The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-09-26
GRAVES OF INDIANS.
ABORIGINAL CEMETERIES WHERE
GOOD WARRIORS SLEEP.

Barbaric Golgothas where the white Men
Cease From Troubling and the Redskins
Are at Rest--The Lonely Tomb of Pale
face Pioneer.
Travellers along the Columbia aud Puget
sound, and on north through British Co
iumbia aud Alaska. occasionally observe
queer Indian sepulchers and learn there
from a little about the burial customs OF
the aborgines Of those regions, but scarcely
gain more than an iuklng. From the
stone cairns along the bluffs Of Snake river,
the elevated platforms in the treeless val
leys, to the canoe graves amid the branches
OF giant Srs, the elaborate deadhouses
with their guardian totem poles, and the
funeral pyres Of the Alaskans. he finds a
great variety Of burial methods, yet all
conserving the same purpose-that Of an
effort so to dispose Of the dead warrior that
he shall find entrance to the spirit land and
be properly equipped for enjoyment Of its
pleasures.
One idea seems to be common to all tribes
no matter how widely scattered and that
is that the future state shall be "A continu-
ous enjoyment Of what they consider the
highest pleasures Of this life For this rea-
son the dead Indian is buried with his weap-
ons Of war and the chase, and ofttimes his
dogs and horses are killed and buried with
him.
The disposing of the body above ground
is the almost universal custom partially,
no doubt because earth burial involves la
Dor an Indian has neither the inclination
nor the tools to perform. but chiefly be-
cause the deceased may the more easily
reach the happy hunting grounds.
Along the deep canyons OF Snake river,
In the absence of timber, cairns of loose
rocks are built above the dead body and its
accompanying accessories. These little
mounds Of rock may be seen high up on the
canyons side. lnthe ad jacent reckless and
treeless valleys bodies are elevated upon
scaffolds supported by poles cut from the
slender cottonwoods that fringe the
streams. Here it is no unusual sight to
see the dead body Of an Indian securely
lashed upright upon pony and arrayed in
feathers and gaudy blankets, the pony trot-
ting along with his inanimate burden to-
ward the burial place.
In the Columbia river there are several
islands that have been used exclusively for
burial places for many years, probably for
centuries. One of these is Coffin rock near
Kalama seen by passengers on all steamers
plying between Portland and Astoria. Here
thousands of Indians have found sepulture.
Farther up, between the Cascades and The
Dalles, is the famous Memaloose island.
burial ground from time immemorial The
name is a word of the Chinook jargon, sig
nifying Dead island. Upon this island are
heaps of grinning skulls and unassorted
bones, the rough wooden sheds once built
for their protection having long since sue
cumbed to the disintegrating power Of the
elements.
Adjacent to one of these deadhouses rises
an elegant granite and marble monument
erected to the memory Of Victor Trevitt, a
pioneer of Oregon widely known through
out the Pacific coast. He was an old resi-
dent of The Dalles, and upon his death,
some 10 years ago, was at his own special
request buried among the bones Of genera
tions OF IpdiaDs who were laid to rest long
before the white men were known on this
coast Farther down the stream Is Brad
ford's island, also covered with bones and
skulls.
In Puget sound there is an island SINH
larly used and known locally as Burial
island" The various tribes about Puget
sound and the inland seas stretching north
ward toward Alaska often utilize the canoe
Of the dead warrior for IA coffin. His care
fully wrapped body, with bow and spear, is
platform high in the branches of a tree OF
raised on poles.
Farther north these deadhouses are still
more elaborate. On Shell island at Fort
Rupert, near the upper end OF Vancouver
island, B. c., there is an Indian cemetery of
| considerable pretensions, consisting Of huge
canoes and deadhouses of various STYLES OF
| architecture. These northern tribes also
erect huge carved images and totem poles
| by their dcadhouses. They have consider
able skill in carving.
a tradition Of the Columbi o river Indian.
will Illustrate the beliefo of the eaborigines in
the activity of the spirits OF their departed
friends.
| The greatest demigod OF all was Speelyai
the coyote. AT one time the people wer,
dying at Il rapid rate, and there was grea
| mourning. Whai-a-ma, the eagle, who has
lost many friends, was told by Speelyai tha
the dead would not always remain in spiri
land, but, like the brown and dead leaves o
autumn, would come to earth again will
the opening buds and flowers of spring
Whai-a-ma was not willing to wait unit
spring, and persuaded the coyote to go with
him to spirit land and bring them back al
once. After many days they came to a great
water, ON the other side of which was larg,
village.
Spirits conducted them across the water
and they entered the principal house Of tn,
village, which was lighted by the moon
and this luminary was guarded by "A mon
ster frog that had jumped to 1t from tn.
earth. Speelyai killed the frog and swal
lowed the moon, leaving the house in dark
ness. In the confusion that ensued Whai
ANA caught the spirits and confined then
in large box. Speelyai put the box on hi
shoulders and the two invaders startet
back for the land of the living Soon til,
spirits in the box began to come to life
and Speelyai's burden grew too heavy fo
him 10 carry Thinking they were so IA
from the spirit land that the ghosts coult
not find their way back again, Speelya
lifted the lid and let them out. They van
ished Immediately and returned to the Ian,
Of the dead Whai-a-ma was much disap
pointed, but said when the buds opened Il
the spring he would try again, but the coy
ote said 1t was better to let the dead remai
where they were, Had not Speelyai opene-
the box the dead would now come TO III
every spring, according 10 the belief of thos
who put their faith in the legend -Sa
. Francisco Examiner.