Arizona silver belt., 1889-06-22
The Cremation or Pas4uai, Chief of tae
 Yumas.
(E. J. Trippel in the Overland Monthly.)

not be procured in the immediate nclghborhood. The corpse IS carried to the funeral pile as soon as the breath leaves the body. The ceremo- ny IS made deeply solemn and impress siye, and the whole tribe is expected to attend, especially if the departed had been person of consequence. The cremation of Pasqual, last year, differs from all the others only in the number of participants, and may therefore properly serve as a dcscrip- ton of tho customary usage.
 Several days previous to tue cele. brated ehieftain's death, after it be- came known to certainty that the end was near, the aged Indians of both sexes selected an open space facing his residence and eXcayatcd F-shaped hole seven feet long, three feet wide, aud three feet deep, iii winch dry poles were arranged along the sides slant ing upwards and outwards. Between them bed of inflammable twigs and brush was heaped 10 the surface and covered with larger bille;s of wood built up horizontally fer an additional foot or two. Upon this the body, tightly wrapped in a heavy canvas, was lad, and short thick pieces of wood arranged upon it until q total height of seven feet was attained To the pyre was added the personal eff iects of the deceased to accompany his spirit wherever tt might go.
 The tribe meanwhile gathered about him and wailed'in concert, keeping up an ilcessapt series of sbieks and cries that were heart.rendng in tbo ex- treme. Ihe disconSoate and grief. stricken faces were stained with tears; regret and despondcncy were plainly dep.cted, and speeches were delivered ending in tue moaning refrain, Pas. qual! Pasqual!'
 Two splendid horses, gaudily capa risoned in rcd and blue flannel and waving feathers, were led to deep holes dug near either side of tho body After being killed with axes they were dissmbowelicd, thrown into inc graves, and covered with dirt, to insure their ctrrying the good old chief m his fu- ture wanderings.
 Several young men, strangely dress. cd in curious cloaks and cowls of many colors and holding bows and arrows in their hands, stepped forward. Grasping Pasqual's gun, a much prized treasure, by he way, one of them fired it into tbe air, to notify the Great Spirit that a Yuma had commenced his journey 10 Paradise. Instantly another applied the match, and tongues of fire darted Leavenward, en- veloping the remains in shroud of seething, spluttering flame.
 The crowd sguatting in a circle around the pyre watching the pro ceedings with undisguished interest, now seemed moved by uncomfortable excitement, Springing to their feet they separated into two bodies, the men on ono side and the women en the other, to allow the passage Of the spirit between them. Breaking from the ranks they threw their most valued possessions into the flames. Strips of calico. pottery, weapons, sacks of four and mesquite beans, playing cards, beads, and trinkets of every de- scription, followed each other in rapid succession. Several men and women denuded themselves of their clothing piece hy piece until they stood naked 10 the breech-cloth, A daughter ofthe dead man, carrying a child ln her arms, walked around the fire, and holding bundle of arrow-weeds to the blaze, touched the infants cheeks, to prevent the deceased from haunt ing it. 4 tall brave, nearly nude and provided with sharp knife, cut off more or less hair from the relatives i'll accordance with the degree of kins- manship, each softly muttering invo- cations. The medicine-men, with their hair pulled over their faces, tore large cotton cloth into small fragments and made another pile of the pieces. which they burned. In fact every in- diyidual seemed actuated with entire ly different motives, known only 10 himself.
 An increased impetus seemed given the mourncrs, for their sobs now rose to scrcams, yclls, and shrieks, blending in an indeScribable chorus that taxed the fullest capacity of their lungs. They moved about slngly and in squads, each preoecupied with his own sorrow. Whenever the fire burned low 1t was quickly replenished with fuel The awful smell of burning hu- man flesh rising to the nostrils did net tend to dissipate the strange and at times disgusting features of the eere- mony, which lasted for eighteen hours or moro.