igo FOTHERGILL'S BOTANIC GARDEN CHAP. 



happy moments of evening contemplation ; when on a sudden 

 an Indian appeared crossing the path at a considerable distance 

 before me. On perceiving that he was armed with a rifle, 

 the first sight of him startled me, and I endeavoured to elude 

 his sight by stopping my pace, and keeping large trees between 

 us ; but he espied me, and turning short about, set spurs to 

 his horse and came up on full gallop. I never before this was 

 afraid at the sight of an Indian, but at this time I must own 

 that my spirits were very much agitated : being unarmed I 

 was in his power ; and having now but a few moments to 

 prepare, I resigned myself entirely to the will of the Almighty, 

 trusting to his mercies for my preservation : my mind then 

 became tranquil, and I resolved to meet the dreaded foe with 

 resolution and cheerful confidence. The Siminole stopped 

 suddenly, three or four yards before me, and silently viewed 

 me, his countenance angry and fierce, shifting his rifle from 

 shoulder to shoulder, and looking about instantly on all sides. 

 I advanced towards him, and with an air of confidence offered 

 him my hand, hailing him, Brother ; at this he hastily jerked 

 back his arm, with a look of malice, rage and disdain ; when 

 again, looking at me more attentively, he spurred up to me, 

 and with dignity in his look and action, gave me his hand. . . . 

 In fine, we shook hands, and parted in a friendly manner ; and 

 he informed me of the course and distance to the trading house, 

 where I found he had been extremely ill-treated the day 

 before. 



I now set forward again, and after eight or ten miles' riding 

 arrived at the banks of St. Mary's, and got safe over. The 

 trading company here received me with great civility. On 

 my relating the adventure with the Indian, the chief replied, 

 " My friend, consider yourself a fortunate man : that fellow," 

 said he, " is one of the greatest villains on earth, a noted 

 murderer, and outlawed by his countrymen. Last evening he 

 was here, we took his gun from him, broke it in pieces, and 

 gave him a severe drubbing : he, however, made his escape, 

 carrying off a new rifle gun, with which, he said, going off, 

 he would kill the first white man he met." 



Bartram associated with the Indian tribes : that " I 

 might judge," he says, " for myself whether they were 

 deserving of the severe censure " commonly passed upon 

 them, and incapable of civilisation. He was satisfied 

 that they were desirous of becoming united with the 

 whites in civil and religious society. He advocated 



