SiECHTs] THE SWIMMER MANUSCRIPT 135 



case was cited by one informant : When he was a boy (about 50 years 

 ago) the members of the tribe were still drawing an annual pension of 

 $50 in gold from the Government, Once a girl died and it happened 

 that her annual pension arrived the same day. Her mother insisted 

 that the golden coins be buried with her in the cofiin. And so it was 

 done. 



The body is not put into the coffin until two or three hours before 

 burial. Prior to this the corpse, all dressed up, is laid on wooden 

 boards (pi. 9, b) in a sUghtly slanting position, the head being raised 

 about 60 centimeters, the feet about 30 centimeters above the ground, 

 A sheet is thrown over the body, covering it completely. Whenever 

 anyone comes in to see the corpse the sheet is thrown back from the 

 face (pi. 9, b); the visitor just looks at the face for a few minutes; 

 he neither addresses it nor touches it; he then goes away without 

 speaking. 



The body is kept in the house two or three days. From myths, 

 traditions, and hazy recollections of some of the medicine men, it 

 would appear that this period used to be a longer one^ — possibly seven 

 days— in former times, but now the Government officials do not per- 

 mit so long a delay. 



While the corpse is still in the house, relatives, friends, and neigh- 

 bors gather during the nights and in turn half of their number watch 

 and sometimes sing, while the others sleep. 



Of this watching the meaning is now lost, but the object of it must 

 originally have been to prevent the witches from coming and "stealing 

 the liver" of the corpse. 



As for the singing, aboriginal dirges seem to have been completely 

 lost, and when any singing is done at all some Cherokee Christian 

 hymn (cf. Cherokee hymn book) is sung. The hymn selected de- 

 pends solely on the repertory at the command of the gathering. 



If this singing takes place, men as well as women may join in it. 



After the death of a member of the settlement, no winter provisions, 

 preserves, etc., are to be touched for four (others say for seven) days. 

 As soon as it is known that a death has occurred provisions are im- 

 mediately to be prepared for four (or seven) days, so that they do 

 not have to be touched for that period; since provisions, if they are 

 not let alone for the first few days following a death, "will be exhausted 

 in no time." 



Attention may once again be drawn to the purificatory rite observed 

 by the medicine man who was in charge of the patient before his 

 death. (See p. 103.) 



The coffin is made by two men acting under a foreman. This 

 "company" is elected for the term of a year, at the same time as the 

 "grave-digging company" (cf. infra) and the chief of the settlement 

 (see p. 80). 



