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About forty years back the feasts of the Cherokees have been conducted, generally, in the following manner. In the spring, immediately after planting their corn, they held a feast, in most respects similar to the feast of first fruits, except the use of old corn instead of new, and the difference naturally arising from the different purposes of the feasts. At this feast a conjurer was selected to regulate the season, i.e. to bring rain, when needed, - stop it when coming in too great abundance, and keep off wind, hail etc from the corn. And the relieve him from all other cares, his field was tilled wholly by the town, and his family supplied, in part, at least with corn.