770 BUREAU OF AME[RICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 137 



An earthen pot is now placed upon the fire, the roots gathered by the old chief, 

 numbering seven varieties, are placed therein, also the leaves plucked by the 

 magicians, when the pot is filled with water by seven virgins, who are promoted 

 to this honor by the appointment of the senior chief. After the contents of the 

 pot have been thoroughly boiled, and a most bitter but medicinal beverage been 

 made, all the persons present are called upon to take seven sips of the bitter liquid, 

 and then directed to bathe no less than seven times in the neighboring pool, the 

 waters of which have been rendered sacred by the incantations of the priests. 

 All these things being done, the multitude assembles around the fire once more, 

 and, to the music of a strange wild singing, they dance until the break of day, 

 and then disperse to their several homes. The friendship of the Great Spirit 

 has now been secured, and therefore, as opportunity offers, the Indians proceed 

 to loosen their ground, as best they may, and then plant their corn. This labor is 

 performed chiefly by the women, and the planted fields are considered as under 

 their especial charge. Though planted in the greatest disorder, they keep their 

 cornfields entirely free of weeds, and the soil immediately around the corn in a 

 loose condition. At every full moon they are commonly apprehensive that some 

 calamity may befall their crop, and, by way of keeping the Great Spirit on their 

 side, the women have a custom of disrobing themselves, at the dead hour of 

 night, and of walking entirely around the field of corn. 



And now that the sunshine and showers of summer are performing their 

 ministry of good in bringing the corn to its wonted perfection, it may be well to 

 make the reader acquainted with the following facts: As the Indians purify 

 themselves and perform their religious rites only when the moon is at its full, 

 so do they refrain from plucking a single ear of corn until they have partaken 

 of their annual harvest or green corn feast. This feast occurs on the night of the 

 full moon nearest to the period when the corn becomes ripe; and by a time- 

 honored law of the nation, no man, woman, or child is ever permitted, under pen- 

 alty of death, to pluck a single roasting-ear. So rigidly enforced is this law 

 that many Cherokees are known to have lost their lives for disobeying it, while 

 many families have suffered the pangs of hunger for many days, even while 

 their fields were filled with corn, merely because the harvest moon had not yet 

 arrived, and they had not partaken of their annual feast. If a full moon should 

 occur only one week after the corn had become suitable to pluck, the Indians 

 will not touch a single ear until the next moon, even if it should then be so hard 

 as to require pounding before becoming suitable for food. During the ripening 

 period the cornfields are watched with jealous care, and the first stalk that throws 

 out its silken plume is designated by a distinguishing mark. In assigning reasons 

 for this peculiar care, the Indians allege that until the harvest feast has taken 

 place the corn is exclusively the property of the Great Spirit, and that they are 

 only its appointed guardians; and they also maintain that, when the corn is 

 plucked before the appointed moon has arrived, the field which has thus been 

 trespassed upon is sure to be prostrated by a storm or be afBicted with the rot ; and 

 therefore it is that they are always greatly alarmed when they discover that a 

 cornfield has been touched, as they say, by the Evil One. 



But the harvest moon is now near at hand, and the chiefs and medicine men 

 have summoned the people of the several villages to prepare themselves for the 

 autumnal festival. Another spot of ground is selected, and the same sanctifying 

 ceremony is performed that was performed in the previous spring. The most 

 expert hunter in each village has been commissioned to obtain game, and while 

 he is engaged in the hunt the people of his village are securing the blessing of the 

 Great Spirit by drinking, with many mystic ceremonies, the liquid made from 

 seven of the most bitter roots to be found among the mountains. Of all the game 

 which may be obtained by the hunters, not a single animal is to be served up 



