A Further Contribution to the Study of the Mortuary Customs of the North American IndiansYarrow, H. C. (Harry Crécy)
History
A Further Contribution to the Study of the Mortuary Customs of the North American Indians
Yarrow, H. C. (Harry Crécy)
Indians of North America -- Funeral customs and rites
The morning after this execution they made everything ready for the
convoy, and the hour being come, the great master of the ceremonies
appeared at the door of the hut, adorned suitably to his quality.
The victims who were to accompany the deceased prince into the
mansion of the spirits came forth; they consisted of the favorite
wife of the deceased, of his second wife, his chancellor, his
physician, his hired man, that is, his first servant, and of some
old women.
The favorite went to the Great Sun, with whom there were several
Frenchmen, to take leave of him; she gave orders for the Suns of
both sexes that were her children to appear, and spoke to the
following effect:
“Children, this is the day on which I am to tear myself from you
(_sic_) arms and to follow your father’s steps, who waits for me in
the country of the spirits; if I were to yield to your tears I would
injure my love and fail in my duty. I have done enough for you by
bearing you next to my heart, and by suckling you with my breasts.
You that are descended of his blood and fed by my milk, ought you to
shed tears? Rejoice rather that you are _Suns_ and warriors; you are
bound to give examples of firmness and valor to the whole nation:
go, my children, I have provided for all your wants, by procuring
you friends; my friends and those of your father are yours too;
I leave you amidst them; they are the French; they are
tender-hearted and generous; make yourselves worthy of their esteem
by not degenerating from your race; always act openly with them and
never implore them with meanness.
“And you, Frenchmen,” added she, turning herself towards our
officers, “I recommend my orphan children to you; they will know no
other fathers than you; you ought to protect them.”
After that she got up; and, followed by her troop, returned to her
husband’s hut with a surprising firmness.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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