438 SCALPING IN AMERICA. 



Jackson, not being able even with all the possible precautions to pre- 

 vent the Creeks from scalj^ing his buried soldiers, adopted the plan 

 of sinking the dead in the river. 



To save his own or his friend's scalp the Indian was ready for any 

 sacrifice, for it was with him not simply the matter of a part of his 

 skin, but with it of the soul itself. If it was impossible to save a 

 friend from death at the hands of the enemy and to carry away his 

 body, an endeavor was made to at least take away his scalp into 

 safety. In rare cases only was a member of a tribe scalped by 

 another member of the same for other reasons; Indians executed by 

 their own people were never scalped. In its pure form scalping in 

 the East could only be performed on an enemy, and was an act of 

 national significance, a declaration of war, or a manifestation of the 

 state of war. 



The Indians of the West never scalped a suicide, and, according to 

 Major Dodge, they also never scalped a negro; the eastern Indians 

 were in the latter regard, it seems, less particular, for the writer came 

 across two records of the scalping of negroes. 



^ ^: ^ .i; ^: ^ ^ 



The return of the scalp-laden warriors to their community was 

 announced ahead by signal fires or through a special messenger, and 

 the whole population, but particularly the women, prepared for the 

 reception of the i3arty. Such a reception and the following cere- 

 monies were, according to eyewitnesses, most striking and impressive. 

 Among other manifestations, each scalp was greeted by a special 

 characteristic " scalp cry." 



The well-prepared scalps served many purposes. They bejeweled 

 their owner, his horse, his tent, his weapons, while scalp or other 

 human hair streamed from the borders of his garments. As signs of 

 a victory they were exhibited in various ways — hung on lines, poles, 

 or fastened to canoes, etc. They played an important role in numer- 

 ous ceremonies, and the scalp dance or ceremony proper was among 

 the most important and widespread of such manifestations. Finally 

 the scalps were buried among his other honors with the warrior. 



Though scalping has ceased in North America, yet the scalp dance 

 has not been entireW abandoned. Artificial scalps take the place of 

 the real, but the form of the ceremony is gone through with scrupu- 

 lous care. 



The beliefs as to the consequences of scalping on the soul of the 

 victim differed. Among some tribes it was held that the spirit of 

 the scalped will have no rest in the hereafter; others believed that 

 it was bound to serve to that of the victor, while still others supposed 

 that it was prevented from ever reaching the '' happy hunting 

 ground," or that it was wholly annihilated. 



