Motices of the Floridas, &ic. 136 



tracted by the light, hooted from the tall hickories and oaks 

 adjacent, while the roar of alligators added to the diversi- 

 ty of sounds. The Indians hold an annual feast, when their 

 crops are gathered, at which if adulterers, who had fled to 

 avoid the punishment of losing their ears, appear, they 

 are pardoned. The Indians are well acquainted with 

 many medicinal plants. Their dwellings are usually con- 

 structed of logs ; the roofs of bark or split pine are very 

 tight; the sides of the best are neatly lined with clap- 

 boards, but without floors or divisions, and much infested 

 by fleas. They have little furniture. Potters' ware of 

 a good shape and well baked, is made by females. The 

 chief of Sanfalasco, aided by a small bellows, anvil, hammer, 

 and file, manufactures with much ingenuity, from coin, 

 handsome ornaments of silver. We conversed frequently 

 with this intelligent old man, through the medium of our 

 interpreter, a shrewd native negro, who spoke fluently 

 Seminole and English. The chief mentioned an instance 

 of Indian credulity. It is believed by the natives, that a 

 monster, with a large serpent's body shining like silver, 

 whose breath is destructive to all that approach, occu- 

 pies a large sink or cave in East Florida, guarding a mine. 

 Similar stories are current among the Cherokees. The 

 Spanish authorities made a fruitless search for this treas- 

 ure a few years since. 



These Indians do not appear to have a form of worship, 

 but believe in a Supreme Being. The chief informed us 

 that according to Indian traditions, the world was created 

 by the Great Spirit ; that he formed three men, an Indian, 

 a white, and a black man ; the Indian was the most per- 

 fect : they were called into his presence, and directed to 

 select their employments ; the Indian chose a bow and 

 arrow, the white man a book, and the negro a spade. The 

 chief had heard of our Saviour, and his sufferings, but 

 supposed he had been put to death by the Spaniards. 



The Indians are very unwilling to leave their lakes, 

 fertile hills, and agreeable climate, for the southern re- 

 servation, that has little to recommend it except its being 

 so undesirable, that the Indians may remain there unmo- 

 lested. The chief said they had cherished a hope that 

 the whites would continue satisfied with the coasts, 

 and suffer them to retain a valuable remnant of their 



