BUSHNELL] NATIVE CEMETERIES AND FORMS OF BURIAL 29 



Stubblefield. It mentioned a large shell heap which extended for 

 some 150 yards along the bank of the stream and had a width of 

 from 30 to 40 yards, and continued by saying : "In this deposite of 

 shells are found a nmnber of human bones of all sizes, from the 

 smallest infant to the full grown man, interred in pits of various 

 size, and circular form; and in each pit are found intermingled, 

 human bones of every size. Standing in one place I counted fifty 

 of these hollows, from each of which had been taken the remains 

 of human beings who inhabited this country before the present race 

 of whites." (Christian, (1), p. 150.) 



This site does not appear to have been known to Capt. Smith, as 

 no town is shown by him as standing on the right bank of the river, 

 in what would probably have been included in the present Charles 

 City County. The burials discovered in 1835 may have been made 

 before the days of the colony. 



WEST OF THE ALLEGHENIES 



The burial customs of some western Algonquian tribes were, in 

 many respects, quite similar to those of the New England Indians. 

 It will be recalled that soon after the Mayfower touched at Cape Cod 

 a party of the Pilgrims went ashore and during their explorations 

 discovered several groups of graves, some of which " had like an 

 Indian house made over them, but not matted." They may when 

 erected have been covered with mats. The similarity between this 

 early reference and the description of certain O jib way graves, two 

 centuries and more later, is very interesting. Writing from '•'•Ameri- 

 can Fur Company's trading estdblisliment^ Fond du Lac, July 30, 

 1826," McKenney told of an Ojibway gTaye then standing at that 

 post, near the extreme southwestern corner of Lake Superior. " Thq, 

 Indians' graves are first covered over with bark. Over the grave 

 the same shelter is made, and of the same materials, as enter into the 

 form and structure of a lodge. Poles are stuck into the ground, and 

 bent over, and fastened at the top ; and these are covered with bark. 

 Thus the grave is inclosed. An opening is left like that in the door 

 of a lodge. Before this door (I am describing a grave that is here), 

 a post is planted, and the dead having been a warrior, is painted red. 

 Near this post, a pole is stuck in the ground, about ten feet long. 

 From the top of this pole is suspended the ornaments of the de- 

 ceased. From this, I see hanging a strand of beads, some strips of 

 white fur, several trinkets, six bits of tobacco, that looked like quids, 

 and a little frame of a circular form with net work, in the center of 

 which (it being of thread) is fastened a scalp^ about three inches in 

 diameter, the hair of wdiich is of a dark brown colour, and six inches 

 long. In the top of the red post are three feathers." (McKenney, 

 (1), pp. 283-284.) 



