HISTORY OF VERMONT. 229 



abreast, but followed one another in the form 

 of the Indian file. The Toni^asi, the most nu- 

 mtrons nttion resideat in Siberia,, use canoes 

 mide of birch bark, distended over ribs of wood, 

 and nicdy sew-d to<?c-ther. In these customs 

 thty are exactly imitated by the Indians of A- 

 merica. In burying the dead, many of the A- 

 merican nation:, p;ace the corps at full length, 

 others place it in a sitting posture, and lay by 

 It the most valuable clothing, provision, and 

 arms. The lurtars did the same ; and both 

 people agreed in covering the whole with 

 earth, so as to form a tumulus or barrow. The 

 method, in which both people treated their near, 

 est friends and relations, was still more extra- 

 ordinary and u icommon. When their fathers 

 and nearest friends were become extremely old 

 and infirm, or were seized with a distemper 

 deemed incurable, it was the custom of the 

 Tartars to make a small hut for the patient, near 

 some river, and to supply it with a small quan- 

 tity of provisions ; Removing the sufferer to 

 such a situation, they left him to end his days, 

 without visiting or affording him any further 

 relief. The rudest tribes of the Americans, in 

 several parts of the continent, had the same cus- 

 tom ; and sometimes they made use of force to 

 extinguish the remains of life, in their diseased 

 and aged friends. Both people adopted this 

 custom, opposite to the practice of all other na- 

 tions : And they both viewed it in the same ■ 

 hght, not as an act of cruelty, or of any disres- 

 pect ; but as a deed of duty, and mercy : And 

 they both assigned the same reason for it: 

 .' They were kindiy relieving their friends ffoia 

 voi. I. £ 2 



