn what the penalty of per-
sistent disobedIence or rebellion against
these unwritten laws is, but | have
reason to assume that it is death.
Concerning the question of slavery
among these Indians, Agent Duncan
says:
II have been asked the question: Does
slavery exist among these people. for such
has been reported. During the earlier
days and before the emancipation a mild
system of slavery no doubt exiested. and
it is true that il has existed since the
proclamation in a mild form. While among
them ! met but two people of the
colored race. "Old Lucy. as she is called
living on the west side, aged about sew
enty-ive, was captured when a child dur
Ing the Seminole war. Her son a half
breed. known as Dixie, is the last So
called slave. BY the laws of the Semi
noles all the children of Lucy were slaves
TO the different members OF the family
or gems to which she belonged. until the
youngest of the family became of age
They appeared only to exercise q GER
tain property right over them often pro-
tecting them In one case the young man
Dixie above referred TO was in danger
of his life, and was only saved by the
protecting hand of one of the family who
claimed him as his property He was
manumitted few months ago. the last
so-called slave of the Seminole. by the
youngest of the family TO whom he be-
longed coming of age.
They have no religion-that is. beyond
dim belief in a future life. Morality
and justice constitute the foundation of
their guidance in all matters of duty.
Like all North American Indians, they
believe In the well-known hunting
grounds of the hereafter. where they
shall indulge in all the joys of the chase.
a heaven particularly set aside for In
dams
II have not been able to learn that they
have any strictly religious dances or GER
emonies. Their burials are simple and
conducted with the greatest of stoicism.
Contrary TO the general custom of Indi-
ans, they bury their brethren with the
| face to the rising instead or the setting
| of the sun. The body is placed upon the
| ground, a conical roof of small poles is
made closing 1t, and the inclosure covered
| with dirt. This form is used by MANY of
| the Indians west of the Mississippi. and is
| probably the original form of a resting
| place for the dead. A few trinkets be-
! longing to the deceased are placed with
| ing the grave. few months after the
| burial of their friends they visit the
| grave and thereafter no attention is paid
l
| and the bones are scattered on the ground
without any further care, owing to their
! superstition.
The Indian agent refers to the Seminole
| as industrial people. THE PRINCIPAL
| means of support he says lis the hunt
| ing of the alligator. The sale of these
| skins nets them very fair days pay.
| Some of them are able TO earn at times
! $50 or 5000 in a month; bur the alligator
| iS hap0mipp In,
| perhaps in less than three or four. thev
| will have disappeared as a source of sup
| port. Fifteen years ago the alligator was
| found in all of the. small .swamps, sink
holes. lakes, and in the northern part of
| the Everglades and throughout the State.
| Farther south have they been compelled
to go to find them, until now the princi-
pal hunting ground is found in the tam
gled and uninhabitable cypress sWamps
THE average earnings from this
source, so far as I am able to learn. will
not exceed 81 or s1.25 a day, and each
| year becoming less. The otter formerly
very plentiful is nearly extinct The kill
ing of plume birds is not only forbidden
by law, but they are nearly extinct These
Indians will be compelled to fall back up
on agriculture for a living within the
next three to five years. They have new
er asked the support of the Government
condition generally.
LAS a general thing they are not habitu-
ally addicted to the use of intoxicating
liquors. but, like all other Indians, they
have a liking for fire water and when
under it's influence they are dangerous
persons to have around. There is no re-
straint exercised on the traffic of liquors
among them, and it is imperative that
the Government take some measure for
| Furnishing those engaged in furnishing
them with liquors.
1.-The marriage ceremony is simple, and
consists of a public declaration and for
NAL reception given by the parents of the
bride When the couple are married the
| groom always moves to the mother-in-
| laws camp and erects his own house.
| which thereafter is his home Respect to
| the relations is strictly enforced; divorces
| or separations seldom occur, and If they
| do, they, are effected by the DEGREES of the
elders" A wife mistreated or not sup
ported is often given away to another,
| or the penalty of exile is enforced without
| the privilege of marrying again. The
moral relations are exceptionally good,