.MTA1Mg.NzA0NTk

Fifth sheet Marriage Among the Cherokees, as among other Indian tribes, are seven clans, or families, designated as follows unclear. The Wolf clan -- the Blind savannah clan, -- the Paint clan, -- the Long hair clan, -- the Bird clan, -- the Deer clan, and the Molly clan. All of the same clan, are considered as near relations, and therefore not allowed to intermarry. unclear, it is said, the Cherokees seldom married a second time, as second marriages were not honorable, (unless in the case of a brothers widow, as among the Creeks) I first was not allowed to marry a widow, nor a woman who had been put away by her husband, nor any other woman of a bad character. Polygamy, it is said, was not unclear tolerated, but one man must have only one wife. When a young man desired a virgin in marriage, he consulted her parents, whose consent was deemed absolutely essential. -- All parties being agreed, ie. the parents of the young man & young woman both, the time was appointed for the marriage, and the priest who was to officiate, was notified of their wishes. Accordingly, on the day appointed for the marriage, early in the morning, the priest got two roots, of a certain kind, and laid them on his hand, a little distance from each other. He then, with his face toward the East, prayed to be informed whether those two young persons were designed for each other; and whether, unclear they would live long and happily together. If the persons were not for other, and would not, if married, live well together, the roots would not move. If in case of marriage, they would live well together a short time, & then one die, the roots would move together, but one would quickly wilt away. In either case, the priest forbade their marriage, and nothing more was said about it. But if the roots came together, and unclear so for some time, or till the priest put them down, then the marriage was to be consummated. All parties then assembled, and the priest commended the couple to god, praying that they might be enabled to live long and happily together. He then told them that if either should prove unfaithful to the other, that one especially, must go to the bad place.