FAMILIAR SCENES OX THE MlSSISSim. 115 



ged looks submit to every privation tliat is imposed on 

 them, and appear equally indifferent as to the receipt of 

 favors. Tlirowing aside every mark of etiquette anjong 

 themselves, the chief, who, when among their native 

 haunts, is almost a sacred person, lies down or takes 

 his food, promiscuously with the noblest or most de- 

 graded of his people ; all distinctions of age as well as 

 caste, are thrown aside, and the Indians seem a mere 

 mass of degraded humanity, with less apparent capa- 

 bility of self-preservation than the brute. 



Some two or three years ago, we took passage on 

 board a boat bound from New Orleans to St. Louis, 

 which boat the government had engaged to carry as far 

 .:|^D>wards their place of destination as practicable, near 

 four hundred Seminoles, who, with their chiefs, had 

 agreed to emigrate west of the Missi.'^sippi. 



We were not particularly pleased with our numerous 

 and novel passengers, but the lateness of the season les- 

 sened the chances of getting a conveyance, and as most of 

 the Indians were to remain in a tender, lashed to the side 

 of the steamer, we concluded that a study of their man- 

 ners and habits would beguile away the time of a long 

 trip, and thus pay us for the inconveniences we might 

 be put to. Unfortunately, the novelty of our situation 

 too soon passed away. 



The Indians, who on first acijuaintanee kept up a lit- 

 tle display of their original character, gradually relapsed 

 into wliat appeared to be a mere vegetable existence. 



K^JJMli 



