THE SEMINOLE INDIANS. 
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 
Amone the Seminole Indians in Florida exist certain tribal organi- 
zations or clans known as ‘‘ gens,” which comprise families and 
their unmarried relatives. In the old days these gens were well 
known; but at the present time many of them have either become 
extinct or their members are so few and scattered that they are no 
longer recognized. 
These gens were known under various names, such as Tiger, Deer, 
Bear, Wind, and many others, the members of the same “ gen” not 
being’ allowed to intermarry. 
A Seminole Indian rarely kills more game than he can use; if he 
does not need the meat, he either sells it or cures it for future use, 
the venison being cut into strips which are smoked slightly over the 
camp.tire and afterwards dried by the sun.. 
An Indian camp fire will burn for a long time and consume 
comparatively little wood. A number of logs are arranged ina 
circle with their ends together, somewhat resembling the spokes of a 
wheel; the fire is lighted in the center where the ends meet, and 
when the fire is no longer needed the logs are drawn apart and it 
immediately dies down: but the charred ends may easily be ignited 
again when required. 
This fire is an admirable one for camp cooking, as it is compara- 
tively small and easily regulated. 
The camp fire is rarely allowed to go out, a pot of sofkee or 
stewed meat generally being kept warm, especially in a camp where 
there are many children. 
‘¢ Sofkee” isa kind of soup made from ground corn or hominy and 
corn mixed. It is eaten with large wooden spoons which the Indians 
manufacture and which are called sofkee spoons. These they hand 
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