386 The Natural Historg 



Tliey differ some small matter in their Burials from each 

 other, some burying right upwards, and some otherwise, as 

 I have before intimated ; yet for the most part they all agi-ee 

 in their Method of Mourning, which is to appear every 

 E'ight, or oftner, at the Sepulchre, and weep and howl after 

 a dismal manner, having their Faces daubed over with Light- 

 luood-Soot, and Bears-oil, which makes the Face as black as 

 Oil and Lamp-hlach could do. In this black Figure they 

 remain for a Year or longer, according to the Dignity of the 

 deceas'd. 



If the deceas'd Person was a Grandee, such as a King or 

 War Captain, and the like, to carry on the Funeral Ceremo- 

 nies with greater Formality and Pomp, they hire People to 

 cry and lament over the deceas'd : There are several Persons 

 of both Sexes that practice this for a livelyhood, and are ex- 

 pert at shedding abundance of Tears, and howling like a 

 Parcel of Wolves, or distracted People in Bedlam; by this 

 means they discharge their Office with abundance of Art, 

 and great Applause from the Indians. These People regard- 

 ing those kind of Performances or Ceremonies very respect- 

 fully, looking upon them as Eights justly due to the de- 

 ceas'd. 



Their Women are never accompanied Avith these Pomps 

 or Ceremonies after Death; and to what World they allot 

 that Sex, I could never learn, unless it be to wait on their 

 deceas'd Husbands, or to be metamorphosed into those 

 pretty and ugly Women in the other World or Country where 

 the Indian Men expect to go after death, which I have before 

 made mention of. Yet these Women have more AVit ^han 

 some of the Eastern l^ations (as we are informed) who sacri- 

 fice themselves to accompany their Husbands in the otlier 

 World, which the former never do. It is the deceased Per- 

 son's Relations by Blood, as his Sons, Daughters, Brothers, 



Sisters, 



