110 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 43 



The sixth moon is that of the Mulberries, It is in the mouth of August. At 

 this feast birds are also brought to the great Sun. 



The seventh moon is that of Maize or the Great Corn.'' 



The eighth moon is that of the Turkeys and corresponds to our month of 

 October. It is then' that this bird comes out of the thick woods to enter the 

 open ^yoods in order to eat nettle seeds, of which it is very fond. 



The ninth moon is that of the Bison. Then they go to hunt this animal. As 

 it always stays some leagues from the cantons inhabited by men, precaution is 

 taken to send forward to find it in order to know on what side it has thrown 

 itself. When this is known everyone sets out, young and old, girls and women, 

 unless they have little children, for this hunt being rough there is work for 

 everyone. Many nations wait until later before going, in order to find the 

 bison in greater numbers and the cows fatter. I have said before that the 

 natives, not knowing enough to cut off the back parts of the males as soon as 

 they have killed them, only kill them when they are fat, in order to got the 

 tallow, without taking away the tlesh, which is good to eat only when this pre- 

 caution has been taken. 



The tenth moon is that of the Bears. In these hunting seasons the feasts 

 ai-e not large, because the warriors, l)eing all away from home, take away many 

 of the people with them. 



The eleventh moon, which corresponds to our month of January, is that of the 

 Cold Meal. At this time many bustards, geese, ducks, and other similar kinds 

 of game are to be had. 



The twelfth moon is that of the Chestnuts. This fruit has already been col- 

 lected a long time ago, but nevertheless this month bears the name. 



Finally the thirteenth moon is that of the Nuts. It is added to complete the 

 year. It is then that the nuts are broken in order to make bread, mingling it 

 with corn meal.^ 



FEASTS 



" These feasts," says Du Pratz— 

 ai*e equally religious and political, religious in that they appear to be insti- 

 tuted to thank the Great Spirit for the benefits he has sent men, political in 

 that the subjects then pay their sovereign the tribute which they owe, for how- 

 ever absolute the authority of the great Sun may be, although many .give 

 themselves to him to serve him, and a number of warrioi's attach themselves 

 to his person, to follow him wherever he goes, anfl to hunt for him, yet he raises 

 no stated impositions; and what he receives from those people ai)pears given, 

 not so much as a right due as a voluntary homage and a testimony of their love 

 and gratitude.^ 



That this " testimon}'' " was occasionally something of a burden, 

 however, may be gathered from the statement of Charlevoix that the 

 great village of the Natchez was not large because " the savages, from 

 Avhom the great chief has a right to take all they have, get as far from 

 him as they can ; and therefore, many villages of this nation have been 

 formed at some distance from this."'' 



"The feast whioli lakos placo during tliis month is doscribcd on pp. 11.3-121. 



>'T>u Vvatx, Ilisl. dc I.a T.ouisiano, ii, .3.'">4-.3S.3. 



•^ Ibid., 35:.5~3.-)4. 



<■ Charlevoix, .Journal, in Frnncli, Ilist. Coll. La., L")!), 1851. 



