IN THE FAR WEST. 263 



places, these useful companions being intended to accompany 

 the braves in their wanderings through the unknown land. 



They do not always get rid of their dead in this manner, 

 however, for if they are on the march they stick the body into 

 any hole they meet, covering it lightly with stones, branches, 

 and dirt, and a squaw or unimportant personage does not even 

 receive this rude sepulture very often, but is left to rot on the 

 ground, or is tumbled into a precipice, to be devoured by wild 

 animals. A chief or famous brave is always buried with much 

 barbaric pomp, and food is carried to him for several days, so 

 that he may not want for pabulum on his long journey to his 

 everlasting abode. The squaws often visit the remains of their 

 kindred in the regular cemetery, and moan and wail by the 

 hour beside them, calling them endearing names, and asking 

 their forgiveness for any wrongs done them in life. Such a 

 scene certainly appeals to a person's sympathy ; but from what 

 I could learn I should fancy that the ceremony was one of 

 formality rather than of feeling. 



We found two squaws in the burial-ground who were alter- 

 nately crying loudly, or crooning a mournful chaunt, in which, 

 according to my companion, they wei'C calling upon their 

 departed husbands to look with pity and kindness upon them, 

 as they had ever tried to be good and dutiful wives. They 

 also bemoaned their loss, as they had no person then to supply 

 them with food, to kill the shaggy buffalo, or to speak kind 

 words to them. 



It is a custom, it seems, among some of the tribes, that a 

 widow has no standing, and unless her own kindred provide 

 her with food and shelter she might starve for what the 

 majority cared. 



When we left the Golgotha the women were still wailing, 

 and so intense was it that it rung in my ears for several days 

 afterwards. 



When we returned to camp we decided to pack up and move 

 some miles further, as we did not expect to be able to find 

 much game in that quarter, owing to the presence of the 

 Indians. By live o'clock we reached a splendid camping- 

 ground in a thicket of graceful black pines, and convenient to 



