146 MORTUARY CUSTOMS OF NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 
The men are condemned to a similar ordeal, but they do not bear it with equal 
fortitude, and numbers fly to distant quarters to avoid the brutal treatment which 
custom has established asa kind of religous rite. 
Figure 10 is an ideal sketch of the cremation according to the deserip- 
tion given. 
Perhaps a short review of some of the peculiar and salient points of this 
narrative may be permitted. 
It is stated that the corpse is kept nine days after death—certainly 
a long period of time, when it is remembered that Indians as a rule 
endeavor to dispose of their dead as soon as possible. This may be 
accounted for on the supposition that it is to give the friends and rela- 
tives an opportunity of assembling, verifying the death, and of making 
proper preparations for the ceremony. With regard to the verification 
of the dead person, William Sheldon* gives an account of a similar 
custom which was common among the Caraibs of Jamaica, and which 
seems to throw some light upon the unusual retention of deceased per- 
sons by the tribe in question, although it must be admitted that this is 
mere hypothesis: 
They had some very extraordinary customs respecting deceased persons. When 
one of them died, it was necessary that all his relations should see him and examine 
the body in order to ascertain that he died a natural death. They acted so rigidly on 
this principle, that if one relative remained who had not seen the body all the others 
could not convince that one that the death was natwial. In such a case the absent 
relative considered himself as bound in honor to consider all the other relatives as 
having been accessories to the death of the kinsman, and did not rest until he had 
killed one of them to revenge the death of the deceased. If a Caraib died in Marti- 
nico or Guadaloupe and his relations lived in St. Vincents, it was necessary to summon 
them to see the body, and several months sometimes elapsed before it could be finally 
interred. When a Caraib died he was immediately painted all over with roucou, and 
had his mustachios and the black streaks in his face made with a black paint, which 
was different from that used in their lifetime. A kind of grave was then dug in the 
carbet where he died, about 4 feet square and 6 or7 feet deep. The body was let down 
in it, when sand was thrown in, which reached to the knees, and the body was placed 
in it in a sitting posture, resembling that in which they crouched round the fire or the 
table when alive, with the elbows on the knees and the palms of the hands against 
the cheeks. No part of the body touched the gutside of the grave, which was covered 
with wood and mats until all the relations had examined it. When the customary 
examinations and inspections were ended the hole was filled, and the bodies after- 
wards remained undisturbed. The hair of the deceased was kept tied behind. In this 
way bodies have remained several months without any symptoms of decay or produe- 
ing any disagreeable smell. The rowcow not only preserved them from the sun, air, 
and insects during their lifetime, but probably had the same effect after death. The 
arms of the Caraibs were placed by them when they were covered over for inspection, 
and they were finally buried with them. 
Again, we are told that during the burning the bystanders are very 
merry. This hilarity is similar to that shown by the Japanese at a 
funeral, who rejoice that the troubles and worries of the world are over 
for the fortunate dead. The plundering of strangers present, it may be 
remembered, also took place among the Indians of the Carolinas. As 
“Trans. Am. Antiq. Soe., 182 20, vol. i p- 377. 
