298 



miy be represented to have been burnt, as the number of horses among 

 the tribe is very small. Although, according to their belief, when an 

 Indian dies, his spirit goes to the Eist, vfliich they consider tlie " White 

 Man's Hunting Ground," and where he would be unable to hvint, were 

 his spirit deprived of these valuable aids. The remains are then covered 

 with earth, whether really buried i could not ascertain. 



Amongst the Sioux, when an Indian hands to another a stick, it im- 

 l>lies a horse, and as soon as the recipient hands the stick to the donor 

 (when at the latter's camp) the horse is given in return. This custom is 

 only observed while a party have collected to dance, and the object is, 

 that when an Indian is rich enough to be able to give away a horse, his 

 vanity is so immense, tlii,t he must relate his brav^ deeds, (Count his 

 Coos) and for the purpose of having at least one admirer upon whom he 

 can depend for applause, and flattering notices^ as "How brave 1" a 

 noble Dacotah ! etc., etc., he looks over the assemblage in a dignitied 

 manner and presents some one present with a stick of wood (about a 

 foot in length, and thick as a finger,) for which a horse will be given on 

 the following morning'. 



A similar custom miglit, partially be used, to, so to use the term, burn 

 a horse in effigy, thereby saving a foar tribe a valuable member ; for I 

 must say the horses are the better of the two. I have seen and been 

 amongst probably thirty sub-tribes, but the Pah-Utes, of the above 

 named region are the only ones with whom we came in contact, who 

 "Cremate," 



Very sincerely, 



W. J. HOFFMAN, 



103 S. Sixth street. 



Stated Meeting^ December ISth, 1874. 



Present, 17 members. 



Vice-President, Mr. Fraley, in the cliair. 



A letter accepting membership was received from Mr. A. 

 Selwyn, dated Montreal, Dec. 8, 1874. 



Letters of acknowledgment were received from the Royal 

 Observatory, at Prag, Oct. 8, (XV, i, 90, 91) ; the Batavian 

 Society, at Rotterdam^ Sept. 26, (89) ; and the Victoria In- 

 stitute, London, ISTov. 28. 



A letter inviting subscription to three sheets of photo- 

 graphic portraits of members of the Hungarian Academy, 

 was received from M. L. Aigner, Buda-Pest. 



