THE SEMINOLE INDIANS. 19 
The ‘* black drink” was made from a shrub found in Georgia, 
and Carolina, and Northern Florida, which is called casszna. 
The leaves were collected and boiled over a fire ; they were then 
poured from one pan to another until fermentation took place, 
when it was considered ready for use. In ancient times it was a 
custom of the Indians during this celebration to seat themselves in a 
circle around the fire, and three young men handed gourds full of 
the black drink to three of the greatest chiefs present. The young 
men then stepped back a few paces and uttered what was known as 
the black drink cry, first exclaiming loudly the word ‘‘choh.” At 
this signal the three chiefs drank from the huge gourds, the young 
men uttering the wailing note, and the chiefs drank until the note 
ended. The gourds were then taken from the mouths of the war- 
riors and the young men handed them to the chiefs next in rank, 
pronouncing the word ‘‘ choh,” but the cry of the black drink was 
not uttered, as none were entitled to this distinction except those 
highest in power. After drinking the concoction the warriors dis- 
gorged it, and we are told that it was considered praiseworthy to be 
able to do this gracefully. 
The Indians are warned by their medicine men not to eat corn 
until after the celebration of the Green Corn Dance. 
William Freeman, of Little River, who has lived near the Indians 
for many years, told me how, on one occasion, Dr. Tiger was at his 
house when he had green corn for dinner; it was some weeks before 
the Green Corn Dance was to take place, and Dr. Tiger looked 
wistfully at the corn and asked, ‘‘ You eat green corn now?” Free- 
man answered, ‘‘ Me like corn plenty now.” 
Tiger went on with his meal, but did not eat any corn, although 
he seemed troubled about something. At last he told Freeman that 
the Indians were warned by their medicine men not to eat green corn 
before the annual celebration, as it would make them ill; ‘«* Make 
Indian sick,” as he expressed it. 
It seems, according to Tiger’s statement, that some of the squaws 
and children have eaten green corn before the dance, but the men 
never eat it. 
