Second-hand history

So far throughout my experience researching in the FHS archives, I have gathered a significant amount of material to compile into a Native American finding guide. I have come to find that Native Americans, the Seminole tribe in particular, have parts of their past that are shrouded in mystery due to lack of first hand history recorded by the tribe themselves. It is a common misconception that the Seminole tribe were the first Native Americans to inhabit Florida, however I have come to find that this is not the case. The Seminoles are a later tribe, compiled of many generations of earlier tribes taken over by conquest and slave trade. Such tribes include Timucuan, Ais, Creeks and Apachee. The Florida Historical Society has been around since the late 1800's and have acquired a rich collection of Native American related material. However, most o the documents I have come across ate second hand accounts from trading companies, lieutenants from the military, scholars, government documents and so on. The exceptions I have seen are deeds involving land and slave trade, and promissory notes written by chiefs and members of the tribes themselves. Below is a picture of a promissory note written by Nipeeholo, the Warrior King's son of the Cussitows to Panton Leslie and Company. Some pieces are missing or torn out.

It reads as follows:
"On or before the first day of June next ensuing- I hereby promise to pay or cause to be paid unto Mr. Panton Leslie and Co. their order, the sum of one hundred and thirty five Spanish milled dollars....or the value thereof in good raw deer, or bear skins at the marked price, if not in paper currency-- for value received of them".