CHAPTER XIX. 



INDIAN HISTORY. 



M True they have vices — such are nature's growth, 



But only the barbarian's— we have both." 



Btroh. 



"When Florida was ceded by Spain to the United States, in the 

 year 1821, it was inhabited by several powerful tribes of natives. 

 The Seminoles, residing in the Alachua country, in the centre of 

 the peninsula, were a branch of the Creek Indians, whose villages 

 margined the Chattahoochee River, near Columbus, in Georgia, and 

 the name of Seminole, or Runaway, originated with a secession of 

 this branch, which occurred at a remote period. Micanopy was 

 their principal chief. The Tallahassees inhabited the northern and 

 western portion of the peninsula, their chief town being at Talla- 

 hassee, the present capital of the state. Thlock-lo-Tustenuggee, 

 or Tiger Tail, was their head chief. 



The Mickasukie tribe, under Ar-pe-ik, or Sam Jones, and sub- 

 sequently, under an eminent warrior, Halleck Tustenuggee, had 

 their hunting-grounds on the waters of the Ouithlacouchee, and 

 the heavy swamps that border it. 



South of Lake Okechobee another tribe found a secure home in 

 the fastnesses of the everglades. They were called Spanish Indians, 

 and their chief was named Chekika. 



The Creeks of Georgia came down to assist their kinsmen in 

 the wars that ensued, and were led by Octiarche, and subsequently 

 by that chief whose name has added so much to the romance and 

 dignity of the Indian character, Osceola. The whole number of 

 Indians in Florida at this time was estimated at from fifteen 

 hundred to as many thousands. To this was to be added an equal 

 number of negro fugitives from the slave states, or the children 



