THE SEMINOLE INDIANS. I9 



The " black drink " was made from a shrub found in Georgia, 

 and Carolina, and Northern Florida, which is called cassina. 

 The leaves were collected and boiled over a fire ; they were then 

 poured from one pan to another until fermentation took place, 

 when it was considered ready for use. In ancient times it was a 

 custom of the Indians during this celebration to seat themselves in a 

 circle around the fire, and three young men handed gourds full of 

 the black drink to three of the greatest chiefs present. The young 

 men then stepped back a few paces and uttered what was known as 

 the black drink cry, first exclaiming loudly the word " choh." At 

 this signal the three chiefs drank from the huge gourds, the young 

 men uttering the wailing note, and the chiefs drank until the note 

 ended. The gourds were then taken from the mouths of the war- 

 riors and the young men handed them to the chiefs next in rank, 

 pronouncing the word " choh," but the cry of the black drink was 

 not uttered, as none were entitled to this distinction except those 

 highest in power. After drinking the concoction the warriors dis- 

 gorged it, and we are told that it was considered praiseworthy to be 

 able to do this gracefully. 



The Indians are warned by their medicine men not to eat corn 

 until after the celebration of the Green Corn Dance. 



William Freeman, of Little River, who has lived near the Indians 

 for many years, told me how, on one occasion, Dr. Tiger was at his 

 house when he had green corn for dinner ; it was some weeks before 

 the Green Corn Dance was to take place, and Dr. Tiger looked 

 wistfully at the corn and asked, " You eat green corn now? " Free- 

 man answered, " Me like corn plenty now." 



Tiger went on with his meal, but did not eat any corn, although 

 he seemed troubled about something. At last he told Freeman that 

 the Indians were warned by their medicine men not to eat green corn 

 before the annual celebration, as it would make them ill; " Make 

 Indian sick," as he expressed it. 



It seems, according to Tiger's statement, that some of the squaws 

 and children have eaten green corn before the dance, but the men 

 never eat it. 



