NORTH AMERICA. 
S°7 
fomewhat refembling a ladle or little hoop-net, 
with a handle near three feet in length, the hoop 
and handle of wood, and the netting of thongs of 
raw hide, or tendons of an animal. 
The foot ball is likewifea favourite, manly cl i - 
verfion with them. Feafting and dancing in the 
fquare at evening, ends all their games. 
They have befides, feafts or feftivals almoft for 
every month in the year, which are chiefly dedi- 
cated to hunting and agriculture. 
The bulk, or feaft of firfl fruits, is their prin- 
cipal feftival ; this feems to end the laft, and be- 
gin the new year. 
It commences in Auguft, when their new crops 
of corn are arrived to perfect maturity : and every 
town celebrates the bulk feparately, when their 
own harveft is ready. 
If they have any religious rite or ceremony, 
this feftival is its moft folemn celebration. 
When a town celebrates the bulk, having pre- 
vioufly provided themfelves with new cloaths, 
new pots, pans and other houfehold utenfils and 
furniture, they coileCt all their worn out clothes 
and other defpicable things, fweep and cleanfe 
their houfes, fquares, and the whole town, of 
their filth, which with all the remaining grain and 
other old provifions, they caft together into one 
common heap, and confume it with fire. After 
having taken medicine, and faded for three days, 
all the fire in the town is extinguished. During 
this fail they abftain from the gratification of 
.every appetite and paflion whatever. A general 
amnefty is proclaimed, all malefactors may re- 
turn to their town! and they are abfolved from 
their 
