Wichita eagle., 1889-05-26

OF the soc1euy In his right nand Is placed
the .Ta-sha-eae.n or deer's hoof rattle,
which is carried only by the leader OF the
society. This preparation OF the body is
done BY the relatives OF the deceased
and one or two members OF the society.
When all is complete the crier summons the
members. and these weud their way to the
lodge where the dead man sits as a silent
host.
The Mawadane songs which were the
favorites Of the dead member are then sung
and the rhythmic steps taken, while pres
ents are laid on the drum; these latter are
offerings toward the funeral ceremonies.
As each gift is made the crler sings forth
the name of the giver, that all the village
NAV hear of the deed. While the body lies in
state in the lodge, either OF the family or
the society of which the deceased was
member, if the person or his family are held
in high respect By the tribe. the young men,
those between the ages Of twenty and thir-
ty, gather together to perform ceremony
expressive of their esteem and grief. Hav-
ing stripped themselves of their garments,
except breech cloth, a loop is cut through the
skin of the arm, midway between the point of
the shoulder and the elbow, and the end OF
a willow twig, about foot long, having the
leaves on il, Is thrust through the loop OF
skin. The blood trickles down the willow
stem and spatters the hanging leaves. The
Young men then walk slowly 70 the lodge
where the dead lies, and stand abreast be-
fore the tent entrance, SINGING the funeral
song, each man accenting the time 1y strlk-
ing together two short sticks OF willow. All
shed tears as they sing. This song is an old
one, having been handed down from an un-
known past. 1t is the only funeral song Of
the Omaha tribe.
At the close of the song the chief
mourner, whether man or woman, steps
forth from the lodge, wailing. The young
men join in the wall of the mourner, who
advances with uplifted hands, and passes
along the line, pausing an instant at each
person. This act is an expression OF thanks
and acknowledgment of the sympathy and
honor shown When the end OF the line is
reached, the mourner retraces his steps and
pulls from each young man 5 arm the blood
stained willow twig, throwing II on the
ground. Some relatives prepare horse,
the gift being an additional acknowledge
ment of the honor shown the dead, which
Is often returned to the donors after the
funeral is over. The young men, after be-
ing relieved of their willows, return 10
their starting point, where they dress and
disband. This custom was last observed
about five year. ago
The bu rial takes place on the third or
fourth day after death The intervening
period is a busy time for those having the
funeral arrangements i'll charge Goods are
collected from the kindred, to be gwen to
the poor at the tine Of the interment The
grave, never more than four feet deep, is
dug by poor man, who is paid for MS labor.
The body is borne upon stretcher made by
binding two cross-sticks on two poles ten or
twelve feet long, tent-poles are sometimes
used for this purpose. The bed OF the
stretcher is woven Of willow wands, on
which robe is spread, the hairy side upper
most, and pillows are used to keep the SIT
ting corpse IN position, the feet being COW
cred with robes or blankets.