i"D'N] BURIAL AND FUNERAL CUSTOMS 149 



One of Mr. F.'s most important duties was to invite the warriors 

 to extend invitations to all those who wish to participate in the feast. 

 After the body has been buried the overseer goes to the home of the 

 deceased and takes away all those things with which the deceased had 

 been in daily contact. 



In addition to F., another man was sent for, Mr. A. W., also a 

 member of the Bear clan. He went through the Bear clan ceremony, 

 which was as follows: When the deceased was fully dressed, just 

 before he was to be laid in the casket, A. W. walked up to him and, 

 taking some paint from a little bundle he carried, he painted a red 

 mark across his forehead, then a black one immediately below this 

 one, and finally daubed the whole chin red. When he was through 

 with this preliminary work he addre.ssed those present as follows: 



You relatives, all that are seated here, I greet you. This ceremony is not anything 

 that we have originated ourselves, but it was known to be the proper thing to do by 

 our ancestors. It is for that reason that I have made the markings upon the face of 

 my son in order that he may be recognized by his relatives in spirit land; and I have 

 also given him the material with which he may talk, i. e., tobacco, that with it he 

 may entreat the spirits to bestow all those years that he fell short of upon his relatives 

 still living. 



Now, it is said that the members of the Bear clan hold death as a blessing and not 

 as anything to mourn about. I do not mean that I do not feel sorry for the children 

 of the deceased and that I rejoice in his death, but it is the belief of the members of 

 the Bear clan that the same happiness comes to them at death that comes to us during 

 life when a bear is killed and brought to the village for food. 



For now, indeed, my son will walk in a road that has been cleared of all obstacles 

 and his claws will be sharp, and his teeth will be sharp, and nothing, indeed, will 

 cross his path. And in this, his walk to the spirit land, may he tread down upon us 

 the life that he has fallen short of on this earth. And he will walk just as the original 

 Bear clansmen walked when they originated and when they approached the earth. 

 And now I will sing him the songs that they sang as they came on earth, so that he 

 may take them along with him on his journey to the spirit land. It is said that 

 there is no other place besides this prepared for us in the hereafter. 



Then he sang the four clan songs. 



When the songs had been sung, it was just about noon and, as 

 dinner was ready, we all sat down and A. W. filled a pipe and when 

 he was ready to smoke it began to speak again to the following effect: 



Relatives, all that are present, I greet you. It is good that this many of you have 

 come here, and it is said that the soul of the deceased remains hovermg around about 

 this place four days and that we should partake of food with him for that period. It is 

 for that reason that we act in this way. And it is good that this many of you have 

 come here and have helped us out with food and dress. 



He then mentioned the things that had been given by different 

 individuals. Then he lit a pipe and took a few puffs and sent it 

 around to all the others in the lodge. Then a pitcher of water was 

 passed around from wliich we all took a sip. 



