, 1878-06-14
Among the Osages.

The Osages are naturally good and
kind-hearted. They are full of affection
towards their sick, and particularly to-
wards their children. Once, however,
death has struck fatal blow, they are
left without any hope. They (the Pagan
Osages) indeed believe in future life;
but their ideas about it are very much
confused, and when death takes any one,
especially dear child, they think that
the affliction has been brought upon them
by one of their enemies, who, not daring
to attack them personally, has done this
through the agency of some wicked spirit.
Hence, no sooner have they buried the
dead, than they swear vengeance, and
leave for the plains, not to return till they
have killed some Of their enemies, in re.
taliation for their loss.
The funeral of the Pagan Usage does
not occupy much time. On the spot
where dear one has expired, the mother,
the wife, and the other women in attend
ance, take a handful Of mud and besmear
with it the right half of their long hair
as it were to show that they come from
dust and to dust they must return. This
done, they at once begin their solemn
dirge. This consists in repeating again
and again, as loud as they can, the words,
"Ido! Idol I-dao! dao! dao!" infect
ing these words in very peculiar way.
They pronounce the first two in lament
ing, interrogatory tone; the last three
they sound in the note of the wild doves
moaning, so familiar to people living near
the woods.
What they mean by those sorrowful
words is a mystery they themselves can.
not give any account of, except that it is
an expression Of love and sorrow they
have learned from their grandfathers.
AS great many facts could be brought
to prove that the Osages, as well as all
these Western Indians, ore Of Eastern Or
igin, why could we not say that these
words are derived from the old Idida? |
leave it to linguists to decide this ques'
ton.
The heart-rending mourning of the
women is soon followed by the ferocious
voices of the men. who, in their turn,
make the very air vibrate with terror.
Now their feelings are excited most pow
erfully; so much so, that sometimes, in
their wild excitement, gesticulating with
their knives, they clash themselves, in Or
der to see some blood flowing, for il seems
that this is one of their dogmas, that they
cannot appease the Great Spirit and rem
der him favorable towards the departed ).
but by blood.
This exciting scene will last little over
one hour; then they proceed to the buri.
al A high bluff is generally selected for
the purpose. Here no grave is dug, but
the dead is seated on the sod, leaning on
some rocks, and facing the rising sun.
His head is shaved, and is painted with
vermilion. Numbers of rings ornament
his ears and fingers, his naked arms are
bound with beautiful bracelets, and long
wampums fall from his neck on his bare
breast. His loins are girded with nicely
woven sash, and he wears %el-tTimmed
leggins, tied with rich garters. The
whole body is wrapped in new blanket.
On one side they place his bow and ar
rows, on the other his tomahawk and
calumet.
Now q chief addresses him for the last
time, and bids him farewell. This done,
the women, like industrious bees, go to
work and very quietly put up wall,
either with rocks OF sods, around the re-
mains Of their departed friend. While
this is going on, the favorite horse Of the
dead man is slain on the spot. Scalps of
enemies and the head of the horse are
hung on two posts, as tutelar genii to
protect the grave, and with this the fu-
neral ends.
However, the mourning is not over yet.
No, indeed; but the dearer the dc parted
was the longer it will last. 1t consists in
very severe fasting, which they protract
for weeks and months, so strictly as not
to allow themselves any food but once in
twenty.four hours, and this. after sunset.
At the end of the week they take day
of rest, and this over, they continue their
seven days. fasting for long time, alb
staining, during all this period, from any
kind OF enjoyment. We have seen some
very robust men come to premature
death by this mode of penance, by which
they propitiate the Great Spirit in favor
Of their departed friends.
y y
When Christian Usage dies, his arti-
cles of devotion, crucifx, beads, ETC., are
buried with him. No Christian Indian
will allow scalp to be hung over his
grave; on the contrary, it is always orna-
mented with small cross, which is rude
in material--for it consists, commonly, of
two simple sticks tied together with bark,
but is, nevertheless, symbol of pardon,
and of hope.of better life to come.
SPARE THE WHP.-Never whip your
horse for becoming frightened at any OBJ
ject by the roadside, for if he sees
stump, log, or a heap of tan-bark in
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