n8 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



graves were surrounded with palisades that they had split from 

 trees, and they were closed up so nicely that it was a wonder to see. 

 They were painted with red, and white, and black paint; but the 

 chief's grave had an entrance, and at the top of that was a big 

 wooden bird, and all around were painted dogs, and deer, and 

 snakes, and other beasts. Wilson, p.92 



In the curious account of the Iroquois written in 1666, which 

 ignores scaffold sepulture, we have the particulars of some more 

 common tombs, where wood was used: 



As regards the dead, they inter them with all they have. When 

 it is a man they paint red calumets, calumets of peace on the 

 Tomb ; some times they plant a stake on which they paint how often 

 he has been in battle; how many prisoners he has taken; the post 

 ordinarily is only four or five feet high and much embellished. 

 O'Callaghan, 1 : 8 



On a small scale this was like that which gave its name to Painted 

 Post. Other writers add some things to this regarding the emblems 

 displayed. Colden describes the grave as a large round hole, in 

 which the body is placed upright or sitting; "it is covered with 

 timber, to support the earth which they lay over, and thereby keep 

 the body from being pressed ; they then raise the earth in a round 

 hill over it." An earlier writer may be cited whose account is more 

 general : " They place as much wood around the body as will keep 

 the earth from it. Above the grave they place a large pile of wood, 

 stones, or earth, and around and above the same they place palisades 

 resembling a small dwelling." Van der Donck, 5 :20i 



The accounts of Megapolensis, De Vries and others differ but 

 little. 



When some Frenchmen died at Onondaga lake in 1656, and the 

 Onondagas came to bewail their death, a chief said to their friends : 

 " This present is to level the earth in which I have put them, and 

 this other to erect a palisade around their tombs, in order that the 

 beasts and birds of prey may not disturb their repose." Relation, 

 1657 



Mention has been made of three notable Oneida tombs. Father 

 Bruyas speaks of another built there in 1672. Because of a dream, 

 the body of a noted juggler was taken up and carried " over the 



