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

piece Of ground is laidoT and persons ap.
pointed 10 occupy it-no others being al.
lowed TO use it while the feast continues.
''There is custom which still prevails
Of making a new fire every year, generally
in the month of March. The fire is made
by drilling in dried grape vine, which be.
gins in the morning after an all.nigbt dance
Seven persons are appointed TO perform tbi,
with the Conjuror. After the FIRE is mad.
each family in the town comes and procure,
The new fire, putting out all the old FIRE. in
their houses.
"The physic dance was very much in US.
formerly, but partly neglected now. This
belongs TO the women in particular, except
seven men who are chosen, one out of each
clan, to carry the water to boil the physic
and, when boiled, 10 carry il to The people
for old and young TO drink. But they neye.
drink OF it until the singer has proclaimed
with bis song, on the top Of the Torr.
House, Ha-y an-uah. Yuugh.caunu" ire.
peating the same several times and painted
all the posts of the house white, with CLAW.
and danced two Of the nights in seven, and
in the morning after the last night ba,hed
themselves in the water.
They have similar plan Of choosing
one or two men to represent the clans in
what is called making rain.
In making rain seven men and women
are chosen to represent the clan, who keen
fast during the time the conjurer is abou.
to obtain rain, and when the rain comes he
sacrifices the tongue Of deer that is pro.
cured for that purpose. The conjurer him.
self observes strict fast, with frequent
bathings during the time be is making rain.
On such occasions the conjurer speaks
language different from the present Ian.
guage Of the nation, and which few under.
stand. They who design 10 follow the
practices are taught by those who under
stand il.
"The Eagle-tail dance is still in use
among the Cherokees. The design Of this
dance is to stimulate in the minds Of The
young growing people the spirit Of war
The old warriors relIeasing in the dance
the dangers they have passed through in at.
lacking their enemies, tue distance they
have travelled, the time they have been
out, &c. &c. Some victuals are usually set
apart for the boys to eat at day-break, and
when the boys have eaten they go out ofthe
Town.house, and are met in the entry by
the young men who have battle with mud
collected for the purpose.
1t is also customary 10 give Eagle fsa.
theirs a pledges Of Friendship in making
peace among red people.
The doctors among the Cherokees sup
pose that cures are to &c made in z nights
OF the different disorders which the human
body is subject to. During these cures the
doctors are remarkably strict 10 keep out
of the house where the patient lies, such
persons as have handled dead body, wo-
men, &c. for it is held among the Cheru.
KEGS that these persons are impure until
bathing 10 the water Of the seventh night
in the morning. Some changes have oflate
taken place--instead Of seven, four night,
are now deemed sufficient"
- u . = 49,
GrThe Rev. R. Baxter is much Obliged
TO the Rev. w. H. Wilmer for bis polite Of.
fer Of his pulpit 10 him for Wednesday night
tin consequence Of Mr.. Bakers not
being able to collect subscription in bis
church, fsr the poor Of Alexandra, (and
the reasons for not collecting such subscrip.
ton in that church were JUST be could not
accept OF the kind offer Of Mr.. Wilmer,
as be never wished to accept Of his pulpit
on any other condition.
Georgetown, December 8.
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