Bartram Trail in Putnam County

Bartram Trail in Putnam County. The Playgrounds at Puc-Puggy Landing. , The Flower Hunter , William Bartram, naturalist and author of Travels, sailed past Palatka in the spring of 1774. The Seminoles called him "Puc-Puggy," which means "Flower Hunter.", The dried flower on this panel is one of the specimens gathered by Puc-Puggy on his visits to Florida., Bartram was also an artist. Travels includes numerous beautiful illustrations of flowers, animals and people he encountered., Seminole Chickee , William Bartram made a second trip to this region in the fall of 1774. He rode a Seminole horse along the "Indian hunting tracks,” to the same "Indian town" he had sailed past in spring. There he enjoyed a "feast of watermelons and oranges" on the riverfront of Palatka., "We were received and entertained friendlily by the Indians, the chief of the village conducting us to a grand, airy pavilion in the center of the village.", The “airy pavilion” is called a chickee by the Seminole tribe. Chickees are still built in Florida today., Bartram at the Palatka Riverfront , William Bartram respected the native people he met. Here is what he wrote about sailing past a Seminole settlement on the riverfront of what is now Palatka:, "Some of the youth were naked, up to their hips in the water, fishing with rods and lines, whilst others, younger, were diverting themselves in shooting frogs with bows and arrows. On my near approach, the little children took to their heels… but the stouter youth stood their ground, and, smiling, called to me.", He also saw elderly people outside their dwellings on the shore. No one was alarmed by his presence. In his own words he said:, "They were civil, and appeared happy in their situation."