188 MORTUARY CUSTOMS OF NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 
life again, acquired him the degree of considered, and cleared his honor, which he had 
sullied by fearing death. He remained quiet after that time, and taking advantage 
of what he had learned during his stay among the French, he became a juggler and 
made use of his knowledge to impose upon his countrymen. 
The morning after this execution they made everything ready for the convoy, and 
the hour being come, the great master of the ceremonies appeared at the door of the 
hut, adorned suitably to his quality. The victims who were te accompany the de- 
ceased prince into the mansion of the spirits came forth; they consisted of the favor- 
ite wife of the deceased, of his second wife, his chancellor, his physician, his hired 
man, that is, his first servant, and of some old women. 
The favorite went to the Great Sun, with whom there were several Frenchmen, to 
take leave of him; she gave orders for the Suns of both sexes that were her children 
to appear, and spoke to the following effect: 
‘Children, this is the day on which I am to tear myself from you (sic) arms and 
to follow your father’s steps, who waits for me in the country of the spirits; if I were 
to yield to your tears I would injure my love and failin my duty. I have done enough 
for you by bearing you next to my heart, and by suckling you with my breasts. 
You that are descended of his blood and fed by my milk, ought you to shed tears? 
Rejoice rather that you are Suns and warriors; you are bound to give examples of 
firmness and valor to the whole nation: go, my children, I have provided for all your 
wants, by procuring you friends; my friends and those of your father are yours too; 
I leave you amidst them; they are the French; they are tender-hearted and generous ; 
make yourselves worthy of their esteem by not degenerating from your race ; always 
act openly with them and never implore them with meanness. 
“And you, Frenchmen,” added she, turning herself towards our officers, ‘‘ I recom- 
mend my orphan children to you; they will know no other fathers than you; you 
ought to protect them.” 
After that she got up; and, followed by her troop, returned to her husband’s hut 
with a surprising firmness. 
A noble woman came to join herself to the number of victims of her own accord, 
being engaged by the friendship she bore the Stung Serpent to follow him into the 
other world. The Europeans called her the haughty lady, on account of her majestic 
deportment and her proud air, and because she only frequented the company of the 
most distinguished Frenchmen. They regretted her much, because she had the knowl- 
edge of several simples with which she had saved the lives of many of our sick. This 
moving sight filled our people with grief and horror, The favorite wife of the de- 
ceased rose up and spoke to them with a smiling countenance: ‘TI die without fear ;” 
said she, “ grief does not embitter my last hours. I recommend my children to you; 
whenever you see them, noble Frenchmen, remember that you have loved their father, 
and that he was till death a true and sincere friend of your nation, whom he loved more 
than himself. The disposer of life has been pleased to call him, and I shall soon go 
and join him; I shall tell him that I have seen your hearts moved at the sight of his 
corps; do not be grieved; we shall be longer friends in the country of the spirits than 
here, because we do not die there again.* 
These words forced tears from the eyes of all the French; they were obliged to do 
all they could to prevent the Great Sun from killing himself, for he was inconsolable 
at the death of his brother, upon whom he was used to lay the weight of government, 
he being great chief of war of the Natches, i. e., generalissimo of their armies; that 
prince grew furious by the resistance he met with; he held his gun by the barrel, and 
the Sun, his presumptive heir, held it by the lock, and caused the powder to fall out 
*At the hour intended for the ceremony, they made the victims swallow little balls 
or pills of tobacco, in order to make them giddy, and as it were to take the sensation 
of pain from them; after that they were all strangled and put upon mats, the favorite 
on the right, the other wife on the left, and the others according to their rank. 
