The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-07-18
Indian scenes.
HONEY CREEK, Cherokee Nation,
February 10Th, ls47.

HONEY CREEK, Cherokee Nation,
February 10Th, lSI7. ,
Account Of great Indian Dance by the Seneca In
dians-Indiam Ceremonies and .amusements-Ths De
ri in The Council R0om-The manner Of soaring him
OUT ofit-Iadian sacrifice, &c.
few days since had the good fortune to be present
ut the Seneca dance, during portion of the time in
which it was carried and have concluded to give
you partial description of what occurred under my
eye 1t happened at the Seneca council house at dis
lance of ten twelve miles from this point the situation
of which is exceedingly beautiful A large prairie
tends itself side Of the council ground westward,
beyond the keenest sight Along its edge rushes bold
river, whose beauty is diminished only by the it
bears, g. the Cow-skn On the other side of this ri
from the prairie huge bluff uprears it's rocky front
from the waters brink to the height three hun
dred feet and out from Is side pours most beautiful
stream sprnkng with its clear fresh drops the messy
hangngs around and above IT, playing an eternal an
them to whatever spirits may delight in its music aud
then mingng its current farther down with the trans
parent waves of the river Large cedar trees sprung
from the crevices Of the rocks hang their heads
tbs edge Of this bluf II bowling TO the mighty music
OF the rivers pair of natural steps rough but
nrm, reaches from the spring to the summit when
the ground becomes Immediately smooth and for
at least mile Directly the southern portion
OF this smooth ground the council house erected IL
is long building capable OF holding vast number Of
people with throo large holes through the roof 10
permit the smoke TO escape and having door but the
ground which Is beat down very hard IL has two doors
at the eastern and another the western end All
around the inside against the walls are benches con-
structed TO form immovabe part Of the house H.
self on which the people sit when not otherwise en-
gagged.
On the lath Of this M nth in the morning. rode
over to the council ground for the purpose Of witnessing
Whatever might be done there At my arrival the first
thing noticed Of any Importance white dog hung
by the necka few yards from the house pole driven
into the earth and fifteen twenty high He was
decorated In the finest possible style having ribbons of
various colors tied about his neck feet and belly and
large bunch OF feathers tied 10 his tail Ill had been
Killed the previous day by being smothered for IL Is
part OF their most religious TO have stain of
pood visible on the ANIMAL and not drop wasted from
ms body This was the sacrifice appointed to atone
the SINS OF the nation during the last year and
hanging there ready for the Offering
The day was uncommony clear, and the sky earth,
and air seemed soft the balicst hours of MAY ON
THIS account goodly concourse Of whites and Chero
KEGS were present. IL being the duty the of
course, To appear. The most OF these were standing
esurey about or lounging lazily the observed
some quite pretty women among them
When entered the house noticed that preparations
were making for something about 10 be performed, and
soon iounu that the young men going 10 play
game Inc nature OF this game could not describe ms
ala not understand 1t However, sort Of bowl cut
out OF wood with red lines inside crossing to form
SKIN. Three coffee nuts painted red one side and
black on the other put into this bowl ana Two lei
lows sat down TO II the floor while the others stood
around them. Each would jar IL alternately, by
which the nuts thrown into different locations
As luck would come 20, loud were uttered
above the general whrng sound kept up by those who
we're standing around almost without an interval.