1896-97-] THE DENES OF AMERICA IDENTIFIED WITH THE TfNGUS OF ASIA. 193 



Pickering, in the third chapter of his " Races of Man," assigns it to the 

 Klamets or Lutuami of Oregon. Father Morice continues : " It would 

 scarcely be proper to speak of war as an institution obtaining among 

 the pre-historic Western Denes. Although the various tribes despised 

 and mistrusted each other, general fights were rare enough, and, as 

 surprises constituted the main part of their system of warfare, it followed 

 that success was, as a rule, on the side of the assailants. Sometimes the 

 whole population of a village would be massacred in a single night. In 

 that event, the victors would chant their hymn of victory, generally 

 improvised on the spot and composed of the last words uttered by their 

 victims. After their return from the fray, they would also repeat it 

 dancing for several nights in succession. In no instance was scalping 

 resorted to, at least, on this side of the Rockies." The wars of the 

 Apaches and other southern tribes were more serious, but I possess no 

 authentic details concerning them. 



FUNERAL CUSTOMS OF THE TUNGUS AND THE DEN^S. 



Abernethy remarks that, " the Tongusi evince a great deal of tender- 

 ness at the death of any of their family ; their mourning sometimes lasts 

 for a whole year. For several days they are commonly exposed on 

 scaffolds within their cabins, and at other times near the place of 

 interment. They bring them presents and food, which is consumed, 

 the\' imagine, by their spirits." Mr. Macintosh quotes Santini and 

 LaRoche as saying : " That the Tongusi and Coriaks mourn for the 

 deceased for a considerable time and that the pits and graves where the 

 dead are to be carried must first be fumigated or incensed, by burning, 

 rosin or some dried aromatic herbs." He also quotes Santini to the 

 effect " that it was customary among the Tongusi and Coriaks to bury 

 along with the dead, everything that was dear to them while alive, 

 especially their arms and family distinctions." Sauer's record is very 

 brief. " They do not like to bury their dead, but place the body, dressed 

 in its best apparel, in a strong box, and suspend it between two trees. 

 The implements of the chase belonging to the deceased are buried under 

 the box. Except a sorcerer is very near, no ceremon\' is observed ; but, 

 in his presence, they kill a deer, offer a part to the demons and eat the 

 rest." 



Of the Chepewyans Mackenzie sa}-s : " That the}' should not bury 

 their dead in their own countrycannot be imputed to them as a custom 

 arising from a savage insensibility, as they inhabit such high latitudes 

 that the ground never thaws ; but it is well known that, when the}- are 

 in the woods, they cover their dead with trees. Besides, they manifest 



