ON THE NORTH-WESTERN TRIBES OF CANADA. 577 
Chiefs and common people were buried on separate trees. There is 
also a separate tree on which twins are buried. 
Nowadays the bodies are mostly buried in small grave-houses. The 
custom of raising the coffin three times before it is placed in its final resting- 
place is still adhered to. 
The customs of the Koskimo and Tlatlasiqoala differ somewhat from: 
those of the Kwakiutl. They place the body in the box in the house. . 
Before doing so the box is turned round four times. Then a hole is cut 
into the bottom of the box with an axe, which is raised three times before 
the hole is really cut. This is the breathing hole of the soul, which does 
not die or escape until the fourth day after the death of the body. The 
coffin, before it is carried to the burial-ground, is placed on the beach. 
The Kwakiutl paint twins, before they are buried, red all over. Four 
feathers are attached to the coffin. Nobody is allowed to wail for them. 
A surviving twin is washed in the water with which the corpse of the 
dead one was washed. 
When a person dies by an accident, and his body is not recovered, a 
grave is made for him, which consists simply of painted boards. The say- 
ing is that, if this were not done, it would be as though a dog had died. 
Nobody is allowed to walk behind such a grave, as by doing so he would 
indicate his desire to lie in a grave. 
The widow, particularly if she has many children, must undergo a very 
rigorous ceremonial. On the evening of the third day after the death of 
her husband, her hairis cut. At the same time a small hut is built for 
her. It is made of the mats which were hanging around the bed of the 
deceased. The roof is made of the boards which were placed over his bed 
in order to keep the soot off. An old woman, preferably one who has 
been a widow four times, is appointed to assist her. On the fourth 
morning after the death of her husband, she must rise before the crows 
ery. She is not allowed to lie down, but must sit all night with her knees 
drawn up to her chest. She eats only four bites four times a day, and 
drinks only four mouthfuls four times a day. Before taking water or food 
she raises it three times. If she thinks that her husband has been 
murdered, she takes her food up, saying thatit is the neck of her husband’s 
enemy, and calling his name, she bites it four times. Then she throws it 
into the fire, saying : ‘This will be your food when you are dead.’ That 
means that the person whom she named must soon die. When she is 
tired she stretches her legs, first the one, then the other, naming her 
enemy. This is also believed to bring him death. After four days the 
old woman washes her and wipes her with a ring of hemlock branches, as 
described above. This is repeated four times in intervals of four days. 
After the last washing her old blanket is hung over the stump of a tree, 
and her hat, which she wears all the time, is hung on top of the stump. 
Then she is given new clothing, and is taken back to the house. There she 
must stay in one corner, where she has a small fire of her own, Her 
children are not allowed to see her. When she leaves the house, she must 
pass out of a small door of her own. Four times she must turn before 
putting her foot in the doorway. Four times she must put her foot for- 
ward before actually going out, and in the same manner she returns. The 
old woman now washes her every sixth day, and rubs her with the ring of 
hemlock branches. After the fourth washing she is permitted to come to 
the fireplace, but she must avoid going around the fire. Now the old 
age washes her every eighth day, and then four times more every 
896. PP 
