MACCAULEY.] HOME LIFE. 505 
however, that they are beginning to be ambitious to increase their little 
herds of horses and cattle and their numbers of chickens and swine. 
CAMP FIRE. 
Entering the more interior, the intimate home life of the Seminole, 
one observes that the center about which it gathers is the camp fire. 
This is never large except on a cool night, but it is of unceasing inter- 
est to the household. It is the place where the food is prepared, and 
where, by day, it is always preparing. It is the place where the social 
intercourse of the family, and of the family with their friends, is en- 
joyed. There the story is told; by its side toilets are made and_house- 
hold duties are performed, not necessarily on account of the warmth 
the fire gives, for it is often so small that its heat is almost imper- 
ceptible, but because of its central position in the household economy. 
This fire is somewhat singularly constructed; the logs used for it are of 
considerable length, and are laid, with some regularity, around a center, 
like the radii of a circle. These logs are pushed directly inward as the 
inner ends are consumed. The outer ends of the logs make excellent 
seats; sometimes they serve as pillows, especially for old men and 
women wishing to take afternoon naps. 
Beds and bedding are of far less account to the Seminole family than 
the camp fire. The bed is often only the place where one chooses to 
lie. It is generally, however, chosen under the sheltering roof on the 
elevated platform, or, when made in the lodge, on palmetto leaves. It 
is pillowless, and has covering or not, as the sleeper may wish. If a 
cover is used, it is, as arule, only a thin blanket or a sheet of cotton 
cloth, besides, during most of the year, the canopy or mosquito bar. 
MANNER OF EATING. 
Next in importance to the camp fire in the life of the Seminole house- 
hold naturally comes the eating of what is prepared there. There is 
nothing very formal in that. The Indians do not set a table or lay 
dishes and arrange chairs. A good sized kettle, containing stewed 
meat and vegetables, is the center around which the family gathers 
for its meal. This, placed in some convenient spot on the ground 
near the fire, is surrounded by more or fewer of the members of the 
household in a sitting posture. If all that they have to eat at that 
time is contained in the kettle, each extracts, with his fingers or his 
Knife, a piece of meat or a bone with meat on it, and, hoiding it in oue 
hand, eats, while with the other hand each, in turn, supplies himself, 
by means of a great wooden spoon, from the porridge in the pot. 
The Seminole, however, though observing meal times with some reg- 
ularity, eats just as his appetite invites. If it happens that he has a 
side of venison roasting before the fire, he will cut from it at any time 
during the day and, with the piece of meat in one hand and a bit of 
Koonti or of different bread in the other, satisfy his appetite. Not 
y 
