The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-22
IDEA OF FUTURE LIFE
Curious and Original Belief of
AUX Indians of Alaska.
Two Heavens; Those Suffering Bloody
Deaths Get the Greater Reward-Me s.
sage from the other Shore.

do you think so?'' 1 asked. and. taking
notebook from my desk, turned to what
/ had written one winters evening year
ago. after a midnight visit to the AUX In
dian ranch, and this was the tale 1 read:
How closely related the now and the here
after. With not thought of lifes closing
scenes sat in the opera house a few hours
ago listening to the strains of music and
half dreamily gazing at the scenes pre-
sented on the stage. Visions Of bright boy
hoods days came back to me once again
and, in the lighted space between me and
the stage fair views of the happy past
evolved themselves from the luminous ether
and slowly dissolved one into another soft
ened and beautifed through the roseate
glass of memory. A hand Is laid on my
shoulder and 1 awake from my reverie to
hear a voice whispering in my ear: Come
to the AUX village with me; an Indian died
this afternoon and now he's come to life
again and wants to say something to you"
But few moments elapsed. and, with
coats drawn closely around US and hats
low pulled, we make our way through the
deep new-fallen snow. while we see within
the little circle of our lanterns feeble light
how fast the feathery fakes are falling,
whirled here and there in drifts and mounds
by the cutting nothern blast. IT'S a typical
Alaska winter night. Not the midwinter
midnight of the poet and the artist, but the
stern reality. Close darkness merged into
sable blackness, cold and stormy, as we
pause a moment on the ridge to look upon
the Pickering lights of the Indian ranch,
while behind US, barely seen through the
inky night, shine dimly out the lights OF
Juneau. In the lull of the requiem the wild
winds chant to the dying year, we hear the
breaking of waves upon the sandy beach.
Cautiously we descend the steep and Slip
perry path and reach the shore; the retreat
Ing tide has left narrow strip uncovered,
and We hasten along to large house
Ty,Ig &Ina nd Cfa de
aside for us to enter, where Death doth
keep his state" Upon low couch, half
reclining in the arms of a friend, lies an In
dian. The freight casts a weird glow over
the bowed forms of three score men, women
and children, silently watching the dying
man. W SaS ha Indians bad washed the
body and dressed it, when, to their horror
and surprise, there were unmistakable signs
Of returning life.
THE DYING INDIAN.
Way is made for us and we pass within
the circle and gaze into those eyes so
lately closed. We note the hollow cheeks.
slightly tinged with hectic flush. the
shrunken form, emaciated from weary
months of illness; we feel the futtering
pulse which tells of the life current slowly
retreating to it's last citadel-the heart:
the limbs are cold and the lower half OF
the body is stiffened-all motion and all
warmth are gone. We wait in silence for a
message from the unseen shore. He rail-
lies a little and brokenly whispers: Life
and light fade from my eyes. Soon go
forever. / charge you-do-your-duty
--' And with a gasp for breath the In
dian closes his eyes and sleeps the sleep
we have come too late, but from one of
the old Indians there we learn that ne
had told them of wonderful visions lie
had glimpsed behind mortality's veil, and
that these We're in general harmony with
what the Indians all seem to believe; From
A. 011 losnrr lO6 no q
believe in immortality-a continuation of
this earth life without loss of its con-
seriousness. They believe in two heavens,
entirely distinct from each other. and be-
tween which there is no communication.
The first heaven is peopled with all except
those who die violent or bloody deaths;
When person is dying from natural
causes his friends in the other world know
of it. and come back and sit around the
house. Often the dying person sees and
recognizes them. although they are in
visible to all others.
AS soon as the last breath is drawn and
the soul freed from the body it is hurried
away; there is no delay, 1t must go just as
it is. This is the reason why the Indians
wish to be dressed tS t In their best clothing
pleasing appearance to their spirit friends.
They also wish to have some money in
condition will depend on that in which
they pass out. of this life, and they will be
clothed In spirit life as they left the earth
plane. The spirit guides hurry the newly
freed soul along a narrow path, leading
over broken stones and through dark, thick
woods, where gnarled roots and broken
branches make more difficult the rough
and uneven way. After many windings
steep hillside is assembled and from the
crest there breaks upon the view a scene
path is broad, flowing river, and beyond
beautiful land with many houses grouped
IN Villages or f n the
while in the distance green hills bear
groves of noble trees. Many people are
seen. some of whom gather at the shore
to welcome the party. The path is de-
scended and the rivers brink is reached.
Swift and wide the waters roll; no boat
no bridge is to be seen, but in answer to a
call from the guides, from the further
shore log shoots out, and guided by
some mysterious power, without sail or
as they step upon it it Immediately re-
turns to the other shore, where upon it's
arrival the newcomer is surrounded and
greeted by his spirit friends, who are
pleased IL he comes we'll dressed and pro-
vided with money.
THE INDIANA HEAVEN.
The coming of each new spirit seems to
be heralded throughout all this land by the
call sounded at the river. There is much
dancing and gambling going on here all the
time The gambling is done with Indian
sticks, some tied with strings and others
not There is often much suffering-not
inflicted by any superior power as a pun
ishment for sin, for the future life holds no
punishment nor reward for any of earth's
sins or virtues; but caused by hunger and
cold when their friends in the material
world neglect them, for all the clothing and
food they have is that burned with their
bodies or at the feasts in their memory. At
feast or potlatch the Indians may be seen
throwing into the fire pieces of bread fish
or tobacco, and at the same time calling
out the name of some dead person for
whom IL is meant. So those who are neg
lected or forgotten by their friends on earth
suffer.
The second heaven is directly above this
earth, high up in the air, and is inhabited
by all whose deaths are caused by vio-
life blood ooZing away, seems to see the
heavens above him contract and grow
nearer and more dense, while directly
over him there appears a large circular
opening in the floor OF heaven guarded
by a giant who calls the name Of the dy-
ing person in tones so loud that they go
sounding through all the vast expanse
and reach the ears of his friends. who
gather at the entrance 10 meet him
Then there is let down through this opening
ladder with only two steps, and as soon
as the spirit steps upon the ladder it as
cends of its own accord into heaven
where he is welcomed by his friends. This
Is a happier home than the first heaven
There are large houses. and life is passed
blood. Those who die bloody deaths are
envied by the unfortunate ones who die
OF sickness.
These Indians believe in reincarnation, the
person at each succeeding birth being
of the same sex and retaining the same
peculiar physical characteristics.
1t is affirmed that HarSha, great chief
no ~ hEf,