FAMILIAR SCENES ON THE MISSISSIPPI. Lis 
ged looks submit to every privation that is imposed on 
them, and appear equally indifferent as to the receipt of 
favors. Throwing aside every mark of etiquette among 
themselves, the chief, who, when among their native 
haunts, is almost a sacred person, lies down or takes 
his food, promiscuously with the noblest or most de- 
giaded of his people ; all distinctions of age as well as 
caste, are thrown aside, and the Indians seem a mere 
mass of degraded humanity, with less apparent capa- 
bility of self-preservation than the brute. 
Some two or three years ago, we took passage on 
board a boat bound from.New Orleans to St. Louis, 
which boat the government had engaged to carry as far 
towards their place of destination as practicable, near 
four hundred Seminoles, who, with their chiefs, had 
agreed to emigrate west of the Mississippi. 
We were not particularly pleased with our numerous 
and novel passengers, but the lateness of the season les- 
sened the chances of getting a conveyance, and as most of 
the Indians were to remain in a tender, lashed to the side 
of the steamer, we concluded that a study of their man- 
ners and habits would beguile away the time of a long 
trip, and thus pay us for the inconveniences we might 
be put to. Unfortunately, the novelty of our situation 
too soon passed away. 
The Indians, who on first acquaintance kept up a lit- 
tle display of their original character, gradually relapsed 
into what appeared to be a mere vegetable existence, 
