, 1875-08-07

lndinn Agent q. A. Huntington ~ritea to the
Pacific Christian Adrocate. of Portland, Oregon.
from NOAH Lay Indian Neaerratlo,, an account
Of tho first Cnristian burial among tho Makah
tribe OF lndiRus. lo eayB: .
''IAe fear vi a human oOrpso tho fohr Of be-
Ing brought 10 coatact with 1t, or With anything
that has touoled It. II absolutely pltiab'o II
aeou smous these Indiana. A littio glrl con-
nected with our nisslon-pohool died tlls morn
ing (Juuo lt}, aud it was resolved 10 give her q
Ohrirtian burial. Tho Indian mods ,s to remove
tho corpao OF tho promises instantlg asser the
breath lenves tho body, mud aa they hnye et&-
ners.itl'n that IL carrlod through tho door Of
tho house tue first perron that puBnca through
tho door ts doomod to dio coon afternArd, the
ecnora! custom is to make an opening through
The s.d0 OF the house. through which tLo BODY ls
Ibis 1palos tho exit Of tho dead possible without
cnlangefnR tho Afo OF tue other ihmatoa.
but tho body Of th!s Child was taken in
Charge by the Agent. Bno WAS properly laid out
Immediately after death, aud nono Of tue Iu-
dlnna waro allowed to lntorfero whiie good
colfin was made by tho RESERVATION carpenter. A
grave WAS dug at point near uhero tho school
ts kept, the fonoral VISA appplD tsdq qt . o'olook.
aud all tho Indians invited to nttoud. Tho dis
TANGO from Noah Lay to tho grnye is9 miies, aud
It was necessary to carry the cotiip in cauoe,
The head chief OF The tribe. mau Of more lntalli-
genco and n,o'o manllooa than Any other ludlan
in tito tribe was ordorol to tAko tho GOTHIC into
tile canoe. with tue motllor Of tho deceased, and
carry them to the placs Of turi2 Tho clueF
did not object to do thu. lilo never objects to
any order Of tho Agent. however dlsayIeoabto,
lilo Ia always prompt to obey any request Tho
coffin was brought to tle beach, somo lOO yasds
from tho grave. whore the schuol aud tho
Agents family met 1t iu PROCESSION. Tho rur-
puBe Has to hare the 1udau boys ut the.school
act ~ bearers. This tloy wGse Ill afraid to 10,
l!at IL waa point to galn, to Induce some OF
them to 10 this servlce
"uut Of Twelve boTa fnur were Iuduned by
persuasion amounting Almost to compulson to
put hand 10 tho bier and boar tho coitin to tho
graye. Tie iii NaH thou liftel and ali the goIlooI
clullren brought sarto view sho face Of ths
corpse, all act that causod tho children much
fear, and 10 tho older Iudlana 1t aoomod horrible,
Tho school thus standing around the grave suna
tho familiar school song, Hest for tho waarY,'
snl after prayer altered by the Agent tllAt other
sweet hymn, There's . beautiful laua on hlg!l.'
ahcn tue coffin vas lowered aud hurled. But
tho fact pf most significant import romaina Jet to
be stated q fact that reveals tho deepBeatnd stl-
peEstItian OF thcso people. do you think that
oanue In Which tho chIof conveyed that corpao
was ever to bo used again2 Dy no means.
Having been the receptacle Of colin containing
tue remains Of = human corpse, 1t must never
again be uAod al vCl1!oo for the living. Aud
tbs owner demolished Il GU the Bpot, In no spirit
Of au8er toward the Agent who hsd ordered 4
duty evidently revolving to his fselinga but more
10 thu sl'lHt at willing sacrifice upon the altar
Of l,ia superstition"