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30 also brought of the same for the feast, and deposited in the treasure house. This night none but infants were allowed to sleep. The women devoted some time to cleaning. Early the next morning before sunrise all were ordered to the river. While on the bank the priest prayed and went through certain ceremonies (described hereafter) and then ordered all to wash. This they did as usual, by wading in, and plunging seven times entirely under water. They had their clothes on. Infants and children were also plunged in the same manner. On coming out of the water, each passed by a stool on which the priest had set his divining stone, and as they passed, held the palm of their hand toward the stone, and looked at the stone. Now such as were to live till the new moon in March, could see themselves, it is said, standing erect in the stone; but such as were to die before that time would see themselves lying down in the stone. These went one side from the company generally
The company then dispensed to various houses in the town & took off their wet clothes & put on such as were clean & dry, and then repaired again to the council house.
The great men bathed after the company had left the river, by plunging in the same manner the others had. The victual, having been prepared, was placed in the yard as at the feast of green fruits and all ate about 9 or 10 O Clock. The seven counsellors, & probably some others ate by themselves.
But such as according to the oracle were to die before long, had to fast all day. At evening each one gave the priest a piece of cloth or deer skin, and he took them again to the river. He then spread the cloth one had given him, set the stone upon it, and prayed for instruction relative to this man's life. The man then holding the palm of his right had toward the stone looked in it. Now if his life was good, he saw himself erect in his natural colour, but if not, his form either appeared, and immediately vanished, or appeared in a reclining