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 lodge poles inclose an oblong circle some 18 by 22 feet at the
base, converging to a point, at least 30 feet high, covered with
buffalo-hides dressed without hair except a part of the tail switch,
which floats outside like, and mingled with human scalps. The
different skins are neatly fitted and sewed together with sinew, and
all painted in seven alternate horizontal stripes of brown and
yellow, decorated with various lifelike war scenes. Over the small
entrance is a large bright cross, the upright being a large stuffed
white wolf-skin upon his war lance, and the cross-bar of bright
scarlet flannel, containing the quiver of bow and arrows, which
nearly all warriors still carry, even when armed with repeating
rifles. As the cross is not a pagan but a Christian (which Long
Horse was not either by profession or practice) emblem, it was
probably placed there by the influence of some of his white friends.
I entered, finding Long Horse buried Indian fashion, in full war
dress, paint and feathers, in a rude coffin, upon a platform about
breast high, decorated with weapons, scalps, and ornaments. A large
opening and wind-flap at the top favored ventilation, and though he
had lain there in an open coffin a full month, some of which was hot
weather, there was but little effluvia; in fact, I have seldom found
much in a burial-teepee, and when this mode of burial is thus
performed it is less repulsive than natural to suppose.
This account is furnished by Col. P. W. Norris, superintendent of
Yellowstone National Park, he having been an eye-witness of what he
relates in 1876; and although the account has been questioned, it is
admitted for the reason that this gentleman persists, after a reperusal
of his article, that the facts are correct.
General Stewart Van Vliet, U.S.A., informs the writer that among the
Sioux of Wyoming and Nebraska when a person of consequence dies a small
scaffold is erected inside his lodge and the body wrapped in skins
deposited therein. Different utensils and weapons are placed by his
side, and in front a horse is slaughtered; the lodge is then closed up.
Dr. W. J. Hoffman writes as follows regarding the burial lodges of the
Shoshones of Nevada:
The Shoshones of the upper portion of Nevada are not known to have
at any time practiced cremation. In Independence Valley, under a
deserted and demolished _wickeup_ or “brush tent,” I found the
dried-up corpse of a boy, about twelve years of age. The body had
been here for at least six weeks, according to information received,
and presented a shriveled and hideous appearance. The dryness of the
atmosphere prevented decomposition. The Indians in this region
usually leave the body when life terminates, merely throwing over it
such rubbish as may be at hand, or the remains of their primitive
shelter tents, which are mostly composed of small branches, leaves,
grass, &c.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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