33 HUNTING AND FISHING IN FLORIDA. 



tribe. The language spoken by the Miami Indians is somewhat 

 different. 



The chief seat of government is located at Fish Eating Creek, and 

 at this camp resides Hospataki and Tustanugge, who are chiefs of 

 note, although, as I understand it, there has been no regularly 

 recoo-nized head chief among the Seminole Indians since the death 

 of Tiger Tail. It was customary in the old da3's to have the chieftain- 

 ship descend in the female line, but this is not so at present, and if 

 a chief is now elected it is done by the council. 



SEMINOLE HISTORY. 



There is a tradition handed down from one generation to another 

 among the Indians to the effect that a very long time ago some 

 wandering bands of Indians came from the northwest, and, finding 

 the country fertile and filled with game, they settled in the country 

 of the then powerful tribes of Florida and Appalachian Indians. 

 They were received in a friendly manner and for many years lived 

 on good terms with their neighbors, but later, when their numbers 

 had increased, the}^ made war upon the Appalachians and succeeded 

 in destroying that tribe early in the eighteenth century. These 

 Indians, who belonged to the Creek or Muskogee tribe, became 

 famous for their w^arlike abilities. They extended west to the Ala- 

 bama River, and east throughout Georgia and Northern Florida. 

 The}' conquered the Alabama nation who inhabited the country near 

 the Alabama River ; but later restored to them their lands upon the 

 Alabamians becoming a part of the Creek nation. 



At this time various wandering bands settled in Florida, most of 

 them being descendants of the Creeks or Muskogees. These were 

 known as Seminoles or "lost men." The Indians now known as 

 Seminoles in Florida are principally descendants of the Muskogee or 

 Creek nation, but there are a few individuals descended from the 

 Mickasaukies, Uchees, and Choctaws. 



In the year 1835 commenced what is known as the Seminole War. 

 In the vear 1832 a treaty had been made with the Creeks or Semi- 



