NORTH AMERICA. IO9 
form the amiable, virtuous character, fo difficult to 
maintain there, without cdmpulfion or vifible re- 
ftraint, operates like inftinCt, with a furprifing har- 
mony and natural eafe, infomnch 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 
Siminoles, 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 mem 
The Siminoles are but a weak people with refped 
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 
poffeffes a vail: territory ; all Eaft Florida and the 
greateft part of Weft Florida, which being naturally 
cut and divided into thoufands of iilets, knolls, and 
eminences, by the innumerable rivers, lakes, fwamps, 
v aft fa vannas 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 fwampv, hom- 
mocky 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 conveniences of life, with the fecurity 
of perfon and property, the two great concerns of 
F mankind. 
