With great ceremony and mourning the corpse is carried out of the house
on the same plank it was laid out on. At the grave they unroll the
corpse from the blanket, the clothing being cut open down the front,
the body washed again, this time without the removal of the clothing.
This final bath is a solution of the Ho-mon-nah roots pounded fine as
powder and then put into a basket of water. This shrub or plant is
much different from the wormwood, and it is considered one of their
best herbs for fumigation and disinfecting purposes. After the bath is
completed the body is again wrapped in the blanket and laid carefully
down in the grave. The funeral director, as before, burns a bunch
of flag grasses over the body, allowing the ashes to fall over the
remains. Articles they wish to place in the grave with the body are
put into the grave and the plank that the body was carried out on is
fitted into the top of the coffin as the top covering. Three or four
persons take part as pall-bearers in taking the body to the grave. The
body is laid with the head directly to the west as they say when the
judgement day comes all the Indians will rise up out of their graves
facing the rising sun, and those who are worthy will rise in glory to
the splendors of glory to the Heavenly Father above.
In this grave things of little value are placed, things usually
belonging to the deceased. When things of value are placed in the grave
it is broken up which destroys the value of the article.
The coffin is covered over with earth, and after this being completed
they take two stones about eighteen inches long by twelve inches wide,
one is placed at the head and the other one at the foot of the grave.
On the top of the stones directly in the middle of the grave they place
another wide plank about six feet long and eighteen inches wide.
Stakes are driven on each side of this plank in the middle and with a
rope of Indian make they tie the board to the stakes so it can not be
removed without some difficulty. After this has been completed some dry
sand is sprinkled around the grave and covering it completely to the
sides of the wide board, this is done so the Indians can immediately
detect if any one has molested the grave. The reason why the Indians
always have their grave-yards near the village or dwelling places is to
keep the wild animals away from the grave. Sometimes the mourners place
large baskets on the grave, sometimes two and often many more, there is
no certain number to use. They are turned upside down, close up to the
sides of the plank and on the ground around the grave. These baskets
are made secure by driving a stake through the center of them and into
the ground. On top of the plank they lay basket plates, also acorn
baskets. Around the grave a picket fence is made by driving the pickets
into the ground, a strong hazel withe is tied around them about twelve
inches below the tops. At the middle of the head and the foot of the
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.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account