A FURTHER CONTRIBUTION 
TO THE 
STUDY OF THE MORTUARY CUSTOMS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN 
INDIANS. 
By H. C. Yarrow. 
INTRODUCTORY. 
In view of the fact that the present paper will doubtless reach many 
readers who may not, in consequence of the limited edition, have seen 
the preliminary volume on mortuary customs, it seems expedient to re- 
produce in great part the prefatory remarks which served as an intro- 
duction to that work; for the reasons then urged, for the immediate 
study of this subject, still exist, and as time flies on become more and 
more important. 
The primitive manners and customs of the North American Indians 
are rapidly passing away under influences of civilization and other 
disturbing elements. In view of this fact, it becomes the duty of all 
interested in preserving a record of these customs to labor assiduously, 
while there is still time, to collect such data as may be obtainable. 
This seems the more important now, as within the last ten years an 
almost universal interest has been awakened in ethnologic research, 
and the desire for more knowledge in this regard is constantly increas- 
ing. A wise and liberal government, recognizing the need, has ably 
seconded the efforts of those engaged in such studies by liberal grants 
from the public funds; nor is encouragement wanted from the hundreds 
of scientific societies throughout the civilized globe. The public press, 
too—the mouth-piece of the people—is ever on the alert to scatter broad- 
cast suck items of ethnologic information as its corps of well-trained 
reporters can secure. ‘To induce further laudable inquiry, and assist all 
those who may be willing to engage in the good work, is the object of this 
further paper on the mortuary customs of North American Indians, 
and itis hoped that many more laborers may through it be added to 
the extensive and honorable list of those who have already contributed. 
It would appear that the subject chosen should awaken great interest, 
since the peculiar methods followed by different nations and the great 
importance attached to burial ceremonies have formed an almost inva- 
riable part of all works relating to the different peoples of our globe; 
m fact, no particular portion of ethnologic research has claimed more 
attention. In view of these facts, it might seem almost a work of super- 
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