Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-03-03
Curious Indian Ceremonies.

A lady writing from Foot Hills, near Marys-
vile, California, gives the following very inter-
estins account of the funeral ceremonies Of the
Indians
A few days since, on rising from the break
fast table-whcre We had discussed over our
coffee the overland mail and telegraph the long
looked for, but ncver-to arrive, new line of
steamers, the surrounding diggings, and last
bid strikes we became aware of the fact that
an outsider was viewing us with great apparent
interest, who, with his nose hlttened upon the
window-pa pane (hs way of knocking), cooly
continued his survey until bilden to come in.
He Immediately mdae his way to the kitchen
fire, and, standing, there, warming his bare
feet, chilled by walking on the frosty ground, he
presented good type of the present race of
Californian Indians.
He is tall straight, and we'll built ; has reg
ular features, thin mustache, bright eyes, q
pleasant expression, long black hair tied up on
the back of his head, and, in cool weather cov-
cred with head-dress, knit like IL tidy of
cotton cord, and stained in various patterns
with red and black paint Feathers and beads
are sometimes placed in it, and strip of fur
bcund around the forehead. Earrings of bone,
stained black, necklace of beads or shells, wool.
en- shirt and trowsers and belt of cotton cloth,
complete his costume. He always carries his
bow and arrows in his hand, the latter wrapped
in n iox-skn
+ Tle is not the bravest Of The brave, Judging
from his report of himself at a recent fight.
Me, no fight ; mo mucho look on There
is, however. nothing cringing in his manner
, He always demands-as, Give me bread
never entreas. We hire him occasionally tC
perform the duties of washerwoman, newer .
wood and drawer of water and find him faith
ful to his work for half day, at least, and al
ways honest.
He had come to inform Us that Indians hav
mucho hIg time ono sleep at ole campoodee. In
dian come all round, Captain Tom comc--Yesh
n Mucho burn, mahala mucho cry, yesh from
WHICH Jul W. puNICtSu tutt tHCA NthhItA
lament was to take place the next night, abou
quarter Of IL mile distant, at their old camp
Y ing ground on an elevated spot that overlook
this little valley, which they say was big lax
c long time ago-mueho fish catch
e All that day Indians came struggling aion
Il from different directions, in small parties; th
|. mahalas (squaws) bending under heavy burdens
naclmhhe (ehildren) running beside them
and dogs of all degrees of eanness everywhere
=. Fires were lighted in various places; cour
ellis held, guns fred. and whoops and yells hear
IN occasionally during the night. BY the ne,
~ night about two hundred were assembled, an
h, after il was fairly dark, words cannot DESERT
the dismal, horrid sounds that reached our cal
from their burning.
Sleep was cut Of the question, and about a
hour before daylight, when the grand climax
- generally attained, we set out for the camp.
is little rise of ground hid it from our view uni
II. we came quite near then the wild, stranl
w scene, in the Framework Of gloomy night, w
very striking. A huge,fre blazed up from Il
center Of the camp which was about sixty fc
in circumference and melosed hya breastwo
Of logs. trees and bushes, about five feet hig
Aronnd the fire was circle OF rnahalas, swim
~ Ing their bodies to and fro as if in an agony
grief; and, amid the subs, means and shrieks
some. Others poured forth the shrill mournf
ty cry 0h-h-h wal, &C. yc eee, and few BRAY
he Just without the circle Joined in with de-
he cultural sound, 'oh.wah Oh wah Oh.h.h w,
ah sometimes ending in yell Of despair ~