180 AJIOXG THE SEMIXOLES. 



stopped by a long line of cypress swamp. So we camped 

 on the Alpattiokee. Alpattiokee is Seminole for Alli 

 gator creek. Game was abundant ; deer in herds on 

 the savannas ; turkeys in flocks in the hammocks ; the 

 half-dry creek bed swarmed with ibis and heron of 

 every hue, and alligators were in abundance. They 

 crawled upon the banks of the creek,, reposed upon its 

 sand bars, and swam its waters. They made night hid 

 eous with their bellowings, and kept our mastiff in per 

 petual dread of being devoured by assailing him while 

 he reposed by our camp-lire. Every inducement for the 

 stay of hunter or naturalist was offered, and every tramp 

 and hunt would bring new additions of rare plants and 

 birds to my collection. 



While hunting along the various creeks I discovered 

 signs of Indians in the sand of the dry creek-bed the 

 impressions of moccasined feet ; on its banks a &quot;cabbage 

 .palm&quot; with its terminal bud torn out and the leaves 

 scattered. An old Indian camp, strewn with bones of 

 deer, turkey, and tortoise, showed that the place was a 

 favorite hunting ground. There were fresh tracks of 

 three Indian hunters, besides fainter ones of a woman 

 and child. One day Jim came in with the pickaninny s 

 playthings an alligator tooth, two or three grotesquely- 

 shaped pieces of brier root, and a walnut. While we 

 were examining them we heard a faint tinkling in the 

 distance, and a preliminary reconnoisance revealed three 

 Indians approaching the ford in the creek near our cam]). 

 Affecting to be employed with our duties, we only looked 

 up as they appeared, and they, taking no notice of us, 

 inarched on with heads erect till brought to a halt by 

 Jim, who ran forward with extended hand and a hearty 

 &quot;Howdy.&quot; Then their swarthy faces displayed grins 



