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After the Seminoles left the Cherokee nation,
they settled in Central Florida away from the white man's lodges to the
North. One legendary chief settled on the lake which is now known as
Lake Wailes. Here he had all the advantages of a high campsite on a lake
which offered fresh water and good fishing. It was also close to Iron
Mountain which, as the highest point in Florida, was sacred to the
Indians' Sun God.
The chief, Cufcowellax, and his people were
happy for several years, but then one day a huge bull alligator moved
into the lake and began to harass the tribe. Soon it began nightly raids
on the village, and the tribe lived in terror of this evil spirit that
inhabited their lake.
The legend says that Cufcowellax was a chief of
great physical prowess and courage. He had great stature among his
people both as a warrior and as a ruler. When he saw his people in
constant fear, the chief, fearing for their safety, set out to conquer
the evil spirit. His tribal shaman and elders placed him under the
protection of the Great Spirit and he began his search.
Though many suns came and went, he could not
catch the 'gator. Finally one morning he came upon the 'gator on the
northwest shore as it dragged another night's victim into the lake.
The legend says the chief battled the 'gator on
land and water for a moon, and then suddenly the great thrashing
stopped, and the water of the lake turned red.
The tribe
watched the surface of the lake in fearful anticipation. With great joy
they saw their chief rise from the water. In the midst of their
celebration they saw something else. The great battle had made a smaller
lake near the big one. When the chief died, he was buried on the shore
of the little lake, Ticowa, and the place became sacred to the Indians. |
