1875. J 4:iO ' [Hoflman. 



Cremation as practised at Marysville, is very similar to the form at 

 Spring Mountain, but to give as clear an idea as possible, I shall repeat 

 it. When an Indian (e. g., a male) becomes dangerously ill, all the re- 

 maining ones of that rancheria move a short distance away, leaving the 

 sufferer to himself. The wife, or one of his relatives, supplies him daily 

 with food and water. In case death ensues, the male friends of the de- 

 funct prepare everything for the usual ceremonies. Some, wrap the 

 corpse into a blanket, and tie it with grass ropes to keep the body stiff 

 and straight ; while others gather pine wood, which they arrange into a 

 pile about four feet broad and eight feet long, high enough to contain 

 rather more than a cord, upon which the corpse is placed, with all his 

 favorite valuables, such as bows and arrows, blankets, gun, etc. All the 

 Indians then form a circle around the pile, fire is applied, and several 

 men are stationed near, with long poles, to stir up the coals and burning 

 embers, to hasten the work. When the body has been reduced to the 

 smallest possible quantity or bulk, (ashes or crisp) the widow approaches 

 and scraping up some of the resinous exudation of the pine, covers her 

 face and hair with it, signifying that she will not entertain any proposals 

 of marriage as long as any trace of the resin adheres to her person. The 

 remains are then collected and transferred to a piece of blanket or buck- 

 skin, in which they ai'e buried near camp. Their reason for burning all 

 the usual trinkets, etc. , of the dead, is the same as at Spring Mountain, 

 i. e., that when the Indian reached the better land (the white man's 

 hunting-ground in the direction of the rising sun), he must be prepared 

 to take part in the chase, as he was wont to do on this earth. 



* * * ii * -X- -A- 



The Modocs, now so well known, also practised this custom as late as 

 the year 1868, when it was discontinued, they having adopted the mode 

 of burial practised by the tribes living to the north of their territory. 

 The only differences were that the chief mourner would cover his (or 

 her) face and hair with the blood and,grease which ran from the burning 

 body, instead of using the resin ; and that the ashes were buried, usually, 

 in a small basket made of grass or fine roots, and shaped like a small 

 basin or bowl. The ashes were also buried near camp, from two to three 

 feet below the surface. 



In conclusion, I would say, if the name Digger is applied to those Pah- 

 Utes who obtain their food to a great measure from the ground such as 

 roots, lizards, etc., etc., why not call those tribes Diggers also who are 

 lower in the scale of humanity, as the Seviches, who live on the Colo- 

 rado Plateau, near the western terminus of the Grand Canoa.. They are 

 decidedly the most loathsome beings who live within the limits of the 

 United States. (I shall i-eport more accurately upon this, and adjoining 

 bands in some future paper.) The Sho-sho-nees and their sub-tribe, the 

 Snakes, also live on roots, herbs, lizards, toads and insects, besides the 

 fish and fowl they are sometimes able to obtain. 



******* 



Beading, April 5th, 1875. 



