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32 posture or with a blue countenance. In this case his cause was referred to the next new moon (in 4 weeks) and if the omens were then bad he was very soon to die. But if on this second trial any one appeared ?nut & natural, then he was ordered to plunge again seven times with his head toward the east.

 On this night all again were denied sleep except small children, and the women spent the night mostly in dancing, and in the morning all were dismissed.
     citation:  Three Killer.

______________________________________________________________________ The more modern ceremonies at this great new moon feast are as follows:

 Each town held the feast separately. All watched for the first appearance of this new moon, and on the first sight of it assembled at the house of the priest (or conjuror, as at

present) who was on this occasion attended by two right hand men, subject to his orders. One of these assistants selected seven men to sing for the women; The first of these tool his seat, and commenced singing. The women then started in the dance, which consisted of a slow step in a circle round the fire. The woman who led the dance had a tarapin shell, partly filled with pebble tied to the calf of her leg.

When the first singer had concluded his song or rather music, which he did in about three  quarters of an hour, he stopped and retired, and the women took their seats. The

second musician soon took his stand, when the dance proceeded as before, and thus till the seven had completed their music, and then all retired to rest.

Early in the morning the priest collected all into a house for the purpose, and seated them in rows with their faces toward the east. He then opened a crack in the east side of the house, about a foot long, and set his divining stone in it, so that the sun as it rose would shine upon it.   He then stood back about four feet, looking at the stone, and prayed. 

As he prayed, it is said, the stone became brighter and brighter, till at length a brightness from it, like that reflected from a piece of glass, moved first over the roof of the house, and