THE INDIANS OF CAPE FLATTERY. 85 



has left the body. On the 10th of October, 1864, Sierchy, a middle-aged man of 

 general good health, was reported to me as having just died. It appeared that the 

 evening previous he had eaten a raw carrot, whicli the farmer on the reservation had 

 given him, and towards morning he complained of a pain in his breast, but as he 

 made no request for assistance, his squaw took no notice of him, and at sunrise 

 went about preparing the usual meal. AVhile thus engaged, she noticed Sierchy 

 to exhibit a slight convulsive motion, and as she supposed instantly die. She at 

 once began to howl, and in this was joined by the rest of the squaws. I was sent 

 for and went over to the lodge, which was only four or five rods from my quarters ; 

 but when I arrived, which could not have been over ten minutes from the time the 

 man was supposed to have died, the others had wrapped him up in his blanket, and 

 wound a stout cord tight around him from head to foot, drawing it so firmly about 

 the neck that it would have suffocated a well person in five minutes. I tried to 

 induce them to undo the face and let me attempt to restore him, for I thought he had 

 only swooned away, or at the worst had but a fit from eating the carrot, which they 

 had told me about, but I could not persuade them. &quot; It was very bad to look on 

 the face of the dead, and they must be covered from sight as soon as they cease to 

 breathe.&quot; So they carried him out and buried him. I shall always, however, 

 think that if proper means had been tried, he would have speedily revived. 

 Another case was that of a squaw who had suddenly lost her husband a few days 

 before. He had been sick for a long time and had apparently recovered ; but 

 taking a severe cold, he died from its effects in about twenty-four hours from the 

 time of the attack. The woman was remarkably stout, and in good health. I saw 

 her sitting by the bank of the brook, lamenting the death of her husband, and 

 passed by to the upper village, about a quarter of a mile distance, where having 

 attended some sick persons, I was about returning to the school building, when I 

 heard the wailing cry of women announcing death. I quickened my steps and soon 

 learned that it was the same woman I had passed but a short time previously, 

 weeping for her husband, who was now also announced as dead. By the time I 

 could get into the lodge, she too was tied up and in a box, ready to be buried, nor 

 would the friends listen to a word I said, or permit me to use any measures for her 

 recovery. Dead she was, they were sure, or if not, they took good means to insure 

 that she should be so shortly. 



As soon as an Indian dies the property, if there be any, is divided at once among 

 the relations and friends. The time of mourning is one year, and at the expiration 

 of the period, or on the return of the same season, or the same moon, the nearest 

 surviving relative gives a feast and distributes presents, both to appease the spirit 

 of the departed and to give notice that mourning is over. During the interval it 

 is considered &quot;-disrespectful to mention the name of the deceased in the hearing of 

 relatives or friends, and whenever it is necessary to speak the name to a white 

 person, it is invariably done in an undertone or whisper. 



Although I have stated that it is the general custom to place the dead in a box, 

 yet it is not the invariable practice, as, in case of persons of inferior rank who are 

 either old or poor, it not unfrequently occurs that they are simply wrapped in a 

 blanket and a mat and buried in the ground. The bodies of slaves are dragged a 



