The ceremony of initiating Youth into Manhood.
At the age of from 15 to 17 this ceremony is usually performed. It is called Boos, ke, tau in like manner as the annual Boos ke tau of the Nation. A youth of the proper age gathers two handsful of the Sou watch, cau, a very bitter root -- this he eats a whole day then he steeps the leaves in water & drinks it. In the dusk of the evening he eats two or three spoonsful of boiled grits. This is repeated for four days and during this time he remains in a house. The Sou, watch cau has the effect of intoxicating & maddenning. The fourth day, he goes out, but must put on a pair for new moccasins (Stil,la,pica) For twelve moons he abstains from eating bucks except old ones, and from turkey cocks, sowls, peas & salt. During this period he must not pick his ears nor scratch his word scratched out head with his fingers, but use a small stick. For four moons he must have a fire to himself to cook his food, and a little girl, a virgin, may cook for him. His food is boiled grits. The 5th moon any person may cook for him, but he must serve himself first, & use one spoon & one pan. Every new moon he drinks for four days the Possau (button snake root) - an emetic, & abstains for these days from all food, except in the evening a little boiled grits (humpetuh Hutke) The 12th moon he performs for 4 days what he commenced with on the first. The 5th day he comes out of his house, gathers corn cobs, burns them to ashes, & with these