70 SPEECH OF LONG BOW ON THE DEATH OF HIS FATHER. 



scarlet cloth was then spread over it, and the body firmly lashed to its 

 place by long strips of raw hide. This done, the horse of the chieftain 

 was produced as a sacrifice for the benefit of his master in his long 

 journey to the celestial hunting ground. 



The above mode of sepulture is that commonly practised by the moun- 

 tain tribes. It is seldom indeed they ever dispose of their dead in any 

 other way than by placing them either upon scaffolds, branches of trees, 

 or in some elevated position, not unfrequently covered by lodges, where 

 they are left to moulder and waste in the winds and rain, till the bones, 

 falling one by one upon the prairie, are gathered up by surviving friends, 

 and finally entombed in mother earth. 



The corpse of the ill-fated man being thus securely fixed in the airy 

 couch assigned it, to await the speedy process of dissolution, and mingle 

 with its kindred earth, that its bones might find their proper places be- 

 neath the prairie sod, the village once acknowledging him as its head 

 now met round the scaffold, men. women, children, and little ones, to 

 bewail the sad fate that had bereaved them of their loved chieftain. 



First, encircling it at a respectful distance, were seated the old men, 

 next the young men and warriors, and next the squaws and children. 

 Etespa-huska, (Long Bow,) eldest son of the deceased, thereupon com- 

 menced speaking, while the weeping throng ceased its tumult to listen to 

 his words : 



" Oh, Susu-ceicha ! thy son bemourns thee, even as was wont the 

 fledgelings of the war-eagle to cry for the one that nourished them, 

 ere yet thy swift arrow had laid him in dust. Sorrow fills the heart 

 of Etespa-huska ; sadness crushes it to the ground and sinks it beneath 

 the sod upon which he treads. 



"Thou hast gone, oh Susu-ceicha! Death hath conquered thee, 

 whom none but death could conquer ; and who shall now teach thy son 

 to be brave as thou was brave ; to be good as thou wast good ; to fight 

 the foe of thy people and acquaint thy chosen ones with the war-song of 

 triumph ! to deck his lodge with the scalps of the slain, and bid the feet 

 of the young move swiftly in the dance 1 And who shall teach Etespa-hus- 

 ka to follow the chase and plunge his arrows into the yielding sides of 

 the tired bull 1 Who shall teach him to call for his prey from the deer, 

 the elk, and the antelope, as thou hast done, or win honors from the 

 slaughtered bear 1 



" None. Etespa-huska has no teacher. He is alone. Susu-ceicha is 

 dead ! 



" But thou wilt soon gain the happy country. Thy journey is short. 

 There wilt thou bestride the fleet horse.s that never tire, and roam amid 

 the fruits and flowers, the sweet waters and pleasure-groves of that lovely 

 clime ; for thou art worthy. 



"And, oh, Wakantunga! (Great Spirit,) do thou pity Etespa-huska. 

 Do thou teach him to be brave and good like his father, for who is there 

 to pity or teach him now he is left alone !" 



Then, turning to the audience he continued : 



" Brothers : Strong was the arm of Susu-ceicha, and fleet was the arrow 

 shot from his bow. Thirty and five of the enemy hath he slain in battle, 

 whose waving locks were the trophies that ofttimes measured the quick 



