THE MOUNDS OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 543 
to the tribes west of the Mississippi.* He also adds, that in every case 
it was attended with many ceremonies, though it does not seem to have 
been celebrated anywhere north of the Ohio with the same solemnity 
thatit was among the nations that formerly inhabited the Gulf States,t 
or, at all events, our accounts of such celebrations are not so full and 
explicit. Adair, who lived among these people for many years, and 
who, aside from his notions about the identity of the Indians with the 
Israelites, is usually trustworthy, describes this festival at great 
length, as does Bartram, Hawkins, and others.t From their accounts 
I have made up the following summary, which may not be uninterest- 
ing: When the time for holding this festival was fixed, the people of 
the village put their town in order, prepared new clothes for them- 
selves, and then, having partaken of the “black drink,”§ they entered 
upon a rigorous fast of two days, during which they abstained from 
the gratification of every sensual appetite. On the morning of the 
third day a supply of old food was brought to the square, all vestiges 
of which were removed before noon. As the sun began to decline, the 
fires were extinguished in every hut, and universal silence reigned. 
The chief priest then took a piece of dry poplar, willow, or white oak, 
and having cut a hole “so as not to reach through it, he sharpened 
another piece, and placing that within the hole, he drilled it briskly 
for several minutes, till it began to smoke; or by rubbing two pieces 
together for about a quarter of an hour, by friction, he collected the 
hidden fire.” It was then brought out of the temple in an earthen dish 
and placed upon an altar that had been previously prepared in the 
square. Its appearance brought joy to the hearts of the people, as it 
was supposed to atone for all past crimes, except murder. <A general 
amnesty was proclaimed, except for this one crime, and all malefactors 
might now return to their villages in safety. A basket of new fruits 
was then brought, and the fire-emaker took some of each kind, and 
covering them with bear’s grease, he offered them up as a sacrifice to 
the holy spirit of fire. He likewise consecrated the plants from which 
the “black drink” was prepared, by pouring some of the decoction 
into the holy fire. The women ranged themselves around the square, 
when each received a portion of the new and pure flame, with which 
they kindled anew the household fires. Then they prepared, in the best 
manner, the new corn and fruits, and brought them to the square, 
where the people were assembled, apparelled in their new clothes and 
decorations. “The men having regaled themselves, the remainder 
* Notes on the Troquois, p.85, et seq.: New York, 1846. Indian Tribes of the United 
States, yol. 11, p.227. Catlin, North American Indians, vol. 1, p. 189: London, 1848. 
tSchooleraft, Indian Tribes of the United States, vol. Vv, p. 104. 
t Adair, History of North American Indians, argument vil. Bartram, Travels 
through Florida, pp.509 and 510, Hawkins, Sketch of the Creek Country, pp. 7), 78. 
See also note 187. 
§ Made from the [lex Cassine L, called Cassena or Youpon. 
