THEORY OF SCAFFOLD BURIAL. 75 



foundation of Rome. One dying away from home was immediately 

 removed thither, in order that this might be performed with greater pro- 

 priety. In Picardy, as late as 1743, the relatives threw themselves on the 

 corpse and with loud cries called it by name, and up to 1855 the Mo- 

 ravians of Pennsylvania, at the death of one of their number, performed 

 mournful musical airs on brass instruments from the village church steeple 

 and again at the grave.* This custom, however, was probably a remnant of 

 the ancient funeral observances, and not to prevent premature burial, or, 

 perhaps, to scare away bad spirits. 



W. L. Hardistyf gives a curious example of log-burial in trees, relat- 

 ing to the Loucheux of British America : 



"They inclose the body in a neatly-hollowed piece of wood, and 

 secure it to two or more trees, about six feet from the ground. A log about 

 eight feet long is first split in two, and each of the parts carefully hollowed 

 out to the required size. The body is then inclosed and the two pieces 

 well lashed together, preparatory to being finally secured, as before stated, 

 to the trees." 



With regard to the use of scaffolds as places of deposit for the dead, 

 the following theories by Dr. W. Gardner, U. S. A., are given : 



"If we come to inquire why the American aborigines placed the dead 

 bodies of their relatives and friends in trees, or upon scaffolds resembling 

 trees, instead of burying them in the ground, or burning them and preserv- 

 ing their ashes in urns, I think we can answer the inquiry by recollecting 

 that most if not all the tribes of American Indians, as well as other nations 

 of a higher civilization, believed that the human soul, spirit or immortal 

 part, was of the form and nature of a bird, and as these are essentially 

 arboreal in their habits, it is quite in keeping to suppose that the soul-bird 

 would have readier access to its former home or dwelling-place if it was 

 placed upon a tree or scaffold than if it was buried in the earth ; moreover, 

 from this lofty eyrie the souls of the dead could rest secure from the attacks 

 of wolves or other profane beasts, and guard like sentinels the homes and 

 hunting-grounds of their loved ones." 



* The writer is informed by Mr. John Henry Boner that this custom still prevails net only in 

 Pennsylvania, but at the Moravian settlement of Salem, North Carolina. 

 t liep. Smithsonian lust., 18G6, p. ;\VJ. 



