THE SEMINOLE INDIANS. 



MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 



Among the Seminole Indians in Florida exist certain tribal organi- 

 zations or clans known as " gens," which comprise families and 

 their unmarried relatives. In the old days these gens were well 

 known ; but at the present time many of them have either become 

 extinct or their members are so few and scattered that they are no 

 longer recognized. 



These gens were known under various names, such as Tiger, Deer, 

 Bear, Wind, and many others, the members of the same " gen" not 

 being allowed to intermanT. 



A Seminole Indian rarelv kills more game than he can use ; if he 

 does not need the meat, he either sells it or cures it for future use, 

 the venison being cut into strips which are smoked slightly over the 

 camp tire and afterwards dried by the sun. 



An Indian camp fire will burn for a long time and consume 

 comparatively little wood. A number of logs are arranged in a 

 circle with their ends together, somewhat resembling the spokes of a 

 wheel ; the fire is lighted in the center where the ends meet, and 

 when the fire is no longer needed the logs are drawn apart and it 

 immediately dies down; but the charred ends may easily be ignited 

 again when required. 



This fire is an admirable one for camp cooking, as it is compara- 

 tively small and easily regulated. 



The camp fire is rarely allowed to go out, a pot of sofkee or 

 stewed meat generally being kept warm, especially in a camp where 

 there are many children. 



" Sofkee " is a kind of soup made from ground corn or hominy and 

 corn mixed. It is eaten with large wooden spoons which the Indians 

 manufacture and which are called sofkee spoons. These they hand 



