Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-01-15

ligator hides or otter skins which are
their trading stock.
These they exchange for bacon, grits
and cloth, and retreat into the mysterious
interior.
The gIamor Of their ancient history and
the mystery OF their abode throws about
them an interest which is not at all
justified by the unromantic realities of
their life. They live. few families to-
gether, in camps pitched upon some island
or bit of high ground. Their houses
are built of palmetto wood and matched
over. just as they were In the days when
De Soto first explored the peninsula The
Seminoles always have been agricultur-
lists, but their operations are conducted
upon a very limited scale. There Is a
patch of corn and a patch OF sugar
cane. That Is all. The corn is to eat.
but the sugar cane is provided for
much more important purpose. There
is a press to get the 'isugar-water'' out
OF the cane. and then there is an i'm
provised still. And there in the heart
of the Everglades. in defiance of the In
ternal revenue authorities and Of all law,
the last chief of the Seminoles Is max
ing moonshine rum in preparation for
big drunk.
The Seminole WIN sometimes hire HIM
self to a farmer to work In the fields. but
he rarely sticks 10 the job beyond the
first opportunity to get enough money
to buy whisky. Some Everglades ex-
plorers say they are not even fit for
guides, that they don't know their own
country and that they are too lazy and
too stupid to be OF real service. The
surveyors say they viii not have an
Indian workman because he Is so entire
ly irresponsible.
1t is against the surveyor that the
Seminole is making the last fight for
the protection of his ancient empire
The surveyors are crossing the Ever
glades here and there. At one place
there is a railroad, in others highways
and oyer all the surveys for drainage
canals. The Indians do not openly
oppose or resist the whites. They have
learned that such a warfare is hopeless
But they follow the surveyors and at
night creep In and stealthily. change the
position Of stakes and markers, confus-
ing and harassing the men whom they
think are planting TO dispossess them
of their homes.
Cheap whisky and moonshine rum are
taxing LneT Toll OF the race anu In0
tribal medicine men are doing their
share of the work Of gradual extermina-
tion. With the advantages of what we
are pleased to call modern civilization
there come the disadvantages OF modern
diseases. The disadvantages have
reached the Seminols first. The aid OF a
white physician is rarely sought. and Is
usually declined II proffered. The sick
Seminole prefers to trust himself to his
own medicine man. That ignorant
creature, half believer In his own mum
merry. lets blood in copious quantities,
doses his victim with powerful concoc-
tions of poisonous herbs puts poultices
of red peppers on infiamed eye-lids and,
generally, either kills or cures.
The great event of the Seminole year
is the green corn dance In the spring.
at which event tribal affairs are dis
cussed and settled justice is melted out,
punishments INFLICTED. and there is feast
ing and gayety and marrying and giving
in marriage. The Seminole has certain
standards of honor to which he rigidly
adheres, although his standard differs
considerably from ours. Among Chris