NORTH AMERICA; 
2©9 
form the amiable, virtuous character, fo difficult to 
maintain, there, without compulfion or vifible re- 
ft raint, operates like inftinct, with a furprifing har- 
mony and natural eafe, infomuch that it feems im« 
poffible for them to act out of the common high road 
to virtue. 
We will now take a view "of the Lower Creeks or 
Siminoles, and the natural difpofition which charac- 
terifes this people ; when, from the ftriking contraft, 
the philofopher may approve or difapprove, as he 
may, think proper, from the judgment and opinion 
given by different men. 
The Siminoles are but a weak people with refpect 
to numbers. All of them, I fuppofe, would not be 
fufficient to people one of the towns in the Mufco- 
gulge ; for inftance, the Uches on the main branch 
of the Apalachucla river, which alone contains near 
two thoufand inhabitants. Yet this handful of people 
poiTelfes a vaft territory ; all Eaft Florida and the 
greateft part of Weft Florida, which being naturally* 
cut and divided into thoufands of iflet^, knolls, and 
eminences, by the innumerable rivers, lakes, fwamps, 
vaft favannas and ponds, form fo many fecure re- 
treats and temporary dwelling places, that effectually 
guard them from any hidden invafions or attacks 
from their enemies; and being fuch a fwampy, h o ra- 
ni ocky country, furnifhes fuch a plenty and variety 
of fupplies for the nourifhment of varieties of ani- 
mals, that I can venture to affert, that no part of the 
globe fo abounds with wild game or creatures fit for 
the food of man. 
Thus they enjoy a fuperabundance of the necef- 
faries and conveniencies of life, with the fecurity of 
perfon and property, the two great concerns of 
P mankind* 
