The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-01-19

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cheap as they can be afforded in the states.
1t is only abo, sixty days sail from China,
and fifteen or twenty to the Islands.
Narery,-This has existed from time
immemorial. The stronger tribes war on
the weaker, take them prisoners and en-
slave them. These are frequently taken
10 other parts Of the country, and sold to
other tribes. Such has been the case
this week. A large party Of the Clamo,h
tribe, fierce and warike, from the south,
came in with about twenty slaves, and
sold most or all Of them. Some, | was
informed, were sold for three horses each,
some cheaper. Slaves are not considered
flicum, that is, people, but as dogs. They
do the principal part Of the work and
drudgery, and when they die are cast out
among the bushes without burial, and are
devoured by wild beasts. Hence human
bones are scattered far and wide, and are
numerous in some parts of the country.
Slaves generally are as well or better clad
than their masters, and as to food fare
equally as well but the epithet elita
slave--is fixed upon them never or seldom
to be removed. In some instances they
obtain their freedom. Many OF the set
tiers both French and American, buy and
sell slaves. By these mos, Of the work of
the farmer is done. Will not some gov
eminent notice this Are not the laws
of the Union strict on the subject of en-
shaving Indians.
OfMe disposition of The dead,-This
differs in different tribes. Those among
whom labor invariably bury the head
to the East. If they can be procured, the
body is snugly wrapped in two or three
new blankets or skins-elk, deer or buff
alo--with a quantity of bread and other
trinkets, They generally bury the same
day the individual dies, unless the death
occurs in the afternoon. In such case
the body is placed in the burial place.
some distance from the ground, by
means of a pole which is fastened with
witches lenglhwise of the body; this is
placed on other sticks set up, crossed
and tied near the top. In this situation
it remains till morning, when grave is
dug, in depth to the hips, by women, or
slaves, with sharp sticks and their hands.
Lat,eraly. however, they have a hoe and
a shovel, so that the body lies about a
foot or little more below the surface,
and is not unrrequenlly taken out by
wild beasts. saw grave where per-
son had been recently buried, which had
been dug open, and the flesh nearl y all
torn from the bones; the bones, however,
not much disarranged.
| spoke to the Indian whose wife she
was, TO cover the bones, but he said, No
make close it is not good They are We
~ fearful in reference to the dead. A
few DAYS after, the carcass, believe was
entirely removed. The reason they as
sign for burying in the morning is, that
il they bury in the afternoon another per-
son will soon die. If person dies AT
sunrise, they bury sometimes within an
houre, or even half an hour, and no doub,
in some instances bury alive. Brother
Frost Informed me that at Clatsop's, his
satjon they actually did bury one man
alive. Though demonstrated with, bury
him they would, and did. At my station
we have made boxes for them, when cali
ed on, and directed them TO be buried
deeper.
I Other tribes have houses for the dead,
and persons appointed to attend to them,
1t is said tina, when the skins become old
and tender, in which the individual is
wrapped, they are removed, and the bones
| placed in new ones.-Olhers deposit the
dead in canoes on the banks of the river
or islands. The shore of the Columbia
river in many places is shckly covered
with canoes ut high-wa,er mark. Others
place their dead in cro,chcs of trees,
while others bury in sitting posture
And others formerly and probably in ma.
ny cases yet, burn the dead