MACCAULEY.] MORTUARY CUSTOMS. 521 
the camp to the place of burial, the body being suspended at feet 
thighs, back, an d neck from a long pole (Fig. 75). The relatives fol_ 
lowed. In the grave, which is called “To hop-ki”—a word used by 
the Seminole for “stockade,” or “fort,” also, the body was then laid 
the feet to the east. A blanket was then carefully wrapped around the 
body. Over this palmetto leaves were placed and the grave was tightly 
closed by a covering of logs. Above the box a roof was then built 
Sticks, in the form of an X, were driven into the earth across the over- 
lying logs; these were connected by a pole, and this structure was cov- 
ered thickly with palmetto leaves. (Fig. 76.) 


Fic. 76. Seminole grave. 
The bearers of the body then made a large fire at each end of the ‘“To- 
hdp ki.” With this the ceremony at the grave ended and all returned 
to the camp. During that day and for three days thereafter the rela- 
tives remained at home and refrained from work. The fires at the grave 
were renewed at sunset by those who had made them, and after night- 
fall torches were there waved in the air, that ‘‘the bad birds of the 
night” might not get at the Indian lying in his grave. The renewal of 
the fires and waving of the torches were repeated three days. The fourth 
day the fires were allowed to die out. Throughout the camp “medicine” 
had been sprinkled at sunset for three days. On the fourth day it was 
said that the Indian ‘“‘had gone.” From that time the mourning ceased 
aud the members of the family returned to their usual occupations. 
The interpretation of the ceremonies just mentioned, as given me, is 
this: The Indian was laid in his grave to remain there, it was believed, 
only until the fourth day. The fires at head and feet, as well as the 
waving of the torches, were to guard him from the approach of “evil 
birds” who would harm him. His feet were placed toward the east, 
that when he arose to go to the skies he might go straight to the sky 
