122 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [BULL. 43

 (Gravier, Charlevoix, and Le Petit all speak of the harvest feast,
 though briefly.
 The first harvest is made ill these parts inl the month of June; and the second,
 which is more abundant, is not made till the end of November." Riesides offer-
 ing their first fruits in the temple in this vililge, the woman chief had the corn
 gathered ill for the temple, alld 1o on e dare refuse what her emissaries chose
 to take. This harvest is made for the chief and the woman chief, and to fur-
 nisl food to the spirits of the deceased chiefs; but all take part in the feast
 made to them for six days with the ordinary howls, cries, and ceremonies.
 which they do not wish to explain to the missionaries, to whom for all answer
 they say: Non-kou, that is to say, '1 do not know why it is done.' All depends
 on the commission of the chiefs, who have too great an interest, ill passing, for
 spirits among their people to embrace Christian humility very soon.7'
 The harvest along the Natchez is in common. The great chief
 sets the day for it and calls the village together. Toward the end of July
 he appoints another day for the beginning of a festival which lasts three days,
 which are spent in sports and feasting.
 Each private person contributes something of his hunting, his fishing, and
 his other provisions, which consist inl maize, beans, and melons. 'The great
 chief and 11e vwomanl chief preside at the feast, sitting in a (cain raised above
 the ground and covered with houghs; they are carried to it in a litter, and the
 great chief holds. in his hand a kind of scepter adorned with feathers of various
 colors. All 111e nobles are round him in a 'Irespec)ltful posture. Te last day
 the great chief makes a slpeecl to the assembly. lHe exhorts everybody to be
 exact in the performance of duties, especially to have a great veneration for
 the spirits which reside in tlhe temple, and to bie carefulll in instructing their
 children. If anyone has distinguished himself by some action of note, he makes
 his enlogilill. | This is followed by ;a misapplied description o f te destruction
 of the Ta;mnsa temple by lightning.JI
 Each year the people assemble to plant one vast field with Indian corn, beans,
 pumpkins, l d ls, at lonand then again they collect ill tile sine way to gather
 the harvest. A large cabin situated on a beatliifill prairie is stt apart to hold
 the fruits of tis harvest. Once in the suinmer, toward the end of July, the
 people gather by order of the great chief to be present at a -land feast which
 he gives them. This festival lasts for three days and three nights, and each
 one contributes what he call to furnish it; solOe bring game, others fish, etc.
 They have almost constant dni.iTes. while the great chief and his sister are in
 ani elevated lodge covered with boughs, from whence they can see the joy of
 their subjects. The princes, tie princesess, and those who by their ollice are
 of distinguished rank, are arranged very near the chief, to whom they show
 their respect and submission by an ilninite variety of coremnonies.
 Tile great chief and his sister make their entrance in tie place of the assem-
 bly on a litter horne by eight of their greatest men e: th1l chief holds ill his hand ai
 great scepter ornamented with painted iplumes. and all the people dance and
 sing about him in testimony of the public joy. The last day of this feast he
causes all his subjects to approach and makes them a: long harangue, il which
he exhorts them to fulfill all their duties to religion. He recollmlends them,
above all things, to have a great veneration for the spirits who reside in the

 See p. 21:3.
 bJournal of Father Gravier in Shea's Early Voy. Miss., ]!?, 1861; Jos. Itcl., .xv, 145.
 SSee p. 213.
 SCharlevoix in French, Hist. Coll. La., 105-160, 1851.