Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-03-03
IERMS, Sa,0e at the years end.

grief. When one was exhausted another would
step In and take her place, fold her blanket
tightly around her. or put it over her head and
Immediately fall into the state of woe of the
others. 1t Is the custom of these Indians to
purn their dead, the ashes being sacredly pre-
served and mixed with black paint With this
the female relatives smear their hair and cheeks.
Some OF the mourners were thus disfgvred, and
probably were relatives Of an Indian who died
last Autumn.
just behind them was circle OF about thirty
poles, from fifteen TO twenty feet in height,
planted firmly in the ground and, just looming
up almost into the darkness beyond the fire.
light, these We're covered with the greater part
OF the possessions of the poor sasages, which
they have been toiling to obtain since the burn
ing last Autumn, and, with self-sacrifcing
devotion that might put civilized nations to the
blush, they were soon to be committed to the
flames, with the fond belief that they would as
cend in the smoke to the spirit land, and be
given by the Good Spirit to their friends there.
The greater part of the offerings seemed to
be baskets of all sizes and shapes, made of will
low and stained in beautiful patterns. They
were placed in regular order according to their
sizes, on the poles, two together, and from the
top Of the poles hung long streamers of rbbon
punches OF feathers of many colors, strings of
shells and beads. some Of the latter three or
four feet long, and as large as could be claspcd
on the hand. Long cords, made of small white
feathers, belts and galley -colored handkerchlefs
OF silk and cotton; head-dresses of all kinds,
necklaces and earrings, in great quantities. or
namented with buttons, beads and wampum.--
Upon other poles were valuable furs, principal
ly bear-which the hunter had killed on the
Sierra Nevadas, blankets, clothing; bows and
arrows, beautifully ornamented, game-bags knit
OF cotton cord. and, on the ground, huge bas-
kets filled with nuts, acorns, roots, berries,
-four, and articles of food unknown to this mar
rator.
The space back Of these poles was filled with
Indians seated around little fires, looking on
grayely, some sadly. The children looked al
most owlish in gravity and watchfulness A
few young braves were gambling with little
sticks in remote corner, in perfect silence.
and some were walking about silently outside
camp; but just before day-break, I'LL gathered
around the central fire, become deeply interest
ed, the mourners howled louder than ever, if
possible, while Captain Tom and some of the
hcad-mcn, tore DOWN the poles, one after another,
stripped off their burdens, and tho burning
commenced in earnest
The most of the Indians affected to be utter
, ly unconscious OF our presence. However,
! Caesar oamo to us, and with infinite dignity
and laconism answered our questions. The
fame had been fed at intervals all night, he
said with offerings but now each brave in
turn threw on all he had there, and with his fam
lily and the mourners cried for all his friends
who had died, The fierce flames crisped and
blackened the rich furs in IN instant, but was
subdued by the seed and nuts piled and Leaped
upon it. Again it leaped upon the tall baskets
like fiery demon and the lament rose and
fell with the flame until it languished for lack
of food and died away in wreathing curling
smoke which the sons of the forest gazed upon
With looks of solemn interest as it assembled to-
> ward the sky.