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appearance. This new moon began the year with regard to most of the national feasts But on account of the variations of the moon they have often lined out; been in foujnd difficulty in deciding which was the first sprint moon; insomuch that many years ago some of the younger class were bewildered, and began to unclear on February i.e. the moon providers to the first spring moon ads beginning the year. The old men, however, knowing that the year did not commence, and that their first great feast should not be kept providers to the springing of vegetation, would never yield to the above innovation to the Cherokee formerly lived in regions Northward of third country it is probable that grass generally, did not grow till about the middle or latter part of March, and, of course, that this year did not commence till that period. This is farther unclear from the following circumstances, viz, The Cherokees divided their year into two equal parts, summer and winter. In this division the winter embraced the whole period from the commencement of Autumn to the commencement of spring But their first autumnal new moon, called the great moon, made its appearance about the time of the first frosts, when leaves began to fall, which must be towards the latter part of September. Six months from this time would carry us towards the latter part of March when, of course, this spring, and year, for calculating third religious feasts, commenced.
Some time previous to the first spring new moon, the seven prime counsellors appointed a dance, to be performed by certain honorable women, The above counsellors counted the nights from the last new moon and also consulted the Divining stone, or "Word of Moses" to determine when the first spring new moon would appear, and their appointed the feast, to be celebrated at that time, immediately after the women had concluded the dance.
- The Divining stone or re ly sa ta was also called by the ancient Cherokees, "The word of Moses." Why, they do not know. word scratched out Deer in the water