NELSON] 



MORTUARY CUSTOMS 



315 



and a cover of rough planks is fastened down over the top with wooden 

 pegs. Just before the body is placed in the box the cords that bind it 

 are cut, in order, they say, that the shade may return and occupy the 

 body and move about if necessary. 



The grave boxes in this vicinity are made of hewn slabs or planks, 

 squared at the ends, and supported by a stout central piece from 

 below, and frequently with four corner posts, which extend some dis 

 tance above the box. Xone of the relatives touch the body, this work 

 being done by others. The housemates of the deceased must remain 

 in their accustomed places in the house during the four days following 

 the death, while the shade is believed to be still about. During this 

 time all of them must keep fur hoods drawn over their heads to pre 

 vent the influence of the shade from entering their heads and killing 

 them. At once, after the body is taken out of the house, his sleeping 

 place must be swept clean and piled full of bags and other things, so 

 as not to leave any room for the 

 shade to return and reoccupy 

 it. At the same time the two 

 persons who slept with him 

 upon each side must not, upon 

 any account, leave their places. 

 If they were to do so the shade 

 might return and, by occupy 

 ing a vacant place, bring sick 

 ness or death to its original 

 owner or to the inmates of the 

 house. For this reason none of 

 the dead person s housemates - 

 are permitted to go outside 

 during the four days following 

 the death. The deceased per 

 son s nearest relatives cut their hair short along the forehead in sign of 

 mourning. 



During the four days that the shade is thought to remain with the 

 body none of the relatives are permitted to use any sharp edge or 

 pointed instrument for fear of injuring the shade and causing it to 

 become angry and to bring misfortune upon them. One old man said 

 that should the relatives cut anything with a sharp instrument dur 

 ing this time, it would be as though he had cut his own shade and 

 would die. 



Near the upper end of the Yukon delta is a small graveyard in 

 which was seen a newly made box placed over an old one made for a 

 member of the same family. This new box was made of heavy hewn 

 planks, painted red, and supported about a foot above the old one by 

 the same set of corner posts, as shown in figure 102. 



To the pole erected before this grave were attached a cup, a spoon 



FIG. 102 Grave boxes, Yukon delta. 



