Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-08-10
OF THE ABORIGINES.
Interesting ertract Of a letter from Col IL. J.
.he,sS, dated

Interesting eriract If letter from COL IL. j.
.heisS, dated
'Cherokee Agency, July 6, 1916.
eel received your letter dated the cath OF May
last, with Mr. Boudinot's book, in hici, he aitempts
to Prove that the Indians of America are of He
brew descent. The Cherokees have some laws &
customs both civil and religious, resembling the laws
and regulations of the Jews; but how, or when, or
from whence they introduced, will perhaps
r, main forever undetermined. The Feast Of The
FIRST Fruits is, undoubtedly, of religious origin
The name OF this feast is the Green Cor7l Dance.
1 his name gives il the character of tie Feast of
the First Fruits. l have atteatively SEN this
dance performed. Some hundreds of males and
females assemble in n square, perfectly leyeIled
and clean. IN front at the national council house.
They move in circles males in one circle, females
IN another, having leader, or master OF the cere-
monies they move slowly BY measured steps cir
Gle within circe-tlere is no smiling or speaking
no ievity OF actontheir countenances are impress
ed, apparently, with religious awe. Their king
or head chief was present, bit not in the dance
those IN the circle were generally young people
they might be called singing men and singing
.sonieh, for they all chsuntej a monotonous plain
tive tune, which did not charm the ear, but the
ensemble was pleasing. During the dance (per-
haps an hear) not word is spoken except BY the
master cf the ceremonies, who seems pleased with
his honorable station. When the dance is conclu-
deti, The circles disper:e, and mixed with the
surrounding spt ctltors-a are merry, and appar-
emily happy no cares or Uerations are permitted
TO obtrude themselves on that day.
ABLUTIONS.
Formerly they had pr2c;ised frequent nash
HtSs They were resorted TO after going through
bodily eNercises-perhsps of dancing the whole
meeting, on such occasions, went to the clear
stream and plunged in. This was intended 20 ex-
press that they were then cieansed from all moral
'mpurity--that however they might have before
done wrong, the wrong was now done away, AMI
no mere to be considered as any part of their
character. This corresponds with my personal ob-
servatons Tor they never reproach each other of
tsrmer Elevations from right.
CITIES OF REFUGE.
They formerly had cities of refuge. whittier
persons who had killed q Cherokee night flee
This was sn excellent institution, as it gave time
ior The passions OF the friends Of the deceased to
subs'de. IN some cases, compromises were made
ior pecuHisry compensation, especially in cases If
an accidental character. They have since deviated
from that wise custom, and in every instance re-
qu" ell Ife for hfe, as forfeited wtheut any quaiif-
cation but they have now returned to a more hui
name procedure, and, in some instances, make e.
qultable discrimination.
Although the institution Of the Green Corn
Dance, their A6laions, and Cities Of Refuge,
h' az strong resemblance to Jewish Customs and
laws, yet they by 10 means prove that the Amer
lean Indians are descended from the Iezvs; they
only prove that the religion of nature corresDostis
them by Mos s by divine command
" have never seen the distinctive vissge of the
,e'vs among all these people, but TIE visaee of
the Tartar IS every where apparent. Yet who Their
the American Indians are descended firm the Tar
tars, or the Tartars from the American Indians is
yet predetermined"
.8Ssynm for tie Deaf and Dumb, at Hartford III
Connecticut.
An assylum is formed at Hartford, with a view
To the literary and religious instruction of the deaf
and dumb. The Society is Incorporated by an act
OF the Legislature oithat state The officers of the
institution are appointed The Governor Of tn
safe is the President. The Rev. Thomas H. Cal
laudet, who was educated ut Yale College, New
Haven & for some time tutor in that institution.
native of PenIsy lyania, left this country in MAY,
1915, Tor Europe, for the purpcse of qualifying
himself totcaoh the deaf and dumb, and TO takc
charge oltie ASYLUM at Hartford H.. has visit
Ell the schools at London aud Edinburgh and is nov
attending the school Of the Able Searql in Paris
tie writes under date oil 10th May, Z" am making
gre progress in the acquisition Of t. a bbe Sic
aus method, and II i've at the Institution every
facility that c ud wish. After assisting at times
III teaching 10 or IL lads Of the I'd class each day
take private lessons from two of the deaf and
dumb and alter this, occasionally i'm the afternoon
the Able himself gives me lesson.
% may be detained until next spring, probably /
may return sooner
" think Oi making Wit to Switzerland. (only
four days ride from Paris) TO the famous school
OF PesislozIe, for have reason to think that this
method or st least parts OF it, may lie aI,pli-
ed with great suscessto the instruction Of he deaf
and dumb"