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92
to which were as follows:
Soon after the people had withdrawn from the Great New Moon Festival, ____ probably not more than a day, or so, after, ____ the seven prime counsellors convened at the National Heptagon, for the purpose of appointing, in seven nights, the peculiarly significant and solemn Ah, tawh, hung, nah. At this FEstival it was that the interest devotional was evinced by the ancient Cherokee; and paramount adoration given to the source of all their blessings. It was on this festival that the mystical hymn was specially chaunted; that which was called the Gowah Hymn; and is named in another part of our work, ____ where the deep reerence of the Cherokee for the Great Ge, ho, waah, to whom it was specially consecrated, is also described. To ascertain the precise significance of the Cherokee title for this festival, is by no means easy. It is derived from a peculiar bond between Indians of the same tribe, which is alluded to elsewhere in these pages. This can only be described in our language as a vow of eternal brotherhood. It sprang from a passionate friendship between young men, prompting them mutually to a solemn act of devotedness to each other. They plighted it publickly, at an appointed time and