572 TRIBES OF THE UPPER MISSOURI [eth. ann. 46 



The body being placed on a horse travaille crosswise, it is conveyed 

 to the spot for scaffolding by leading the horse, the whole following 

 without any order and uttering loud bowlings, both men and women. 

 Several men now ascend the tree and draw up the corpse with strong 

 cords attached to it, placing the feet as near toward the south as the 

 fork of the tree will admit, and elevating the head part of the bale 

 so that it may face in that direction, after which it is secured by the 

 cords being tied round the limbs of the tree many times, to prevent 

 the wind from blowing it down. 



When this is finished they recommence cutting their legs and 

 howling, calling on the deceased by the tie of relationship which 

 bound them, thus: "My brother" or "my son," adding, "remain in 

 peace where you are; let your spirit go to the south and not be 

 troubled; we will feast you; do not visit us in spirit; you are happy; 

 and we are miserable." These words are not distinguishable on 

 account of the noise, and most probably muttered; as, having wit- 

 nessed many of these funerals in every way, we have never heard any 

 other words than lamentations; but they say they do pronounce 

 them either mentally or very low, and that if it is neglected some 

 more of their relatives will die; consequently we are bound to be- 

 lieve they utter these and other words in an audible voice. At this 

 stage of affairs his war horse is led under the tree and shot, in addi- 

 tion to which, among the Crow Indians, a finger or two of each of 

 the near relatives are chopped off and the blood smeared over their 

 faces, left to dry there, and remain until it wears off. The deceased's 

 shield, lance, or other implement, too long or unwieldy to be envel- 

 oped with the body, are now tied at his head on the tree, and the 

 mourners retire. Some of the near relatives, however, often remain 

 all day and night, naked and barefoot, exposed to cold, snow, or rain, 

 for several days and nights without eating until they are completely 

 exhausted, and for a year or more afterwards wear nothing but an 

 old torn skin, which, with their bodies and faces, is smeared over with 

 white clay, and present a miserable appearance. 



This is the most general custom among all the tribes of which we 

 write of disposing of their dead, and nine-tenths of them are scaf- 

 folded in this way. Yet occasionally some, either by request or 

 desire of surviving relatives, or in the event of their dying where no 

 timber can be found, are interred on the top of a hill. In either case 

 the mourning and ceremonies are the same. When interred, the hole 

 or grave is excavated to the depth of about 5 feet, and made large 

 enough to contain the implements before referred to, which are all 

 buried with the body, the grave filled up and large rocks rolled upon 

 it. In either way no inscription or device is made to mark the spot, 

 nor any hieroglyphics carved on trees denoting the age, name of the 



