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26 Page 7 28 Meal made of this they considered not only a luxury but a great support to nature, and used it generally on journies, and hunting and war expeditions. They were and still are peculiarly fond of a find of soup made of parched corn meal and grapes. They first boil the grapes and then put in meal till the soup is of the consistence of honey, & when cool, eat it with wooden or buffalo horn spoons. With regard to cooking utensils, they used to have but few. Thus even earthen ware served them for all the purposes of baking, frying, holding liquids &c. while gourds answered for carrying water. To contain bears oil, honey &c. they made bottles of Deer skins. On killing the deer they cut off his head & feet, and then drew the carcass through the skin of the neck. They then sewed up the feet, leaving the neck for the nose of the bottle. Their sieves, riddles, baskets &c. they made from split cane. signed: Short trrout Nettle.
The Cherokees in their social intercourse with each other, & with stranger, whom they can suppose friendly, are generous, kind, affable and affectionate. In conversation, they seldom if ever contradict or censure each other, but to a peculiar degree possess the art of pleasing and interesting their guests. With regard to their manner of warfare the Cherokee, the Creeks & probably most of the tribes greatly resemble each other. They had a high priest for the war; and soldiers, on enlisting, came under his immediate direction and tuition. He, by various means, purified & prepared them for the conflict. None must have any farther intercourse with women till the war was concluded. Shortly before starting on the expedition, the priest collected all the warriors into the council house. He then took a post, about three feet long, painted red, and set it between the three white seats & the door, -- covered the upper end with a fawn skin, and on this placed his diamond stone (chrystoline quartz.) Then standing between the post and the door, with his face toward the diamond, & also towards the ark, standing in the holy place, back of the white seats, he prayed that it might be made known to them, strikeout who of the soldiers should go to the war and who not. He then ordered the warriors to march by the post, on which lay the diamond, and on those who were to be successful & return See page 9