Anecdotes of the American Indians, illustrating their eccentricities of character
History
Anecdotes of the American Indians, illustrating their eccentricities of character
Indians of North America -- Anecdotes
The present being put on board the boats, was carried down James-river
and up the Pamunky, whilst Newport, with fifty men, went across by land
and met the boats, in which he passed the river, and held the proposed
interview. All things being prepared for the ceremony of coronation,
the present was brought from the boats; the bason and ewer were
deposited, the bed and chair were set up, the scarlet suit and cloak
were put on, though not till Namontac (an Indian youth whom Newport
had carried to England and brought back again) had assured him that
these habiliments would do him no harm; but they had great difficulty
in persuading him to receive the crown, nor would he bend his knee, or
incline his head in the least degree. After many attempts, and with
actual pressing on his shoulders, they at last made him stoop a little
and put it on. Instantly, a signal being given, the men in the boats
fired a volley, at which the monarch started with horror, imagining
that a design was forming to destroy him in the summit of his glory;
but being assured that it was meant as a compliment, his fear subsided,
and in return for the baubles of royalty received from King James, he
desired Newport to present him his old fur mantle and deer skin shoes,
which in his estimation were doubtless a full equivalent; since all
this finery could not prevail on the wary chief to allow them guides
for the discovery of the inland country, or to approve their design of
visiting it. Thus disappointed they returned to James-Town, determined
to proceed without his assistance.
[Illustration]
THE FLORIDA INDIANS.
The Palarches, Eamuses and Kaloosas, were the ancient possessors of
Florida, and are all extinct. The present Florida Indians are the
remains of that ancient and warlike tribe on the Mississippi, which
being almost extirpated by the French, retreated along the Northern
coast of the Gulf of Mexico, and united with broken bands of Biloxies,
Red Sticks, and runaway Creeks, called Seminoles. The largest portion
of these Indians are Lower Creeks, and are of the most dissolute,
daring, and abandoned of that tribe.
The word Seminole signifies a wanderer or runaway, or it means a wild
people or outsettlers, the ancestors of the tribe having detached
themselves from the main body of the Creeks, and dwelt remotely,
wherever the inducements of more game, or greater scope for freedom of
action, might casually lead them. They settled in Florida about 115
years ago.
That this is the period of their becoming a separate community, is
confirmed by the connection of their history with that of the Yemasees,
of whom there occur frequent notices in the account of the early
settlement of Georgia and South Carolina.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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