Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-28
HONORED BY HIS TRIBE
PICTURESQUE BURIAL OF OLD
INDIAN CHIEF IN IOWA.

EIDORA Iowa October 2S.-Wah-wah-
to-see has long been one of the grand old
men of the Musquakie Indians and. al
though blind for a number of years, he
was a man of great influence in the coun-
ellis of his tribe. He has just passed away
and in the burial service at the reserva-
ton near Montour. east of Eldora- there
was a good deal of picturesque ceremony
and Indian pow-wow. An authentic date
of Wah-wah-to sees birth 1t seems diff
cult to find but his colleagues and mem
bers of his tribe and band say he was
about eighty. Aside from his blindness
he was of robust physique and his last
illness lasted but a few hours.
After his death the body of Wah wah-
to-see was properly dressed and taken
to the council lodge. rude bier hao
been constructed by stretching a Dian
ket over poles and covering all with a
bright piece of new mating. On this
he body Law the foot of the bier rest
ing on the ground, the head raised to
a height of about three feet and rest
ing against the platform that IS punt
about the interior OF the lodges. 1t was
here the watch of the night before had
been kept by the older men of the tribe.
Black Cloud, a chieftain, being the mas
ter of ceremonies. BY some unknown ana
peculiar process of embalming or preser-
walton the body of the old man looked as
though the old warrior had just fallen
asleep and sat in ease and repose.
The funeral cOrtege next morning went
to the burial grounds, gon the top OF a
bluff overlooking the Tama river and the
reservation, whtre a grave had been pre-
pared and a rude coffin constructed 10
receive the remains
Buried in Sitting Posture.
According to an ancient and time-hon-
ored custom among the Musquakies Wah-
wah-to-see was buried in a sitting pos
ture, with his face looking toward the
setting sun The grave was just deep
enough for the top of the old mans head
to come to the top Of the ground and
his clothing was rolled back so That the
head and breast were bare.
In his coffin by his side were placed
bottle of water, vessels containing pro-
visions the beads and other 1ewelry and
personal trappngs Of the dead and many
articles besides. cover was then placed
over that part of the rough coffin which
held the lower eXtremities and board
fitted across the top to shield the head.
There in his open grave with bare head
and breast facing the west and looking
man while old man Wapelluka delivered
the address in the Musquakie language
Weird Services at the Grave.
All curing tue ldihllS bidth ~!puu
waved a large eagles wing back and
forth over the grave to frighten away
evil spirits while he kept sprinkling holy
tobacco in the grave
At the close of the address all of the
assembled Indians passed about and de-
posfted their portion of tobacco in the
opening Then in accordance with the
Indian burial custom a young dog was
sacrificed at the grave and young brave
advanced with Il green oak club and
killed the canine with blow.
A gable roof was placed over the grave
and this was covered with mating and
canvas ard crib of poles built up to
cover. All was then heaped will earth
care beng taken that pone of t.. dirt
came in contact with ne body of Va
Wah-tO-See.
\ heavy stake stripped of its bark was
driven at the foot of the grave and on
| this stake was printed in red letters and
| characters the name which denotes Wah-
wah-to-see's tribe.