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176

on a seat proposed for the occasion. This stood immediately before the middle & most distinguished war seat, occupied now by his predecessor in office. The seat? was

four or five feet high, having a back to lean against; all painted red. Having seated the candidate, the four men commenced marching round him, and singing a song of four verses. Having sung one verse, and marched round him once, they batted for a moment, and then proceeded again till they had gone round him four times and sung the four verses. These verses were considered dangerous for common people to repeat, and therefore but few ever learned them.

This ceremony being ended, a man appointed for the purpose, stepped forward and undressed the candidate entirely leaving only his breeches (or flap). The the man who had

the paint or ointment, went to him and made seven stripes across each side of his face, red and black alternately. Then with the paint on the same forefinger of his right hand, he drew a mark from the top of his forehead down over his nose to his breast. There two marks, in the same manner, from his forehead to the back part of his head, leaving the tuft between them. Then putting his finger on the thumbnail of his right hand, drew it up his arm to his breast, and then down his left arm to his thumbnail. Then putting his finger on the great toenail of his right foot