TIIK SICMIXOLK 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 al 

 night. The alligator lying with his t-ves 

 out of the water does not ajipear to be 

 afraid of the light which is rellected in 

 his eye, having the appearance of a hari-oon. 



brilliant candle llame, 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 years alligators ha\e become comparatively scarce and it 

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

 although they are still numerous in manv 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 the}' prize highly. Whenever a bear is discovered a 

 hunting party is immediately organized and the animal is tracked 

 to his hiding place, surnnmded 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 nsually succeed in killing a great many. When in 

 the vicinity of a white settlement they lind 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. I'lu' men, when not hunting, lie about the camji taking it 

 easy. Upon reaching a new camping jilace the men lake liu-ir rilles 



