1914-15] REPORT OF WINTER MEETINGS 39 



absolutely new to us. Blueberries, nearly an inch in diam- 

 eter, pears, plums, peaches, strawberries were in evidence. 



Floating Cloud Says It Is Part of Indl\n's Religion 

 TO Care for Body 



Horticultural Hall was taxed to its seating capacity 

 Thursday afternoon, January 29, w^hen Miss Bee Mayes of 

 the Cherokee tribe of Indians entertained with stories of 

 Indian life, legends and songs. It w^as women's day of 

 Worcester Horticultural Societ}^, and many women and 

 young persons were in the audience. Miss Mayes, or Float- 

 ing Cloud, wore Indian costume, her long black, glossy 

 hair hanging in two braids interwoven with bright red 

 ribbons, and her costume was covered with bright colored 

 beads. 



She came from the region of the Great Lakes, where her 

 tribe lives. She told of the life of her people. In the spring 

 they tap the maple trees, and w^hen this season passes they 

 travel to the Lakes to fish, w^here they remain until the berry 

 season arrives. There is then the harvest time and the 

 celebrations before they return to their winter homes. 



''Our people,'' she said, ''are a people of songs. We sing 

 at all times and for all occasions and express every emotion 

 with a song. We may sing a song to-day that we would 

 never sing again. We have, however, great songs of history. 



^'The children make songs, old men make songs, the 

 mother has a sweet song to hush her baby, the hunter has his 

 song; in fact, we sing at all times. We begin the day with a 

 song, and close the hours of night with one." 



She then sang many of these songs, one being the song of 

 the wicked old man. 



"People think," she said, "that all tribes of Indians are 

 alike and their language is the same. One cannot under- 

 stand the other; their custom of living is different, and their 

 homes, their symbols, their signs and their dress are not 

 the same. 



