.MTA1Mg.NzA1NTI

292 ?tientors are doubtless permitted, but as I cannot now ?ignate them. I can make corrections. Permit me however to say that before, & during this feast, the priest his right hand man, his seven Counsellors and the seven women selected for the purpose, fasted ten days surprisingly, eating only a very little once in twenty four hours. The man also who sang the sacred hymn did not eat but once in 24 hours & then but lightly just after dawn. He also plunged entirely seven times at day break & just before eating at dusk. All the people also fasted two whole days and spent two nights in entire wakefulness. All plunge entirely twice seven times, in all fourteen times, put away all old clothes & put on new or at least clean clothes, had new fire, new wood etc. Thus in all respects? purifying themselves for entering on the new year,

White washing, & cleansing every part of the counsel house renewing the altar of earth or perhaps I mentioned Modern Cherokees have entirely laid aside the annual and stated observance of the above feast, and attend only in case some very mortal sickness is feared.  
Please notice also whatever is said respecting U Ku dance, called also in my communication the Septenial  feast, held at the commencement of every seventh year, God, it is said, directed the whole nation, to meet, & keep that as a special feast of rejoicing.
   Dear Sir, on my papers you will perceive many little things noticed which may seem too trifling to merit observation; yet most of these little things having their parallel trifles in Jewish antiquities will quietly favour the comparison when primitive. Yet I am almost certain that public opinion in the United States will not sustain any work favourable to the Indians. Should Congress now, deliberately, determine to drive the Indians from this country, in opposition to the will of the nation, in conformity with the treaty of Mr. Schermerhorn I should certainly advise that any impartial history of Indians had better, by all means, be published in London. Respecting that treaty, as a political thing, I am not even to deceive, yet enforcing it, unless present circumstances, would display a disposition, not calculate to cherish researchers after Indians greatness.