Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-12-05
Indian Graves in the west.

a journalist writing from Nebraska says:
We have had one first vision in the wilder
ness and ride cheerily on. The highest of
the hills take conical shape, and their sum-
mits are bare and desolate not fringe Of
bush nor tall fern for scalplock, but
only yellow grass shivering in the wind. And
yet the hills are not without their occtipahts.
There is no Greenwood" no "Mt. Au-
burn, no "Graceland, though the dead
are here. 'The sun is my father, the earth
is my mother, said Tecumseh; "I viii re.
pose upon her bosom" And 50 they do
everywhere. 1t is mortality fashion. Up
on the peaks of the hills you can see little
structures formed of poles and thatched
with grass. Sometimes they are walled in
like cabin, but oftener open at the sides
and resembling so many rude tables. Be-
meath them the dead of the Omahas rest.
Their graves are made upon the hills be-
cause thence the journey to ''that equal
sky is briefer. They are in their best be-
cause they are going abroad. they are
buried at sunset, for with them life's little
dav is ended. A beacon fire is kindied be-
side the silent traveller to light him on his
way. For nine days and nights it is kept
burning, because so long does it take to make
the transit from this world to that. The
thoughts suggested that somehow the classic
story of the lame blacksmith and his nine
days tumble out of heaven may have been
interviewer with an old tradition. IF the
departed be chief, then he is dispatched
with all his wampum glories on him his
horse is placed in the grave alive, with lit
tie corn before it, and he upon the horse,
the earth is filed in, and the lonely rider
sets forth upon his way
IF the dead possessed any object of value;
it is placed beside him, curious rendering
of the Scripture, for where your treasurs
is, there will your heart be Also" Black
Bird was once power in the land has left
his name upon bluff and stream and town,
and has been dead this many day. Upon
that bare, bold height yonder, Black Bird
was buried. He possessed a gift, took it
with him, and it r1sts beside him yet When
Lewis and Clark looking for the lines of that
great trident the Columbia River, came up
this way, Black Bird received them with
royal courtesy; and Of them gave him a sa-
bre and that is the treasure that has never
changed owners
A burial scene must be strangely wild and
sad the lonely hill, the setting sun, the
lighted watch-fre, neither chart nor song,
but all in silence. When an Omaha loses a
near relative he goes about giving away his
most valued possessions. It is expressisely
saying that having lost his human treasure,
what remains is worthless. And if any Of
the tribe are touched to mourn with him
that mourns, he is expected to give literally
for the feast they make, that they may have
strength to be very sorry great while. La
Flesche, distinguished halfbreed and q
man of considerable wealth, being thus be-
reaved, the Indians called upon him for .
gift that they might grieve comfortably.
Having no money at hand be said; ''Taks
horse" meaning a pony. His sympa-
thizer heard, and standing not ION the order
of their going" went and sold one Of his
matched pair of carriage horses to Decatur
trader for forty dollars La Fesche learned
of the affair just in time to redeem the ami
NAL thoroughly convinced that he was not
without friends in his af1iction, costly if not
valued
The Indians regard for the graves of his
deak is virtue bright enough to belong to
a Christian. He makes long journeys to
visit them, and he never forgets. Stock and
stone, every trace of his rude memorials
may be swept away, and the waves of civil
ization have strged over thems but he can
go to them by straight and unerring trail
T-r Nou,,v, Dor- IT, E-oz.l III.