BDSHNELL] NATIVE CEMETERIES AND FORMS OF BURIAL, 21 



from a tanned elk hide; and a small bag of vermilion paint, with 

 some flannel to lay it on, was then thrust into the coffin through the 

 hole cut out at the head of it. This hole, the Indians say, is for 

 the spirit of the deceased to go in and out at pleasure, until it has 

 found the place of its future residence." Six persons then grasped 

 the ends of the three poles and carried the coffin to the grave. The 

 six consisted of four men, at the front and back, and two women 

 between. " Several women from a house about thirty yards off, 

 now started off, carrying large kettles, dishes, spoons, and dried elk 

 meat in baskets, and for the burial place, and the signal being given 

 for us to move with the body, the women who acted as chief 

 mourners made the air resound with their shrill cries. The order of 

 the procession was as follows : first a leader or guide, from the spot 

 where we were to the place of interment. Next followed the corpse, 

 and close to it Shingask^ the husband of the deceased. He was fol- 

 lowed by the principal war chiefs and counsellors of the nation, 

 after whom came men of all ranks and descriptions. Then followed 

 the women and children, and lastly two stout men carrying loads 

 of European manufactured goods upon their backs. The chief 

 mourners on the women's side, not having joined in the ranks, took 

 their own course to the right, at the distance of about fifteen or 

 twenty yards from us, but always opposite to the corpse." Thus 

 they moved along for a distance of about 200 yards to the open 

 grave, and when it was reached the lid was removed from the coffin, 

 and "the whole train formed themselves into a kind of semilunar 

 circle on the south side of the grave, and seated themselves on the 

 ground, while the disconsolate Shingask retired by himself to a spot 

 at some distance, where he was seen weeping, with his head bowed 

 to the ground. The female mourners seated themselves promiscuously 

 near to each other, among some low bushes that were at the distance of 

 from twelve to fifteen yards east of the grave. In this situation we 

 remained for the space of more than two hours; not a sound was 

 heard from any quarter, though the numbers that attended were 

 very great ; nor did any person move from his seat to view the body, 

 which had been lightly covered over with a clean white sheet. All 

 appeared to be in profound reflection and solemn mourning. ... At 

 length, at about one o'clock in the afternoon, six men stepped for- 

 ward to put the lid upon the coffin, and let down the body into the 

 grave, when suddenly three of the women mourners rushed from 

 their seats, and forcing themselves between these men and the corpse, 

 loudly called to the deceased to ' arise and go with them and not for- 

 sake them.' They even took hold of her arms and legs; at first it 

 seemed as if they were caressing her, afterwards they appeared to 

 pull with more violence, as if they intended to run away with the 



