NELSON] MORTUARY CUSTOMS 315 
and a cover of rough planks is fastened down over the top with wooden 
pegs. Just before the body is placed in the box the cords that bind it 
are cut, in order, they say, that the shade may return and occupy the 
body and move about if necessary. 
The grave boxes in this vicinity are made of hewn slabs or planks, 
squared at the ends, and supported by a stout central piece from 
below, and frequently with four corner posts, which extend some dis- 
tance above the box. None of the relatives touch the body, this work 
being done by others. The housemates of the deceased must remain 
in their accustomed places in the house during the four days following 
the death, while the shade is believed to be still about. During this 
time all of them must keep fur hoods drawn over their heads to pre- 
vent the influence of the shade from entering their heads and killing 
them. At once, after the body is taken out of the house, his sleeping 
place must be swept clean and piled full of bags and other things, so 
as not to leave any room for the 
shade to return and reoecupy 
it. At the same time the two 
persons who slept with him 
upon each side must not, upon a 
any account, leave their places. | = 
If they were to do so the shade 2 ate | ee si 
might return and, by oceupy- ilies 
iss 
ing a vacaut place, bring sick- i la Pe perce 
ness or death to its original I | ri fe i = 
owner or to the inmates of the 
house. For this reason none of 
the dead person’s housemates 
are permitted to go outside 
during the four days following 
the death. The deceased per- 
son’s nearest relatives cut their hair short along the forehead in sign of 
mourning, 
During the four days that the shade is thought to remain with the 
body none of the relatives are permitted to use any sharp-edge or 
pointed instrument for fear of injuring the shade and causing it to 
become angry and to bring misfortine upon them. One old man said 
that should the relatives cut anything with a sharp instrument dur- 
ing this time, it would be as though he had cut his own shade and 
would die. 
Near the upper end of the Yukon delta is a small graveyard in 
which was seen a newly made box placed over an old one made for a 
member of the same family. This new box was made of heavy hewn 
planks, painted red, and supported about a foot above the old oue by 
the same set of corner posts, as shown in figure 102, 
To the pole erected before this grave were attached a cup, a spoon 
Fie. 102—Grave boxes, Yukon delta. 
