SwANTON] INDIANS OP THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES 719 



custom was very similar among the Algonquians of Virginia and 

 Carolina. Our earliest account, that by Hariot, is the best: 



They builde a Scaffolde 9. or 10. foote highe as is expressed in this figure 

 vnder the tombs of their Weroans, or cheefe lordes which they couer with 

 matts, and lai the dead corpses of their weroans theruppon in manner fol- 

 lowinge. First the bowells are taken forthe. Then layinge downe the skinne, 

 they cutt all the flesh cleane from the bones, which they drye in the sonne, and 

 well dryed they inclose in Matts, and place at their feete. Then their bones 

 (remaininge still fastened together with the ligaments whole and vncorrupted) 

 are couered agayne with leather, and their carcase fashioned as yf their 

 flesh wear not taken away. They lapp eache corps in his owne skinne after 

 the same is thus handled, and lay yt in his order by the corpses of the other 

 cheef lordes. By the dead bodies they sett their Idol Kiwasa, whereof we 

 spake in the former chapiter : For they are persuaded that the same doth kepe 

 the dead bodyes of their cheefe lordes that nothinge may hurt them. More- 

 ouer vnder the foresaid scaffolde some one of their preists hath his lodginge, 

 which Mumbleth his prayers nighte and day, and hath charge of the corpses. 

 For his bedd he hath two deares skinnes spredd on the grownde, yf the wether 

 bee cold hee maketh a fyre to warme by withall. [pi. 86.] (Hariot, 1893, pi. 22.) 



Turning back to the Powhatan Indians, we find the following 

 description by Spelman : 



Ther is a scaffould built about 3 or 4 yards hye from the ground and the 

 deade bodye wraped in a matt is brought to the place, wher when he is layd 

 ther on, the kinsfolke falles a weopinge and make great sorrow, and instead 

 of a dole for him, (the poorer people beinge gott togither) sum of his kins- 

 folke flinges Beades amonge them makinge them to scramble for them, so that 

 many times diners doe breake their armes and legges beinge pressed by the 

 cumpany, this finished they goe to y^ parties house wher they haue meat giuen 

 them which beinge .acten all y® rest of the day they spend in singinge and 

 dauncinge vsinge then as much mirth as before sorrow more ouer if any of y* 

 kindreds bodies which haue bin layd on y* scaffould should be consumed as 

 nothing is leaft but bonns they take thos bonus from y* scaffould and puttinge 

 them into a new matt, hangs them in ther howses, wher they continew while 

 ther house falleth and then they are buried in the ruinges of y® house. What 

 goods the partye leaueth is deuided amonge his wiues and children. But his 

 house he giueth to the wife he liketh best for life : after her death, unto what 

 child be most loueth. ( Smith, John, Arber ed., 1884, p. ex. ) 



Smith says that the bodies of chiefs were buried between mats, and 

 both he and Strachey indicate that the corpses were put upon a raised 

 platform in temples or ossuaries which also contained the images of 

 their deities, to which is added by both Smith and Strachey "images 

 of their kings." Strachey says that a chief's body was hung about 

 with chains of copper, beads, and pearls and that baskets were laid 

 at his feet containing tobacco, his pipe, and any valued things ; while 

 the body itself was stuffed with pearls, copper, beads, etc. (Strachey, 

 1849, p. 89). 



As to the burial of the dead among the Siouan tribes, we are well- 

 nigh confined to what Lawson has to tell us, and his remarks may 

 also apply to the Tuscarora : 



