Show O Seminoles Misrepresented I By Sensational Writers 1 i iBY io I o II I By BAUKHAGE Analyst and Commentator News I d Service 1616 Eye Street N. N NW W. W Washington D. D C. C CI This I his is s the second second of 0 two Iwo articles Seminole Indian reservation resI reservation res res- based on ts t's visits ls to 10 the I at al Brighton Fla SOMEWHERE SOME NORTH OF THE EVERGLADES Whenever one the human hu an tries as I did to study side of the Seminoles that Seminoles that nation which has left so little written record record rec rec- ord of it its s short life- life but Kist historic is deluged delS deluged del del- z span span one one S Hl with information information information mation and misi misinform mis mis- i inform information n for mat ati ion on y Misinformation tion 9 of the type on which the Sunday supplement writer writa writ writ- er feeds a Y For example examine the contradictory contradictory contradictory con con- data on the Seminoles Baukhage and snake killing When I called on Agent Boehmer his w wife e recounted recounted recounted re re- Indian Indian Indian In In- counted how a greatly-excited greatly dian had appeared one day on their doorstep to announce his pressing desire that Boehmer come to the Seminole camp camp camp-a a rods or so distant distant to to kill a rattler Boehmer obliged He carefully avoided carrying the corpse through the camp a Seminole taboo and he noted the usual fire lighted at atthe atthe atthe the point where the victim fell As usual the Indian children had cooperated cooperated co co- co operated with him without actively participating in the execution There are two explanations as to why the Seminoles would not themselves themselves themselves them them- selves kill the snake One is that once in the past the Seminoles were ordered by the White Man to leave Florida for points west They prepared prepared prepared pre pre- pared to remain even though it meant retiring deep into the Ever Ever- glades However they decided it it would be a good idea for both parties if they made a treaty with the snakes They did so so soon on a live I and let live basis That is one ex ex- plana tion Or it may have been one of those common sense arrangements embellished embellished em em- with the authority of mys mys- There are few snakes which II if left alone wont won't reciprocate Another interpretation may be that when a white man attacks the rattler the chances are that if anyone anyone anyone any any- one is bitten it would not be an Indian I understand Seminoles do kill snakes when it seems essary Boehmer whose opinion I learned to value as I pursued this subject thinks the rattlesnake situation is interesting but I couldn't get him to say it meant the Seminole was superstitious Gaudy Costumes Intrigue Observer Like every observer I was impressed impressed impressed im im- pressed by the Seminole attire Not Noti I by the men's mens they mens they wear conventional conventional conven conven- Honal garments lightened by a gay handkerchief about the neck when they pursue their daily tasks hunt hunton on the reservation or loaf in camp They have shortened the long skirt- skirt like garment comparable to the womans woman's cape to sport-shirt sport length even in m ceremonial dress I found only Sam Huff reputed to be a medicine man as well as the handy man at the school wearing wearing wearing wear wear- ing the long skirt-like skirt garment plus the blouse Some say Sam clings to this outfit merely because of his love for the past others others' say it may have something to do with his special special special cial function as a medicine man there is a whisper that it is a badge of repentance or punishment for some past sin sin Sam is a grandfather grandfather grandfather grand grand- father today He still lives in the nearby camp with the rest of his I three generations The younger men save their gay f shirts for dress up occasions the annual green corn dance and the I hunting dance but out they have adopted modern trousers Their I shirts are coverd with complicated I geometric tracery their scarves I are bound by a metal or wooden clasp they wear beads or other decorated brightly-decorated fobs The most striking piece of Seminole Seminole Seminole Sem Sem- clothing is is the womans woman's billowing billowing bil bil- lowing skirt next come the beads which cover her neck from shoulder blade to ear tips then her hair- hair dress Unlike the men the Seminole I women except those who have been I completely converted to modern ways wear their special garb and wear it all the time Consequently always look dressed dressea up they innovation anda and anda ana anaa The an bacK dates a a highly practical one T The ine e I only some six or seven years hair is is womans woman's smooth black i brought forward over a semicircular semi lar cardboard form like the wide her the This gives peak of a cap at you from of peering appearance hat underneath a wide circular ar without without without with with- achieved easily brim and is and the beauty shop out the aid of virtually without mirrors Furthermore Furthermore Furthermore Further Further- development development development develop develop- more the coiffure is one with has connection ment that no the White Mans Man's culture Women's Skirts Are Real Art Unlike the hairdo the Seminole except except except ex ex- skirt and cape haven't changed to grow more artistic and more intricate with the advent of colored textiles They likewise have become less difficult to create thanks to the hand-driven hand sewing machine This gadget long since has been as common in tepee hogan or even igloo as an pick ice-pick in a modern fla flat fiat t. t The skirts are made of parallel bands x of f a brightly colored patchwork patchwork patchwork patch patch- work design which experts claim are real art They are fashioned of hundreds of separate pieces of colorful colorful colorful col col- col- col cloth blended or contrasted to make a barbarically splendorous whole The skirts bell out widening widening widen widen- ing mg in circumference as they approach approach approach ap ap- ap- ap the hem which according to regulations must trail at least three inches or thereabouts on the ground How can this be a practical everyday everyday everyday every every- day dress in a country of swamps and morasses of barbed and cutting cutting cutting cut cut- ting underbrush That is the first question I and every ignorant ob- ob t t I i C r v my mys s Seminole maid and brave sport native dress in Everglades server asks But they are practical cal say the experts who have seen I them in operation Through wet going going going go go- ing and wading they are histed there are no undergarments to complicate complicate complicate com com- plicate matters Traveling over the dry and dusty fields rife with snakes and other annoying reptiles rep rep- I tiles they protect the bare feet and andI shins As Miss or Mrs Seminole I moves forward toeing in slightly I according to good Indian custom she gently kicks the dragging rim I forward without baring the Ithe bare bareI I feet to inquisitive eyes eyes or any flora I or fauna that might obtrude The only other cloth garment is the cape This is usually a single solid and bright color matching the skirt I The Seminole beads remain a mystery So far I have been able to learn little concerning the origin purpose or excuse for them diem beyond the explanation offered b by A Agent gent Boeh Boehmer mer and supported by his wife I They wear weak them beca because use they think hink they're pretty And what better bet- bet ter reason n in ln any woman womans woman's s sIt 1 lexicon lexi- lexi exi con It does seem strange though to I see f e a c comely mely Indian matron he her skirt tucked high before a ro roaring ring fire on a hot Florida day or working working work work- ing mg vigorously in a tomato patch pS or even strolling through a shop shop among sweltering whites in low cut dresses or open sport shirts Jm with witti perhaps 25 pounds they hav have been w weighed of beads in a solid collar colla rising as high as the whalebone enforced chok chokers rs American wore in the first girls decades of the |