Pre-Battle Rituals: The King of Florida and His Magician, ca.1780

An engraving from "Portlock's New Collection of Voyages and Travels," likely dating around 1780. It depicts a scene titled "A King of Florida consulting his Magician previous to his going to Battle." The scene shows a group of Native American individuals, presumably from one of the tribes in the region known by Europeans at the time as "Florida." In the foreground, a figure, identified as a king by the title of the print, is interacting with another figure labeled as a magician, who is performing some sort of ritual or divination, possibly to predict the outcome of an impending battle or to ensure success in it. The magician is depicted in a dramatic pose, with a bow drawn, standing on a circular diagram with markings, which may represent a sacred space or a form of a ritual circle. The surrounding individuals are shown in various states of dress and armor, carrying weapons such as bows, arrows, and shields, which suggests they are warriors preparing for conflict. The print is rich with ethnographic detail, though it reflects the European interpretation and fascination with indigenous customs and practices of that era. The inclusion of such an engraving in a collection of voyages and travels would have served to intrigue and educate European audiences about the cultural practices of indigenous peoples encountered by explorers and travelers.…