INTRODUCTION. I5 
Often the leader of a returning war-party was obliged to admit to 
the village that he had not only failed to return with a scalp of the 
enemy, but that one of his own party had lost his life. Approaching 
the village, some man of the party was chosen to precede the war-party, 
and as he came within sight of the village he began to mourn. ‘The 
village at once was on the alert and sent a servant to meet him, to see 
who ‘had been killed. As soon as the servant learned the name of 
the unfortunate member of the party he returned to the silent village 
and called out the name, saying, “So and so has been killed in manly 
fashion.” Immediately on such a return the head warrior went to the 
parents (or brother) of the warrior killed, and said to them: “I have 
been the leader of a party, and in this party was your son (or your 
brother) who Jost his life. I failed to. save him. Here Iam. Do with 
me as you like, for it was my place to have brought him back to you 
alive.’ The person addressed said: “No, I do not deside to take your 
life,’ and going up to him, cut off the end of his hair and told him to 
go and live. 
Everyone,in the village now mourned, especially the near relatives 
of the one who was killed. The parents at once gave away all of their 
property, including that of the son, retaining only their oldest dresses 
for mourning costume. Now followed four days of mourning. Then 
a certain self-appointed man of the village, and he must be a brave man, 
undertook to bring about a cessation of mourning. He collected ob- 
jects of various kinds, and clothing, for use in the forthcoming rite. 
On the morning of the fourth day he went with his bundle of clothing, 
etc., and a filled pipe, to the lodge of the mourners and seated them out- 
side of the lodge. He took his pipe, lighted it and offered it to the head 
mourner, thus asking him to smoke, saying: “I want you to allow me 
to tell you that you must stop mourning. Tell me what you think in 
your heart. Shall the people go on mourning, or not? The people 
want to know. The people want you to tell them that you will stop 
mourning and permit them to sing and beat the drum and play.” The 
head mourner took the pipe, smoked, and passed it to the other mourn- 
ers, whereupon the leader said: “Here are your gifts, for your 
mourning has ceased. Now, then, mourn for a few minutes,” where- 
upon he wiped away their tears and bathed their faces and then fol- 
lowed the feast as above. By so doing this individual had made it 
known to the village that within a short time he was going to lead a 
party on a war expedition, in which case, should he be successful in 
securing a scalp, he would give it to the mourners. In the meantime 
the life of all the members of the village was continued as before the 
