The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-11-20
Interesting Ceremony Witnessed by q
Danyer Missionary

Rev. Sheldon Jackson, of this city,
synodical missionary of Colorado, New
Mexico, Utah and Montana, recently
made visit to Alaska, and while there
saw many interesting things. He gives
an account of visit made to garden
owned by Mr.. Davidson, of Fort Wran-
gle.
At the upper end of Mr.. Dayidson's
garden he saw a white sheet stretched
between two poles, and looking as if it
might be intended for a scare-crow.
Upon inquiry he found that it contained
the ashes of q boy that was drowned the
week before. His friends had promised
Rev. Mr.. Young that it should have q
Christian burial; but during Saturday
night they took the body up the beach,
and early Sabbath morning burned it,
the charred wood still remaining.
Several large dry sticks we're laid side
by side upon the beach. Upon these
were placed the body of the boy. Other
sticks were piled over the body, and the
whole set on fire amid the walls and su-
perstitious incantations of hired mourn
ers.
In about an hour the body was con-
sumed. After the fire had cooled down,
the ashes were carefully gathered up, and
placed in basket until suitable box
could be carved for their permanent pre-.
servation. When all was ready, an old
Indian woman, bowed down with age
and infrmities, took up the basket and
started for q pine tree which had previ-
ously been selected for the purpose. She
was followed by the mourners and friends
with bowed heads and loud walls of sor-
row. At the base of the tree two poles,
about eight feet high, were driven into
the ground two feet apart. The baskets
containing the ashes were tied between
the poles, and muslin bag, like large
FELLOWSHIP, pulled down over the poles
and basket and closed Mt the bottom. On
the outside of the sheet is sometimes rude
ly painted face, through which the
spirit of the departed is supposed to look
out upon the bay.
Morning and evening the parents of
the boy come out from their hut, and
turning their faces to the north utter
loud cries of distress. And this will be
kept up for months, for they never have
heard of the great Comforter, who alone
ican comfort sorrowing hearts. Those
whose bodies are burned are supposed to
be warm in the next world, and the 9th
-ers cold. They believe in transmigra-
tion of souls from one body to another,
but not to animals. And the wish is Of
ten expressed that in the next change
they may be born into this or that power.
full family. The funeral ceremonies of
chiefs often last four days. If slaves
are then sacrificed it relieves their own.
ers from work in the next world. Dead
slaves are often cast into the sea. at
the funeral of chiefs, the traditions and
history of the tribe are rehearsed. If
these ceremonies are not conducted
properly the water of death swallows up
the departed soul, or it is lost in the for
ests. But, if conducted properly, the
chief of the gods speaks the word, and
the water Of death is small and the
soul is carried to a place of rest, or for
getfulness. Then after long time it
comes back to some descendant on its
sisters side and lives another life. To
such superstitions these people are
bound, body and soul, and to rescue
them from this, ameliorating and elevat-
ing their condition in this life, and pre-
senting to-them a glorious Immortality
through the crucifed and risen Saviour,
is the work of the Board of Home Mis-
eiona