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A few generations back, many Cherokees spake what is called the old language. Those were most acquainted with the ancient customs. But a fatal disease prevailed in the towns where they lived, and most of them died. The remainder moved to Crow town, where they died and the language was lost, except some few words retained by individuals. The old songs are supposed to be expressed in that language as they are not now understood. citation: Nettle. + At first there were twelve tribes of Indians, but after a while, one tribe violated the law of God by intermarrying in an unlawful manner, and therefore they resolved to reduce the number of their tribes to seven. citation: Nutrawi P.