YARROW. ] BURIAL POSTS—SIOUX AND CHIPPEWAS. 197 
one up entitles to another throw, when, if all of the black sides come up, excepting 
one, the throw wins. One of the plain ones up and all the rest with black sides up 
gives another throw, and the same then turning up wins. One of the plain black 
ones up with that side up of all the others having the least black on gives another 
throw, when the same turning up again wins. One half moon up, with that side up 
of all the others having the least black on gives another throw, and if the throw is then 
duplicated it wins. The eighth seed, used by the men, has its place in their game 
whenever its facings are mentioned above. I transmit with this paper a set of these 
figured seeds, which can be used to illustrate the game if desired. These seeds ars 
said to be nearly a hundred years old, and sets of them are now very rare. 
For assisting in obtaining this account Dr. McChesney acknowledges 
his indebtedness to Dr. C. C. Miller, physician to the Sisseton Indian 
Agency. 
Figures 35 to 45 represent the appearance of the plum stones and the 
different throws; these have been carefully drawn from the set of stones 
sent by Dr. McChesney. 
POSTS. 
These are placed at the head or foot of the grave, or at both ends, and 
have painted or carved on them a history of the deceased or his family, 
certain totemic characters, or, according to Schoolcraft, not the achieve- 
ments of the dead, but of those warriors who assisted and danced at 
the interment. The northwest tribes and others frequently plant poles 
near the graves, suspending therefrom bits of rag, flags, horses’ tails, &e. 
The custom among the present Indians does not exist to any extent. 
Beltrami* speaks of it as follows : 
Here I saw a most singular union. One of these graves was surmounted by across, 
whilst upon another close to it a trunk of atree wasraised, covered with hieroglyphies 
recording the number of enemies slain by the tenant of the tomb and several of his 
tutelary Manitous. 
The following extract from Schooleraftt relates to the burial posts 
used by the Sioux and Chippewas. Figure 46 is after the picture given 
by this author in connection with the account quoted: 
Among the Sioux and Western Chippewas, after the body had been wrapped in its 
best clothes and ornaments, it is then placed on a scaffold or in a tree until the flesh 
is entirely decayed, after which the bones are buried and grave-posts fixed. At the 
head of the grave a tabular piece of cedar or other wood, called the adjedatig, is set. 
This grave-board contains the symbolic or representative figure, which records, if it 
be a warrior, his totem, that is to say the symbol of his family, or surname, and such 
arithmetical or other devices as seem to denote how many times the deceased has been 
in war parties, and how many scalps he has taken from the enemy—two facts from 
which his reputation is essentially to be derived. Itisseldom that more is attempted 
in the way of inscription. Often, however, distinguished chiefs have their war flag, 
*Pilgrimage, 1828, ii, p. 308, 
tHist. Indian Tribes of the United States, 1851, part i, p. 356. 
