—— 
NORTHERN OCEAN. 
ever, are in general fo unfufceptible of tendernefs, 
that they can view the decpetft diftrefs in thofe 
who are not immediately related to them, with- 
out the leaft emotion; not even half fo much as 
the generality of mankind feel for the fufferings 
of the meaneft of the brute creation. Ihave been 
prefent when one of them, imitating the groans, 
diftorted features, and contracted pofition, of a 
man who had died in the moft excruciating 
pain, put the whole company, except myfelf, into 
the moft violent fit of laughter. 
The Northern Indians never bury their dead, 
but always leave the bodies where they die, fo that 
they are fuppofed to be devoured by beafts and 
birds of prey ; for which reafon they will not eat 
foxes, wolves, ravens, &c. unlefs it be through 
mere neceflity. : 
The death of a near relation affects them fo fen- 
fibly, that they rend all their cloths from their 
backs, and go naked, till fome perfons lefs affli@- 
ed relieve them. After the death of a father, 
mother, hufband, wife, fon, or brother, they 
mourn, as it may be called, for a whole year, 
which they meafure by the moons and feafons. 
Thofe mournful periods are not diftinguifhed by 
any particular drefs, except that of cutting off the 
hair; and the ceremony confitts in almoft perpe- 
tually crying. Even when walking, as well asat 
all other intervals from fleep, eating, and conver- 
fation, they make an odd howling noife, often 
repeating the relationfhip of the deceafed. But 
ag 
344 
