SOURCE OF ST. peter's rtver. 95 



he commits the killing of a raccoon, to a third he allots 

 some other animal to be killed ; and when they have been 

 successful in their respective hunts, they meet and fasten 

 the first buck which they kill, upon a high pole, and leave it 

 in this situation, so that it may serve as a sacrifice to the 

 Great Spirit. Any other animal would answer as well as a 

 buck. Upon the remainder of the chase they feast. After 

 having boiled the animal, they partake of it in the name of 

 the Great Spirit. The object of these sacrifices is to obtain 

 luck in their pursuits, whether of hunting or fighting; these 

 /easts are generally accompanied with prayers, dancing, 

 .singing, &c. The only period when they have regular 

 sacrifices is during the winter and spring of the year ; at 

 which time, many of the warriors give feasts ; each selects 

 the time that suits him best, and invites such guests as he 

 thinks proper. Having assembled them all, he rises, takes 

 a sort of tambourine, formed by fastening a piece of skin or 

 parchment upon a frame, he beats upon this and addresses 

 himself to the divinity, accompanying his invocation by 

 many violent gestures. They have no set form of prayer ; 

 when he has concluded, he resumes his seat, hands over 

 the tambourine to another, who proceeds in the same man- 

 ner. They have regular songs, which they sing together 

 on such occasions. No other music is ever used but that 

 of the tambourine.* 



• Among the Shawanese there is a solemn festival called the green 

 corn dance, which resembles the offering of the first fruits as enjoin- 

 ed to the Israelites. This practice is said to exist among the Creeks, 

 Cherokees, and other southern tribes, but is unknown to the Potawa- 

 tomis and other nations, which live in the neighbourhood of the 

 Shawanese. It is said, that among the latter, however ripe an indivi- 

 dual's corn may be, he w ill not pluck it until after the celebration 

 of the festival. 



