SYSTEMS OF SEPULTURE. 237 
former days was thrust into the flames and 
severely scorched when the body of her husband 
was being consumed. She afterwards had to 
carry his ashes in a bag on her shoulders for two 
years, during which period she was the servant or 
drudge of his relatives. Thereafter the ashes of 
a chief were placed in an ornamented box or urn, 
which was never suffered to touch the ground, 
being fitted to rest on the end of a pole, stuck in 
front of the lodge occupied by the relatives of 
the deceased person. The other tribes in New 
Caledonia bury their dead. The carriers held 
triennial feasts in honour of deceased heroes, 
when the manly acts of the departed were 
rehearsed to the assembled guests. Women 
occasionally presided at these feasts.—Sailish. 
Along with Indians of note were interred the 
weapons they had used, buffalo robes, and the 
pipe and hat used by deceased; also a bundle of 
mocassins. At the burial of a Sailish chief the 
ceremonies were curious; the bravest woman of 
the tribe, one used to carrying ammunition to the 
warrior when engaged in fight, bared her breast 
to the person who for courage and conduct was 
deemed fit successor to the departed. From the 
breast he cut a small portion, which he threw in 
the fire. She then cut a small piece from the 
