22 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



bei' when nothing but buffalo robes were used for this purpose, and 

 buffalo-skin lodges were extensively employed for Indian burial. 

 When all the arrangements are completed, the corpse is placed on a 

 travaille, the mourners proceed to the grave without any order of 

 procession, the men, women, and children groaning deeply on account 

 of their sori'ow. The near relatives cry aloud plaintively, the burden 

 of their funeral wail being the calling upon the deceased by name 

 to return to his home and friends. 



In former years horses were killed at the graves of warriors, that 

 their spirits might follow their masters to the hunting grounds 

 beyond ; now the religious conservative spirit must yield to poverty 

 and other influences, and the mourners are contented with cutting a 

 part of the hair from the foi-elock, mane and tail of the favourite 

 horses, and depositing it in the grave. The female relations cut their 

 hair short, lacerate their legs and cut off a finger. The female 

 attendants take the bereaved females, place the hand on a block of 

 wood, lay a knife upon the finger, and with one blow from a deer's 

 horn scraper or other instrument sever it by the first joint. The 

 front parts of both legs from the foot to the knee are then cut with 

 a knife until the blood trickles down and covers the front parts of 

 the legs. No bandages are put on these, nature evidently aiding 

 when art is discarded. A small piece of wood is placed in the palm 

 of the hand having the severed finger, and this serves to keep it in 

 position, after which ashes are sprinkled upon it. Sometimes the 

 relations will visit the homes of their fiiends, and amid their wailing 

 will go around the lodge kissing the females who weep with them. 

 For several weeks after the funeral, the women go out to the grave 

 at sunset, and again at sunrise, and continue their wailing. Should 

 axij persons die while the Indians are travelling and be buried a long 

 distance from home, in after years when passing the grave the female 

 relations will spend some time mourning their loss. The Indians 

 move their camp when anyone dies. After erecting log buildings 

 they kept up this custom and tore down their houses, rebuilding 

 them in some other part of the reserve. Living as they have done 

 for some time in lodges, they still move their lodges when their 

 friends die. This arises from their dread of spirits. This custom 

 has decided physical benefits, as it secures pure air, mental relaxa- 

 tion and exercise. These mourning customs exhibit many pleasant 

 traits of character, and though not at all inviting to persons of 



