NORTH AMERICA* 
C H A P. IX. 
At the trading-houfe I found a very large party 
of the Lower Creeks encamped in a grove, juft 
without the paliifadoes. This was a predatory band 
of the Siminoles, confifting of about forty warriors 
deftined againft the Chadtaws of W eft Florida. T hey 
had juft arrived here from St. Auguftine, where 
they had been with a large troop of horfes for Tale* 
and furnifhed themfelves with a very liberal fup- 
ply of Ipirituous liquors, about twenty kegs, each 
containing five gallons. 
Thefe fons of Mars had the continence and for- 
titude to withstand the temptation of even tailing 
a drop of it until their arrival here, where they 
purpofed to ftipply themfelves with neceftary arti- 
cles to equip them for the expedition, and pro- 
ceed on diredlly; but here meeting with our young 
traders and pack-horfe men, they were foon pre- 
vailed on to broach their beloved nectar ; which in 
the end caufed fome difturbance, and the confump- 
tion of moft of their liquor ; for after they had once 
got a fmack of it, they never were fober for ten 
days, and by that time there was but little left. 
In a few days this feftival exhibited one of the 
moft ludicrous bacchanalian fcenes that is poffible 
to be conceived. White and red men and wo- 
men without diftindtion, palled the day merrily with 
thefe jovial, amorous topers, and the nights in con- 
vivial fongs, dances, and facrifices to Venus, as long 
as they could (land or move ; for in thefe frolicks 
both fexes take fuch liberties with each other, and 
8 act. 
