denig] THE ASSINIBOIN 571 



When the body is thus dressed and prepared for interment it is 

 the wish of the relatives to get it out of sight as soon as possible, or 

 in a few hours after dissolution, but it often happens that there is 

 no suitable place in the vicinity for burial and they are obliged to 

 carry it along for several days. Most of these tribes prefer scaffold- 

 ing the corpse on trees, which is the most ancient method of dispos- 

 ing of them, arising from the want of tools to excavate, particularly 

 in the winter season, when the ground is frozen to the depth of 5 

 feet as solid as a rock, and for the reason that they wish the dead 

 to be placed where they can at all times feast and speak to them. 

 Of late years, however, they prefer their being interred by the whites 

 at the different trading forts if possible, but as this can only happen 

 to a few the others either scaffold them or inter them, when the 

 weather admits, on the tops of hills, covered with large stones, which 

 being rolled on the grave after it is filled prevent the ravages of 

 the wolves and foxes. In either case the clothing, arms, medal, or 

 other trinkets not bequeathed are deposited with the body, and as 

 the sanctum of the dead is never disturbed nor these articles re- 

 newed, they must present a sure criterion whereby to judge of their 

 state of arts and arms at the time of the interment as far as it is 

 possible to be determined b.y the nature of the materials thus de- 

 posited. Supposing they are near the timber, and the man has died 

 in the night, the funeral takes place next day, or if he has died 

 during the day it is disposed of the following morning. 



At the moment life becomes extinct the relatives set up a loud 

 howl, cut their hair and legs, and the neighbors crowd into the lodge, 

 each endeavoring to excel the other in the violence of their lamenta- 

 tions, which are kept up without intermission from that time until 

 the funeral is over, by all, and during this interval the whole of the 

 property of the deceased, except his war horse and arms as men- 

 tioned, is given away by the relatives to those who lament. All his 

 horses, skins, clothing, provisions, and a good part of that of his rela- 

 tives (brothers, father, etc.) must pass into the hands of strangers; 

 even the blankets off their backs, arms, and cooking utensils are 

 seized and carried away by those who aid in mourning. If he has 

 made a will, which occasionally happens, it is sometimes carried into 

 effect, but usually the nearest relatives sit around the body howling, 

 with their heads down, and pay no attention to the general pillage 

 which then takes place, or if they do, it is only to tell each of the 

 mourners which of their horses or other property to take away, giv- 

 ing the horses to those who have aided in laying out the dead man. 

 Their custom is to make themselves as poor as they can be made on 

 these occasions, either in property or with regard to their persons. 



