146 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



Among the Carriers, the late notable's relations would, on the 

 morrow, while shedding many a dutiful tear, carefully pick up from 

 among the ashes of the pyre, the few remaining charred bones and 

 hand them to the widow, who would, till the time of her liberation 

 from her widow's bondage, constantly pack or cai'ry them in a small 

 satchel. Hence the name (Carriers) of these Indians. Men though 

 reduced to a modified bondage during the mourning pei'iod for their 

 wives, had not, however, to submit to this latter formality. 



The pi'ocedure just described was — barring the ceremonial peculiar 

 to a notable — the same in the case of all ordinary Carriers. But it 

 differed widely among the S^kanais. These Indians, owing to their 

 dislike to fish and their need of securing fresh supplies of meat, 

 could never remain for any length of time at the same place. So, 

 when they thought the death of a sick member of the band was 

 certain to occur in the near future ; they simply placed close to him 

 as much provisions as they could spare, and, having erected with con- 

 iferous branches a sort of barrier to shelter their path from his gaze 

 (which was considered ominous to the party), they would abandon him 

 to his fate. Should he die before their departure, they would lower 

 his hut down upon and thus cover liis remains and start at once for 

 another locality. Supposing the deceased was an influential person 

 dear to the band, they would hollow a kind of coffin out of a large 

 spruce tree and susjiend his remains therein, on the forks formed by 

 the branches of two contiguous trees. Some instances are also re- 

 counted in which the remains of such persons were closed up in a 

 standing position in the hollow trunk of a large tree while in its 

 natural state. The lid or door of these primitive coffins was usually 

 formed of a split piece of wood which, when strongly laced with long 

 switches of red willow, held it to the trunk of the tree in its original 

 shape. 



Bondage consequent upon widowhood was not practised by the 

 Sdkanais, nor were the various ceremonies accompanying succession 

 to rank and title observed amonsr them. 



