XX. 



AMONG THE SEMINOLES. 



BY the treaty of 1842, the few Seminoles remaining 

 in Florida after the war, were confined to the south 

 ern portion of the peninsula. There they still remain, 

 between two and three hundred in number, leading a 

 peaceful life, cultivating their fields, and hunting. They 

 are governed by two chiefs ; those around the southern 

 shore of Lake Okeechobee by Tustenuggee, and those 

 east of that great lake by Tiger Tailee. Their inter 

 course with white men is limited to occasional trad 

 ing visits to Indian river and the Keys. Though they 

 have existed as a nation for one hundred years, very lit 

 tle is known regarding their language, customs, and 

 social life. 



It was with the avowed object of studying the Indian 

 in his native wilds that I left Indian river one beautiful 

 spring morning in 72. I had provided myself with an 

 ox-cart, oxen of course, and a guide though just what 

 he was a guide of, and to where, I ve not satisfactorily 

 determined to this day and the usual amount of hunters 

 traps. There was also a colored individual, who had 

 charge of the frying-pan and coffee pot. &quot;Well, we pro 

 gressed favorably enough, till the second night out found 

 us fifteen miles from my camp on Indian river, thirty 

 miles from Okeechobee, and further travel apparently 



