Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-03-29

tinuous rains. Cypress swamps abound
| About Is miles OF the eastern beach Ii
hard, white sand. Small steamers traverse
the lake. South OF this great BODY oil
water IS the Everglades. Everglades
means "water and grass" by the Indian
II is called "grass water This tract is
about 100 miles long, by 50 miles wide
aside from tine lake, and comprises q
larger area than the state of Connecticut.
A peculiar feature of all lakes and swamps
of Florida is that you never fear being
mired. They have a sandy bottom.
Chiefs had their headquarters on the
islands near the big lake. l saw the Rev.
/ Mr.. Gibbs, who commenced to preach to
| the Indians in 1895. He and his wife have
started school in which the young have
to be taught secretly, as the old Indian
will not allow his children to be taught,
for he says learning will make him lie
and steal like a white man. Up to ten
years ago, an Indian was never known 10
do dishonest act. The Indian brings in
the hides OF deer, alligator and other
/ animals.
The best information possible as TO the
numbers OF the red men, is that there are
| between $50 and 500 souls. At various times
| IL Is claimed that these Indians still hold
slaves as formerly, but from the best
proof possible, the Seminole Indians do
not hold slaves. There are not over seven
mixed bloods and one full blooded negro
woman among them. The tribe has no
chiefs as OF old, although a few Indians
have great influence over the others.
The cattle men of Florida pasture the
lands occupied by the Indians. No Indian
ever puts valuables under lock and key, as
white people do, as no Indian ever loses
valuables by another. Their hogs run
wild in the forests and are sometimes
stolen by the whites, but never by an In
dian. They are perfectly developed and
as rule attract the admiration OF the OBJ
server. The women are very good looking
and are treated with great consideration
by the males and control the affairs OF the
home life largely. The woman raises
pigs and chickens and does what she
pleases with the money. The young girls
will not marry a white man and do not
learn the English language as we'll as the
men. Both sexes are very chaste; a half
breed white is never seen among them.
They are very devoted TO their wives and
children and their homes The Seminole is
a good cook, but the manner OF serving
is not to the taste OF the whites. They
seldom eat the wild turkey, but will sell 1t
to you for ten cents. All are very fond
deck themselves gaily with bright colors.
The greatest day in the year is in June,
when they celebrate a corn dance. 1t
usually lasts about three days. A portion
OF the time they abstain from food. Ii is
a religious observance to the Great Spirit,
whom they believe in.
II is no uncommon thing for a white
man to set up claim on the very land an
Indian is occupying. The Indian asks II
be can have the crops he has raised
(Which are in a small way, as his life is
mostly devoted to fishing and hunting.l
'If white man want land and crops, me
no want them" The Indian fears the
white man and fears war.
The government has turned over a new
leaf in its treatment of the Indians, by
this worthy remnant OF Os-
ceola's warriors to live and die in the
land OF their choice and near the graves
OF their fathers. In so doing, the last
chapter OF the Seminole war can be con.
with honor and not with
shame to a Christian nation.
@. W. FLAGG,
Fort Myers, Fla, February, 1900. ITO be