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6 565 protection from snakes. For the same reason also hunters waved their moccasins & leggings over the fire.

  Some Cherokees give the following account of their sacred fire. After their arrival on this continent, from beyond the sea, they sent back for some of their sacred fire, which existed [there?], an active intelligent agent in the form of a man. Tuowingly a little of this fire was taken from that man of fire & conveyed over the water by a spider which wrapped it in her web.  When they got this fire, they kept it always in their council house, that is, in a hole or cave dug under the council house. (Others say this fire originally came down from heaven.) Their council house was eventually taken by their enemies & destroyed, but they suppose the fire is still in the hole under ground where they left it. 
  Having lost this sacred fire, they endeavored to remedy the evil by making new fire. Taking two pieces of [unclear] Basswood, they put a weed called gold rod, between them & then rubbed them swiftly against each other till the weed & wood took fire. Among the Creeks & perhaps among ancient? Cherokees, all the fire was eating wished every year, about the commencement of autumn & new fire made. Among the Cherokees new fire was made at the commencement, & used during every war, or hunting expedition. Also when a person died, all the old wood and fire were taken out of the house, & new fire made as above. Their prayers are often addressed to the fire.