( 262 ) 



#nd as fuch, greatly fought after. The death of a 

 chief has been fometimes known to coft the lives 

 of above a hundred perfons, and I have been told 

 there are few Natchez of any confidence note who 

 die without being attended to the country of fouls, 

 by fome of their relations, friends, or fervants. It 

 appears from the different relations 1 have feen of 

 thefe horrible ceremonies that there is much va- 

 riation in them. Here follows an account of the 

 obfequies of a woman chief, which I had from a 

 traveller who was an eye-witnefs of it, and on whofe 

 fmcerity I have good reafon to depend. 



The hufband of this woman not being noble, 

 that is to fay, of the family of the fun, his eideft 

 fon, according to cuftom, ftrangled him. After- 

 wards every thing was taken out of the cabbin, 

 and a fort of triumphant car was erected of it, on 

 which were placed the body of the deceafed and 

 that of her hufband. Immediately after, twelve 

 little children whom their parents had ftrangled, 

 by order of the eideft fon of the woman chief, 

 who fucceeded to her dignity, were laid around 

 the carcaffes. This done, they erected in the 

 publick fquare fourteen fcaffolds adorned with 

 branches of trees and ftuffs, on which were paint- 

 ed various figures. Thefe fcaffolds were defigned 

 for an equal number of perfons, who were to attend 

 the woman-chief to the other world, Their rela- 

 tions itood round them, looking upon the per- 

 rniffion given them, to facrifice themfelves in this 

 manner, as the greateft honour that could be done 

 to their families. They are fometimes ten years in 

 folicitirg this favour before-hand, and thofe who 

 pbtain it, are obliged to fpin the cord themfelves 

 \vUh which they are to be ftrangled. 



They 



