Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-12-07
From the Raleigh Register.

From tie Raleigh Register.
MANNERS AND cusfoMs OF THE cHERoEEEs.
Mr.. Gals,-The articles Of intelligence
gave you some weeks ago'respecting the
Cherokee Indians. seem to have been so
well received by the public, that am led
to expect further account of that natiIn
would not be unacceptable. The interest
which appears to have been excited bears
honorable testimony TO the liberal and cha.
ritable feelings Of our countrymen. now
send you notice Of some Of the peculiar
manners and customs Of the Cherokees,
drawn up few months ago by Charles
Hicks, chief Of the nation, at the request
Of Mr.. Hoyt, the missionary, and by me
copied. in June last, from the mission dia-
~. The original was the diction and hand
writing Of the chief, and was recorded
! nearly in his words. Charles Hicks half
blooded Cherokee, has tolerable educa-
ton, is man Of intelligence and piety, and
has long slled the Office next in rank to the
king. TIE latter is full. blooded Indian,
who has no acquaintance with our language.
At late national council, it was enacted
that no order Of tie king should take effect
until approved and concurred in by Charles
Hicks. This virtually makes him equal to
the king, hut in influence and real authority
be is greatly his superior. He is a staunch
friend to the whites, a jealous promoter Of
the measures now in progress TO educate
and civilize his nation, and at this moment
has a son at public school in Connecticut.
The ensured cooperation Of chief so en-
lowed and SO influential should strengthen
the hands and animate The eYertions of those
benevolent and liberal minded men who are
Iaboring TO enlighten and hnmanize an un-
happy but very interesting portion ofo
species. The Indians will become At once
civilized, whenever the numbers Of the
educated shall be 50 considerable as to give
respect and confidence to each other, and
fashion 10 manners. Mr.. Boudinot, in a
late work, has undertaken 10 show that the
American indians are a remnant of the ten
lost tribes OF Israel. One Of their customs,
it will be seen, shows some analogy TO
those of the ancient Israelites, as recorded
Ia the books of the Old Testament.
CALVIN JONES.
Raleigh, Oct. IS, 1918.
MANNERS, CUSTOMS, &c.
"The Cherokee people are divided into
seven different clans each having distinct
name.s No one is permitted to marry with:
in his own clan. The children are always
considered as belonging to the clan OF the
mother Murder committed by a person Of
one clan on one Of another is always pun
ished with death; but If both belong to the
same clan, it frequently happens that the
clan intercedes with the chief head OF the
nation, and obtains pardon, which pardon
j, published in the national council when
convened.
"The national council is composed Of
chiefs IRON each clan, some sending more
some less, regard being had to the popula-
ton Of each-though the number is not We
ry definitely fixed. Each clan has its Sc
parate portion of land, which it hol6s in
common right-the poorest man having the |
same right as tue greatest.
Before eating the green corn when in |
the milk, the people collect in the different
and villages at night, and when the -
comes,t the Conjuror takes some Of the
grains Of seven ears Of corn and feeds the
fire with them, !. e. burns them. After this
each family is allowed to cook ahd eat their
roasting ears, but not before they drink a
tea Of wild hoarhound. In like manner
they observe the same custom before eat
ing the bean when il fills in the bull.
"The green corn dance, so called, has
been highly esteemed formerly. This is
held when the corn is getting bard, and
lasts four days, and when the national coun.
Gil sits-a quantity Of veni:on being procu-
red to supply the dance. II is said that a
person was formerly chosen to speak to the
people on each day in language that is
partly Iost-at least there is very little Of
it known now. Al such times as the above,
*The Powhatan nation of Indians in Vir-
GINA, according TO Mr.. Jefferson, was d.
vidsd into seven tribes or clans. This He
brew cabalistic number appears to have
been in frequent use among the Indians. /