on arrival. Here, too, it is as important for us to know the ceremonies 

 with which the gifts are made as to know the character of the gifts 

 themselves. 



4. An interesting branch of this research relates to the customs of 

 mourning, embracing the time of mourning, the habiliments, the self-muti- 

 lations, and other penances, and the ceremonies with which these are 

 accompanied. In all of these cases the reason assigned by the Indians for 

 their doings, their superstitions, and explanations are of prime importance. 



5. It is desirable to obtain from the Indians their explanation of human 

 life, their theory of spirits and of the life to come. 



A complete account of these customs in any tribe will necessitate the 

 witnessing of many funeral rites, as the custom will differ at the death of 

 different persons, depending upon age, sex, and social standing. To obtain 

 their explanations and superstitions, it will be necessary to interrogate the 

 Indians themselves. This is not an easy task, for the Indians do not talk 

 with freedom about their dead. The awe with which. they are inspired, 

 their reverence and love for the departed, and their fear that knowledge 

 which may be communicated may be used to the injury of those whom 

 they have loved, or of themselves, lead them to excessive reticence on these 

 subjects. Their feelings should not be rudely wounded The better and 

 more thoughtful members of the tribe will at last converse freely on these 

 subjects with those in whom they have learned to place confidence. The 

 stories of ignorant white men and camp attaches should be wholly 

 discarded, and all accounts should be composed of things actually 

 observed, and of relations made by Indians of probity. 



This preliminary volume by Dr. H. C Yarrow has been the subject of 

 careful research and of much observation, and will serve in many ways as 

 a hint to the student. The literature of the subject is vast, but to a large 

 extent worthless, from the fact that writers have been hasty travelers or 

 subjective speculators on the matter. It is strange how much of accepted 

 history must be rejected when the statements are carefully criticised and 

 compared with known facts. It has frequently been stated of this or that 

 tribe that mutilations, as the cutting off of fingers and toes, of ears and 

 nose, the pulling out of teeth, &c, are extensively practiced as a mode of 



