244 INDIAN BELIEFS. 
the earth whyle he lyved.* And that all that 
refuse so to doo, when after they dye by theyr 
naturall death or otherwyse, theyr soules to 
dye with theyr bodyes, and to bee dissolved 
into ayer and become nothynge as do the 
soules of hogges, byrdes or fysshes, or other 
brute beastes.”+ In corroboration of a simi- 
lar custom among the natives along the Mis- 
sissippi, in 1542, Herrera relates, that, after the 
death of Fernando de Soto, and his party had 
set out westward, they were joined by a 
youth, who stated that he had fled to escape 
being buried with his lord who had died; 
which was the practice in that country. Tra- 
vellers from the upper lakes to the Mississippi 
speak of similar customs, at an early day, 
among the tribes of that quarter. 
It would appear that they believe every- 
thing, both animate and inanimate—beasts, 
arms, ornaments, etc.—to possess immortal 
attributes, subject to resurrection in the world 
of spirits. However, did not their motives 
seem so well defined by the direct allusions 
to their notions of futurity, we might suppose, 
as is frequently urged, that the burying of 
property, slaves, etc., with the deceased, was 
only intended as a mark of respect ; which, 
indeed, is hardly more irrational than the cus- 
*A speaks of similar beliefs and practices amon 
the Mexican Indians, particularly in the obsequies of the kings; 
and adds—«*« EF] — de victimas correspondia 4 la grandeza del 
funeral, y, nos autores, Ilegaban 4 veces & doscientas. 
+ Edition o 1559, translated from the Latin, fol. 181 —In an 
te) ace, the : author says they corn, etc., ath 
the ouiin he iat ate 
