John Lee Williams, in his history of east and west Florida, 1837, a work unique in character and of special value to historians, contains but one mention of the “black drink.” It is in a mention of Oseola, a noted chief of the Seminoles. In writing of his parentage, he says: Powell, or Oseola, is a native Red Stick; who his father was is unknown, but it is said that his mother was at one time connected with an Englishman of the name of Powell. We are informed by a respectable Creek chief that his name is As-sin Yahole, “Singer at the black drink.” Now this word As-sin is a variation of cassine, and Oseola was probably one of those whose duty it was to sing during the ceremonies which accompanied the drinking of cassine. It is strange that the cassine has not been celebrated in poetry or song. The songs of the Creeks have not been preserved. Perhaps they sung the praises of the “black drink.” The only mention I find in poetry is an allusion to it as “the tough cassine,” in the poems of Mrs. Sigourney, when she enumerates the variety and qualities of the trees of America. C. C. Jones, in his “Antiquities of the Southern Indians,” writes (page 11): “The black drink was a decoction of the leaves and tender twigs of the cassine, or Ilex yupon.” He mentions no other ingredients, but other observers claim that the _Iris versicolor_ (blue flag) and sometimes the _Lobelia inflata_ were used. My opinion is that, when used in their wars or religious festivals, other ingredients were used, for it is represented as powerfully purgative and emetic. Yet, on the other hand, we are told that the two species of _Ilex cassine_ and _dahoon_ possess these qualities. The _I. cassine_ is called by some botanists _Ilex vomitoria_. On social occasions the black drink was probably made of the leaves of the cassine alone, or made much weaker. Jones writes: The Mico councillors or warriors meet every day in the public square, sit and drink acee (assi), a strong decoction of the cassine yupon, called by traders black drink, talk of the news, the public and domestic concerns, etc. They have a regular ceremony for making as well as delivering the acee to all who attend the square. The black drink made by the Seminoles is described as “nauseous to the smell and taste, and emetic and purgative.” It is a mixture and not brewed of the cassine alone. All our beverages, such as tea, coffee, maté, and even chocolate, when drank very strong are capable of causing diuresis, purging, and vomiting. One peculiarity of the drinking of the black drink is that, so far as I can ascertain, it was not used at their meals as we use tea and coffee, but wholly as a social beverage or at festivals and other public occasions. I do not think the women were allowed to drink it, at least not publicly. Authorities differ on this point.