Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-10-26

songs and prayers and the giving OF Gift.
- the departed, and the burning of tn,
palm tree which was planted at the bIrtt
OF the departed and which bore his or bei
name.
The Yuma Indians of the Colorado Desert
crematc their dead. A funeral pyre Is
erected as soon as, or before, death takes
place, aud the burning OF the body takes
place AS soon after death as the arrange.
ments can be completed. The clothing and
personal effects of the departed are con.
sumcd with the body. together with a
quantity of food to last the spirit on Its
journey to the realm Of pleasure. whence Il
Is bound. The house Is also burned, that
those who survive may not be reminded of
one who Is gone, for, they say, memory Is
but sorrow therefore. let us forget"
The Ute Indians place the bodies Of their
dead In caves, many bodies being entombed
within n single cavern. After each eli.
tombmcnt the mouth of the cave IL stopped
with sticks and stones to keep out animals,
and the place Is not again visited till the
next intermcnt takes place. The prepare.
ton of the body for burial il simple, No
change Is made In the clothing, the limbs
being Strengthened and the weapons Of the
deceased. II a male, or household implc.
ments. If a woman. being placed beside the
body. The male friends of the deceased
shoot the horses and cattle which belonged
to him and burn his house and personal
effects. The female friends, whose duty 1t
is TO prepare the body for the tomb, bear
the remains to their last resting place,
uttcring hidcous cries during the march to
the sepulchcr.
In the western part of Utah, In the Great
Salt Lake Desert. is a valley called Skull
Valley, because of the great number OF
human skulls and bones found there. This
locality is the home of the Gosh Ute In.
dams. who have one of the most unique
burial customs known. This consists In
we;ghting the body with stones and sink
ing it in the mud and water of the few
springs TO he found in that region Of thirst.
The Mojavc Indians crematc their dead
upon n funeral pyre. similar to that If the
lumas. While the body Is being con.
srmed. certain priests or poet singers run
about the pyre chanting the praises Of the
d"rartcd. The incarceration takes place at
night. and the ceremonies are weird and
lncanny in tire extreme.
The Achomawi Indians of California
have a curious custom which Is rart burial
and part cremation. They dig a hole in
tho ground of sufficient depth to admit the
body standing. leaving only the head above
the level of the ground. The head is then
cut off. the weapons and personal effects
IF the deceased are placed in the grave
beside the body. together with a quantity
Of food, and the grave is then filled. Then
are placed upon the grave and the
head Is burned to ashes thereon. During
the burning the friends and relatives stand
about and chant n mournful song.
The io-kai Indians practice cremation
accompanied by elaboi ate demonstrations
Of grief and the chanting of songs. They
visit the abode Of the departed dnily for a
wear. sprinkllng meal upon the ground to
iervc as food for the spirit. When a wo-
man loses her husband, she mixes his
'shes with pitch. making a white paste,
ma she smears 1t around her head, max
'ng a white band about two inches wide,
which she wears as n badge of mourning.
The kelta Indians believe that when one
Of their tribe dies n little bird takes the
'pirit and starts with II for the spirit
world. If the departed has lived n worthy
life the bird reaches the happy land and
he spirit dwells there forever. II, how.
'vor, the life has been an evil one, a cruel
catches the bird and devours 1t,
ogether with the soul which It Is bear.
ng. and both perish miserably.
The Karok Indians OF California per.
the memory Of their derarted
riends by abstaining from all mention Of
If one is so forgetful as to men
ion the name of one II the dead, the
theirs are shocked. for it is their belief
hat the mention of the name causes the
'ody or bones in the grave to turn and
moan. and the spirit is halted on it's Jour
ley toward the spirit land. In fact. the
of the name of a departed friend
a deadly Insult to the living relatives.
lnd Is punishable by the laws of the tribe
Win the same penalty as murder. n very
heavy fine, known as blood money"