PRi^KAci-: ro six'OM) edition. 



Ix'conie i^nitud, four oUut youn^- men come forward, hrin^inif each 

 an ear of com, whicli the medicine man lakes from ihem and phices 

 on the fire. 



Then four younif men approach, carr\inL;- a iiuantil\- of the heaves 

 of the cassina jihint, flex rassiiic, a species of hoilv, from w liich the 

 " bhick drink"' is made. A few of these leaves are thrown on the 

 tire and consumed. The remainder is partially dried and cooked, 

 and made into a sort of strong concoction or tea, known as the 

 " black drink." The warriors and head men of tlu' tribe come in 

 about ele\en o'clock, when the drink has lieconu' cool, and the cere- 

 mon^' of the "black drink" then takes place. (See jiage \<.j of this 

 work.) 



The decoction is drunk in turns by the head warriors, and acts as 

 an emetic. No food of any kind is allowed to be eaten on this day. 

 The squaws come in tlie afternoon, when every one indulges in much 

 liilarious dancing and singing. Certain Indians are ajipointed special 

 guards, called liitapaJa ^ to see that no one sleeps >o\\ the fourth night. 

 They are armed witli jiointed sticks, and whenever they lind a man 

 who is overcome with fatigue, or the effects of too repeated indul- 

 gences in alcoholic stimulants, t]ie\' j^rod him with these sticks and 

 insist upon his getting \v^ and joining the others. No food or sleep 

 is permitted until the sun rises on tlie tifth day, and many of the 

 Indians sit about anxioush' waiting for the dawn, as they are b}' that 

 time tired and hungr\-. On the fourth day a few of the younger 

 Indians, desirous of making themselves conspicuous, scratcii tlieir 

 chests and bodies until the blood llows freely. 'I'hey then dance 

 about, singing their peculiar song. 



SEMINOLE GENS OR CLANS. 



Among tlie Seminole Indians in Florida exist certain tribal organ- 

 izations, known as clans or gens, which com]->rise families and their 

 unmarried relatives. 



These gens, or clans, are many of them of ancient origin, and in 

 some cases are gradually dying out, while several of them have 

 already become extinct. They were continued in the female line. 



