Tooker] ETPESTOGRAPHY OF THE HURON 139 



line the bottom and sides of the pit. Each entire body was covered 

 with one or two robes in addition to that in which it was wrapped 

 (JE 10: 295-297). 



At 7 o'clock, the whole bodies were put into the pit to the accom- 

 paniment of great confusion and a great din of voices. Ten or twelve 

 were in the pit arranging the bodies all around it. Three large kettles 

 were placed in the very middle of the pit ; inasmuch as one had a hole 

 in it, another had no handle, and the third kettle was of scarcely 

 more value, they were of use only to souls. There were very few wam- 

 pum collars ( JR 10 : 297) . 



Everyone spent the night near the pit. They lighted their fires 

 and hung their kettles ( JR 10 : 299) . 



The bones were to be thrown into the pit at daybreak. However, 

 one of the souls fell by itself into the pit and the noise awakened the 

 crowd, which inmiediately ran and climbed onto the scaffold, empty- 

 ing the packages into the pit, but keeping the robes in which the bones 

 were wrapped. After a while, the noise ceased and the people began 

 to sing in sorrowful voices (JR 10: 299). 



Five or six in the pit arranged the bones with poles as they were 

 thrown in. When the pit was full, to within about 2 feet, they turned 

 back over the bones the robes which lined the edge of the pit and 

 covered the remaining space with mats and bark. Then the pit was 

 covered with sand, poles and wooden stakes, thrown in without any 

 order. Some women brought dishes of com to the pit. On that day 

 and on succeeding days, several houses of the village brought nets full 

 of corn which they threw on the pit (JR 10 : 299-301). 



The entire morning was spent giving gifts. The greater part of 

 the robes in which the bones had been wrapped were cut into pieces 

 and thrown from the scaffold into the crowd for any one who could 

 get them. Two or three people would get hold of a beaver skin and, 

 as none would give it away, it was cut into many pieces. One man 

 did not trouble to run after the skins, but offered tobacco to those 

 fighting over a skin and so settled the matter to his own advantage 

 (JR10:301). 



The 1,200 presents that had been displayed were distributed as 

 follows. The pit lining consisted of 48 robes. Each whole body had 

 its robe and some had two or three. The master of the feast received 

 20 to thank the nations which had participated. The dead distributed 

 a number of them through the chiefs to their living friends. Some 

 served only for show and were taken away by those who had exhibited 

 them. The old and important men in the comitry who managed the 

 feast secretly took possession of a number of the robes. The rest were 

 cut into pieces and thrown to the crowd (JR 10: 303). 



By means of this ceremony the Indians confirmed their friendships, 

 saying that as the bones of their deceased relatives and friends were 



