hoffman] ORIGIN OF CHICAGO 239 



stands. Here lie found the heads of skunks protruding froui the grass 

 in every direction, but be refrained from killing any of tbem lest be 

 might take the life of his own wife. On the following day be continued 

 the search, making it his object to find a large skunk, thinking that 

 probably his wife might have been transformed into a skunk of much 

 greater size than the ordinary animal. 



Failing to find any trace of bis wife, the hunter returned to his peo- 

 ple, and for the reason that this woman was changed into a skunk for 

 her undutiful conduct the locality was called "Place of the Skunk." 



MORTUARY CUSTOMS 



The Menomini formerly disposed of their dead by inclosing the bodies 

 in long pieces of birchbark or in slats of wood, and burying them in a 

 shallow hole. When not in the neighborhood of birch or other trees, 

 from which broad pieces of bark could be obtained, some of the men 

 would search for the nearest dugout, from which they would cut a piece 

 long enough to contain the body. In some instances sections of hollow 



Fig. 26 — Ancient form of protecting graves. 



trees were used as coffins. In order to afford protection against wild 

 beasts, there were placed over the grave three logs — two directly on the 

 ground and the third on the others. They wei e prevented from rolling 

 away by stakes driven into the earth. Figure 26 represents the old 

 method of protecting graves. 



More modern customs now prevail with the greater body of the tribe, 

 and those who have been Christianized adopt the following course : A 

 wooden coffin is made and the body laid out in the ordinary manner. 

 The burial takes place usually the day on which death occurs. The 

 graves are about 4 feet deep. Over the mound is erected a small board 

 structure resembling a house, as shown in figure 27. This structure 

 measures about 5 feet in length and 3 feet high. In the front and near 

 the top is an opening through which the relations and friends of the 

 deceased put cakes of maple sugar, rice, and other food — the first 

 fruits of the season. In some grave-boxes, immediately beneath the 



