The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1850-05-11
ntnn, Lhe ntcLerJNCourier,

FUNERAL CEREMONIES OF THE NATcHEz IN
DIINs The husband Of Sunness not being el
noble, that is to say, Of the family Of the great al
Sun, his elder son, according to custom, stran- tt
gled him. After which the house in which the ii
couple had resided was taken 10 pieces and Y
sort Of triumphant car erected from it, on
which were placed the body Of the deceased b
and that Of her husband immediately after, $
twelve little children whom their parents had '
strangled, by order of the eldest son of the I
Sunness were laid around the bodies. In the
public square, fourteen scafIolds were rais- Z
ed, adorned with branches Of trees, on which
were painted various figures. These Rcaffolds
were designed for an equal number OF persons
who were to attend the Sunness to the
other world. Their relations stood around
them, looking upon the permission given them
to sacrifice themselves in this manner, as the
greatest honor that could attach to their iami"
lies. The victims appeared on the scatfolds
dressed in their richest habits, each having
large shell in his right hand. The nearest re-
latiOn Of each stood on the same hand having
a ttle-axe in his lett, and ne cord which was
to DO the execution under his left arm. From
time to time they raised the death cry, at which
the doomed fourteen came down from the scaf-
folds and danced the death dance before the
Temple and tie tri"mphul car Of the Sunness.
During the day and several following, great
respect was paid to them, each having five SER
wants to attend them, and every one seeming
anxious to regale them With the best OF their
luxuries. The fathers and mothers of the
strangled little ones took them in their arms
and disposed themselves OIL each side OF the
the car; the fourteen destined to die, plac-
"a ed themselves in such manner, and were
e followed by the friends and relatives OF the
. deceased Sunness, having their hair cut OIL,
e which is their sign Of mourning. The funeral
d song was then sung by the whole population,
a and those who were to die danced to this dread
g full music. Finally the funeral procession NOV"
ed on The fathers and mothers carrying their
n dead children appeared first, walking two and
n two, preceding the corpse OF the Sunness when
was carried upon litter, borne by four men :
The rest followed in the same order. AT every
ten PAGES the children were thrown upon the
; ground, and the bearers Of the litter tramPIed
mon them, so that when the procession arrived
:, at the Temple, their little bodies were torn tc
: pieces While they were interring the corpse
- of the Sunness in the temple, the fourteen des
!. tined to death were undressed and seated OF
r. the ground before the gate. The cords were
=, passed around their necks, and the relations
- Of the Sunness, who sung during the operation
drew the cords at each end until they were
ID strangled.
Charlevoix says that the French were not
"A able to prevent these barbarous ceremome es
but he qanintly adds, "they obtained leave tc
baptize the children who were to be strangled
: and thus have prevented their accompanying
those in whose honor they were strangled, t.
i. their pretended PARADISE"
=. Such wholesale slaughter at each recurring
death of one of the royal family would sooI
depopulate nation although the land in whic
u" it's lot was cast was suPerem'nently health
Gu 1t was this horrid custom and the frequent ex
IT. ercse by the Suns of their power over the live
a of their subjects, that had reduced once nu
o' merous people to mere remnant, which wa
ny their condition at the time OF du Ffa'S, as
NJ have before observed.
he In this horrible sef.sacrifce there is some
IN thing utterly incOngruous and inconsistent wit
Ire the ordinary impulses and motives OF the hi
he man breast. Il would be curious investg
ch ZION for the mental and moral philosopher
MI penetrate the secret Of its cause, and refer 1t
ers its appropriate attribute of the head or heal
mo II the disposition could be operated upon
In n snecies Of political superstition of the wOr
Ole kind TO conceive the design OF be forced 10 u
t conception. the very dreadful spectacle OF
CO. execution. 40 bald and naked in its abstra
MS moral delormity and so rePugnant to eve
OK kindly ieeling of the soul, should have check
10 it after one observance so full OF terror al
nat every appalling, gloomy and painful emoho
the In truth, this shocking practice has no ParalI
to or prototype in the history OF mankind Oth
en- nations have inundated upon the graves
their distinguished dead, the captlves taken
war, the convicts of their penal laws and the
It's slaves and domestic servants, but for cool, d
ca liberate, eager selt.immOlatiOn in crowds al
ed, masses. this finds no likeness in the mirror
the human race.
We understand that the mail bags we
'"' opened few days since, some wnere on ~
aw, line between HilIsboro and Vicksburg. /
the thief, whoever he may be- extracted awea
'"o Of three hundred dollars. Suspicion at ii
and rested on one Of Messrs. Lo(tin g. Hudso
'usl stage divers, but after being arrested a