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28 Nu ta te ga, or Great new moon.

 The next great national feast was on the appearance of the first autumnal, or great new moon, which appeared about the time of the first falling of leaves. This moon evidently included the latter part of September and fore part of October.
The seven counsellors of the N ku who directed in all the national feasts, were very particular in determining the time when this new moon would appear. They counted, it is

said, the nights from the new moon before, and also watched the waning of the old moon. But in case the moon could not be seen, and there was any doubt respecting it, the priests would, it was said, determine by the divining stones, the day of the new moon.

Having determined the time when the new moon would appear, the seven counsellors made arrangements for the feast. They assembled, seven nights previous to the feast,

directed all the hunters in the chief town to start the next morning in pursuit of meat. They also appointed seven, honorable women to cook, and prepare the victuals, and seven men to prepare tables seats &c. and direct the feast.

The hunters returned the day the new moon was to appear, with their meat barbicued, having been out six nights (but some say they had hunted ? nights) and deposited the meat in the treasure house. The meat of the buck however, from which the end of the tongue was taken for sacrifice, & seven deer skins, were given to the priest. The tongue was also delivered to him, wrapped in old leaves, which must be burnt as soon as the tongue was offered. In all cases the tongue must be sacrificed, or burnt, before the priest could eat or taste of the flesh of the deer from which it was taken.
 On this evening also the whole nation assembled. Each family brought hard corn say seven ears, beans, also pumpkins dried, and all kinds of fruit they had raised, and delivered to the priest for his support, or rather, it was said to feed his friends who should from time to time call on him. Each family