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 tire 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 a n d 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 killintj a ne^ro half-breed named 

 Nigger Jim. 



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 



BAKKOTARTSO. "OLD CHARLIE." 



