A88 SEMINOLE INDIANS OF FLORIDA. 
length, generally of some shade of blue, and costing (so I was told by a 
trader at Miami) $1.75 a pound. Sometimes, but not often, one sees 
beads of an inferior quality worn. 5 
These beads must be burdensome to their wearers. In the Big Cy- 
press Swamp settlement one day, to gratify my curiosity as to how 
many strings of beads these women can wear, I tried to count those 
worn by “ Young Tiger Tail’s” wife, number one, Mo-ki, who had come 
through the Everglades to visit her relatives. She was the proud 
wearer of certainly not fewer than two hundred strings of good sized 
beads. She had six quarts (probably a peck of the beads) gathered about 
her neck, hanging down her back, down upon her breasts, filling the 
space under her chin, and covering her neck up to herears. It was an 
effort for her to move her head. She, however, was only a little, if any, 
better off in her possessions than most of the others. Others were 
about equally burdened. Even girl babies are favored by their proud 
mammas with a varying quantity of the coveted neck wear. The cum- 
bersome beads are said to be worn by night as well as by day. 
SILVER DISKS. 
Conspicuous among the other ornaments worn by women are silver 
disks, suspended in a curve across the shirt fronts, under and below the 
beads. As many as ten or more are worn by one 
woman. These disks are made by men, who may 
be called “jewelers to the tribe,” from silver quar- 
ters and half dollars. The pieces of money are 
pounded quite thin, made concave, pierced with 
holes, and ornamented by a groove lying just in- 
side the circumference. Large disks made from 
half dollars may be called ‘“ breast shields.” They 
are suspended, one over each breast. Among the 
disks other ornaments are often suspended. One 
young woman I noticed gratifying her vanity with 
not only eight disks made of silver quarters, but 
also with three polished copper rifle shells, one 
bright brass thimble, and a buckle hanging among 
them. Of course the possession of these and like 
treasures depends upon the ability and desire of 
one and another to secure them. 

Tic. 65. Manner of piercing 
the ear. 
EAR RINGS. 
Tar rings are not generally worn by the Seminole. Those worn are 
usually made of silver and are of home manufacture. The ears of most 
of the Indians, however, appear to be pierced, and, as a rule, the ears 
of the women are pierced many times; for what purpose I did not dis- 
cover. Along and in the upper edges of the ears of the women from 
one to ten or more small holes have been made. In most of these holes 
At ie — le 
