SCAFFOLD BURIAL. 69 



was scraped off and thrown into the stream, the bones were carefully col- 

 lected into his cauoe, and subsequently carried down to his residence " 



Interesting and valuable from the extreme attention paid to details 

 is the following account of a burial case discovered by Dr. George M. 

 Sternberg, U. S. A., and furnished by Dr. George A. Otis, U. S. A., 

 Army Medical Museum, Washington, D. C. It relates to the Cheyennes of 

 Kansas : 



" The case was found, Brevet Major Sternberg states, on the banks of 

 Walnut Creek, Kansas, elevated about eight feet from the ground by four 

 notched poles, which were firmly planted in the ground. The unusual care 

 manifested in the preparation of the case induced Dr. Sternberg to infer that 

 some important chief was inclosed in it. Believing that articles of interest 

 were inclosed with the body, and that their value would be enhanced if 

 they were received at the Museum as left by the Indians, Dr. Sternberg 

 determined to send the case unopened. 



" I had the case opened this morning and an inventory made of the 

 contents. The case consisted of a cradle of interlaced branches of white 

 willow, about 6 feet long, 3 feet broad, and 3 feet high, with a flooring of 

 buffalo thongs arranged as a net-work. This cradle was securely fastened 

 by strips of buffalo-hide to four poles of ironwood and cottonwood, about 

 12 feet in length These poles doubtless rested upon the forked extremities 

 of the vertical poles described by Dr. Sternberg. The cradle was wrapped 

 in two buffalo-robes of large size and well preserved. On removing these 

 an aperture 18 inches square was found at the middle of the right side of 

 the cradle or basket. Within appeared other buffalo-robes folded about the 

 remains, and secured by gaudy-colored sashes. Five robes were succes- 

 sively removed, making seven in all. Then we came to a series of new 

 blankets folded about the remains. There were five in all — two scarlet, two 

 blue, and one white. These being removed, the next wrappings consisted 

 of a striped white and gray sack, and of a United States Infantry overcoat, 

 like the other coverings nearly new. We had now come apparently upon 

 the immediate envelopes of the remains, which it was now evident must be 

 those of a child. These consisted of three robes, with hoods very richly 

 ornamented with bead-work. These robes or cloaks were of buffalo-calf 



