SWANTON] INDIAN TRIBES OF THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY 111

 The feasts are said by Du Pratz and Le Petit to have been cele-
 brated in each Natchez village, yet, if we are to trust Dumont, some
 of the larger were participated in by several if not all."
 Du Pratz gives descriptions of two of these feasts, that held in the
month of Deer, and that held in the month of Maize or Great Corn.
The origin and manner of observance of the former were as follows:
 Anciently a great Sun having suddenly heard a great tumult in his village
went out quickly to quiet it and fell into the hands of a hostile nation which
had come to surprise them. But the warriors having immediately run to his
assistance, took him back and put their enemies to flight.
 In order to recall this honorable deed of their history, all the warriors
separate themselves into two bodies distinguished by the color of their plumes.
The one party has white plumes; the other, which represents the enemy, has
red ones. The two bands place themselves in ambush near the cabin of the
great chief, and that of the enemy, at the head of which is the great war
chief, comes out first. It advances a short distance, making many movements
and contortions and uttering great cries. The great Sun then comes out of his
cabin in all his apparel, but rubbing his eyes as if he had just awakened. The
enemies throw themselves upon him and endeavor to carry him away, when
the other warriors rush up and take him out of their hands. This action takes
place without any accident on either side and without quarrels, but not without
noise. The cries of the enemies are cries of death while attacking; those of
the nation attacked are cries of fear and terror. There are some heard which
seem to be intended to encourage them. But the enemy continues the cries
of death so long as the great Sun is in their hands. The nation running
against the enemies approaches them. Both make many movements which
denote the strategems of war, which last half an hour. During this time the
great Sun defends himself with a war club of the ancient pattern, made en-
tirely of wood. He knocks down a great number of the enemy without, how-
ever, touching them. The mere motion of the blow throws them down, and in
fact the blow approaches so near their heads that one would say that he
really struck them. I was surprised to see playing such a magnificent role
with so much activity and address this venerable old man, the great Sun,
whose glances shot terror into the hearts of his enemies, to which they bore
witness by their different cries, for it must be observed that all these cries,
although without any articulation, are distinct and have their signification.
Finally the nation attacked comes and joins with the enemies. These latter
tremble on seeing the fury painted in the eyes and the gestures of those arriv-
ing. These cries change. Those who represent the Natchez knock down a
great number of them [the enemy], who get up again after the Natchez have
passed beyond them. Finally the enemy flee and are pursued as far as a
wood, which is represented by a thicket of canes, which is always left for the
young people. The Natchez then bring back their prince, and, satisfied with
such a complete victory, and at having rescued the great Sun from such great
danger, utter cries of joy, with which the air reverberates, and which the
echoes of the neighboring woods repeat in their turn. The entire nation which
sees his return witnesses its satisfaction by redoubled cries of joy mingled
with love, which appear genuine. The old men, the women, and the children,
who are merely spectators along the edge of the open space, endeavor to
 a See p. 118.