The herald., 1893-10-29

more OF the long dry poles were piled on
to heighth Of several teet above the
body.
The members of the decsaaed's family
had brought his personal efects-blan-
kets, beads, clothes and brides. tho lat
ter made OF hair rope-to be afterwards
consigned 10 the flames. The equaws
and old bucka sgnatted around the pile
ard tx young braves. attir n their ma
tive tiIery, and carrying rous OF willow
to which were attached ny red strings
number of large feathers, commenced
the ceremonies OF the "spirit drive"
They were headed by. two Older braves
bearing bows and arrows, who acted as
guides and kept pace with them. An
old equaw likewise took part In the
drive" uttering all the time sound
that might be described as between the
neighing of horse and the boot of an
owl.
An old buck was apparently the mas
ter OF ceremonies, aud he delivered
enlogy of the dead. He concluded by
making a talk to the relatives of the de-
ceased seated around the pile, then to
friends. and wound up by addressing the
braves engaged in chasing away the
spirit, who had ceased their ceremonies
during the address. At the conclusion
of the speakers remarks, the old equaw
who participated in the drive" gave a
signal three times, and as the last note
died away each of the eight braves gave
yell and separated into two columns,
ths archers ahead, thoee with the
feathers in the rear column, and ran to
to point about $50 feet from the pile.
Then they would return and repeat the
Hl,,n bao hA.r .,oixx
utes.
The old leader continued his harangue
to the crowd, extolhng the virtues of
the dead man and advising all to be
ready for the long journey. A sub
leader was engaged in preparing the
horses OF the dead for slaughter. 1t is
one OF the inviolable customs OF the
tribe to kill all animals belonging to
deceased brave. The buck engaged in
this work performed this duty with good
grace, as feast off the CARCASS was in
prospect. As soon rs o bead bride was
placed on an animal it was led out and
beat to death with poles. Tine manner
OF killing the poor brutes was brutal in
the extreme, and the choicest portions
of the CARCASS were cut away before even
life WAS extinct. Five horses were
slaughtered in this way.
AS the last of the unfortunate ami
mals was led away the funeral pyre was
lighted. Then ensued scene. All OF
the relatives are supposed to otter
sacrifice in come form, and as the old
leader walked around calling for gifts,
ell present crying and walling at higA
pitch, each began to strip some article
OF cloth ng or "a ornament from their
person anu cast 1t into the blazing pile.
| The clothes and trappings Of the dead
had previously been cast into the
flames.
All this time the Esprit ehasers' had
been performing their peculiar ceremo-
ny. After the pile was lighted at a
signal they made the circuit of the
burning mass at iull speed, yelling and
swinging their bo Ms and decorated rods.
AS they completed the circuit the bows
and RODS were broken and cast into the
flames, and like a flash the "spirit
chasers" ran into the brush in the river
bjttom.
1t required several hours for the pile
to be consumed. IL was lighted about
o'clock in the afternoon, and by sun
! down there was only heap of live Goals
as evidence of the days strange cere-
mony. The cremation, which occurred
| uDOuo ~ liiC Onrb VI tOWu, no WltAcobcu
by a number of citizens OF Needles, who
we're naturally deeply interested.
One Of the incidents OF the ceremony
was extremely touching. A con of
Honaka, about 20 years of age, over
come with grief, cast himself into the
flames just after the pyre was ! lighted
and was only rescued with difficulty.
In the evening the Indians had great
feast, at which roast horse was the piece
| de resistance. or4erffrF rrrfas4os