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48 Among the Cherokees there used to be a custom of cementing perpetual friendship between individuals. Suppose two young men conceived a peculiar fondness for each other, and desired to enter into the strongest bonds of perpetual friendship, they went to that feast or fast of purification when the yo was was sung: taking an opportunity, sometime during that feast, when the people were seated in the council house, they arose, walked toward the fire, and then turned and commenced dancing round the fire, what is called the A to hu na, or friendship dance, each having on his best clothes. While dancing in the presence of all the people, while looking, thus exchanged one garment after another till each had given the other his entire dress, even to legings, mocasins &c. and thus each of them publicly received the other as himself, & became thus pledged to regard and treat him as himself while he lived. Sometimes two women, and sometimes a man and a woman contracted this friendship. Thus when a young man and woman fell in love with each other but were hindered from marrying, either by relations or by being of the same clan, they bound themselves in perpetual friendship. While dancing round the fire as above stated, the man throws his blanket over the woman, and the woman as soon as convenient threw hers to the man. The man also having prepared a cane sieve, & hung it by a string over his shoulder, gave her that. He also presented her with a pestle to pound corn with. The mortar he had for her at home.

Friends among the Cherokees, must share with each other whatever they might have.  They must also, if requested always reveal whatever secret they might know. To hide any thing from a friend was betraying a want of confidence inconsistent with the ties of that friendship by which they were bound.  But friends must never reveal secrets thus made known to them. citation:  T Smith. (A ska lo ti ge ski) Raven & Zachariah.