76 THE FEAST OF THE DEAD. [1636. 



formed anew, and, each bearing its dead, moved 

 towards the area prepared for the last solemn rites. 

 As they reached the ground, they defiled in order, 

 each to a spot assigned to it, on the outer limits of 

 the clearing. Here the bearers of the dead laid 

 theu' bundles on the ground, while those who car- 

 ried the funeral gifts outspread and displayed them 

 for the admiration of the beholders. Their number 

 was immense, and their value relatively very great. 

 Among them were many robes of beaver and other 

 rich furs, collected and preserved for years, with a 

 view to this festival. Fires were now lighted, ket- 

 tles slung, and, around the entire chcle of the 

 clearing, the scene was like a fair or caravansary. 

 This continued till three o'clock in the afternoon, 

 when the gifts were repacked, and the bones shoul- 

 dered afresh. Suddenly, at a signal from the chiefs, 

 the crowd ran forward from every side towards the 

 scaffold, like soldiers to the assault of a town, scaled 

 it by rude ladders with which it was furnished, 

 and hung theu' relics and their gifts to the forest 

 of poles which surmounted it. Then the ladders 

 were removed ; and a number of chiefs, standing 

 on the scaffold, harangued the crowd below, praising 

 the dead, and extolling the gifts, which the rela- 

 tives of the departed now bestowed, in their names, 

 upon then surviving friends. 



ses OS les vns apres les autres, auec la mesme affection que si elle luy eust 

 voulu rendre la vie ; elle luy mit aupres de luy son AtsatoneSai, c'est 

 a dire son pacquet de buchettes de Conseil, qui sont tous les liures et 

 papiers du Pais. Pour ses petits enfans, elle leur mit des brasselets de 

 Pourcelaine et de rassade aux bras, et baigna leurs os de ses larmes ; on 

 ne I'en pouuoit quasi separer, mais on pressoit, et il fallut incontinent 

 partir." — Brebeuf, Relation des Hurons, 1636, 134. 



