194 
Jim launched the harpoon at the side of the largest. True— 
as his aim always was—the sharp head pierced the reptile’s 
side in its most vulnerable part, just behind the fore leg. 
A rush, a roar, as though all the bulls of the prairie had 
united in one grand outburst, and this king of Alpattiokee 
sped from one end to the other of his small kingdom, mak- 
ing the water boil, and leaving a bloody wake behind him. 
I have seen the dolphin and porpoise cross and recross the 
bow of a steamer at full speed, I have seen the shark and 
bluefish in their most desperate rushes, but it did seem to 
me, standing by that solitary creek in the soft moonlight, 
as I slackened and tightened the line as the alligator alter- 
nately sulked and darted, that the remarkable speed of 
those fishes was paralleled in the lightning-like rapidity 
with which that huge serrated tail clove the water and 
forced its owner onward. After a little while he got to be 
somewhat exhausted, and I passed the line to the rest of 
the party and seized the axe, to be ready for him as he was 
drawn ashore. It was hard work even then to land him on 
the soft sand, and he would throw that huge tail around 
till it nearly touched his nose, and snap his jaws till the 
aight air resounded again. But, watching my chance, I 
sunk the axe deep in his skull, and his struggles ceased as 
the quivering paws clawed the sand convulsively and then 
relaxed. We finished eight more before midnight. A 
ghastly spectacle they formed, lying upon their backs, their 
white bellies and mailed sides glistening in the moonlight. 
“Umph! alpatah fight heap!” was the only exclamation 
our red brothers made. 
A few days later we parted from our friends, and, afte 
sending Jim into the river, I hired another guide and set 
out for the Indian settlement. The man I now hired was 
an old ‘‘cow herder,” having charge of several hundred 
cattle which roamed in a half wild state through the woods 
and over the vast prairies. His house was the only one be- 
tween Indian River anc Lake Okeechobee, a distance of 
nearly fifty miles. We left the cabin, mounted upon two 
stallions trained for cattle hunting and following narrow 
trails. Each horse carried a pair of saddle-bags, bag of 
corn, pair of blankets, anda mam. Each man had a gun, 
pint cup, and big knife. Leaving the cabin early one day, 
we reached the Indian settlement late the next. Our only 
guide was a narrow trail across the vast plats, following 
dry creek-beds, through cypress swamps and saw-grass 
jungles, beneath gigantic pines and through thick palmetto 
scrub. 
southwesterly direction till we struck the saw-grass bor- 
dering the *‘Big Cypress,” a belt of cypress swamp nearly 
forty miles in length. Through this swamp there was but 
one narrow, blind trail, carefully concealed, lest the white 
man should findit. But my guide was an old “tracker” 
during the Seminole war, and struck it just where it en- 
tered the swamp. Dismounting, we attempted to lead our 
horses through. Bleeding and torn we emerged from the 
saw-grass to enter the blackest looking swamp it was ever 
my lot to behold. The tall cypress grew high above our 
heads, shutting out every ray of light; long vines and 
hooked briars hung from the limbs above and festooned 
The mud beneath was of the blackest and soft- 
est; stagnant pools of water, covered with green slime, gave 
every tree. 
hiding places to numberless alligators and moccasin snakes, 
numbers of which unwound themselves from the gnarled 
cypress trees and wriggled silently away after darting at us 
While carefully avoiding these nox- 
ious places along vine would come athwart my horse’s 
their forked tongues. 
back, sweeping blankets, saddle-bags and all into the mud. 
To describe the rage of my guide at such a juncture would 
I was mad, but he was ever? more so, and 
be impossibie. 
swore and stormed in a way that was perfectly frightful, 
causing the innocent snakes and alligators to flee in terror 
still farther into the black fastnesses of the swamp. My 
rage died away as his increased, for I was convinced that, 
black as was the picture, he was doing it justice. 
and escape being struck by their fore feet. 
daylight hailed more joyfully than when we emerged from 
the tangled thicket and at last reached solid ground. The 
Big Cypress was passed, and we were in the Indian coun- 
try. 
A few miles over a level prairie and we saw the first 
habitation. A little further, and we caught sight of a 
squaw running rapidly to apprise the men at work in the 
swamps of our arrival. They couldn’t have chosen a lo- 
cality more favorable to their mode of living than this. A 
swamp bounded it on the north and east, and a forest of 
pines south and west. The scene presented was one of 
peaceful rest and happiness. What wonder that the Semi- 
nole fought for his chosen land as he did! The meadow 
lark trilled his clear notes from the grass, where, also, we 
heard the mellow whistle of the quail. Woodpeckers and 
paroquets flew screaming by, and the wood ibis winged his 
silent way overhead. 
Soon the entire population came forth to meet us, with 
the exception of the women, and we were welcomed to the 
village. There were sixteen shanties grouped together, 
with that of the chiefs a little ways off. Four posts sup- 
ported a pitched roof, thatched with palmetto leaves. The 
shanty was open at the sides and ends; a raised platform 
of logs the whole length and breadth was used to sleep 
upon by night, and as a table and chairs, etc., by day. We 
were much annoyed by the dogs, who would come about 
us examining everything we had. They were nasty little 
curs, most of them, who would creep carefully up to us, 
with noses extended and tails between their lege, and who 
would scurry away at the least motion. I am prepared to 
We followed this trail, made by the Indians, in a 
At every 
leap our poor beasts sank above their knees, and it required 
much dodging to lead them through the narrow apertures 
Never was 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
vouch for the statement of the old sailor, Romans, who, in 
1770, says: 
asmuch as never 'to kill one out of a litter; and it is not 
uncommon in the nation to see a dog very lean, and so sen- 
sible of his misfortune as to seek a wall or post for his sup- 
port before venturing to bark.” (Another ‘‘old joke.”) I 
mention things in their natural order of affection in the In- 
dian estimation—dog, hog, squaw, and pickaninny. The 
hogs were black, as all Florida hogs are, and numerous. 
“They (the Creeks) are very fond of dogs, in- 
The children were brown, and numerous. The girls and 
young squaws ‘were much superior to their degraded sis- 
ters of the west in point of beauty and cleanliness. Of 
medium height, with small hands and feet and well-shaped 
limbs. Their heads were small and well-shaped; eyes 
black and lustrous; nose small and straight; mouth small 
and full-lipped. Their hair was long, black and abundant. 
The older women were less prepossessing, as older women 
usually are. All, however, had the same low, musical 
voice, excepting the old hags and habitual tobacco chew- 
ers. The women wore a short cape over the shoulders, and 
a petticoat. These two articles, with a profusion of beads, 
completed their attire, with, of course, moccasins. The 
only exception to this style was a young widow, who, being 
in mourning, was allowed to wear but a single apron, and 
was forbidden by their law to leave camp for two years. 
The squaws are very careful of their master’s health. Pick- 
aninnies under twelve, or thereabouts, were ina ‘“‘state of 
nature;” boys over twelve, and under sixteen, wore a shirt, 
and girls a petticoat; women as described. Upon great 
occasions both sexes ornament themselves with beads, rib- 
bons, and silver. 
At first the maidens were coy and bashful, but they soon 
overcame their natural diffidence, and sweetly insinuated 
that ‘‘ichee” (tobacco), or ‘‘on-mee” (whiskey), would not 
a es 
be unacceptable. 
After a short stay at the village we all went over to In- 
Par- 
ker, his wife and children were all at work when we ar- 
rived, but soon washed themselves, and set before us great 
He had corn 
over six feet high, pumpkins, beans, etc., all growing finely 
dian Parker’s cornfield, a mile away in the swamp. 
milky ears of corn, roasted in the ashes. 
—this in April. Next, we visited Tiger at his plantation. 
I met with a warm reception, and was introduced to his 
In the course of our conversation he said: ‘‘You 
I told him I thought not; I never had to my 
squaw. 
hum-bux-j?” 
present knowledge. 
“You humbuxj!” 
wasn’t. A third ‘“‘humbuxj,” accompanied by a gesture, 
He then repeated more earnestly, 
directed my attention to asmall palmetto shanty, beneath 
which were three iron pots, around which were three hun- 
gry Indians, and from which (the pots, not the shanty) they 
As I 
Here was an oppor- 
Tiger had eaten me out at Alligator Creek; I would 
I looked for my guide; he had 
were “‘humbuxjing” after the most approved style. 
was extremely hungry I humbuajed. 
tunity! 
now pay him back in kind. 
disappeared. I unbuckled my belt, laid aside my revolver, 
and joined the band of revelers. 
then, when you’re in Rome, etc.” 
like dish-water, boiled over twice, with the dish-rag left in. 
It was corn and water boiled. 
dering how ’twas used a shock-headed urchin inserted it, 
drew it forth full, elevated it till the handle pointed toward 
the zenith, when presto! the dish-water disappeared, the 
spoon was returned to the pot with a swoop of satisfaction, 
and Injun number two proceeded to do likewise. 
three did even so, and I was expected to ditto. 
sunrise, and had ridden near thirty miles that day. 
strangely, my appetite was gone. 
ing all my flapjacks; I promised myself to forget it. 
all, he hadn’t done so very badly. 
upon me. I must eat, or lose my influence. Gently I 
grasped the spoon, coyly I fished for a few kernels of corn, 
and very little of the dish-water. I shut my eyes, opened 
my mouth, shuddered, gulped—lo, ’twas done! The sgec- 
ond pot contained pieces of boiled meat about an inch 
square, which proved very good eating. So, inserting my 
fingers, @ la Indian, I drew forth a piece and ate it, The 
third vessel eontained about thirty feet of sausage, looking 
so natural and life-like that I instinctively recoiled. One 
of my brother revelers would seize one end of the mem- 
branous rope, and, after storing away as much as his mouth 
would contain, would sever by a dexterous cut the adipose 
tissue and pass it to the next. When my turn came I beg 
ged to be excused, and I’ve never hankered for sausage 
since. 
I stuck to pot No. 2; my appetite returned, | yet cher- 
ished revengeful feelings towards Tiger, and did my best.. 
The meat was tender and juicy; moreover, it had a deli- 
cious flavor that I never had found pork porsessed of. Of 
course it was pork; it wasn’t venison, nor bear, nor coon; 
and Ivowed I would get the receipt, and that the next 
stray pig should be offered up. To be sure that it was a 
pig, I said to ‘“‘Charley,” imitating the Indian manner, 
“Um; good; too much; ‘Shokocalika?’” A negative shake 
of the head, and a single word, “Efab,” (dog) terminated 
the repast. In my sleep that night came visions of fearful 
Indian curs, chopped into small pieces, yet having the 
power to bark and bite. 
As a special honor, I was assigned the chief's shanty to 
But, 
This time I got vexed, and told him J 
“How romantic, thought 
I; to be sure, things aren’t just as I’d like to have them, but 
The pot nearest me con- 
tained a dirty looking liquid, which, as near I could remem- 
ber, not having seen any for six months, looked exactly 
A huge wooden spoon was 
employed to convey this delectable nourishment to its 
proper receptacle—the mouth. The bowl of the aforesaid 
spoon was as big asa baby’s head, and while I was won- 
Number 
I was hun- 
gry; I knew it; ['d eaten nothing but the roast corn since 
I forgave Tiger for eat- 
After 
But the eyes of all were 
Sleep in that night, he being away. It differed in no way 
from the rest, and probably the round logs which made my 
bed were just as hard’as the others. 
The next day we visited the corn fields, and a rain com- 
ing up accompanied Parker and Tiger to their shanties. 
My guide having offered his horse to Parker’s squaw I could 
do no less than offer mine to the old squaw, which Tiger 
accepted in behalf of himself. I hoped he would break 
his neck. It was an unique procession that wound through 
the shady cypress swamp and over the prairie. First, there 
were Parker’s two daughters—young ladies of sixteen and 
seventeen respeetively—who had captured one of papa’s 
colts, and, mounted upon its back man fashion, led the 
cavalcade. They seemed to be enjoying themselves, and 
their musical laughter would come floating back at every 
leap and kick of their half-broken steed. Next came Par- 
ker’s wife, astride my guide’s pony with a solemn-looking 
pappoose on her back, holding up her scanty skirts with 
one hand, while with the other she guided the beast. Next 
came Tiger, with my rubber blanket over his head, a tin 
Kettle on one arm, an iron pot on the other, and a lap full 
of corn. He didn’t see the comical figure he cut, but 
treated the whole matter as a thing of serious moment. 
Parker, a host of pickaninnies, eleven dogs, a young colt, 
anda hog or two came next. My guide end I came last. 
The procession started; the girls had stripped, and were 
clinging to the pony and each other for dear life. We had 
gone but a few rods before the pony suddenly elevated 
his heels, landing the girls—a confused vision of arms 
and legs—rods away in the mud. With another flourish 
of his heels, and a snort of defiance, he then scoured 
away over the plain. That started the rest; my guide’s 
pony vainly strove to throw his burden. Tiger had his 
hands particularly full as the bay stallion sped away 
with the blanket flapping and pail rattling. I shall never 
forget the desperate expression of Tiger’s face as he went 
off, clinging to the horse and shouting broken fragments 
of Seminole, such as ‘‘Che-la-koa (horse) ho-la-wan-gus 
(bad); cha-high-wagh (squaw), ho-la-wan-gus—dam!” The 
colt now went for the scene, upsetting a whole line of 
dogs, and extorting profane exclamations from the pa- 
tient Parker. After we had reached the shanties they 
came in, one after another, and, removing their wet gar- 
ments (such as had any), we squatted around the cheerful 
blaze of pine knots, placed Indian fashion, with the ends 
toward the centre of the flame. 
According to promise, Cnrarley was to pilot me to Lake 
Okeechobee, but as several days elapsed, and no offer was 
made, I became impatient, and anxiously sought for infor- 
mation regarding it. The only Satisfactory replies I re- 
ceived were as to its size:— ; 
“Okeechobee, achiska pahleorstein, heap long; achiska 
pahlehokolin.” \ 
This intelligence was very gratifying, as it settled many 
misgivings I had indulged in. FRED BEVERLY, 
(To be Continued.) 
So 
—Tue Smrra NEVADA OBSERVATORY.—Mr. Lick, after 
a long, laborious, economical and successful business life 
has the laudable ambition of doing something to ad. 
advance the cause of science and thus benefit mankind; 
and the agent which he has selected to render the chief 
service, if the ramors which have reached us be correct. is 
to be an observatory, placed in a better situation than that 
occupied by any similar institution, provided with instru- 
ments superior to any now in existence, founded on prin. 
ciples that will secure the greatest scientific abilit: ant 
fidelity. The details of the plan are not yet worked out 
but the announcement is made by authority that there shall 
be such an observatory. The summit of the Sierra has 
been selected after careful consideration. It is well knowr 
that the lower strata of the atmosphere are constant] filled: 
even in what we call clear weather, with particles of dust: 
and all the most noted observatories are in countries wh ei 
the air abounds with a moisture which greatly eberie 
astronomical discovery. When we reach an elevation ¢ f 
3,800 feet on the summit of Monte Diablo, on an prdigas 
summer day, we are astonished to perceive that, while th 
valleys within ten or twenty miles may be rendered snidie: 
tinct by the haze, we can distinctly see Mount Lassen and 
Mount Whitney, several hundred ‘miles distant, but aba 
the level of the floating dust. Travelers who go to Vos i 
mite are generally astonished at the intense blueness of fe 
sky, and as we ascend it increases, indicatine the lack of 
moisture and dust. Scientists on the Sierra. and on th 
Rocky Mountains have, by instrumental observation ian 
that the telescope and spectroscope would give them much 
information not obtainable on the sea-shore. The announce- 
ment, therefore, that an observatory, to be built on the 
most approved plan, supplied with the best instruments 
and placed in charge of the most competent men, will be 
received with interest and gratification by men of learnin 
and intelligence in every land where civilization has cata 
lished her blissful sway.” “ 
k 
From the San Francisco Bulletin, we have additional in. 
formation about this observatory, which has been announc- 
ed by President Davidson of the California Academy of 
Science. In a most impressive speech, from which we 
make the following extracts, Mr. Davidson said :— 
‘‘With a telescope of the largest size and 
mate workmanship that American skill chiah Gericgh tal 
perly located ten thousand feet above the sea in the cts 
skies of the Sierra Nevada; with every variety of apparatus 
commensurate therewith; with masters of observation and 
Ingenuity In research; with ample funds reserved to devise 
instruments and methods which those instruments and the 
highest genius must suggest, we hope at no distant day to 
sec solved the mighty problems of creation that are yet be- 
Mar a ea 
Ousand years hence, the James Lick 
endowed with perpetual youth, will continue Manian Ere 
m y Db teries of the cosmos and sea ch if 
8 to r or new WOr. 
? lds to 

