Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1896-06-18
PRACTICE CREMATION.
INDIAN ssslbes That Burn Their Dead with
ExtrnYagant Ceremonies.

Extrayagant Ceremonies.
All the Indian tribes living along the
Colorado river cremate their dead. The
cremation of Sub-Chief Postaqual, ear
ly in 1894, may serve as description
OF the usage among Yumas. A day OF
Two before the old mans death, after
1t was known to certainty that tho
end was near, the Indians of both sexes
selected an open space facing the sub-
chiefs wiclsiup, and eXcavated deep
hole, In WHICH dry poles were arranged.
Between them bed of twigs and brush
were heaped to the surface and GOV.
cred with larger billets of wood, Sew
eral hours after the old Indian was
dead, his body, tightly wrapped in II
heavy blanket, was laid upon the pyre,
md short, thick. pieces of wood az
tanged upon it until total height
of seven feet was attained To this
prye were added the personal effects
III the dead man, to accommodate his
spirit wherever II might go.
Several hundred Yumas of both sexes
gathered about the prye, and set up
deafening, doleful and discordant
walls. Every Yuma Indian kept up for
two hours constant series OF shrielts
and cries. The disconsolate and grief
stricken faces were stained with tears.
regret and dependency were plainly
depicted, and speeches were delivered,
ending In moaning refrain. Two
horses, caparisoned in red and blue
flannel and waving feathers, were led
to deep holes dug near either side OF
the body. After the two horses were
killed with axes, they were thrown into
The graves and covered with dirt, to
insure carrying the good old chief In
bis future wanderings.
Twenty young bucks, with faces
painted white and red, strangely
dressed in curious cloaks and cowls OF
many colors, and holding bows and ar
rows in their hands, stepped forward
Grasping the sub-chief's old shotgun
one of them fred it into the air to
notify the Great Spirit that Yumn
had begun his journey to Paradise
Instantly another applied the match,
and tongues of fire darted up, envelop-
ing the remains.
The mourners, squatting in a circle
around the pyre, now seemed moved.
by uncomfortable excitement. Spring
ing to their feet, they separated into
t,.,n hAliny fha side uuH
the women on the other, to allow the
passage of the spirit between them.
breaking from the ranks, they threw
their personal possessions into the
flames. Strips of Calico pottery, weap
ons, beans, playing cards, beads and
trinkets of every description followed
each other in rapid succession. Several
men and women denuded themselves Of
their clothing piece by piece. Ore
Young buck threw small alarm clock
in the flames and another n brierwood
pipe.
A daughter of the dead man, carrying
child IN her arms, walked around
the fire and, holding bundle of arrow
weeds to the blaze, touched the infants
cheeks to prevent the chiefs spirit from
haunting it. A tall brave, nearly nude.
and provided with sharp knife, cut of
more or less hair from the relatives in
accordance with the degree of kinship,
each softly muttering invocations.
The medicine men, with their
hair over their faces, tore large cotton
cloth into small fragments and made
another pile Of the pieces, which they
lurned. In fact, every individual
seemed actuated with entirely differ
ent motives, known only to himself.
As the flames grew fiercer they dug
up dust and dirt and threw it over their
perspiring and almost nude bodies
They pulled burning sticks from out OF
the fire and thrust them for second
against one another's flesh. They
lcaped and danced alternately. When
ever the fire burned low it was quickly
replenishcd with mesquite wood After
all had been consumed the ashes were
raked into pit and covered in such a
manner as to prevent discovery of the
spot unless special search was made.
The indiscriminate destruction OF
property at cremation is a source of cor
slant poverty. The Yumas consider
nothing too valuable for sacrificial pur'
poses.
They believe that their paradise is
in beautiful valley away of in the
mountains. 1t includes Sonora, in New
Mexico, and good slice of southern
California. This cop-lah-pah is COW
cred with luxurious grass and thou
sands of trees. There are no quarrels
no disseIftions, diseases or pair in this
paradise. It will be perpetual rest
year after year, except for the bad In
Clans, who will have to work for many
years until the great celestial chiefs
ideas are satisfied. The tribal and fam
ily relations are the same there MS on th(
sun-balied banks of the Colorado, only
there is good, powerful chief who il
omnipotent. No white man will kt
found in cop-lah-pahl.--N. Y. Sun.
The Latest Dodge.