12 



HUNTING AND FISHING IN FLORIDA. 



claimed, being always placed toward the East. The body is usually 

 wrapped in a blanket and covered with logs, forming a kind of box 

 with the palmetto leaf roof over it. A fire is built at the end of the 



tomb, which is renewed 

 at sunset for three days, 

 and lighted torches waved 

 about for a few moments 

 to frighten away the 

 '' bad birds." After the 

 third day the fires are 

 allowed to go out. 



In talking with Old 

 Charlie and Osceola 

 about the mounds which 

 are so common in Flor- 

 ida, I asked who made 

 them, and they answered, 

 " Injuns all dead. One 

 old chief tell me long time 

 'go, Injuns came in canoe, 

 eat oysters, play ball." 



Old Charlie said the 

 Indians were not Semi- 

 noles. 



Most of the Indians 

 have but one wife, but 

 two at least. Old Charlie 

 and Old Doctor, have 

 two. I have been told 

 that Old Doctor was pre- 

 sented with a second wife by his tribe, in recognition of his ser- 

 vices to his brother Indians in killing a negro half-breed named 

 Key-West Billy. 



This half-breed came back to his tribe and demanded in marriage 

 one of the Indian girls. It is claimed that, upon being refused, he 



BARFOTARTSO. " OLD CHARLIE. 



