The Monitor., 1892-04-22
From ahe Indian Reservation.

| Are having fine weather-not storm
| since | have been here. IL is rather cool
| at night, however, the mercury standing
| from 1G to 209 above zero mornings. Have
had something to occupy my time all the
while, so do not get lonely Cunning
has received share of my attention.
| although there is not much game here at
this season of the year.
| DR.. and had arranged to go early to the
lake few mornings ago to shoot geese and
ducks. After getting up we thought the
| weather too cold, and acting on the excuse
| vert back to bed to wait for warmer
weather. Went over to the Stockbridge
settlement on Tuesday last; took our guns
along and killed seven squirrels on the
| way. In the afternoon attended an Indian
funeral. | have had a desire to attend one
ip case one of the "braveS' concluded to
pass on to the ''happy bunting grounds
during my soiourn here, but little thought
my wish you'd be gratified SO soon. While
at dinner we were startled by the beat of
drums. knowing it to be the funeral dirge
we neglected the dinner to join in paying
our respects to the dead An open wagon
served as the hearse. Following the hearse
or wagon were men and squaws on foot
walking III the middle of the road, with hats
off, the squaWs carrying their pappoose on
their backs. Then followed those III wag-
ons-mostly open wagons-the men occu-
pying the seats while the squaws sat on the
bottom of the wagons, some of them nurs-
ing their pappooses. The Indians want to
make great showing on an occasion of
this kind. and put on all of their finery.
such as beads, belts, feathers and guns. |
might say that dogs formed considerable
part of the train. On arriving at the church
(Roman Catholic) the procession was not
allowed to enter. A man stood in the en-
trance with club to knock out any who
attempted to enter. SxSpe got in, however
but were soon hustled out. The ceremony
over, the corpse was then conveyed to its
final resting place, here it was found the
grave had not been dug deep enough. The
widow, deeply veiled, who had been stand
ing in the grave, was lifted out, the mourn
ers gathered around the grave aud looked
on while it was being dug deeper. This
work being done the coffin was lowered to
the two men in the grave and placed in po-
sition While the coffin was being lowered
all were upon their knees with hats off,
except a few who viewed the proceedings
from seat on top of the fence. After all
had thlown a handful of dirt into the grave
and murmured something could not un-
derstand, they dispersed. If one of these
Indians die without confessng his sins, his
body is not allowed burial with the rest.
1t is buried alone in some lonely spot. l
have found such graves during my tramps
through the woods.
| accompanied the DR.. the other day on
a visit to one Of his patients and had a
view of the interior OF an Indian hut for
the first time. The dimentions of the
cabin is 10x11feet, one story high, and has
door and two windows. 1t contains a
stove, two beds, a table, two chairs,
swing for the pappoose, few dishes. two
dogs, cat, five children, wood pile. and
any amount ofdirt. Have tried to get an
Indian pony to ride but have not succeeded
yet. Inever saw such selfish and in
dependent set as these Indians are. They
are terribly afraid that the pale face will
have something they have. If you ask them
about a pony they say they have none, not
withstandiug the woods are full of them.
They turn them out in the fall and let
them run through the winter. Tell Mr..
H have not killed bear yet, but kill
ed black squirrel that looked like
small bear