BURIAL FOOD AND DANCES. 95 



built around this vast ossuary to preserve it from profanation. Before 

 covering the bones with earth a few grains of Indian corn were thrown by 

 the women upon the sacred relics. According to the superstitious belief of 

 the Ilurons the souls of the dead remain near the bodies until the 'feast 

 of the dead'; after which ceremony they become free, and can at once 

 depart for the land of spirits, which they believe to be situated in the 

 regions of the setting sun." 



SUPERSTITION REGARDING BURIAL FEASTS. 



The following account is by Dr. S. G. Wright, acting physician to the 

 Leech Lake Agency, Minnesota : 



" Pagan Indians, or those who have not become Christians, still adhere 

 to the ancient practice of feasting at the grave of departed friends ; the 

 object is to feast with the departed; that is, they believe that while they 

 partake of the visible material the departed spirit partakes at the same time 

 of the spirit that dwells in the food. From ancient time it was customary 

 to bury with the dead various articles, such especially as were most valued 

 in lifetime. The idea was that there was a spirit dwelling in the article 

 represented by the material article ; thus the war-club contained a spiritual 

 war-club, the pipe a spiritual pipe, which could be used by the departed in 

 another world. These several spiritual implements were supposed, of 

 course, to accompany the soul, to be used also on the way to its final 

 abode. This habit has now ceased. * * *" 



FOOD. 



This subject has been sufficiently mentioned elsewhere in connection 

 with other matters and does not need to be now repeated. It has been an 

 almost universal custom throughout the whole extent of the country to 

 place food in or near the grave of deceased persons. 



DANCES. 



Gymnastic exercises, dignified with this name, upon the occasion of a 

 death or funeral, were common to many tribes. It is thus described by 

 Morgan :* 



"League of the Iroquois, 1851, p. 287. 



