AMERICAN'S. 
79 
bows and arrows, with whatever he valued most in his life, and aquantity 
of provision for his subsistence on the journey which he is supposed 
to take. This solemnity, like every other, is attended with feasting. 
The funeral being ended, the relations of the deceased confine them- 
selves to their huts for a considerable time, to indulge their grief. After 
an interval of some weeks, they visit the grave, repeat their sorrow, 
new-clothe the remains of the body, and act over again all the solem- 
nities of the funeral. 
Among the various tokens of their regard for their deceased 
friends, the most remarkable is what they call the feast of the dead, 
or the feast of souls. The day for this ceremony is appointed in the 
council of their chiefs, who give orders for every thing which may 
enable them to celebrate it with pomp and magnificence ; and the 
neighbouring nations are invited to partake of the entertainments. At 
the time, all who have died since the preceding feast of the 'kind, are 
taken out of their graves. Even those who have been interred at the 
greatest distance from the villages are diligently sought for, and con- 
ducted to this rendezvous of the dead, which exhibits a scene of 
horror beyond the power of description. When the feast is concluded, 
the bodies are dressed in the finest skins which can be procured, and 
after being exposed some time in this pomp, are again committed to 
the earth with great solemnity, which is succeeded by funeral games. 
Hospitality. 
The Americans have certain rules which they observe on entering 
one another’s villages. It is reckoned uncivil in travelling strangers 
to enter a village abruptly, without giving notice of their approach. 
Therefore as soon as they arrive within hearing, they stop and halloo, 
remaining there till invited to enter. Two old men usually come out 
to them, and lead them in. There is in every village a vacant dwell- 
ing, called the stranger’s house. Here they stay while the old men 
go round from hut to hut, acquainting the inhabitants that strangers 
are arrived, who are probably hungry and weary ; and every one send^ 
them what he can spare of victuals, and skins to repose on. 
When the strangers are refreshed, pipes and tobacco are brought, 
and then, but not before, conversation begins, with inquiries who they 
are, whither bound, what news, &c. and it usually ends with offers 
of service, if the strangers have occasion for guides, or other neces- 
saries, for continuing their journey ; and nothing is exacted for the 
entertainment. The same hospitality, esteemed among them as a 
principal virtue, is practised by private men, of which Conrad Wei- 
ser gave Dr. Franklin the following instance ; — 
“ lie had been naturalized among the Six Nations ; and spoke well 
the Mohock language. In going through the Indian country, to carry 
a message from our governor to the council of Onondago, he called 
at the habitation of Canassetego, an old acquaintance, who embraced 
him, spread furs for him to sit on, placed before him some boiled 
beans and venison, and mixed some rum and water for his drink. 
When he was well refreshed, and had lit his pipe, Canassetego began 
to converse with him ; asked him how he fared the many years since 
they had seen each other — whence then he came^ — and what had 
occasioned the jourjney, «fec. Conrad answered all his questions, and 
