12 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 71 



entary, and continued to occupy tlieir ancient sites for many years 

 after first becoming known to Europeans, the majority of the western 

 members of this great linguistic family were ever moving from place 

 to place. This movement, however, may have begun only after cer- 

 tain of their enemies had secured firearms from the Dutch and French 

 traders in the early years of the seventeenth century. The habita- 

 tions and other structures reared by all the Algonquian tribes were 

 (juite similar in form and size. 



NEW ENGLAND 



Three centuries and more have elapsed since the Jesuit, Pere Pierre 

 Biard, of Grenoble, prepared an account of the manners and customs 

 of several native tribes of New France, which then included within 

 its bounds the eastern portions lof the present State of Maine, and 

 the adjoining provinces. He wrote more particularly of the "three 

 tribes which are on good terms of friendship with us — the Monta- 

 guets, the Souriquois, and the Eteminquois." By these names the 

 early French knew the three tribes now better known as the Monta- 

 gnais, Micmac, and Malecite, all belonging to the great Algonquian 

 family, and who occupied the region just mentioned. Although not 

 always at peace with one another they undoubtedly had many cus- 

 toms in common, and these may have differed little from tliose of 

 the neighboring tribes, all of which belonged to the same stock. 

 And when recounting the ceremonies attending the death and burial 

 of a member of one of these tribes he wrote : " The sick man having 

 been appointed by the Autmoin to die . . . all the relations and neigh- 

 bors assemble and, with the gi'eatest possible solemnity, he delivers 

 his funeral oration : he recites his heroic deeds, gives some directions 

 to his family, recommends his friends: finally, says adieu. This is 

 all there is of their wills. As to gifts, they make none at all; but, 

 quite different from us, the survivors give some to the dying man. " 

 A feast is prepared, all gather, evidently in the presence of the dying 

 man, and partake of the food, and " having banqueted they begin to 

 express their sympathy and sorrowful Farewells, their hearts weep 

 and bleed because their good friend is going to leave them and go 

 away . . . they go on in this w^ay until the dying man expires and then 

 they utter horrible cries." These continue day and night and do not 

 cease until the supply of food has been exhausted, the food having 

 previously been provided by the dying man, and if there are no 

 supplies " they only bury the dead man, and postpone the obsequies 

 and ceremonies \mtil another time and place, at the good pleasure 

 of their stomachs. Meanwhile all the relatives and friends daub 

 their faces with black, and very often paint themselves with other 

 colors ... To them black is a sign of grief and mourning. They bury 



