l6 HUNTING AND FISHING IN FLORIDA. 



shirt. The women wear a cotton dress embroidered with many 

 pieces of colored calico. The young children run about naked until 

 they arrive at the age of eight or ten years, when they are given a 

 cotton shirt. Sometimes the small children wear some sort of 

 covering during the cold weather. 



The Indians visit each other a great deal. Many of those living 

 on New River go to the Big Cypress every year, usually to attend 

 the Green Corn Dance and visit their relatives. 



GREEN CORN DANCE. 



The annual festival known as the Green Corn Dance is still ob- 

 served by the Indians, but it is not conducted with the same cere- 

 mony as in bygone years. 



In the old days the Green Corn Dance or " Busk" was an occa- 

 sion of great importance with the Creek tribe. It then occupied 

 seven or eight days, but is now reduced to four or at most five days. 



It takes place during the second week in June or during the " little 

 moon in June," as the Indians say. 



It is very difficult to obtain from the Indians a description of this 

 dance. From time to time they would answer a few questions, but 

 if pressed for information they immediately become reticent. The 

 dance usually lasts four days, according to the statement of most of 

 the Indians, although some claim that it is decided by the medi- 

 cine man whether it shall last four or live days. Two weeks 

 previous to the day of the dance notice is sent by Indian messengers 

 to the different clans and villages stating the date of the ceremony. 

 They keep account of the days which intervene by hanging up a 

 number of small sticks representing the days, and one is taken down 

 each day. When the last one is thrown away they repair to the 

 point selected for the feast. 



On the evening of the first day the ceremony of taking the " black 

 drink " occurs. It is believed that unless one drinks of this he will 

 be " sick " after eating the green corn. It is not as carefully carried 

 out as in the old days, and I do not understand that the fire is now 



