denig] THE ASSINIBOIN 575 



The bones are picked by any one of the party, not related, in the 

 presence of some of the relatives of the deceased, and this time buried 

 in the ground, with demonstrations of grief and some scarifying, 

 though they do not go into mourning dresses further than some white 

 clay about the face, and no property is confiscated by others, as in 

 the case of the first funeral, but those who aid are paid with some 

 smaller articles. On these occasions a feast is made for the dead 

 which, being eaten, and the spirit propitiated by prayer and invoca- 

 tion, the whole concludes, those concerned resuming their usual dress 

 and occupations. 



There is no such thing as chamel houses or receptacles for the dead 

 in all the district of the upper Missouri, neither are there any ap- 

 pearances of such things having been, each individual being buried 

 or scaffolded separately at the most convenient place and as soon as 

 possible after decease. 



Incineration of bones is not practiced by any of them, neither do 

 their traditions mention this custom to have ever existed among 

 them ; they have a horror of the idea. 



Their symbols of mourning have been referred to, which are cut- 

 ting short their hair, scarifying their legs, cutting off their fingers 

 (Crow Indians), wearing an old tattered robe or skin on their back, 

 the rest of the body being naked except the breech flap of the men, 

 or body dress of the women, bare legged, bare footed, the face, hair, 

 body, and robe smeared with white clay, often intermixed with 

 their blood. 



When the lock of hair of the deceased has been redeemed by the 

 relative by high pay to him who took it, which is done in a year or 

 two after demise, this relic is inclosed in a small sack and carried on 

 the back of some of the female relatives. A piece of tobacco is 

 wrapped with it, which is used on several occasions, as before men- 

 tioned. There are periodical visits to the grave, twice or thrice a 

 year for the first year, and afterwards for several years whenever 

 they happen to be in the vicinity, and on these occasions takes place 

 the feast to the dead, so often referred to in these pages, which is 

 one of their principal ceremonies. A repast is made of corn or 

 pounded meat mixed with grease and sugar, sometimes a dog is 

 cooked by some medicine man, and a crowd of people being assembled 

 round the grave after lamenting the dead by howling, smoke, and 

 pray to the spirit, leave a portion of the feast for it, and the rest is 

 eaten by those who attend the ceremony. One of their prayers at 

 these times Ls recorded in a former page, together with the reason of 

 these observances. Fires are kindled near the grave or under the 

 scaffold, but do not appear to be of further use than to light the pipe 

 by while smoking to the dead, and are suffered to expire at their 

 leisure. 



