45° 
TRAVELS IN 
and immediately rifes into a bright flame (but 
how this is effected I did not plainly apprehend ; 
I faw no perfon fet fire to it ; there might have 
been fire left on the earth, however I neither faw 
nor fmelt fire or fmoke until the blaze inftantly 
afcended upwards), which gradually and llowly 
creeps round the centre pillar, with the courfe of 
the fun, feeding on the dry canes, and affords a 
cheerful, gentle and fuffkient light until the 
circle is confumed, when the council breaks up. 
Soon after this illumination takes place, the aged, 
chiefs and warriors are feated on their cabins or 
fophas on the fide of the houfe oppofite the 
door, in three claffes or ranks, rifmg a little, one 
above or behind the other ; and the white peo- 
ple and red people of confederate towns in the 
like order on the left hand ; a tranfverfe range 
of pillars, fupporting a thin clay wall about 
bread high, feparating them : the king's cabin- 
or feat is in front ; the next to the back of it the 
head warriors ; and the third or lad accommo- 
dates the young warriors, &c. The great war 
chief's feat or place is on the fame cabin with, 
and immediately to the left hand of the king, 
and next to the white people ; and to the right 
hand of the mico or king the mo ft venerable 
head-men and warriors are feated. The affembly 
being now feated in order, and the houfe illu- 
minated, two middle aged men, who perform the 
office of Haves or fervants, pro tempore, come in 
together at the door, each having very large 
conch {hells full of black drink, and advance 
with flow, uniform and fteady fteps, their eyes or 
countenances lifted up, ringing very low but 
fweetly ; they come within fix or eight paces of 
the king's and white people's cabins, when they 
ftpp together, and each refts his fnell on a tripos 
or 
