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

Temple, win great ceremony. But the Of
ferings which are made of bread and flour
every new moon are for the use of the
keepers Of the temple.
As the offerings of the fruits of the har.
vest prccede long strict fast of two nights
and day, they gormandize such prodi-
gious quantity of strong food, as to enable
them to keep inviolate the succeeding fast.
Tho feast lasts only from morning to sun.
set,
When town celebrates the busk, or first
fall fruits, having previously provided Them
selves with new clothes, new pots, pans,
and other household utensils and furniture,
they collect all their worn.out clothes and
other despicable things, sweep and clean
their houses, squares, and the whole town
Of their filth which, with all the remaining
grain, and other old provisions they cast to.
gether in ono common heap, and consume
it with fire. After taking medicine, and
fasting for three days, all the fire in the
town is extinguished. During this fast they
abstain from the qualification of every APP
petite and passion whatever. A general
amnesty is proclaimed. All malefactors
may return to their town, and they are alb.
solved from their crimes, which are now
forgotten, and they are restored TO favor.
On the fourth morning, the high. priest, or
chief "beloved man." by rubbing dry wood
together, produces new fire in the public
square, from whence every habitation in
the town is supplied with the nev and pure
flame. Then the women 60 forth to the
haryest-felds, and bring from thence new
corn and fruits which, being prepared in
the best manner, in various dishes, fand
drink withal, is brought with solemnity to
the square, where the people are assembled,
apparalled in their new clothes and decora.
tions. The men having RECALLED themselves,
the remainder is carried of, and distrbu.
ted among the families Of the town. The
women and children solacc themselves in
their separate families, and in the evening
repair to the public square, where they
dance, sing, and rejoice during the whole
night, observing proper and exemplary
decorum. This continues three days and
the four following days they receive visits,
and rejoice with their friends from neigh.
boring towns, who have also purified and
prepared themselves.
4. FEAST or THE DAILY SACRIFICE
The Hebrews, it is we'll known, offered dali
y sacrifices of lamb every morning and
evening and, except the skin and entrails,
il was burnt to ashes. Tho Iudiuns have
very humble imitation of this rite. The
women always throw small piece of the
latest Of the meat into the fire, before they
begin to cat. At times they view it with
pleased attention, and pretend to draw
omens from it. This they will do, though
they are quite alone, and not seen by any
one.
S. FEAST OF LOVE Every spring sea.
son one town or more of the Mississippi
Floridians keep solemn feast Of love, to
renew their old friendships. They assem-
bic three nights before the feast, and on the
fourth they eat together. During the in.
termediate space, the young mon and wo-
men dance in circles from the evening till
the morning.
WAR.DANcEs, &c.--Indian war.danccs
have been so frequently exhibited on the
stage, and in other public places, by chiefs
and warriors who have visited our populous
cities, that description in this place is
deemed unnecessary. Their object ap.
pears to be two-fold : martial and religious
Ito drill the young warriors in the exor-
else of their weapons, and, at the same
time, TO invoke the aid Of the Great Spirit
in the impending conflict. They resemble
the military dances Of the Greeks.
e. L.. k~1~
served (says Mr.. Sanford, that nations pre-.
serve no part of their economy with so
much exactness as their games, sports and
amusements. Being daily repeated, they
can seldom be forgotten and as they are
chiefly confined to the young, they have
the best chance of making a permanent
impression. Indian games, however, are
not numerous, aud seem chiefly designed
to render the combatants athletic and swift
of foot. Some of the western tribes for
mcrly had play, which, for want Of the
appropriate name, we must call scramble.
A billet of wood, about eighteen inches long,
made round, and polished very smooth,
was thrown TO great distance by one OF
chiefs. The younger lads of the tribe i'm
medlately started IN pursuit OF 1t. The
flcetest runner was not always the stou cs,
wrestler; ia get the billet was some merit ;
but to keep it was greater; and it was so
slippery, that it changed hands perhaps a
thousand times before the strongest pro-
claimed his victory.
But the most universal aud most manly
game, is that of ball. This IS frequently
played by several hundreds; and different
tribes will sometimes play against each
other. The ball is made of deerskin, slut
fed with hair, and scwed with sincwS. The
sticks ara from three to foir feet long and
being curved at the end, a web is made OF
thongs, for the purpose of catching III" ball,
The eo1is are two stakes set in the gronnd
about six hundred yards apart. Tue ball
is tossed into the air, at an equal distance
from each and the object is 70 throw II
| Lo.,ooJ ,ba ono ar the other The DartleS