HADIN] BXTBIAl, AND FUNERAL CUSTOMS 145 



and being very careful not to look back toward the grave after they 

 had first started. 



The same evening the four nights' wake began. The overseer, who 

 was in full charge, had everything prepared. Before the wake 

 formally commenced the cliief mourner made a short speech. Then 

 the overseer lighted a pipe and passed it around to all, who took a 

 puff each and returned it to him. Then sweetened water was passed 

 around, of which all partook. Tlie feast followed. Taking on a 

 plate a small portion of all the food to be eaten, the overseer tlirew it 

 outside for the spu-it of the deceased. In the case of a nursling the 

 mother added a small quantity of milk from her breast to the other 

 food on the plate. After the feast the chief mourner made another 

 speech, explaining why the rites were performed and how they had 

 been handed down for many generations. He concluded by thanking 

 the people for all they had done for him. 



There was always an abundance of tobacco at a wake. Most of it 

 was given to the warriors, a number of whom were in\ated, for they 

 played a very important role on such an occasion. It was believed 

 that every warrior was in control of the spirit of an enemy he had slain 

 and he was supposed always to be willing to put the spirit at the 

 ser\'ice of any member of liis tribe who had just died, if the proper 

 offerings were made. At the proper time tobacco was given to the 

 warrior, who, rising, narrated his war exploits, at the conclusion 

 of which he ordered the spirit of the enemy he had slain to take 

 charge of the deceased. Then tobacco was given to another warrior, 

 who followed the same procedure, which was continued until mid- 

 night. Then most of the people departed to their homes, but some 

 stayed overnight in the lodge in which the wake was held. 



The proceedings of the second and third nights of the wake were 

 exactly the same as those of the first, but somewhat longer. The 

 beginning of the ceremony on the fourth night was the same as on 

 the three preceding nights ; after a while, however, it deviated in the 

 following manner. 



J. F., rising, tells the spirit of the departed the road he is to take 

 in his journey to spirit land, the obstacles he is to meet, and how 

 he is to overcome them. After he has finished the warriors begin 

 to tell some more war exploits, and this continues generally until 

 3 o'clock in the morning, depending entirely upon the amount of 

 gifts given to the warriors. The gifts generally consist either 

 of 12 pieces of calico each 3 yards, or of beads, or of 12 quarter 

 dollars. The warriors always gamble for these gifts and play the 

 favorite game of the deceased. If a man had died they generally 

 play moccasins: if a woman, TcaHu. When all the presents have 

 been exhausted, then the relatives of the deceased comb the 



