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Feasts, dances, &c. 124 P. 35. 126

Anciently the Cherokees commenced this year with the first new moon of spring i e. in March, but with regard to their moons, the first moon in autumn, was called, and is still, the great moon, or first moon in the year as to New moon feasts, ceremonies &c. This according to some was the September, & according to others, the October November, they reckoned their days from sun set till sun set the next day. Thus when they fasted they ate just before sun set, and abstained from food till sun set the next day; except when their eating the next day was a religious feast, preceded by a sacrifice, and in that case the sacrifice, and the commencement of eating, must be just before sunset, in order that their devotions might be paid to that planet before it disappears. The first business in the spring was to prepare their fields and plant their corn, beans &c. The time for doing this, was determined by the U ka and his privy council, in order that the fruits of the field in all parts of the nation might all crossed out come forward at the same time, & be in readiness for the feast of first fruits. But about the time of planting, or immediately after, they hold a national feast. This, in most respects was similar to the feast of first fruits, except the use of old corn instead of new. A description of that feast, therefore, will be sufficient to give a general view of both. Anciently the Cherokees lived in large towns, contiguous to each other, so that the whole nation could easily be convened. 
  The fruits of the field becoming fit for use, the seven counsellors of the Uka, or high priest, appointed the time for the green corn dance, or feast of first fruits, and dispatched a messenger through the nation to notify the people, and to gather seven ears of corn, from seven fields, of the seven clans, one ear from a field of each clan. This man, on his return, delivered the seven ears of corn to the seven counsellors. 
 These counsellors then make all necessary arrangements, and seven days provisions to the feast, sent the men of the town on a hunting expedition, to provide meat for the feast, these continued in the woods six days, and on the evening of the sixth day returned, and the meat sent round & cooked for the feast. During the six days, the  hunters were out, the seven counsellors, (& probably their wives) kept a strict fast, eating only once in twenty-four hours i.e. about sun set. On the evening of the sixth day the nation assembled. Every family had some of the various