SwANTON] INDIAK'S OP THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES 769 



Cherokees that these persons are impure until bathing in the water of the seventh 

 night in the morning. Some changes have of late taken place — instead of seven, 

 four nights are now deemed sufficient. (Hicks in Raleigh Register,) 



Payne refers to six Cherokee festivals the second of which is the 

 one generally denominated the "green corn dance" (Bartram, 1909, 

 p. 74). This corresponded to the busk of the Creeks but unfor- 

 tunately we have but few descriptions of it and those very meagre. 

 Timberlake was told that it was 



performed in a very solemn manner, in a large square before the town-house 

 door : the motion here is very slow, and the song in which they offer thanks to 

 God for the corn he has sent them, far from unpleasing. (Timberlake, Williams 

 ed., 1927, pp. 88-89.) 



This trifling notice may be supplemented by a longer account by 

 Charles Lanman, which owes its length unfortunately to flowery 

 language rather than the demands of the subject. However, it is in- 

 teresting and begins as far back as the ceremonies concerned with 

 planting. Lanman obtained his information from Mr. Preston 

 Starritt of Tennessee. 



The beautiful valley to which we have journeyed is entirely surrounded with 

 mountains, about five miles square, watered by a charming stream, and inhabited 

 by two thousand aborigines, who are divided into seven clans, and located in 

 seven villages. The ruling men of the tribe have signified to their people that 

 the period for planting corn has arrived, and that they must gather themselves 

 together for the purpose of submitting to the annual ceremonies of purification. 

 For doing this they have a double object : they would, in the first place, expunge 

 from their bodies every vestige of all the colds and diseas'es with which they 

 may have been afflicted during the past winter ; and, in the second place, they 

 would propitiate the Great Spirit, so as to secure his blessing upon the crops 

 which they are about to deposit in the ground. The moon being now at its full 

 and a fitting location having been selected, the chiefs and magicians congregate 

 together for the purpose of submitting to the annual ceremonies of purification, 

 made to keep out all evil spirits and enemies, and the medicine men then proceed 

 to walk in single file, and with measured steps, completely around the spot which 

 they would render sacred, and which is generally half a mile in diameter, mark- 

 ing their route by plucking a single leaf from every tree or bush which they 

 may happen to pass, all these leaves being carefully deposited in a pouch carried 

 for the purpose. In the meantime, the brotherhood of chiefs have not been un- 

 employed, for while the most aged individual of all has been making a collection of 

 roots, the remainder have built a rude dam, and thereby formed a pond or pool of 

 water on the creek which invariably waters the sacred enclosure. The entire 

 population of the valley are now summoned to the outskirts of the sacred en- 

 closure, and a general invitation extended to all to approach and join the chiefs 

 and magicians in the rite they are about to perform ; it being understood, how- 

 ever, that no man, under penalty of death, shall venture to participate, who 

 has left a single wrong unrevenged, or committed any unmanly deed, and no 

 woman who has given birth to a child since the preceding full moon. In the center 

 of the sacred ground, and in the vicinity of the pool, a large fire is now made, 

 around which the multitude are congregated. The night is clear and the moon 

 and stars are flooding the earth with light. 



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