486 SEMINOLE INDIANS OF FLORIDA. 
effort on their part to lengthen by a pull the scanty covering hanging 
over their breasts. Gathered about the waist is the other garment, the 
skirt, extending to the feet and often touching the ground. ‘This is 
usually made of some dark colored calico or gingham. The cord by 
which the petticoat is fastened is often drawn so tightly about the 
waist that it gives to that part of the body a rather uncomfortable ap- 
pearance. This is especially noticeable because the shirt is so short that 
a space of two or more inches on the body is left uncovered between it 
and the skirt. I saw no woman wearing moccasins, and I was told 
that the women never wear them. [For headwear the women have noth- 
ing, unless the cotton cloth, or small shawl, used about the shoulders 
in cool weather, and which at times is thrown or drawn over the head, 
may be called that. (Fig. 63.) 
Girls from seven to ten years old are clothed with only a petticoat, and 
boys about the same age wear only a shirt. Younger children are, as 
a rule, entirely naked. If clothed at any time, it is only during ex- 
ceptionally cool weather or when taken by their parents on a journey 
to the homes of the palefaces. 
PERSONAL ADORNMENT, 
The love of personal adornment shows itself among the Seminole as 
among other buman beings. 
HAIR DRESSING, 
The coarse, brilliant, black hair of which they are possessors is taken 
care of in an odd manner. The men cut all their hair close to the head, 
except a strip about an inch wide, run- 
ning over the front of the scalp from 
temple to temple, and another strip, 
of about the same width, perpendic- 
ular to the former, crossing the crown 
of the head to the nape of the neck. 
Ateach temple a heavy tuft is allowed 
to hang to the bottom of the lobe of 
the ear. The long hair of the strip 
crossing to the neck is generally gath- 
ered and braided into two ornamental 
queues. I did not learn that these 
Indians are in the habit of plucking 
the hair from their faces. I noticed, 
however, that the moustache is com- 
monly worn among them and that a 
few of them are endowed with a rather 
bold looking combination of mous- 
tache and imperial. As an exception 
to the uniform style of cutting the hair of the men, I recall the comical 
appearance of a small negro half breed at the Big Cypress Swamp. 

Fic. 64. Manner of wearing the hair. 
