3. Sintchakee
King, Charles B. Micanopy. (1842). McKenney, T. ed. "History of the Indian tribes of North America, Volume 2." Folio-5 E77 .M13 1842, North American Photographs, Manuscripts, and Imprints, DeGolyer Library.
Abraham woke Levi early and they walked the last mile to the lake. Levi didn’t know what this one was called. They came through the forest in the blue mist of morning into an open place and saw Micco Nuppe standing in a breechcloth, his net draped over his outspread arm, contemplatively watching the silver water. Abraham twitched his hand and they stopped some distance away. Micco Nuppa’s tustees, two large young men with new rifles in their hands, stood to the side, watching them. Swinging slowly from his waist the Great Chief cast his net, which plashed only gently as it sliced the surface of the water. Lean muscles bunching in his narrow shoulders, he snatched the wriggling fishes up. His tustees set to cleaning them.
—Micco Nuppe. Will you speak with us?
Micco Nuppe beckoned Abraham to sit. Levi stayed by the tustees a short distance away.
—Souanaffe Tustenuggee. We cannot do as you hope. Some of the people agree with you, but our miccos are not united.
—The hutke do prefer it that way. Their Great Father and their Council weaken your people and mine by driving us apart. They would make us free people your slaves and then offer to free us if we will abandon you. Be assured—once they have divided us, they will start to divide you from yourselves.
—Brother, you are not our slaves. We call you our slaves only so that we can defend you when the slave catchers come.
Levi winced in irritation, but Abraham’s face remained impassive.
—We are grateful. We have been of service to your people, I hope. We are one people really, though we are also two—like brothers.
Micco Nuppe nodded.
—It is not fear. The miccos are not afraid to fight the hutkes. It’s just that they don’t see how it affects them. You must find a way to show them.
After Micco Nuppe and his bodyguards had taken their fish away with them, Abraham sat for a time watching clouds mount the face of the sun. Levi looked where he looked, but there were no conjure horses up there. A bird called pointlessly in the woods. Then he clapped his hands once and stood, taking Levi’s arm.
—I don’t like to think they are stupid or faithless men. My brother was a better Muslim than me. I don’t remember the words. But pray with me now, Brother.
Abraham scoured his hands with sand, then washed them in the clear water of the lake, splashing water over his head and neck. They knelt at the shore and prayed toward the sun (Towne, 2006).
Orr, N. Abraham, a Black Seminole leader. (1848). Engraving published in J. Sprague's "The Origin, Progress, and Conclusion of the Florida War." New York, D. Appleton & Co.: Philadelphia, G.S. Appleton.