294 lawson'b history 



strip them from their backs, who suffer them so 

 to do without any resistance. In these they wrap 

 the dead bodies, and cover them with two or three 

 mats which the Indians make of rushes or cane ; 

 and, last of all, they have a long web of woven 

 reeds or hollow canes, which is the coffin of the 

 Indians, and is brought round several times and 

 tied fast at both ends, which, indeed, looks very 

 decent and well. Then the corps is brought out 

 of the house into the orchard of peach trees, where 

 another hurdle is made to receive it, about which 

 comes all the relations and nation that the dead 

 person belonged to, besides several from other na- 

 tions in alliance with them ; all which sit down 

 on the ground upon mats spread there for that 

 purpose; where the doctor or conjurer appears ; 

 and, after some time, makes a sort of o-yes, at 

 which all are very silent, then he begins to give 

 an account who the dead person was, and how 

 '^tout a man he approved himself; how many ene- 

 mies and captives he had killed and taken ; how 

 strong, tall, and nimble he was ; that he was a 

 great hunter ; a lover of his country, and possess- 

 ed of a great many beautiful wives and children, 

 esteemed the greatest of blessings among these 

 savages, in which they have a true notion. Thus 

 this orator runs on, highly extoling the dead man 

 for his valor, conduct, strength, riches, and good 

 humor; and enumerating his guns, slaves, and al- 

 most everything he was possessed of when living. 

 After which he addresses himself to the people of 



