FIRE AS AN AGENT IN HUMAN CULTUEE 167 



and were the property of the MuUer family, relatives of Hans Chris- 

 tian Anderson. They were used in borrowing fire to transport coals 

 from one house to another, (See pi. 5, fig. 6.) 



FIRE IN MORTUARY OBSERVANCES 



The use of fire in mortuary observances is quite widespread. In 

 this mass of practices is seen the immense hold fire has on the mind 

 of man. The complex reveals innumerable philosophies, from the 

 crudest to those of high spiritual concepts. From ancient times fire 

 was thought to be the best agent known to man by which he could be 

 alhed to the spiritual world. It is recognized that these conceptions 

 do not belong to the early periods, about which little may ever be 

 known. No doubt, however, the germs of later ideas were present 

 in the men first acquainted with fire. Some clues in historic and pre- 

 historic periods may allow of the projection of science into the misty 

 past. A similar large body of customs refer to light in mortuary 

 observances, and will be treated under the appropriate heading. 



Among the reasons advanced by Yarrow from his study of the 

 question are purification of the soul, that demons would be driven 

 away, and that the fire would give light for the journey and heat to 

 cook food." 



Excavations in the ancient Pueblo cemeteries almost invariably 

 show masses of charcoal and ashes appearing as a layer in the earth 

 above the skeletons. In some cases ashes were placed with the bodies 

 at the time of burial. So far as can be ascertained there is no present 

 Pueblo custom by which the ancient custom can be checked up. 

 Many excavations show that burials were made in village rubbish 

 heaps in which ashes and charcoal are large components, and in this 

 case it is not always possible to trace the definite use of charcoal and 

 ashes as in undisturbed earth. In reconstructing the custom recourse 

 may be had to the grave fire of several Indian tribes. It is presumed 

 that at the time of ancient Pueblo interments a fire was built near 

 the grave and the ashes and charcoal thrown in as the excavation 

 was being filled. 



The custom of burning the belongings with the dead has wide ex- 

 tension areally and in time. Some idea of sacrifice inheres in the 

 custom, and also that of transmitting the things burnt to the spirit- 

 wal world. This custom is often connected with cremation. 



On the edge of Pennsylvania and Maryland Chief Lovell, head of 

 the large gypsy "tribe" of that name, died. Mrs. Lovell had all his 

 property burnt in regulation gypsy fashion.'^ This custom brought 

 to our doors in recent times reflects some ancient rites to the dead, 

 probably in the case mentioned arising in India. 



'• H. C. Yarrow. Mortuary Customs of the North American Indians, 1st Ann. Rept., Bur. Amer. 

 Ethnol., 1879, p. 198. 

 » From a press item in 1900. 



