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2 246 the water. Then turning to the west, plunged again. Then to the east, &c. seven times. Some went in with old garments, & while in the water, let them loose, to swim away?, with the impurities of the last year, and put on new, clean clothes, on coming to the bank. Others change their clothes so that on returning to the council house all were in clean apparel.
On returning to the council house, the priest offered sacrifice. Standing by the fire, with his right hand man at his side, & his seven counsellors behind him, all facing the east. The priest prayed that God would cleanse them from all the impurities of the past year, and lotes? them, and make the fruit of the present year healthy to their bodies. He then put the meat (deer tongue) on the coals, and also the seven kernels of new corn, one for each clan and then sprinkled on the powder of old tobacco. Now this corn and meat would pop as many times as there were to be deaths among the people during the year. The priest then placed his u la sa ta (Divining stones) on the seven deer skins folded (or on something^? for the purpose; placed in the window of the house. where the sun would shine on it. This was a little after sun rise. The appearance of the Divining stone (u la sa ta) now confirmed the testamony of the sacrifice; and just as many persons appeared lying dead as were indicated by the passing of the sacrifice. The priest then gave to the seven councellors (one of each clan) a kind of water of purification. This was a tea made by boiling a weed called lu lo, na. The counsellors then distributed this drink, each giving to those of his own clan. This tea they drank and also washed with it their breasts and bowels, and gave it to their children & washed them with it. Then all partook lightly of roasting corn. The barbiecued meat, which the hunters had prepared for the occasion, was then distributed through the town to be cooked. The flesh was pounded in a morter, & boiled with green corn cut from the cob; and then long pieces were boiled by themselves. A little before sunset, the speakers, with a loud voice, called for the victuals. This was then brought and set on long benches in the yard. The priest then offered sacrifice, as before, and then ordered all to eat, asking again a blessing on the new food. After eating all bathed again, as in the morning, only there was no changing of clothes; and the night was spent in dancing the Friendship dance. The musician had a drum of Indian earthen ware, to accompany to voice.