THE SEMINOLE INDIANS. 27 



as an oar striking against the side of the boat will cause him to 

 sink and swim away at once. 



The Indians kill a great many alligators for the purpose of sell- 

 ing their skins to traders. As a rule, they " tire-hunt" them at 

 night. The alligator lying with his eyes 

 out of the water does not appear to be 

 afraid of the light which is reflected in 

 his eye, having the appearance of a harpoon. 



brilliant candle flame, and may be seen 



from a considerable distance. The Indian paddling in his canoe 

 approaches within a few feet of the animal and easily shoots 

 him through the head, after which he is speared and towed to the 

 shore. 



Of late 3^ears alligators have become comparatively scarce and it 

 no longer pays professional hunters to kill them as a business, 

 although they are still numerous in many places in the interior. 

 Indians, as a rule, do not like to hunt far from their canoes or 

 ponies, although they are good walkers, and, if occasion requires, 

 will cover long distances on foot. 



The Indians are very fond of bear meat and extract an oil from 

 the fat which they prize highly. Whenever a bear is discovered a 

 hunting party is immediately organized and the animal is tracked 

 to his hiding place, surrounded and killed. 



When deer hunting the Indians divide into small parties, two or 

 three bucks hunting together, taking with them their squaws and 

 children. They select a part of the country where deer are known 

 to be plenty and usually succeed in killing a great many. When in 

 the vicinity of a white settlement they find a ready market for their 

 venison and what they do not sell is smoked and dried for future 

 use ; dried venison will keep very well, but it is tough and unpal- 

 atable. 



During the planting season both the men and women work in the 

 field, but when on a hunting expedition the women do all the camp 

 work. The men, when not hunting, lie about the camp taking it 

 easy. Upon reaching a new camping place the men take their rifles 



