The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-09

tered hv An 1ra~,x In =srh a case he
would take the dead person on secfe'is
into the woods and bury him wnere none
could find ths holy. This was certain
sign OF vengefuI mood ana usually senge-
arce followed swiftly and suddenly upon
the heels Of the secret burial.
Among the forms OF burial now long
gone and discarded were the diHeTenI
methods OF canoe burial In these cases
canoes were used as collins and they were
either placed upon scafoldings OF else
were swung up into high trees-tnns oo1h
literally and metaphoricaiiy placing me
dead man where he could not paodle DIS
own canoe Al one time this method or
burial was very common among me nsh-
ing tribes Of the Northwest ous II IS now
exceedingly rare. having been largeiy SUI
perseded ny the more civilizea grave
burial
For this form Of sepulture usually the.
largest and best canoe of the deceased Vas
chosen. and after Il had been thoroughly
washed and otherwise prepared for its last
and peculiar function IL was taken into
tire woods where the burial was 70 occur.
Large holes were cnt in the notion. not
only 70 allow the rain wafer TO drain OF.
sut more especially 70 entirely unnf the
canoe for further use. and therefore make
il less likely to excite the cupidiry of the
whites. who frequently helped themselves
TO these queer collins They were coffins
Indeed. and they were so considered. and.
in the eyes OF The Indians. II was desc
Grafton 10 interfere with them IN any
manner. In the pioneer days many ami
mosiIies and felfis between the Indians
and TIE whites have been traced 10 the
vandai acts OF thoUghtiess and careless
white men stealing or using these sacred
relics
When the canoe had been thoroughly
prepared for the reception Of its occupant.
mats made Of dried rushes were spread
over the bottom of the craft: the holy
MAS then wrapped in blankets and placed
upon these mats within the canoe. to-
gether with trinkets and articles owned
| and priced by the dead person over all
these, in turn. blankets and mats were
spread and smaller canoe placed with
the bottom upwards. was fitted inside she
larger one. Tbs whole affair was again
covered with mats and the canoe placed
In permanent position upon its scanoidsng.
or else swung up and dashed In the trees.
strange and imposing sight indeed. -
such iotilia of the dead.
Around the grave various articles were
placed, such as guns or other weapons,
canoes. articles of clothing. domestic uten-
sils blankets. articles of personal adorn-
ment and anything TO which the deceased
person might be especially attached. IN
deed. with some tribes. a favorite horse
the grave Of the warrior. not IS a sacrifice
at ALL but for the very -utilitarian reason
that the dead maa might require IN the
spirit world the services OF those persons
or animals which had served him so
faithfully In this one. These various ar
ticles placed about the grave were hrst
carefully rendered unserviceabie. at least
as far as mortal use of them was con-
q rned Often these articles would be re-
placed from time to time. The belief was
that as the spirit would carry the body
away TO the spirit land. particle by parucie
as il decayed. so also as these articles
decayed they would in like manner DC
carried into the spirit world ana thefe
be of use TO the departed.
Cremation was not a common custom
among the Sdohobsch; indeed may safe
iy say that IL was never practiced
am informed by them. however. that they
did sometimes place a dead man ana MS
earthly possessions in a large canoe, set
fire TO II and turn il adrift. Even THIS
custom was not common, but IT Is curl
ously similar to that custom OF che Old
Vikings of sending their dead warriors
Attaining. afioat TO the West.
II was not a common practice among
these Indians TO place food round about
the grave. as was done by many other
tribes.
Mourning and wailing for the dead were
continued indefinitely after the death
The name OF the dead person was never
mentioned. however. for fear of disturb
ing his grave siumbers or of causing the
spirit uneasiuess or anger in the spirit
world It was said that at every men
ton of its name the dead body would
turn over in its grave. The custom of
wailing is a strange admixture of cere-
monial grief and genuine grief. 1t seems
to be more largely ceremonial. though il
bursts forth with much apparent spon-
taneity at the sight of any one or thing
recalling the memory of the departed one.
For the formal lamentations the beach Is
more often chosen. more especially about
the hours Of sunrise and sunset. Words
can hardly portray the infinite pathos OF
their long-drawn-out sohhing and wall
ing. interjected with monotonously repeat
ed lamenting formulate. such as: Alas,
my child Tor wife or husband. or brother.
etc.1. YOU are dead, Why did you die7
Why did you leave me? Alas, Alas
''oh. siapl oh. slap, She-da be-da ah-
to-hed, Ah-de-dah, Ah-de-dah"' cob,
chief oh. chief, Ny son Is dead, Alasi
Alas Ad-de-dah is their exclamation
of grief and pain. II is uttered even by
children when hurt al play or otherwise.
II Is weird and eerie AT the witchng hour
of twilight 10 hear these piercing. moan
Ing barharic coronachs waited from the
beach by passing hreezes. II Is then more
especially that one Is affected by this
show Of grief. this message OF woe sent
into the dark and neither world. During
these ceremonies tears course freely down
the cheeks of the mourner. who is the
very personifcaticn 81 sadly-stricken woe.
The most customary badge Of mourning.
among the women. Is general aspect OF
total neglect of the toilet. and their hair is
allowed to flow freely down their backs.
The idea seems to be to make themselves
as unattrsctiye as possible, though scarf
hcation or other forms of voluntary