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 interesting account which now follows is by Stephen Powers[99] and
relates to the Yo-kaí-a of California, containing other matters of
importance pertaining to burial:
I paid a visit to their camp four miles below Ukiah, and finding
there a unique kind of assembly-house, desired to enter and examine
it, but was not allowed to do so until I had gained the confidence
of the old sexton by a few friendly words and the tender of a silver
half dollar. The pit of it was about 50 feet in diameter and 4 or 5
feet deep, and it was so heavily roofed with earth that the interior
was damp and somber as a tomb. It looked like a low tumulus, and was
provided with a tunnel-like entrance about 10 feet long and 4 feet
high, and leading down to a level with the floor of the pit. The
mouth of the tunnel was closed with brush, and the venerable sexton
would not remove it until he had slowly and devoutly paced several
times to and fro before the entrance.
Passing in I found the massive roof supported by a number of peeled
poles painted white and ringed with black and ornamented with rude
devices. The floor was covered thick and green with sprouting wheat,
which had been scattered to feed the spirit of the captain of the
tribe, lately deceased. Not long afterwards a deputation of the
Senèl come up to condole with the Yo-kaí-a on the loss of their
chief, and a dance or series of dances was held which lasted three
days. During this time of course the Senèl were the guests of the
Yo-kaí-a, and the latter were subjected to a considerable expense.
I was prevented by other engagements from being present, and shall
be obliged to depend on the description of an eye-witness, Mr. John
Tenney, whose account is here given with a few changes:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account