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152 p. 49 154 Seventh sheet

                                              Small pox
This disorder was supposed to be inflicted by a kind of spiritual beings, resembling people only the female was about the colour of a chestnut burr, and covered with such

kind of prickles. On touching any person therefore she occasioned those find pimples which first appeared in that disease. The male was said to be the colour of poke berries when ripe, and by giving the person another touch occasioned that black eye appearance of the pustiles when about to mortify. These people, it was said never slept except for a short time about midnight. Therefore when any would flee from them they must start at that time, and afterward should they want provision, or anything from their houses, they must return at that time of night, observing the most profound stillness. And as these people always walked in the large, plain paths, the Cherokees, in avoiding them walked out of the road in the woods. None, however, must talk against them, nor seem to be afraid of them. When these strange beings were supposed to be in the vicinity, the people of the town assembled, and selected seven men, one out of each clan to make arrangements for the necessary ceremonies to keep them away.

These men first chose a priest to officiate on the occasion, sent one of their number to give him notice.   The priest then commenced gathering his medicine, which must consist of at least seven kinds of herbs & roots. He prayed as he got them that they might be blessed so as to effect what was desired.
 On the fourth night, a little before sunset the priest took his medicinal herbs and roots to the town house. New fire had already been made. This was done as follows, viz. 

Then who had been appointed, got two pieces of dry Basswood, put goldenrod seed between them, and two commenced rubbing these sticks together, and continued till fatigued. They were then relieved by two others, and so on till the wood caught fire. They then got dry pieces of wood from the east side of Basswood trees, examined to see that there were no worms in it, took off what might be rotten, and then kindled the fire with the remainder, being pure & free from rot. The hearth of the tower house having been cleansed, the fire was made with fuel taken from seven kinds of trees viz. Black jack, Locust, Post oak, sycamore, Red bud, Plum, & red oak.

 The priest put his herbs in a pot, white washed & filled with spring water, and put the pot over the fire, praying at the same time to the setting sun, with his face toward the west. From this time the seven men, appointed to order the ceremonies, alternately stayed by the fire, night &