A Report to the Secretary of War of the United States, on Indian Affairs; Comprising a Narrative of a Tour Performed in the Summer of 1820 ... (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1822 Excerpt: ...to enter, till it is ready for the guests, who are then, and not before, invited. After the feast is over, the old man rises and which they strike fire. No Indian ever approaches this lodge, while a woman occupies it, and should a white man approach it and wish to light his pipe by the fire of a woman, while in this situation, she will not allow him by any means to do so, saying, that it will make his nose bleed, and his head ache; that it will make him sick. Burial of the dead. "When an Indian dies, his relations put on him his best clothes, and either bury him in the ground, or put him on a scaffold; but the former is the most common mode of disposing of the dead. As soon as an Indian dies, his relations engage three or four persons to bury the body. They usually make a rough coffin of a piece of a canoe, or some bark; the body is then taken to the grave in a blanket or buffalo skin, and placed in the coffin, together with a hatchet, knives, flic, and then covered over with earth. Some of the near relations usually follow the corps; the women on these occasions appear to be much affected. If the deceased was a warrior, a post is usually erected at his head, on which is painted red crosses of different sizes, to denote the number of men, women, and children he has killed of the enemy during his life, which they believe he will claim as his slaves in the other world. "It is frequently the case that some one of his friends will strike a post, or tree, and say I will speak; he then in a loud voice will say, at such a place I killed an enemy, I give his spirit to our departed friend; and sometimes he may give a greater number in the same manner. The friends of the deceased will afterwards frequently take victuals, tobacco, &c. &c. to his grav...