Cherokee Customs

              From: Lanman, Advenutures in the Wilds of America ( 1856)
CHEROKEE CUSTOMS
THE plan adopted for the civilization of the Carolina Cherokees differs materially from
any others adopted in the United States. Their amusements are not interfered with,
excepting when found to have an immoral or unhappy tendency. A goodly number of
their more ridiculous games, however, they have abandoned of their own accord, but the
manly game of ball- playing is still practised after the ancient manner, with one or two
restrictions. In the first place, they are not allowed to wager their property on the games,
as of old, unless it be some trifle in the way of a woollen belt or cotton handkerchief, and
they are prohibited from choking each other, and breaking their heads and legs, when
excited, as was their habit in former times. Since my arrival here, the Indians have had
one of their ball- games; and as it was gotten up especially for my edification, I made it a
point of etiquette to be present at the preparatory dance and the game, as well as at the
concluding ceremony, and these I will now endeavor to describe.
The preparatory or training dance took place on the night preceding the game, and none
participated in it who were not to play on the following day. There were sixty young men
present, besides the spectators, and they met on a grassy plot formed by a bend of a
neighboring stream, called Soco Creek. The dancers were stripped of every particle of
clothing but their waistbands; they made their own music, which was composed merely of
a rapid succession of whoops and shouts; and they danced round a large blazing fire. The
night in question was very beautiful, and when this strange group was looked upon by the
light of the full moon, and the wild mountain scenery on every side, they presented a most
romantic appearance indeed. They kept up the dance for over an hour, and, when it was
concluded, all the men immediately ran towards a deep pool in the ice- cold stream, and
without waiting for the perspiration to cool, plunged into the water, and, having finally
emerged, started for their several homes. This dance, I am informed, had its origin in an
ancient custom, which compelled all the candidates for a game of ball to inure themselves
to every hardship for ten days before the game took place, and during all that time they
were to eat but little food, and were to refrain from gratifying any of their sensual
appetites.
On the morning of the game, a large plain, lying between two hills and directly in
front of the Indian Court- house ( a large
circular lodge, built of logs,) was divested of every stone and stick on its surface, and
at ten o’clock the spectators began to assemble. These were composed of the old men
of the nation, a large number of boys, and a still larger number of women and children.
They were all dressed in their holiday attire, so that feathers, shawl turbans, scarlet
belts, and gaudy hunting shins were quite abundant; and, scattered as they were in