74 
WALDEN. 
bought them all, and carefully transported them to their 
garrets and dust holes, to lie there till their estates are 
settled, when they will start again. When a man dies 
he kicks the dust. 
The customs of some savage nations might, perchance, 
be profitably imitated by us, for they at least go through 
the semblance of casting their slough annually; they 
have the idea of the thing, whether they have the real¬ 
ity or not. Would it not be well if we were to cele¬ 
brate such a “ busk,” or “ feast of first fruits,” as Bar- 
tram describes to have been the custom of the Mucclasse 
Indians ? “ When a town celebrates the busk,” says 
he, “ having previously provided themselves with new 
clothes, new pots, pans, and other household utensils 
and furniture, they collect all their worn out clothes 
and other despicable things, sweep and cleanse their 
houses, squares, and the whole town, of their filth, 
which with all the remaining grain and other old pro¬ 
visions they cast together into one common heap, and 
consume it with fire. After having taken medicine, and 
fasted for three days, all the fire in the town is extin¬ 
guished. During this fast they abstain from the grat¬ 
ification of every appetite and passion whatever. A 
general amnesty is proclaimed; all malefactors may re¬ 
turn to their town. —” 
“ On the fourth morning, the high priest, by rubbing 
dry wood together, produces new fire in the public 
square, from whence every habitation in the town is 
supplied with the new and pure flame.” 
They then feast on the new corn and fruits and 
dance and sing for three days, “ and the four following 
days they receive visits and rejoice with their friends 
from neighboring towns who have in like manner pu¬ 
rified and prepared themselves.” 
