Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1838-06-27

iOo"iSio % hoFiuS Siccu UouBnS III INC OtneT
hand. Their heads are dressed with white
plumes, and their women in their finest
clothes, and anointed with bears grease or
oil; having, also, small! tortoise-shells and
white pebbles fastened to a piece of white
dressed deer.skin, which is tied to each of
their legs.
The eldest Of the "belovcd men" leads
the sacred dance at the head of the inner.
most row, which of course is next the holy
fire. He begins the dance, after once go.
ing round the holy fire, in solemn and re-
ligious silence. He then, in the next cir.
Gle, invokes yah, after their usual manner,
on bass key, and with a short accent
In another circle he sings no, no; which is
repeated by all the religious procession, till
they finish that circle. Then, in another
round, they repeat he, he, in like manner,
in regular notes, and keeping time in the
dance. Another circle is continued in like
manner, with repeating the word ,cah, acah;
making, in the whole, the divine and holy
name of Yah-ho-he. ,oah," Tor Jchouah).
A little after this is finished, which takes a
considerable time, they begin again, going
fresh rounds, singing hal, halle, LEU,
lu--yah, yah, in like manner and frequent
ly the whole train strike up "hallalu, hal.
lelu! halleluyah halleluyah" with great
earnestness, fervour, and joy; while each
strikes the ground, with right and left foot
alternately, very quick, but well timed
Then kind of Understanding drum joins
the sacred choir, which excites the old fe-
male singers to chant forth their grateful
hymns Snd praises to the Divine Spirit, and
to redouble their quick, joyful steps, in imi-
tatlon Of the leader of the "beloved men,"
at their head.
AT the end of this notable religious
dance, the old "beloved women" return
home, TO hasten the feast of the new sane.
tifiei fruits. In the mean time, every one
at the temple drinks plentifully of the Gus.
send, and other bitter liquids, TO cleanse
their sinful bodies, as they suppose. After
which, they go to some convenient deep
water, and there, according TO the ceremo.
NAL law of the Hebrews, they wash away
their sins with water. They then return
with great JOY, in solemn procession, sing.
ing their notes Of praise, till they again en-.
ter the holy ground, 10 eat of the new deli.
cicus fruits, which arc brought to the out
side of the square by the old "beloved wo.
men," They all behave s, modestly, and
are possessed of such an extraordinary
consistency and equanimity in pursuit of their
religious mysteries, that they do not show
the least outward emotions of pleasure at
the first sight Of the sanctifed new fruits.
"On the evening Of the same day they
have another public feast, besides that Of
the first: fruits, which looks somewhat like
the Passover; when a great quantity of
venison is provided, with other things, dres.
sed in the usual way, and distributed 10 all
the guests of which they eat freely that
evening but that which is left is thrown
into the fire and burned, as none of it must
remain till sunrise on the next day, nor must
bone Of the venison be broken"
2. The HUNTERS FEAST; otherwise
called the "Feast Of Weeks" similar TO
the Hebrew Pentecost. DR.. Beatty says
that once in the year, some Of the tribes Of
Indians beyond the Ohio choose from a.
mong themselves tUelpe men, who 60 out
and provide t,oelue deer; and each ofthem
cuts small sapling from which they strip
the bark, to make tent, by sticking one
end into the ground, bending the tops over
one another, and covering the poles with
blankets. Then the twelre men choose
each of them stone, which they make hot
in the fire, and place them together after
the manner Of an altar, within the tent, and
then burn the fat of the insijes of the deer
thereon. AT the time they are making this
offering the men within cry to the Indians
without, who attend as worshippers, ave
pray or praise" They without answer,
ave hear" Then those in tho tent cry,
"Ho-hah" very loud and long, which ap.
peared to be something in sound like halle.
njah After the fat was thus offered, some
tribes burned tobacco, cut fine, upon the
same stones, supposed in imitation Of in-
J censc. Other tribes choose only ten men
who provide but ten deer, ten sap.ings or
J poles, and ten stones.
3. FEAST OF HARVEST. The most SOL.
cmn and important feast and fast observed
by the Indians is one which strikingly cor
responds with the Jewish Feast of Hwcest
and Day Of Erpiation of Sin. This grand
annual festival was formerly kept at the be.
ginning of the first new moon in which the
Indian corn became full.eared, as VIC learn
from Adair. But for many years past the
time of celebration has been regulated by
the season of harvest.
According to Charlevoix, the harvest a.
} mong the Matches, on the Mississippi, is in
common. The great chief fixes The day
for the beginning of the festival of the har-
vest, which lasts three days, spent in sports
and Teasing. Eaci private person contri.
butes something Of his hunting, his fshing,
and his other provisions; as maize, beans,
aud melons. The great chief presldes at
the ieasi---all the sachems are round him in
a respectful posture. -
The fathers of families never fail to bring
: to the temple the frs, produce of the har-
L. tbl,c I.