NORTH AMERICA. 
20 9 
form the amiable, virtuous character, fo difficult to 
maintain, there, without compulfion or vifible re- 
ft rain t, operates like inftind:, with a furprifing har- 
mony and natural eafe, infomuch that it feems im- 
poffible for them to ad out of the common high road 
to virtue. 
We will now take a view of the Lower Creeks or 
Sirninoles, and the natural difpofition which charac- 
terifes this people; when, from the ftriking contrail, 
the philofopher may approve or difapprove, as he 
may think proper, from the judgment and opinion 
given by different men. 
The Sirninoles are but a weak people with relped 
to numbers. All of them, I fuppofe, would not be 
fufficient to people one of the towns in the Mufco- 
gulge ; for inftance, the U ches on the main branch 
of the Apalachucla river, which alone contains near 
two thoufand inhabitants. Yet this handful of people 
poffeffes a vail territory; all Eaft Florida and the 
greateft part of Weft Florida, which being naturally 
cut and divided into thoufands of iftets, knolls, and 
eminences, by the innumerable rivers, lakes, fwamps, 
vaft favannas and ponds* form fo many fecure re- 
treats and temporary dwelling places, that effedually 
guard them from any fudden invafions or attacks 
from their enemies; and being ftieh a fwampy, hom- 
mocky country, furnilhes fueh 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 conveniences of life, w r ith the fecurity 
of perfon and property, the two great concerns of 
P mankind. 
