Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-05-09

side uppermost, and pillows arc used
to keep the sitting corpse in position,
the feet being covered with robes or
blankets The stretcher is sometimes
carried by four men, near relatives.
or drawn by a horse with q pack
saddle to which one end OF the poles
is fastened. The horse OF the dead.
which is to be killed at the grave, II
led behind the litter, followed by the
crowd, wailing as they walk. When
the grave is reached the relatives
gather around the opening. the corpse
is lifted from the litter and held by the
bearers, while the robes I'M which 1t
sat are arranged for its reception In
the grave. where it is placed upon
them. facing the east, and the articles
of value, chiefly ornaments worn by
the person during life. are deposited
beside the body. If the deceased be a
man. his weapons are then laid by his
side; if woman. her sewing bag. con-
tanning her awl, quilts and articles
used for embroidery; if child, its
playthings are placed beside it
At the burial of a warrior his IA
vorite horse is decorated as the mas
ter was wont to paint the animal, this
painting being always in accordance
with the mans visions. After the
corpse is deposited in the grave, a
rawhide rope is loosely tied about the
neck of the horse. and two men take
hold of each end OF the rope and draw
it taut until the animal falls dead. For
this service each man receives as a
fee robe, war jacket, or a pair Of
beaded leggings. In recent years the
horse has been shot Sometimes when
the grave is still open the concluding
ceremonies take place; at other times
the body is covered. The weather is
apt to decide the order of proceedings
If a storm threatens the grave is at
once closed; but should the day be
clear and no prospect of rain, then
the corpse remains in full view during
the entire ceremonies.
The grave is covered in the follow
ing manner: A crotched post is thrust
firmly into each end of the opening,
projecting about two feet above the
surface of the ground; pole is laid in
the orotches of these posts. forming .
ridgepole; the roof is made by laying
closely side by side hardwood sticks,
long enough to have one end rest on
the ground and the other on the ridge
pole. Upon these grass is spread
thickly, and lastly earth we'll tamped,
and sod laid on. making a mound four
or five feet high. The surroundings
are carefully cleared of rubbish and
dried grass, so that the grave may be
safe from fire.
For four successive nights following
the burial the loving mother, or if the
deceased was an orphan, then near
female relative, patiently carries
wood upon her back, and near the
mound kindles fire. keeping it burn
ing throughout the night to light the
departed one to the land of happiness.
This service is done without weeping,
that the spirit may not be arrested or
distressed as it travels hence.
There are a variety of beliefs con-
corning the immediate action of the
spirit upon its withdrawal from the
body. Some think that the soul at
once starts upon its journey to the
spirit land; others. that it hovers about
the grave as if reluctant to depart
Because of this latter belief food and
water are placed at the head of the
grave for several days after the burial.
The spirit is supposed to partake of
this food No Indian would touch any
article of food thus exposed; if he did,
the ghost would snatch away the food
and paralyze the mouth of the thief,
and twist his face out of shape for the
rest of his life; or else he would be pur
sued by the ghost, and food would lose
it's taste, and hunger ever after haunt
the offender.
There is belief in the tribe that be-
fore the spirits finally depart from men
who died of wounds or their results,
they float toward cliff overhanging
the Missouri. not far from the present
Santee Agency in Nebraska. and cut
upon the rocks picture showing
forth their manner of death. A line
in the picture indicates the spot where
the disease or wound was located
which caused the death. After this
record is complete. the spirit flies of
to the lard of the hereafter. 1t is said
that these pictures are easily recog-
nized by the relatives and friends Of
the deceased. This place Is known
as Observation-Disclosures"
where the spirits make pictures of
themselves.
A suicide ceases to exist; for him
there is no hereafter. A man struck
by lightning is buried where he fell
and in the position in which he died.
His grave is filed with earth, and no
mound is raised over one who is thus
taken from life-JOurnal of American