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Feasts, dances, &c. 124 Unclear 126 the Cherokees commenced this year with the first new moon of spring i e. in March, but with regard to their moons, the first moon in autumn, was called, and is still, the great moon, or first moon in the year as a New moon feasts, ceremonies re this unclear to some was the September, & unclear to others, The October November, they recognize these days from sun set till sun set the next day. Thus when they fasted they ate just before sun set, and abstained from food till sun set the next day; except when their eating the next day was a religious feast, preceded by a sacrifice, and in that case the sacrifice, and the commencement of eating, must be just before sunset, in order that their devotions might be paid to that planet before it disappears. The first business in the spring was to impose? this unclear. The time for doing this, was determined by the U ka and his being unclear in order that the fruits of the field in all unclear might MM come forward at the same time, & be in rediness? for the feast of first unclear. But about this time of planting, or immediately after, they unclear rational? feast. This, in most respects was similar to the feast of first fruits, except the use of old corn instead of new. A description of that feast, therefore, will be sufficient to give a general view of both. Unclear the Cherokees live in larger towns, contiguous to each other, so that the whole nation unclear easily can convene. The fruits of the field becoming fit for use, the season unclear of the Elk, or high priest, appointed the time for the green corn dance, or feast of first fruits, and unclear Through the nation to notify the unclear, and to gather seven ears of corn, from seven fields, of the seven clans, one unclear from a field of each clan. Their man, on his return, delivered the seven ears of corn to the seven [unclear]]. These counsellors then make all necessary arrangements, unclear seven days provisions to the feast sent the unclear of the town on a hunting expedition, to provide meat for the feast, then continued in the woods six days, and unclear the evening of the sixth day returned, and the meat unclear cooked for the feast. During the six days, th unclear were out, the seven counsellors, (& probably their wives) kept a strict fast, eating only once in twenty-four unclear i.e. about sun set. On the evening of the sixth day the nation assembled. Every family had some of the various