escription
will briefly exhibit the custom which has obtained in the tribes named
in the tradition, and will give a tolerable idea of that in use among
the more remote bands.

"At the age of from fifteen to seventeen years, this ceremony (that of
initiating youth into manhood) is usually performed. They take two
handfuls of a very bitter root, and eat it during a whole day; then they
steep the leaves and drink the water. In the dusk of the evening, they
eat two or three spoonfuls of boiled corn. This is repeated for four
days, and during this time they remain in a house. On the fifth day they
go out, but must put on a pair of new mocassins. During twelve moons,
they abstain from eating bucks, except old ones, and from turkey-cocks,
fowls, bears, and salt: During this period they must not pick their
ears, or scratch their heads with their fingers, but use a small stick.
For four moons they must have a fire to themselves to cook their food
with; the fifth moon, any person may cook for them, but they must serve
themselves first, and use one spoon and pan. Every new moon they drink
for four days a decoction of the bitter snake-root, an emetic, and
abstain from all food, except in the evening, when they are permitted to
eat a little boiled corn. The twelfth moon they perform for four days
what they commenced with on the first four days; the fifth day they come
out of their house, gather corn cobs, burn them to ashes, and with
these rub their bodies all over. At the end of the moon they undergo a
profuse perspiration in the Sweating-house, then go into the water, and
thus ends the ceremony. This ceremony is sometimes extended to only
four, six, or eight, months, but the course is the same."

After this they are at liberty to assume the arms of a man, and take
upon themselves the quest of glory. And they have adopted one at least
of the maxims of civilized life--"none but the brave deserve the fair."
They are not deemed worthy to attempt the siege of the forest maiden's
heart till they have been received into the fraternity of warriors.
There can be no doubt whatever that this is essentially an Order of
Knighthood; and as such the custom is entitled to receive a more
lengthened notice than I am permitted to give it in this place.

(4) _Beaver-Moon._--p. 6.

With the Indians every month has a name expressive of its season. The
appellations will vary of course as the circumstance which gives the
month its name is more or les