Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-07-26
From the National iateltigencer.
OF THE AB0RlGlNES.
Interesting extracts OF a letter IRON Cei.
r. j. Melgs* dated,
"Cherokee Hgency, Juty o; 1910.

Il. j.. 61elSo u"tSu,
"Cagrokee agency, Jutyo, 1916.
Il received your letter dated the
|24th of May last, with MI. beadlaot
lbook, in which he attempts to prove thai
tine Indians of America are OF Heb en-
decent, The Cherokees have some laws
land custous, both civil and religious, re
se.ublng the laws and esuiations OF sis
Jews but ,how, Or when, or from whence
thew are introduced viii perhaps remaia
| forever undetermined. Tie feast OF the
first fruits is, undoubtedly, otreli5ious
origin. The name OF this feast Is tlle
Green Corn Dance. This name gives
lit the character of the Feast of tae flrsi
fruits. | have attentNely seen THIS
dance performed. Some hundreds oN
lmales & females assemble lii a square.
perfectly leyeiled and clean.in iioAt u
/ the national council house ihes
}noye IN circles, males IN oGe ,circie, ait
tlemales in another, haylns a ieauef, ol
imastei OF the ceremonies teey hose
Islowly by measured steps, circle "i'ni'
lcircte- there is no snIlhs OF speaking
mo levity Of action-thel countenanoes
tare imp, ssea, apparently, WIZ fe"sioua
lave. i he'll hing. o. head chez, was pi,-
isent, BAT not III tie dance. those In the
circles we're generally young people
they might be Gated singing heii ~ 'i"o
lng s0nen, Tor they ali claunted d no
aotunUus yia.ntiye tuae, Mnich ana ho'
c,.a, IN The ear, bet the ehsembie "ds
pleasing Burning the dance lperh@ps al
hour not VOID is spoken. except .;
the rnastes o; the cerem0nieS. wro aet.i's
wen pleased with ms hpnofarie sta'ioii'
When the dance is concluded, the cil
,cles dispense. AID are mixed mith the
surrounding spectators, all are merry aP-
.parently happy, no cares or veAation
ARE permitted to obtrade the asei'eS o.
that day
ABLUII0NS.
:. Formerly they had practised frequent
they we're resorted to ate.
going through bodily exercise, perhaps OF
dancing tie whole meeting, y such
Occasions, weEt to the clear stream u
plunged in. This was intended to ex.
press that they we're then cleansed from
ali norai ,npurIty, that however they
nieht have before done wrong was now
done away. and no more to be consider
ed any part of their character. I'M.
corresponds with my personal nbserva
tons fer they never reproach each o.
Their OF former deyiations from right.
CITIES OF REFUGE.
I" They formerly had cities of refuge,
wither persons who had killed Chero
kee might fee. Ihi, was an excellent
institution, a. it gave time to the pas
sion oi the friends of the deceased to
subside. In some cases, compromi oes
we're mad for pecuniary compensation.
in cases of an accidental cha
|ractet. They have since deviated from
mat wise custom, and "A every instance
|,equired life for life, as 10 felt without
qualification bat they have now returned
toa more humane procedure, and, in
some Instances. make equitable discri-
|nlnatioas. : Although The Institution
jo, tue Green Cmu Dance. their ablutIon-,
and cities of Refuge. bear strong iesem-
|olance TO the Jewish customs and laws.
get they By 10 means prove hat the Ame-
mean Indians are descended from the
5ews tres onl> prove hat TIE religion
1t mature corresponds with the religion
'ol the Jews, CO municated to them by
doses by divine command
(" | have never seen the distinctive Wis
age OF the Jews among all the people !:
Dat the visage Of the Taetar is ever
There apparent, Yet, whether the A
mefican Indians are decendcd from the
Tatars. OF the lartars from the Amcrie
can Indians, is yet predetermined"
Perhaps this may be proper place to
correct an error, which some ofour brp-
hren have fallen into, in suaDo>ing the
Post Master t5eneral 10 be the author of
a late communication en Indian affairs.
rhe author of the present article e Of
chat recently Published respecting the
civilization of the Cherokces, is the yene-
cable Col. Neigs. the father Of the Post
,laster General the similarity Of whose
ZANE has more than once. caused the
two persons to be confounded when seen.
only OIL paper.
CARLETON, July IS. 1
The following is a more particular ac-
count of the unfortunate occurrence.
which happened at Coo>awattie, some no
e. L