ZZ4, AMERICA, 



a thousand ceremonies are practised denoting the most lively sorrow. 

 Of these, the most remarkable, as it discovers both the height and 

 continuance of their grief, is what is called the feast of the dead, or 

 the feast of souls. The day of this ceremony is appointed by public 

 order ; and nothing is omitted, that it may be celebrated with the 

 utmost pomp and magnificence. The neighbouring tribes are invi* 

 ted to be present and to join in the solemnity. At this time, all who 

 have died since the last solemn occasion, which is renewed every 

 ten years among some tribes, and every eight among others, are 

 taken out of their graves ; those who have been interred at the great- 

 est distance from the villages are diligently sought for, and brought 

 to this great rendezvous of carcasses. 



It is not difficult to conceive the horror of this general disinterment. 

 We cannot describe it in a more lively manner than it is done by Lafitau, 

 to whom we are indebted for the most authentic account of those 

 nations. 



Without question, says he, the opening of these tombs displays 

 one of the most striking scenes that can be conceived ; this humbling 

 portrait of human misery, in death, which appears in a thousand va- 

 rious shapes of horror in the several carcasses, according to the de- 

 gree in which corruption has prevailed over them, or the manner in 

 which it has attacked them. Some appear dry and withered; others 

 have a sort of parchment upon their bones ; some look as if they were 

 baked and smoked, without any appearance of rottenness ; some are 

 just turning towards the point of putrefaction: while others are all 

 swarming with worms, and drowned in corruption. I know not which 

 ought to strike us most, the horror of so shocking a sight, or the 

 tender piety and affection of these poor people towards their depart- 

 ed friends ; for nothing deserves our admiration more, than that eager 

 diligence and attention with which they discharge this melancholy 

 duty of their tenderness, gathering up carefully even the smallest 

 bones ; handling the carcasses, disgustful as they are with every thing 

 loathsome, cleansing them from the worms, and carrying them upon 

 their shoulders, through tiresome journeys of several days, without 

 being discouraged from the offensiveness of the smell, and without 

 suffering any other emotions to arise than those of regret for having 

 lost persons who were so dear to them in their lives, and so lamented 

 in their death. 



They bring them into their cottages, where they prepare a feast in 

 honour of the dead ; during which their great actions are celebrated, 

 and all the tender intercourses which took place between them and 

 their friends are piously called to mind. The strangers, who have 

 come sometimes many hundred miles to be present on the occasion, 

 join in the tender condolence ; and the women, by frightful shrieks, 

 demonstrate that they are pierced with the sharpest sorrow. The 

 dead bodies are carried from the cabins for the general re-interment. 

 A great pit is dug in the ground ; and thither, at a certain time, each 

 person, attended by his family and friends, marches in solemn si- 

 lence, bearing the dead body of a son, a father, or a brother. When 

 they are all convened, the dead bodies, or dust of those which were 

 quite corrupted, are deposited in the pit ; when the torrent of grief 

 breaks out anew. Whatever they possess most valuable is interred 

 with the dead. The strangers are not wanting in their generosity, 

 and confer those presents which they have brought along with them 

 for the purpose. Then all present go down into the pit, and every 



