24 Inasmuch 



were within his circle, and continued smoking his 

 pipe without the least discomposure. On this 

 a head warrior leaped up and said, they saw 

 plain enough he was a warrior and not afraid of 

 dying, nor should he have died, only that he was 

 both spoiled by the fire, and devoted to it by 

 their laws; however, though he was a very dan 

 gerous enemy, and his nation a treacherous people, 

 it should be seen that they paid a great regard 

 to bravery, even in one who was marked with 

 war streaks at the cost of the lives of many of 

 their beloved kindred ; and then by way of favour, 

 he with his friendly tomahawk instantly put an 

 end to all his pains.&quot; 



The Feast of Of the Indian customs none was more remark 

 able than the &quot;feast of the dead,&quot; practised by 

 the Huron branch of the Iroquois family. Cham- 

 plain says, &quot;When any one dies, they wrap the 

 body in furs and cover it very neatly with the 

 bark of trees; then they place it high up on four 

 posts in a little cabin, which is covered with bark 

 and is just the length of the body. These 

 bodies are buried in these places only a certain 

 length of time, say eight or ten years, when those 

 of the village recommend the place where their 

 ceremonies should be held, or rather a general 

 council, which all the .people of the country at 

 tend. This done, each one returns to his own 

 village, and then takes all the bones of the dead, 

 which they clean and make very smooth, and 

 guard carefully. Then all the relatives and 

 friends take them, with their necklaces, furs, 



