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                                                                                                                                                                                                                             135

At the right hand man's order, the food was now brought forward. At his order, also, all partook at the same moment; -- the sixteen excepted, who had been fasting: These still continued at the Town Council House, eating old food seven days longer;; when all re-assembled; and all partook together of the new fruit.

    After this, the Ti, no, li, no, he ski, the Seven Counsellors.-- appointed the Tung, haj, kaw, hoongh - ni,-- the Mature, or Ripe Green Corn Feast.--
    Old persons among the Cherokee do not remember that, for the last fifty years, any special order was either given or required for the separate celebration of the Green Corn Festival. On the contrary, towns would celebrate it independently, without reference either to each other, or to the principal town. Still more limited celebrations probably date from the very earliest times. A form of them which is still recollected, is described as follows:
      Families who could not attend either the national or Town Feasts, before tasting their green fruits, would send for a priest. He took some of their new corn, pounded, in the palm of his hand; and some of the grains on his fingers. He stood before the fire. He gave thanks for the new food and prayed that it might be healthful