102 BUEIAL POSTS AND F1EES. 



plain ones up and two with black spots with either of the half moons or 

 Buffalo's head up, the player takes a pile. Two plain ones up, two with 

 black spots up two half moons up, and the transversely crossed one up 

 entitles to another throw, when, if all of the black sides come up excepting 

 one, the throw wins. One of the plain ones up and all the rest with black 

 sides up gives another throw, and the same then turning up wins. One of 

 the plain black ones up with that side up of all the others having the least 

 black on gives another throw, when the same turning up again wins. One half 

 moon up with that side up of all the others having the least black on gives 

 another throw, and if the throw is then duplicated it wins. The eighth seed, 

 used by the men has its place in their game whenever its facings are men- 

 tioned above. I transmit with this paper a set of these figured seeds, which 

 can be used to illustrate the game if desired. These seeds are said to be 

 nearly a hundred years old, and sets of them are now very rare." 



For assisting in obtaining this account Dr. McChesney acknowledges 

 his indebtedness to Dr. C C Miller, physician to the Sisseton Indian 

 Agency. 



POSTS. 



These are placed at the head or foot of the grave, or both, and have 

 painted or carved on them a history of the deceased or his family, certain 

 totemic characters, or, according to Schoolcraft, not the achievements of 

 the dead, but of those warriors who assisted and danced at the interment. 

 The northwest tribes and others frequently plant poles near the graves, 

 suspending therefrom bits of rag flags, horses tails, etc. The custom among 

 the present Indians does not exist to any extent. Beltrami* speaks of it as 

 follows: 



"Here I saw a most singular union. One of these graves was sur- 

 mounted by a cross, whilst upon another # close to it a trunk of a tree was 

 raised, covered with hieroglyphics recording the number of enemies slain 

 by the tenant of the tomb and several of his tutelary Manitous." 



FIRES. 



It is extremely difficult to determine why the custom of building fires 

 on or near graves originated, some authors stating that the soul thereby 



'Pilgrimage, 1808, ii, p. 308. 



