INQUIRIES AND SUGGESTIONS 



UPON THE 



MORTUARY CUSTOMS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 



BY H. C. YARROW. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



The primitive manners and customs of the North American Indians 

 are rapidly passing away under influences of civilization and other dis- 

 turbing elements. In view of this fact, it becomes the duty of all inter- 

 ested in preserving a record of these customs to labor assiduously, while 

 there is still time, to collect such data as may be obtainable. This seems 

 the more important now, as within the last ten years an almost universal 

 interest has been awakened in ethnologic research, and the desire for more 

 knowledge in this regard is constantly increasing. A wise and liberal 

 government, recognizing the need, has ably seconded the efforts of those 

 engaged in such studies by liberal grants from the public funds ; nor is 

 encouragement wanted from the hundreds of scientific societies throughout 

 the civilized globe. The public press, too — the mouth-piece of the people — 

 is ever on the alert to scatter broadcast such items of ethnologic informa- 

 tion as its corps of well-trained reporters can secure. To induce further 

 laudable- inquiry, and assist all those who may be willing to engage in the 

 good work, is the object of this preliminary work on the mortuary cus- 

 toms of North American Indians, and it is hoped that many more laborers 

 may through it be added to the extensive and honorable list of those who 

 have already contributed. 



It would appear that the subject chosen should awaken great interest, 



since the peculiar methods followed by different nations and the great 

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