MOUNDS, BONE-HEAPS, ETC. 73 



not placed in any order, but scattered around at various distances apart. Three 

 of these were examined and found to contain human bones. In one was an entire 

 skeleton. No implements or ornaments accompanied the bones. 



" The bones in the large pits were covered with three or four feet of earth, which 

 is more than is usually found over them, and the marginal ring was in consequence 

 less apparent. It contained very few relics besides the bones, which, from their 

 decayed condition, seemed to indicate that burials here were made at a very remote 

 period." 



In Isle Ronde, situated near the extremity of Lake Huron, is a burial-place of 

 the aborigines corresponding generally with those just described. It was visited 

 in 1843 by Mr. Schoolcraft, who states that the human remains appeared to have 

 been gathered from their original place of sepulture and finally deposited here. 

 The bones were all arranged longitudinally, from north to south, in a wide grave or 

 trench. There is upon the same island an Indian cemetery of comparatively 

 modern date, in which the interments were made in the ordinary way. Another 

 similar burial-place was visited by Mr. Schoolcraft, in the town of Hamilton, 

 seventeen miles west of the head of Lake Ontario. The burials had been made 

 on a high, dry ridge, in long trenches and rude vaults ; the bones being piled upon 

 each other longitudinally as at Isle Ronde. The trenches extend over the entire 

 ridge ; and one of these examined by Mr. Schoolcraft was estimated to include not 

 less than fifteen hundred square feet. Various remains of art, pipes, shells, beads, 

 etc., were found with the bones, and among them several brass kettles, in one of 

 which were five infant skulls. 



The origin of the various cemeteries above noticed admits of no doubt. The 

 same practice which Bartram described as existing among the Floridians, and 

 which we have reason to believe prevailed among the Indians of Tennessee, Ken- 

 tucky, etc., also existed in a slightly modified form among the more northern 

 tribes. They, too, had their solemn " Festival of the Dead," which is minutely 

 described by Charlevoix, Brabeuf, Creuxius, and other early writers. Says Charle- 

 voix : " This grand ceremony, the most curious and celebrated of all connected 

 with the Indian religion, took place every eight years among some of the tribes, 

 every ten years among the Hurons and the Iroquois. It was called the ' Fete des 

 Morts,'' Festival of the Dead, or ' Festin des Ames.' 



" It commenced by the appointment of a place where they should meet. They 

 then chose a president of the feast, whose duty it was to arrange every thing and 

 send invitations to the neighboring villages. The appointed day arrived, all the 

 Indians assembled and went in procession, two and two, to the cemetery. Among 

 some tribes of stationary habits, the cemetery was a regular burial-ground outside 

 the village. Some buried their dead at the foot of a tree, and others suspended 

 them on scaflfolds to dry ; this last was a common proceeding among them when 

 absent from home on a hunting expedition, so that on their return they might 

 more conveniently carry the body with them. 



" Arrived at the cemetery, they proceeded to search for the bodies ; they then 

 waited for some time to consider in silence a spectacle so capable of furnishing 

 serious reflections. The women first interrupted the silence by cries of lamenta- 

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