404 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [boll. 73 
is by Mr. Penieres in a letter to General Jackson, dated July, 1821, 
though the estimates of population given by him are probably 
too high. This has been printed several times, but I here take it 
from Jedidiah Morse's Report on the Indian Tribes, where it seems to 
appear with the smallest number of typographical blemishes: 
The Indian tribes known under the denomination of the Creeks, are divided into 
bands, designated to me as follows: The Mekasousky, Souhane, Moskoky. Santa-Fe, 
Red-stick and Echitos. I have been assured that those bands had raised, during the 
late war, more than twelve hundred warriors, which may lead to suppose a popidation 
of more than three thousand individuals. 
The nation known under the denomination of Seminoles, is composed of seven 
bands— viz, the Larchivue, Oklevuaha, Chockechiatte, Pyakle-kaha, Tal^houyana 
and Topkelake. Besides these are some remnants of ancient tribes, as the Houtchis, 
Chaas, Cana-acke, etc. ; but of these there are only a few straggling families. 
On the borders of Georgia is another tribe, called Cahouita. This tribe, under the 
orders of Mc'Intosh, raised from one hundred to one hundred ana fifty warriors; who 
under this chief, about seven years ago, waged a civil war on the whites and Seminoles 
who hold them in the utmost detestation. 
To this census, which would carry the Indian population to more than five thousand 
individuals, of both sexes, must be added five or six hundred maroon negroes, or 
mulattos, who live wild in the woods, or in a state of half slavery among the Indians. 1 
Mr. Penieres evidently distinguishes as "Creeks" the later comers 
into Florida, and as "Seminoles" the earlier occupants of the peninsula. 
Under the first heading he is not describing the Creek Nation in 
general, but only those who had settled in Florida within the seven 
years preceding the date of his letter. Although there at first appears 
to be great lack of system in this enumeration, a careful examination 
shows that it has a real significance and helps us to understand the 
Indian population of Florida, the elements which entered into it, 
and to some extent the distribution of those elements. Let us take 
the Seminole proper first. The name first given, "Latchivue," is 
without doubt meant for Alachua, but it is not intended to designate 
the Oconee who lived on the Alachua plains in Bartram's time, but 
evidently that portion of the Mikasuki under John Hicks or Takos 
imala known on independent evidence to have been there in 1821. 
"Oklevuaha" is, of course, Ocklawaha, and represents probably, as I 
have said above, the old Yamasee element. "Chockechiatte" is 
Tcoko tcati, the Eufaula colony. 2 Pyakle-kaha is evidently identical 
with Pelaclekaha, which is given by some authorities as the residence 
of Mikonopi and by others as a Negro town near Okihamgi, his actual 
residence. At any rate it clearly refers to the Oconee colony in 
Florida, the pioneer town and the one visited by Bartram when situ- 
ated on the Alachua plains. The town next mentioned, Talehouyana, 
is misprinted in most of the other places where this letter has been 
copied. While its identity is not entirely assured there is good 
• Morse, Rept. to the Sec. of War, p. 311. « See p. 403. 
